I know it's only been a few days since the cars have been sold. But I was wondering for the new owners if you have had any issues with the subscription services? Or if you even have had them turned on?

On my 2016 RX I had issues getting the Enform. Played games with Lexus for about a month trying to get it to work. Then they finally deleted all my vehicle information and started fresh. That go my remote start to finally work.

How may services are there all together? Besides XM

Remote Start

Keyless entry with a cell phone

 

The new NX has the following services with these trial periods:

XM - 3 months
Safety Connect - 3 years
Remote Connect - 3 years (this will include Digital Key if the car is equipped for that)
Drive Connect (cloud based navigation, intelligent assistant, destination assist ) - with the 9.8" screen, no trial period, $16 a month / with the 14" screen, 3 year trial. $16 a month after that
Service Connect - 5 years
Wi-Fi Connect - 1 month or 3GB. whichever comes first

So this is pretty much in line with current trial periods. Except Service Connect is 5 years now instead of 10 years.

 

My question was about the Lexus Customer Service. And how they are getting you set up initially.

I know the RAV4 Prime owners had the remote app stop working for a couple of months. Finally got an all new app to get it working again.

Is Verizon still the WI-FI company for the Lexus like it is for the Toyotas?

 

I don't know about the Customer Service aspect. Initial setup should be done at the dealership at the time of delivery using the Lexus app.
There are changes to the Lexus app from time to time so it helps to make sure it stays updated.
The cars with Gen 11 systems (addition of Android Auto) use AT&T for Wi-Fi.

 

What is the monthly cost for Wi-Fi connect service after first month?

 

Not sure about AT&T, but with Verizon on my 2019 it is $20 a month, all in, no extra taxes or fees.

 

How much does each service cost after trial periods? I see one is $16/mo

 

Wi-Fi is whatever AT&T charges, I don't know that one.

After the trial period, prices are basically the same as they are now.
Safety Connect $8 monthly
Remote Connect $8 monthly
Drive Connect $16 monthly - this is the cloud navigation that includes Destination Assist and Intelligent Assistant. Intelligent Assistant is enhanced voice commands.

 

Do the key fobs have remote start without a subscription?

 

Not that I'm aware of. I believe it's just like it is currently. Service Connect is 5 years now. So the key fob will remote start for at least that long.

 

Thank you offroad200. I am a long time toyota owner and most likely going to get a 2022 NX this spring

 

I read an article recently about how all automakers will be jumping into this subscription based items and passing the cost on to the customers. This can range from little items to must have items like over the air updates.

The automakers are learning that there is big revenue across the board for these subscriptions. One analyst predicted that GM alone could take in 23-25 billion a year for these subscriptions by 2030.

This is huge money at a time when automakers are looking to make as much profit as they can for each vehicle on years of loss from this long drawn out pandemic.

Gone are the days when you could just drive your car, like everything else more monthly fees are coming to your next vehicle.

However, the general public will only take so much. A good example is back in 2018 when BMW started charging it’s customers for a subscription to use Apple Car Play when other automakers were not charging a fee. Huge blowback toward BMW made them reverse course and in 2019 they offered Apple Car Play for free.

The bells and whistles for all these subscription based goodies on new cars are so very enticing and make your life easier and worry free BUT more monthly costs when so many people are struggling already in monthly subscriptions…so when is enough, enough?

 

Where are you getting this number from? Even if GM priced their yearly subscriptions at 80 dollars a year (what Lexus charges for the Dynamic Navigation per year) , they'd have to have over 300 million compatible vehicles. For reference they sold a little under 7 million vehicles last year.

 

By 2030, so 7 million cars sold a year for the next 8 years. Times the 300 a year for all of the subscriptions.

 

Regardless of the amount, that’s a boatload of money automakers didn’t have say 10 yrs ago. Just something to think about with new cars now. I’m old school…I just want to play my music and drive with no extra monthly subscriptions in a car that is already depreciating the moment you drive off the lot.

If you have the money this is a non issue but if you watch how you spend your money these monthly subscriptions start to add up each month and over the years.