Want to Remote-Start Your Toyota With a Fob? That'll be $8 Per Month

[soccerdad72]

I guess I don't understand why you need to warm up the car before driving it? When I lived in Minneapolis, I just turned the key and drove away even when it was 25 degrees F below zero. I was more concerned about wasting gas then I was getting into a warm car.

Comfort?

 

[kdonnel]

BMW attempted to start charging $80 a year or $300 for 20 years to keep CarPlay working after the first year.

The response was swift and negative and BMW backed off.

CarPlay is a well liked feature. I don't think remote start is as loved.

Not sure they will get that much negative feedback or that much new revenue.

 

[cvjw]

I can remote start my car from the key fob and the app, and have never used the feature! Just start it up the old fashioned way, with the touch of the button!

 

[whiteness]

At least it's nice to learn that Disney is not the only company nickel and diming their customers to death

 

[mom2rtk]

I park outdoors in the Midwest. It’s so helpful to be able to start the car from inside to start melting the frost and ice. Not to mention warming it inside a bit.

 

[tvguy]

Your wife doesn't live in a climate where -35C is not uncommon. When your vehicle has been sitting out at that temperature all day, you want it warm when you get in to drive away.

LOL. Probably been down this road before, but I assume then you don't have access to a plug in to use an interior heater like my cousins do.

 

[BrianL]

At least it's nice to learn that Disney is not the only company nickel and diming their customers to death

Just wait for the fee to remote start your car AT Disney!

 

[MillauFr]

Comfort?

I just moved to a warmer climate like Seattle. Rarely too hot or cold. Although that 108 degrees was bit much last Summer.

 

[fla4fun]

I really don’t have a dog in this fight, as my car is a 2017 Toyota, but I really hate the retroactive application of this. I would think it a heinous enough fee if they were starting it with 2022 or 2023 models, but as someone who keeps a car more than 10 years, I would be really angry if I had bought a 2018 instead, and now they were trying to make me pay. What is it with businesses taking something that was included in your purchase and then making you pay again to use it? Future buyers have the choice, but people who already own their cars don’t.

I remember cold winter days in Ohio, waiting for the passenger compartment to warm, and living in Florida, I know what it takes to cool one down. I would do that every day before I would pay this fee. It does make me reconsider whether I would buy another Toyota product, since the next upcharge could be mine.

 

[prairie_girl]

Not sure why you need remote start with a Camry Hybrid. They don't use the engine coolant to run the heater, so no need for the engine to be warm to get heat. There is a built in electric heater and instantly provides heat and runs the defroster. My wife has a 2020 Camry LE Hybrid. She loves that feature.

Yes, California in the winter is exactly the same as Alberta in the winter…

 

[tvguy]

Yes, California in the winter is exactly the same as Alberta in the winter…

I'm speaking of Alberta. See post #26. Or anywhere with snow. And the hotel I stay at in Calgary lists "Cold Weather Hookups" as a feature, so SOMEBODY besides my family must still use plug ins.

 

[Kae]

I guess I don't understand why you need to warm up the car before driving it? When I lived in Minneapolis, I just turned the key and drove away even when it was 25 degrees F below zero. I was more concerned about wasting gas then I was getting into a warm car.

Because it's awesome. The ice on the windows is easier to remove, the car is nice and Toasty and yup I use it in the summer too to cool off my car before getting in it. And PS love my my heated steering wheel more than my heating seats.

 

[mom2rtk]

And PS love my my heated steering wheel more than my heating seats.

Better keep that to yourself before they start a monthly fee for it.

 

[ronandannette]

LOL. Probably been down this road before, but I assume then you don't have access to a plug in to use an interior heater like my cousins do. View attachment 630316View attachment 630318

Of course we have access to plug-ins; everybody has an exterior plug in, including a lot of public parking lots at workplaces and even at the malls. Honestly though, I haven't seen an in-car heater for 30 years. Maybe somebody somewhere has them but TRUST ME when I say they are not common. And why would they be when with the advent of command-starts either as standard equipment or reasonably priced after-market add-ons, it's easy to warm up the interior of your vehicle.

 

[Kae]

Better keep that to yourself before they start a monthly fee for it.

right last year my sister told me it cost her extra each month on her Lexus for auto start and was like what?!! I have a VW & an infiniti.

 

[ronandannette]

I'm speaking of Alberta. See post #26. Or anywhere with snow. And the hotel I stay at in Calgary lists "Cold Weather Hookups" as a feature, so SOMEBODY besides my family must still use plug ins.

Maybe you're not aware that the plug-ins are intended for the vehicle's block heater so the engine won't freeze up, NOT an interior car heater. I don't imagine cars sold in California have block heaters so you can be excused for not knowing.
[URL https://www.lifewire.com/car-block-heater-frozen-north-534833[/URL]

 

[wenrob]

A lot of companies have been trying to charge after the fact. BMW tried it with Apple CarPlay and it went over like a lead balloon. $300 a year for a service that has zero to do with their system and available to any iPhone user that has a compatible stereo. Cricut tried to do it by trying to limit projects or be forced to pay a monthly fee. There was a mass exodus to Silhouette including all their YouTube influencers within days. They back stepped within a week. My guess is people who already have it won’t pay it.

Don't confuse remote start via the key fob with remote start via an app (satellite).

Toyota now wants to charge for remote start with the key fob. That's ridiculous. All that means is that local auto shops will get a LOT more business for remote starters.

That’s what I was thinking. It’s easy enough to head to the shop down the road and have it installed. One and done. I’ve always wanted remote start not because of the cold but because of the heat. Wouldn’t pay a monthly fee for it though.

 

[tvguy]

Maybe you're not aware that the plug-ins are intended for the vehicle's block heater so the engine won't freeze up, NOT an interior car heater. I don't imagine cars sold in California have block heaters so you can be excused for not knowing.
[URL https://www.lifewire.com/car-block-heater-frozen-north-534833[/URL]

I am very much aware of vehicle block heaters, and are you aware that many people in snow country also have the interior heaters wired into that too?

 

[Skippy918]

Oops. Misread. Thought the OP was talking about paying to remote start with an app.

I read the article. Seems Toyota is wanting to catch up with Honda. I pay $100 a year for the Honda link connect feature on the app. It allows you to remote start, lock and unlock from your phone. I do not have to pay extra to remote start my Honda Pilot from the key fob though.

What model year did Honda start charging for this? I have a 2016 and I can connect my phone. I have remote start on my key fob. I used to use it to cool off the car in summer when the kids were in their car seats and I would get so hot buckling them in.

 

[tvguy]

Of course we have access to plug-ins; everybody has an exterior plug in, including a lot of public parking lots at workplaces and even at the malls. Honestly though, I haven't seen an in-car heater for 30 years. Maybe somebody somewhere has them but TRUST ME when I say they are not common. And why would they be when with the advent of command-starts either as standard equipment or reasonably priced after-market add-ons, it's easy to warm up the interior of your vehicle.

Just seems a waste of gasoline to run a car until it warms up when you can just have the electric heater inside. But again, yes, I am in California where smog laws prohibit leaving an unoccupied car running.