Automotive remote starter

[East Bay Rider]

Does anyone have a recommendation?
My bride leased a new Rav4 last weekend but at $700 we declined the remote starter offered by the dealership. We did have the dealer install one when we leased the last car three years ago but it was such poor quality (repaired 3 times finally we just gave up) that she's a bit gun-shy over the dealership offerings.
However she'd still like one if it would be better quality. The car has the usual electronics including push button start.

[GB-man]

I had the Drone in my last 4runner. Have to be honest it was hit or miss until the tech finally got it working right and then it worked flawless. Works from your phone which is great for me as I don’t like extra fobs.

[swils8610]

We install a lot of remote starters in all Toyota’s. Should be no issue. I’ve used the Directed Smart Start with works with my cell phone. You can start your vehicle from anywhere. I once started my car from the Detroit airport and when I landed in Buffalo it was defrosted and toasty warm!


“I think a man and his watch have a special bond”~Ralph Lauren

[dba]

Mine came with the $1500 Technology Package which included the Sat Nav, Blind Spot Alert, self dimming mirrors etc on my Ford Edge. The key is just a fob which I leave in my pocket for the push button start, remote lift gate and that happy stuff.

The $700 for your remote start probably would have added only about $20 to your payment over the time of your wife's lease. Since your wife's car is so new, perhaps you can still make a deal to have the factory remote installed. Best of luck.

[sco]

I used to have the viper smart start app. I actually moved it a couple of times from car to car. It worked great, but not cheap. One of my favorite tricks was to lock the doors from anywhere, including outside of the country.

Once I got my Audi, the dealer told me the car warms up fast once you start driving and to skip the remote start. While that is true, I miss those winter evenings leaving my office in -6F and hopping into a warm ride with hot seats!

[Romeojk]

I have a Compustar remote starter and love it, not sure of the model. It works from a good distance away and gives me a verbal and visual confirmation when the truck is started, locked or unlocked (two-way starter). It beeps and flashes to tell me it worked...this means I don't have to look out a window to confirm. It works from pretty far away. I think it says 300 feet, which I have definitely done it at. I've had it about 5 years (once I gave up my heated garage I needed it). I know it is better distance wise than a couple of factory ones I've had and my wife has had. I paid about $300 for mine.

So you got me thinking and I wnet on their website and there are quite a few models now, and it looks like a 2 mile range on on one of the two ways, sounds very cool.

Good luck

[Wesley Crusher]

What’s the point? Just one more thing to break down the road, IMO.

[The Libertine]

Candidly, I would pass unless installed at the factory at the time of build.

[swils8610]

German cars I would not recommend putting an aftermarket remote start in. They wreak havoc on the electrical system. Asian and domestic vehicles have minimal issues if any. Viper/Directed are the same company which we’ve had great success with. Minimal issues.


“I think a man and his watch have a special bond”~Ralph Lauren

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by Wesley Crusher

What’s the point? Just one more thing to break down the road, IMO.

Easy to say from sunny California.

If you lived in the NE you might renegotiate

[Keadog]

I have a Viper installed aftermarket in my '08 Tundra at delivery. Stills works perfectly, through walls, 10 years and 100K miles later. Better than any factory built in I have seen. It was $700 then, which was not cheap.

OTOH, the "Mercedes Me" app on my S550 is pathetic (and that's being kind and avoiding profanity on the forum - they should be ashamed).

[Colin G]

Originally Posted by swils8610

German cars I would not recommend putting an aftermarket remote start in. They wreak havoc on the electrical system. Asian and domestic vehicles have minimal issues if any. Viper/Directed are the same company which we’ve had great success with. Minimal issues.

A fella here at work had major issues when installed into a Mercedes C Class. It did indeed wreak havoc until it was removed.

[droptopman]

Originally Posted by Keadog

I have a Viper installed aftermarket in my '08 Tundra at delivery. Stills works perfectly, through walls, 10 years and 100K miles later. Better than any factory built in I have seen. It was $700 then, which was not cheap.

OTOH, the "Mercedes Me" app on my S550 is pathetic (and that's being kind and avoiding profanity on the forum - they should be ashamed).

Totally agree regarding the MB app. Only works about 30% of the time. I could easily go on a swearing rant about it. Total POS