Do new 2022 4Runners come with Remote Connect trial?

[RobS10]

What does it buy you besides remote start and lock? Can it do software updates? I have a really hard time paying Toyota a subscription. 1st year free on my Limited?

I have to be honest — I didn’t even look as I canceled my way out of the initial screens. I hate being ‘sold’ [emoji3]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

In addition to Remote Start, Toyota Connect includes:

1. Guest Driver - Alerts on your smart phone for exceeding preset limits of speed, curfew or miles driven...have a teenager?
2. Vehicle Status - Check the status of your Toyota vehicle's doors, windows, odometer and fuel level.
3. Last Parked Location - Locate your vehicle in a crowded parking lot with Last Parked Location.

Probably some other stuff, but those are the highlights. I probably would have let it expire too, but Toyota never gave me the chance to decide. A lose-lose, in my mind.

 

[RunTheJoules]

In addition to Remote Start, Toyota Connect includes:

1. Guest Driver - Alerts on your smart phone for exceeding preset limits of speed, curfew or miles driven...have a teenager?
2. Vehicle Status - Check the status of your Toyota vehicle's doors, windows, odometer and fuel level.
3. Last Parked Location - Locate your vehicle in a crowded parking lot with Last Parked Location.

Probably some other stuff, but those are the highlights. I probably would have let it expire too, but Toyota never gave me the chance to decide. A lose-lose, in my mind.

Honestly, I'm betting that there is no difference in hardware and all of the remote connect features are just a software mod. They didn't install anything extra for the fob remote start on my 2020, just programmed it. I agree, it makes more sense to have the remote connect + trial standard on all trims, and would probably make them far for money.

The app would probably be useful for most people, but I don't really use it myself. It sends a notification if you left doors unlocked, and allows you to lock them remotely if necessary. Plus all the other stuff that's been listed... I might keep for "just in case" after the year is up.

 

[RobS10]

Honestly, I'm betting that there is no difference in hardware and all of the remote connect features are just a software mod. They didn't install anything extra for the fob remote start on my 2020, just programmed it. I agree, it makes more sense to have the remote connect + trial standard on all trims, and would probably make them far for money.

The app would probably be useful for most people, but I don't really use it myself. It sends a notification if you left doors unlocked, and allows you to lock them remotely if necessary. Plus all the other stuff that's been listed... I might keep for "just in case" after the year is up.

I thought there must be hardware integrated into one of the computers on all vehicles, and Toyota could "turn it on or off" easily. But I ran across a video of how to add the module if yours didn't come with one, so guess they just never install it on SR5s and OR/ORPs. According to the Toyota rep I spoke to on the phone number that popped up on the Toyota Connect app that said "No Remote Connect services were associated with my account", my vehicle doesn't have the capability to add anything. Just using the fob alone without the smart phone would be fine with me...I'll ask the Dealer just for giggles.

 

[Ripper238]

Was hoping to see if all the Connected services were worth it before I paid for it. Some of the other features other than Remote Start looked useful, and don't seem to be on the after market system, and Toy7ota is integrated as an OEM product, a plus in my mind. And at $6.66 a month, Toyota comes with more features for less $$$ than the Compustar Dronemobile Premium service.

Majority of the features are probably not worth it. I don't really need the Guest Driver, Last Parked Location, maintenance minder, Activity and other features on the Compustar app or Connected services have.

The key fob itself provides the key features like temp, start, remote alarm, and a bunch more. The best part its free, doesn't require a subscription and can be used with out any service since the fob has a 3mi range.


It is odd Toyota wouldn't include the connected services in all 4Runners, but then again Toyota seem to like to release things gradually.

 

[repo]

I agree it's insulting, but it's the new Pay-to-Play world. Printer companies started with ink, then Microsoft with Office, Quickbooks, Autodesk, everyone does it, everyone's figured out it's way more lucrative than charging up front.
But Toyota seems to have shot themselves in the foot by not letting everyone that buys a car now to become part of their subscription service.

Yes this just rubs me the wrong way because I've seen this with software and pushed me to go 100% FOSS a long time ago. The first thing I thought when I heard about it is A. this functionality could go in several dark directions and B. I wonder how long we'll have to wait before someone comes up with a way to crack it and load an open source firmware that lets you tinker with whatever you want for free, or interface it with some aftermarket thing which probably already exists. From what I understand the physical buses on the vehicle have very minimal security.

I mean you can get those gray market Techstream clones for very cheap from China and there's the whole key fob cloner thing so I doubt it's outside the realm of possibility to have a board or chip you can solder and take control back from "the man". You could even put your own SIM card in there I bet.

You just know one day they will be using this crap to data harvest and force you to watch a 30 second commercial before you can start you car (unless you subscribe to Toyota Car Start Premium®), and spam you with adverts on a head up display while you're waiting at intersections.

Man it's troubling to think about... hyperbole I know but what's next? Toilet subscriptions? "Sorry you have reached your maximum flushes for today. Upgrade now to our Super Dump tier for only $10/mo extra. Partnered with Taco Bell Technology Corp."

 

[RobS10]

Yes this just rubs me the wrong way because I've seen this with software and pushed me to go 100% FOSS a long time ago. The first thing I thought when I heard about it is A. this functionality could go in several dark directions and B. I wonder how long we'll have to wait before someone comes up with a way to crack it and load an open source firmware that lets you tinker with whatever you want for free, or interface it with some aftermarket thing which probably already exists. From what I understand the physical buses on the vehicle have very minimal security.

I mean you can get those gray market Techstream clones for very cheap from China and there's the whole key fob cloner thing so I doubt it's outside the realm of possibility to have a board or chip you can solder and take control back from "the man". You could even put your own SIM card in there I bet.

You just know one day they will be using this crap to data harvest and force you to watch a 30 second commercial before you can start you car (unless you subscribe to Toyota Car Start Premium®), and spam you with adverts on a head up display while you're waiting at intersections.

Man it's troubling to think about... hyperbole I know but what's next? Toilet subscriptions? "Sorry you have reached your maximum flushes for today. Upgrade now to our Super Dump tier for only $10/mo extra. Partnered with Taco Bell Technology Corp."

"Man it's troubling to think about... hyperbole I know but what's next? Toilet subscriptions? "Sorry you have reached your maximum flushes for today. Upgrade now to our Super Dump tier for only $10/mo extra. Partnered with Taco Bell Technology Corp." :lmao:

 

[repo]

"Man it's troubling to think about... hyperbole I know but what's next? Toilet subscriptions? "Sorry you have reached your maximum flushes for today. Upgrade now to our Super Dump tier for only $10/mo extra. Partnered with Taco Bell Technology Corp." :lmao:

Taking the thread further off track but it's fun to speculate... speak of the devil... this just popped up in the news:

Https://www.engadget.com/apple-iphone-hardware-subscription-service-rumor-173402698.html

This sounds like corporate preparation for the coming credit tightening. Instead of using credit to buy things up front, you buy a "subscription" instead. Sounds like fancy way to sugar coat the word RENT to me. Will be interesting to see how they translate this in to cars. And of course you won't be allowed to DIY any maintenance I bet, you'll have to use approved dealer service. Pay extra $$ each month to have the ECU enable more engine valves, crawl control or whatever.

I don't think I want ABS brakes that are already on the car to be an in-app purchase.

"Apple's iPhones and other devices have become increasingly expensive, and the company may be using alternative sales models to help soften the blow. Bloomberg sources claim Apple is developing a subscription service for the iPhone and other hardware. Akin to the iPhone upgrade program, you'd pay a monthly fee rather than an up-front cost or financed instalments. You'd "likely" manage the subscription through your Apple account."

 

[RobS10]

Taking the thread further off track but it's fun to speculate... speak of the devil... this just popped up in the news:

Https://www.engadget.com/apple-iphone-hardware-subscription-service-rumor-173402698.html

This sounds like corporate preparation for the coming credit tightening. Instead of using credit to buy things up front, you buy a "subscription" instead. Sounds like fancy way to sugar coat the word RENT to me. Will be interesting to see how they translate this in to cars. And of course you won't be allowed to DIY any maintenance I bet, you'll have to use approved dealer service. Pay extra $$ each month to have the ECU enable more engine valves, crawl control or whatever.

"Apple's iPhones and other devices have become increasingly expensive, and the company may be using alternative sales models to help soften the blow. Bloomberg sources claim Apple is developing a subscription service for the iPhone and other hardware. Akin to the iPhone upgrade program, you'd pay a monthly fee rather than an up-front cost or financed instalments. You'd "likely" manage the subscription through your Apple account."

Not a very good trend indeed!
I read something not long ago that the new Right to Repair laws in some states are running into big problems with Saburu and Kia. Seems that they only want Authorized dealers to be able to do certain repairs, so if they have to allow independent mechanics to access certain system's telemetries, they are just disabling the features, that includes, you guessed it, remote start and locking features, and the ability to check wiper fluid levels, tire pressure and mileage from your phone! Holy Unintended Consequences, Batman!! Corporate greed is reaching unheard of levels .
Subaru, Kia buyers caught in right-to-repair fight over cars

 

[repo]

Not a very good trend indeed!
I read something not long ago that the new Right to Repair laws in some states are running into big problems with Saburu and Kia. Seems that they only want Authorized dealers to be able to do certain repairs, so if they have to allow independent mechanics to access certain system's telemetries, they are just disabling the features, that includes, you guessed it, remote start and locking features, and the ability to check wiper fluid levels, tire pressure and mileage from your phone! Holy Unintended Consequences, Batman!! Corporate greed is reaching unheard of levels .
Subaru, Kia buyers caught in right-to-repair fight over cars

It's been an issue here for a while because John Deere has been holding farmers over a barrel with that stuff. They are forced to pay to get their humungous combine harvester or whatever to the dealer so they can plug in their super secret special computer reader. It costs tens of thousands of dollars in transport because you cant just drive a combine over to the dealer. Not to mention the downtime involved. As if farming isn't hard enough already.

So the price of old tractors without that tech went way up because they are in huge demand. Other farmers have gotten hold of black market diagnostic programmers from Eastern Europe in order to hack their tractor and fix stuff themselves the way they always have. Pretty interesting how this stuff plays out.