remote start in new cars

[GenXguy]

Good to know to be aware of this for the future. I installed my own Viper car remote start (and alarm) years ago, and it has been one of my favorite purchases. I think I was all-in around $300 doing it myself. No subscription, uses fob. I would hate to give up remote start in the future although not as big of an issue after I retire.

 

[copyright1997reloaded]

I have remote start which also senses the temp and turns on the heated seats, heated steering wheel and defroster in my Rubicon and never paid for it.

Just got this in my latest vehicle. Here in the north land it is one of things you never thought you would need...but once you have it is AWESOME.

Quite frequently in fall/spring I find myself with the heat off, but heated seats and heated steering wheel on.

 

[grasshopper]

Auto manufacturers are odd to say the least. Mercedes-Benz has a rain sensor to turn your wipers on, but not roll up your windows or close your sunroof.

 

[Midpack]

I think subscriptions to remote start many legacy cars using a smartphone are pretty common, after 2-3 free years. We had some sort of free app with the last several cars we've purchased, but we let all of them lapse once a paid subscription hit. But you can always use your key fob to remote start if you have that (both our cars came with it), I'd do that before paying anything for a smartphone app subscription. I hardly ever use remote start anyway, don't see any benefit in burning extra gasoline just to have a slightly pre warmed/cooled car.

 

[Qs Laptop]

Just got this in my latest vehicle. Here in the north land it is one of things you never thought you would need...but once you have it is AWESOME.

Quite frequently in fall/spring I find myself with the heat off, but heated seats and heated steering wheel on.

Yes, now that I've had a heated steering wheel, and so long as I live in a cold climate I will not have another vehicle without one. I would consider it barbaric.

 

[REWahoo]

Yes, and it's not even close:

Automakers With Most Recalls in 2022

1. Ford Motor Co.
No. of recalls: 67
Vehicles affected: 8,636,265
Most recalled component category: Powertrain

Looks like they just announced another one - this is a recall on a recall:

Ford is recalling more than 230,000 Ranger pickups from the 2004 through 2006 model years after discovering that replacements for faulty Takata passenger airbags may have been installed incorrectly. As a result, the new airbags may not protect occupants in a crash.

 

[Qs Laptop]

Looks like they just announced another one - this is a recall on a recall:

Yes, I believe over the past five years Ford has led all automakers in recalls, both total number and number per autos sold. The gap between them and the next manufacturer is astounding.

 

[Car-Guy]

^^^^
So it sounds like FORD deserves many of the names they have been given... Fix Or Repair Daily or Found On Road Dead.

 

[Zathras]

While there are subscriptions available in Tesla vehicles, remote lock/start is not part of a subscription (to the best of my knowledge).
The standard connectivity (music streaming, basic navigation) is free for 8 years.

I believe how useful people find these apps will depend largely on how well made the apps are.
If it is easy to use, and has useful options, more people will use it.

 

[Act2]

Had a car with remote phone app start and unlock. It was useful to get the AC going in the hottest part of summer before I got to the car. And it was useful to unlock the car to retrieve or place an item when I had my phone with me but not my car keys. I often took items to the car to put them in the car for my next trip out, and not remembering my car keys happened several times. (My urban configuration is such that it’s quite a long walk to the car from the home, so it’s more annoying than it sounds.) I miss the function, which went away a few months ago as it is no longer supported. Still don’t understand why Hyundai can’t or won’t update the system. The car is a 2015.

 

[retire48in2018]

GM has done that. Used to be able to use app to remote start. It was too far to use just key fob. Newer cars requires a “basic” annual subscription ($100? I think).

 

[jazz4cash]

Unlisted in any of the advertisements or listed features, the car also came with the traditional key fob remote and door locks etc. A year+ later, we have yet to use the phone app.

I wondered about this. I’ve been seeing a commercial (Hyundai, I think) that shows a lady using her phone to unlock the car. I just wonder how that works if you have the car serviced. I assume there is a regular key or Fob. My car has remote keyless so I don’t have to take the fob out of my pocket. Seems better than waving your phone at the door lock.

 

[jazz4cash]

I wonder if a black market will develop around hacking cars to activate the features without a subscription.

I’d be surprised if it does not already exist. I worked on engine controls and I am amazed at the level of hacking that goes on to “tune” engine control modules. It has to be widespread (big $$$) to motivate anyone to intervene. The hack I’d like is engine autostop override. When I think of paying a subscription for any of these services it feels like being exposed to getting gouged.

 

[skyking1]

2019 VW Tiguan Premium with remote start on the FOBs, no app or subscription.
automatic climate control based on temperature, heated seats and steering wheel.

 

[Koolau]

In case anyone missed this thread from last year regarding auto subscriptions: The future of car ownership, monthly subscriptions for basic features?

"Resistance is futile"...

I don't know. If enough folks tell them to "keep their subscribed stuff" maybe they'll come around.

 

[lauradrops]

My 2018 Accord Touring has remote start, heated and cooled seats and Navigation with no subscriptions. I can roll up the windows with the fob as well.

 

[Dawg52]

I think subscriptions to remote start many legacy cars using a smartphone are pretty common, after 2-3 free years. We had some sort of free app with the last several cars we've purchased, but we let all of them lapse once a paid subscription hit. But you can always use your key fob to remote start if you have that (both our cars came with it), I'd do that before paying anything for a smartphone app subscription. I hardly ever use remote start anyway, don't see any benefit in burning extra gasoline just to have a slightly pre warmed/cooled car.

Same. I think I've used my remote start one time in the 2 years I've owned this vehicle. And that was to see if it worked.

 

[Music Lover]

I don't know. If enough folks tell them to "keep their subscribed stuff" maybe they'll come around.

It's too late. Young people have been trained to pay subscriptions, and as the older people stop driving they'll be less and less of them to complain.

 

[Koolau]

It's too late. Young people have been trained to pay subscriptions, and as the older people stop driving they'll be less and less of them to complain.

Heh, heh, yet one more advantage of being old! We won't put up with that nonsense that the kids accept as "just the way it's done." Of course, if I could suddenly have a kid's body, knowing what I know as an old guy, just think what I could do!

 

[CardsFan]

Heh, heh, yet one more advantage of being old! We won't put up with that nonsense that the kids accept as "just the way it's done." Of course, if I could suddenly have a kid's body, knowing what I know as an old guy, just think what I could do!

Get into even more trouble?

 

[Gumby]

All our cars are manual transmission, so remote start is not possible. Not that I would want it, in any event. And I certainly wouldn't pay a subscription for it.

 

[Koolau]

All our cars are manual transmission, so remote start is not possible. Not that I would want it, in any event. And I certainly wouldn't pay a subscription for it.

So YOU are the one keeping the manual transmission alive. Bless you. If I ever move out of an all-urban area, I will have one more manual before I die. Heh, heh, if we ever become a two-car family again, MINE just might be a manual. Keep the faith.

 

[MC Rider]

I already "subscribe" to insurance, license tags, gas, maintenance. I have no interest is subscribing to any car features. Just give me a metal key with buttons to unlock the door, power windows, and I'm good. No extra crap, tanjooberrymud.


I have not had a manual trans car in a long time, which is OK by me. Every motorcycle I ever owned had a manual trans, very few have an automatic. One down five up, baby.

 

[KarenF]

I have a 2020 Subaru Outback, and use the phone app for remote start. I have had the care for three years and no sign of a subscription yet.

 

[CRLLS]

I learned my lesson when I purchased my used 2015 Ford Escape in 2018. It had many of the bells and whistles of the time. One that I found useful was the vehicle health report. Occasionally, it would ask if I wanted to run a VHR. It ran thru some " "diagostics" and sent the report to Ford via my cell phone. I could then log into Ford's website and see the report. It would, among other things, estimate when I needed an oil change based on my driving habits.

The problem is that Ford parted ties with the operating system and cancelled the VHR within the first year I owned it. My car still asks me to run the VHR but cannot do so because Ford dropped the program.

I don't ever want to spend $30K, $40K $50K or more on a car based on its tech features that could easily be cancelled because the mfgr simply wants to. I may have to, based on current trends, but I will go to the dealership kicking and screaming.