Lexus could take the high (cost) road and include the Telematic tracking system with all the
car finding, following, monitoring, starting features and throw in the XM Satellite subscription
and why not, how about every LOF and blades and tires you may ever need...forever.

Would you buy such a car for the extra $8K? Buying these services ala carte provides
some flexibility for those of us who lease for three years, don't listen to XM, live in a cold
climate and have multiple drivers.

 

I've done some research on this and apparently there's a forum member on the east coast who does this job for $300 from what I remember.. I talked to the dealer and they will do the job for $325. Keep in mind, this is to have the OEM remote start from the Lexus key fob functionality.. Personally, what I've been doing is just purchasing the monthly plan for the Lexus Enform app for $16 a month in the winter months (November -> March). Reason why is because I don't even like the remote start function on the remote.. you have to press it TWICE, then HOLD on the third time.. sometimes it doesn't work and the range isn't good.. Should be easier than that..

 

Lol BMW charges for Apple CarPlay as a monthly subscription which is outrageous, but at least they have Apple CarPlay lol. I had to spend $800 to get Apple CarPlay on the IS, but at least I'm not paying a monthly subscription.

 

Hi Flash5,

Does Lexus install the Apple CarPlay themselves or it is an aftermarket choice?

 

Aftermarket touchscreen (:

 

Yes, just leased a 2019 GX last weekend. I couldn't believe when the salesperson told the remote start keyfob feature would not work after my subscription expired. Just finished a Durango lease where I had a subscription but after it expired the key fob continued to work, as it should.

 

I doubt that Lexus designers could have screwed uo a remote start anymore than what they did. The idea that you have to sign in 4 times to start a vehicle is redundant and ridiculous! Aund after all that you get charged to be able to do that. I don;t mind a small fee but I do not like the fact that they have designed a system that cannot be replaced by an aftermarket system which not only works far better bur is less expensive then the nearly $100 per year! Come on Lexus give us a break!

 

4 times? I just have to sign in once. And it's using my fingerprint. Super easy.

 

not mine. once to begin locking, once to lock, once to begin starting and again to start. Maybe the app is defective? Maybe I need to set up the fingerprint and try that?

but i installed remote start on a 2014 and 3 clicks and it started. No yearly extortion!

 

There's also a new Lexus app these days. I remember on the old Remote app the default behavior was to ask me to enter my PIN every time I wanted to do anything.

New app is much better in basically every way.

 

I object to the extortion of paying to use a device that is a function of the vehicle but if you don't you lose it. What ever happened for use it Or lose it???

 

The finger print is a faster way to manage the start but I still object to extortion,

 

I think it's quite a leap to say it's extortion. Obviously there is a service running which allows the remote features to be used, which costs money to maintain. Now, I don't know how the key-fob-powered remote start is implemented, but perhaps it depends on this service? I don't disagree with you in the spirit of it being a shame to have to pay to use the fob for remote start, when folks like Chevrolet are giving that to us for free. However, "extortion"? Just don't buy the car...

 

what about disconnecting the wireless antenna. Lexus wont be able to communicate with the vehicle to disable feature

 

lol pretty sure it's a lot more complicated than that... how would you start the car or connect to it via the app with no wireless connectivity? Disconnecting the antenna would probably disable the entire system.