The most bothersome thing for me

There's something about the new Tundra that really rubs me the wrong way.
No, it's not the lack of tow hooks...
Or the handlebar mustache grill....

Now I know I'm going to sound like a whack job....but it's bugging me...

I really love the new Tundra and have been super excited to replace my 15 year old truck...

Bought my wife a new 2020 Toyota last year, and really like it.

But ...wtf with the new head unit and "connected services" shit?

Here comes the conspiracy theory....

Toyota thinks they can turn us into a repeating revenue income source, by way of subscription and selling our personal data.

Supposedly they teamed up with Google to develop the software in the Tundra.

To be clear, I don't mind paying for an optional smartphone connected services. But, it appears some basic remote fob functions and use of the head unit requires opting in, making account, and possibly paying for basic functions not related to the convenience of a smartphone.

It doesn't sit well with me that giving up my 15 year old truck causes me to lose my free key fob remote start.

Or that the radio goes to an annoying "guest mode" when it can't confirm if I have an account.

I also don't like that the truck is always "connected" to somebody, and our use data is at least known to Toyota, but what about Google? Or them selling/making available my use data to 3rd parties?

Local governments have been wanting to tax vehicles "per-mile". Wouldn't surprise me if that's a future software update to our Tundra.

How about they allow your insurance company to see how you drive?

Of course, I'm just being paranoid.

But when the door is cracked open, it can be forced open further.

Starts at $80 year.... Not so bad too freak out, right?
But it can, and will go up from there.

Maybe in-vehicle advertisement? Why not?

Maybe pay for using your door locks or AC? Why not, if we accept paying for a PREVIOUSLY FREE function from our key fob?

The video Tim (truck talk YouTube) put up about the infotainment system really leaves me cold.

 

Also wanted to add I'm not picking on the Tundra specifically, I know this crap has been trickling out for a few years in other vehicles. Toyota isn't the first to do this nor are they alone going forward.

 

I totally agree with this and I'm glad I got the last old school Tundra.

 

I agree completely. Toyota took a feature that uses hardware (auto start from fob)that does not need or rely on data being collected to their master data consent which means the hardware you paid for, that allows the truck to be autostarted from the fob will be shut off if you don't give them your data which includes speed, location, and a whole host of other things.

What else will they do that to in the future if people accept this?

4 wheel drive? Your headlights? Power windows?

Ridiculous. The hardware is already there, we paid for it, they will charge us to use it, and deny us the ability to use it if we don't give up all our privacy to them. Wow. Just wow. Had I known that before dropping over 60k on this truck, and another 10k+ in mods I'd have gone a different route.

Toyota has lost their damn minds.

 

Unfortunately auto makers are learning from software makers. There is a ton more money to be had, long-term, available from your current clients if you dribble out a service they can't live without and milk 'em slowly. Rats.

I read recently stellanis (chrysler) is planning on several $billion coming by 2030 just from subscriptions to services they expect to sell us. They could milk us for just about anything that is not safety related (and maybe some of those too). radio, foglights, backup cams, seat heaters, memory seats and on and on.

This is worse than 1984 was ever predicted to be, not only do they watch us, they take money from us like taking candy from a baby. Bastards.

 

We're probably going to get a few people saying "nothing's free"
Or
"It's only $80 a year"
Or
"If you're not doing anything wrong, what's the problem with someone owning and possibly sharing your use data?"

 

You aren’t the only one who thinks this either. Rubs me the wrong way too. My 2012 isn’t going anywhere for quite awhile.

 

I had a 2016 GTI that had optional connected services. I had a lot of control of my GTI with my smartphone.
That was included free for a year.
I only used it to show my friends that you could close the sunroof or check your gas level from the phone.
The best function was locating the car, if someone ever stole it I could conceivably find it.
Nonetheless I let the subscription lapse.

My GTI continued to function normally afterwards, I didn't need an account to "log in to" my radio FFS.

I feel they were just "testing the waters".

 

subscription services are death by a 1000 cuts and its already played out. with the new vehicle pricing, the constantly ballooning fuel prices and this non-sense its hard to assume many of us will be here in 10 years. rant over

 

Since I have a 21, I will seriously look into disabling or removing the shark fin. Screw their GPS and signal. I don't listen to radio anyway. I'll use a GPS of my choice. Some how I feel like opting out of them collecting my data is a sham.

So disabling their ability to collect it is the next option.

 

Nailed it pretty good OP, tis only the beginning!

 

I'm certain the bastards will make you pay a subscription fee to REMOVE the ads automatically playing every time you start the vehicle, and popping up every 5 minutes of drive time (think youtube).

No wonder cars from the 60's and 70's are selling for big $. Freedom ain't cheap, but it's WORTH IT!

 

I know! I know!

 

Agreed.

 

I’m glad I got the 1st old school Tundra.

 

If people aren't seeing what's happening then they have tin foil over their eyes at this point lol

 

I get there’s some legit gripes but the reality is most electronic devices, cellphone applications, TV applications, and shopping sites are tracking and selling our information.

All smart phones, all smart TVs, DEFINITELY all Microsoft/Apple computers, and various other devices. Amazon does it and there are daily links to Amazon products on this forum that many don’t seem to gripe about.

I agree it’s ALL intrusive on our privacy however I don’t see anyone ditching many of the products mentioned above…

 

This is nothing new. GM did this with OnStar over twenty years ago. After your service ran out after the first year, the OnStar subscription was really expensive.

I remember locking my keys in the car 20 years ago and I called the dealer to get a replacement and they said if you have OnStar call and they can remotely unlock the car. 15 min later presto! I was amazed.

 

Somebody's gotta pay for the services these products bring to us. Pay for streaming platforms, etc.
Ads on this site, or in my Yahoo mail sucks, but I'm getting these for "free".

It's not like you get ads or accounts to play a DVD... People make new product types that actually require constant management, therefore ads or subscriptions are reasonable.

You pay $50k for a truck, and they want to charge you for remote start from the key fob? Since when did the key fob in your pocket require a subscription to use it's buttons?
Why should the radio/infotainment default to a bothersome, annoying "guest account" when it doesn't recognize your phone or you loan the truck, or..... just don't want to have an account to use your damn radio?

I don't mind paying for Pandora... I do mind it if just turning on the radio is so obfuscated, or they think I should pay subscription for the buttons on my fob.

Where does it end....

 

Many people are doing as much as possible to avoid supporting those companies and their products. Damn near impossible to completely eliminate the intrusion but much can be done. Onstar is one of the main reasons I chose a super duty over the duramax in 2012.

 

OnStar was a service. For something unique.

When it expired, your vehicle didn't behave oddly. Only weird thing about OnStar was it made changing your radio for aftermarket a real pita.

I don't think anybody minds paying for connected services, nobody is asking for connected services to be free.
It's the monetizing of traditional, long established, regular tech that's worrisome

 

Honestly for me personally I could care less that Toyota is charging to use the key fob as a remote start. It’s a simple amenity not a necessity for the truck to function. Now if Toyota disable the lock/unlock function…would be a completely different story. I subscribe to the app because of the other features it offers. And I don’t use the auto start.

It doesn’t end because all the car manufacturers are only going to require more information to operate the vehicle. I have a difficult time as it is because I have very little accounts in general. I don’t necessarily disagree with what you saying but in regards I see auto start as meh. And any owner can get an aftermarket system that has virtually the same capability as Toyota’s app. So in my opinion an owner has options and are not locked into anything they don’t want.

 

Much agreed (not all though…) but there is going to be a point when you won’t be able to purchase a vehicle without similar systems…and I really don’t like it. But Toyota offers some decent features in the subscription for me personally to warrant the money. And I am well aware of the privacy loss…

 

I think toyota having the app and services for people to choose is great. It actually is cool, some of the features it offers. If someone is ok with toyota collecting their where abouts and whatever else that's completely their choice. They lose me when they start taking away features of hardware that's installed on the vehicle I paid for, that has nothing to do with the application, if I don't consent to them collecting my information.

It's a slippery slope to say the least. Obviously if they did this for other hardware on the truck that we paid for like the sun roof, people would be like wtf lol yea you bought the sun roof, and it's on the truck, but if you want to open it, give us your location

 

I called and opted out of all connected services associated with my ‘21.

It still has the lame remote start that shuts off when you open the door.

Yes, for now. But this kind of stuff tends to ratchet in one direction only.

“Unlock your lane departure alert for a small monthly fee!”
“Add rear window functionality for only $3/month!
Etc etc

 

I opted out of the master consent on the app, and it won't let me remote start my 2021 trd pro... maybe I should call?

 

The real question is whether we are asked to pay for equipment on the front end that we can’t use without a subscription on the back end.

 

Interesting discussion. Makes me glad I have the '21 with a cut key. I realized years ago that the 18-34 demographic are the ones that are easily swayed into spending money. Easy catch for companies. Us older but wiser have the money but are more careful with it. Not an easy catch. Add to that the younger generation loves their connected devices. I use them as I would any tool. I'm resenting being forced to use my phone or laptop more and more every day.

 

Remote start from your key fob exists because:
-the key fob you own has the capability
-the ECM you own has the capability
-the communication method between the 2 is long established as free

Therefore, it's part of the vehicle you own. It's cool that you don't care about remote start. But, Toyota is shutting down hardware you own if you don't pay a subscription.

That's my point.

In the case of remote start from a smartphone app:
-the app on your phone requires constant development
-the 4G service to the vehicle to connect app to phone isn't free

Therefore I agree that the smartphone connectivity requires a subscription.

So, they've disabled one traditional, common function from hardware you own to motivate some people to buy in to subscription.
What other function could they eliminate that would actually bother you?
I'm talking about traditional stuff that the vehicle and it's buttons (including your fob) already have the hardware for, being "turned off" to compel you into a subscription?