Hello friends,
Those of us who are early adopters of the 2023+ RX350, our remote subscription has started transitioning to monthly pay. Wondering if you are planning to pay up or let it expire and why. I let mine expire and so far do not seem to miss it.
While it was nice to check locks,windows and health, I actively avoid monthly subscriptions when possible. I use remote start with the key fob when needed.
I thought the the traffic jam assist required the subscription but it still works.

 

I understand your logic and a lot of people feel the same. My personal opinion is that I spent $60k+ on a luxury vehicle and if they are features I use, I'm going to worry about $20-$30 a month to keep them. That's just me, YMMV.

 

My wife and her 2023 NX and me and my 2024 RX use nothing but Android Auto anyway. Her subscription just ran out. There's no way I'd pay a dollar more for the subscription We never use one thing for it so why pay.

 

This is the only item I value out of the subscription features, and I too refuse to pay monthly for a boatload of other features that I don't need and/or are executed very poorly (such as navigation).

I'm pleasantly surprised to hear that TJA works without subscription. Also, quite a few NX owners in US (but not in Canada) received an email extending some of their subscriptions to 10 years from 3. I presume they are not doing that for RX. Hm.

 

No way I'm paying extra. Not because I can't, but I refuse to pay them more to use options on a car I paid for. Total BS. My subscription on my 24 Tundra ran out. Don't miss it one bit. When our Lexus runs out, that will be it.

 

I realize I'm likely in the minority here, but I dislike using Apple CarPlay and use the on-board apps exclusively, including navigation. Never had a problem with the onboard nav (in my new RX350 or previous Toyotas). I can send and receive texts, make and receive calls, without "mirroring" my phone on the infotainment screen. I get my satellite radio and my Amazon Music. When I get in the car the phone goes in the cubby with the Qi charger and stays there until I get out. And I do use the Lexus app remote features. So, I'm one of the few that will be renewing when my trial expires 2 years and 8 months from now. Pretty much all software is going the Saas route, not just automotive. I guess since I work in IT I'm less sensitive to the "I shouldn't have to keep paying for it" argument. I do agree with those who say it's not worth it because you never use it. Makes no sense to pay for something you don't use. My case is different. Maybe it's because I'm old

 

I don't think its any of the reasons you cited that make me not want to pay - and most Lexus owners seem to be old .

All of these subscription features have to be compelling in terms of the value they deliver, to make sense as a continuous subscription that justifies $$ exchange with owners. The Lexus navigation is horrible in routing algorithms relative to Google/Apple maps and map's orientation setting in 3D resets everytime the car boots. The remote start and Drive Connect do not provide sufficient value - if one can use the keyfob and Carplay. Lexus just makes horrible quality software - probably among the worst in the business when it comes to software quality in terms of value. They also hardly ever update anything. Why pay Lexus to sustain their horrible software quality - their software team simply piggybacking on Lexus sales without competitively measuring up in any manner. Lexus subscriptions do not deliver any value to me, in terms of quality or meaningfulness.

 

Because I am not tech savvy, I don't really know the benefits of having an active subscription. Could someone in this forum educate the uninitiated (like me) in understanding the benefits? I am not really adverse to continuing the subscription when mine expires because a $20 monthly fee is not a significant expense. OTOH, if enough of us (Lexus owners) refuse to continue subscription, whether due to usefulness or fee expense, corporate Lexus may well consider reducing the fee and/or adding more useful features. Just my thoughts! Thanks!

 

I gave up the sub on my 19 ES once it expired and never missed it. Key fob remote start is good for ten years - I wonder if that's still the case on later gen models?

 

I guess it depends on what you consider quality software. I traded a Cadillac XT4 for my RX350. The software in it was definitely more flashy and more up to date functionality and UI-wise than what's in the RX. The 34-inch LCD display in that thing was gorgeous! Problem was, it not all of it worked a good part of the time. Lots of stuff came up as unavailable each time you started the darn thing, and each time it was something different. Lexus (and Toyota in general) made a decision as a company a while back that they are going to provide basic, solid software that works every time. It may not be as sexy or flashy, but it works. If you want bleeding edge software in the driver UI, Toyota has never been the place to go. That's not saying "we sell cars anyway so we don't give a you-know-what", it's saying we're going to emphasize safety tech and keep the UI stuff simple but reliable. You may not agree with that decision, and I get your frustration over paying for something that to you seems like Pong in a PS2 world. For you it pays not to pay

 

In terms of engineering quality and execution, I appreciate something that is made with attention to detail. Lexus reliability (12 V battery notwithstanding), a heritage of their Japanese culture, requires strong attention to detail in both design and execution. My baseline for such software quality wasn't American automakers, products of whom I've never owned nor driven. My baseline was also not the new-age EV makers - but instead the Germans. My piece of trash in terms of unreliability of an Audi from 2014 model-year had better thought through design and execution of software than my 2024 Lexus - talking just of the software comparison. I understand BMW's software is also top-notch (as is of Genesis). On the other hand Lexus runs a US-based Toyota-subsidiary a forum-member pointed to, which results in this crude execution with complete lack of attention to detail. Am I happy with the Lexus-executed hardware in the drive-train of my 450H+ ? Absolutely, I paid a $10K premium exclusively for that drive-train. But absolutely not happy with the crud of software that they have the audacity to ask for subscription payment towards - and so I'm just voting to not pay for it.

 

The only thing I use on the app is find my vehicle. For those with expired subscriptions, did you lose this? If so, do I need to sign up for Drive or Remote Connect to get this feature?

 

Still have 5 more months but will not be a single one of their subscriptions. Maybe if they did quality software that was worth the cost. Why did they even bother doing OTA update capability? They obviously don’t give a crap about prior purchasers unless they can milk more money out of you.

 

I use it Remote Connect frequently, but am annoyed that I have to pay for Drive Connect too, which I never use. I do wish there was a discounted annual subscription, which was/is available for earlier vehicles

 

I plan to let mine expire. Had the Digital Key actually been reliable, that might have been worthwhile. But I gave up on that about 9 months into ownership.