The tricky thing is that you have to pay for the base plan and then the other plan on top of it so you do need to pay for both.

 

My wife’s 3 years will be up next month as well. The $150 is for another 3 years, correct?

 

I think it might be $150.00 a year. Don't quote me. People have a way of getting 50% discounts sometimes - I don't know how.

 

Ok, $150 a year is definitely not worth it to me, but I’ll have to see what my wife thinks.

 

You need to pay the $150/yr to keep remote start. You can call them up and tell them to cancel your auto renewal (it will renew if you don't cancel it). They will likely ask you why you're cancelling, tell them it's too expensive and there is a good chance they offer it 1/2 off.

 

I've used that tactic with SiriusXM several times with lots of success. You just have to press them.

 

Call SoA?

 

The Starlink 800# which is different than the SOA one.

855-753-2495

 

I'm planning on ditching it at the 3 year mark also. These remote functions are cool but realistically they're just an amenity and not at all necessary to operate the car like any other.

I've used remote start maybe 12 times in 3 years, car location 6 times (just for fun), remote lock or unlock 3 times. If I use it that much in the next 3 years at the cost of $450.00 that's insanely expensive. Even at half price of $225.00. If it gave me some kind of insurance discount to compensate or something it might make more sense.

 

I've used remote start maybe 12 times in 3 years, car location 6 times (just for fun), remote lock or unlock 3 times. If I use it that much in the next 3 years at the cost of $450.00 that's insanely expensive. Even at half price of $225.00. If it gave me some kind of insurance discount to compensate or something it might make more sense.

It definitely depends where you live. In NY I use my remote start all the time in the winter and wouldn't want a car without it.

As for the insurance part, ask your provider, the location tracking/theft recovery features might get you a discount.

 

We don’t use remote start at all but instead keep the feature for the automatic crash notification and response. This was the main reason we switched to Subaru after 20 years of Hondas, who only offers their version of connected services on their Touring and Elite trims.

 

but instead keep the feature for the automatic crash notification and response.

Same here. That's why when we were offered the plans for 7 years at $374.95 at time of the OB purchase, we took it. Sadly, I hear that they don't offer that exact pricing model anymore.

 

I don't care about the remote start, but do like the locate car and remote unlock features. We access these through the My Subaru app. If I don't want to pay $150/year to renew, does the My Subaru app lose all that functionality, or just the remote start?

 

I believe it loses everything.

I use mine almost every time I drive, particularly when leaving home. I can start it by voice from my cell phone (or other devices) and have it warmed up or cooled down (and the engine just idling down) when I get in.

 

I don't use my remote start that often (car is parked in an attached garage at home), I do like the remote lock/unlock from the phone. I'm about 18 months in and don't use the features THAT much but having them available is nice.

I previously had a vehicle with OnStar (it was a 2006 so it was a little more primitive than this system) and ended up using the call-in to get the car unlocked ONCE during the trial, I didn't continue that service...

 

I feel like I'm going to have this exact conversation 5 years from now when I am due for renewal. I'm only a bit over a month in with the 5 years I purchased at a discount during initial purchase and I like the features even if I don't use all of it (now). I also do park the car outside a lot and it helps now (during cold season) and probably during the height of summer too. What I am interested in is the security features related to monitoring your teen. In the 5 years I will have a driving age teen and I'm looking forward to seeing how that goes. I know we can get 3rd party apps that do the same (have those too now) but something native to the car is always interesting.

 

I talked to my Dealer yesterday about this and he said that if you don't renew the Starlink subscription the MySubaru App is worthless.

 

My wife only used the app for the remote start function and other than checking for recalls, which I’ve found out about here long before I see it in the app, I didn’t use it for much else. Is there another way to access a remote start function? I’m aware of the separate fob that was/is available, but can that be added and used if it wasn’t included when the vehicle was purchased? It might not be of much use for us since we live in a condo building some distance away from where the cars are parked but I am curious about it. My wife would be interested in that if it were feasible. Other than that, the subscription wouldn’t be worth it. It’s too bad they couldn’t continue the 3 year option for $75-$150. At a max of $50 a year we would consider it. Seems like they would also benefit as opposed to those like us who will just cancel.

 

I only did a 5 year rate. In hindsight I should have done 7.

 

I wish they offered the 7 yr now. I would have gotten that too.

 

Mine just expired and this shows on the web site:

And this shows when I open the app:

 

As long as you have Internet service on your phone you can remote start your car from anywhere in the world! But the discussion here is really remote start via the key FOB - not the App.

 

Thanks guys, I wasn’t aware of what was necessary for the separate fob or using the existing key fob. Either way renewing the subscription or having the add-on mechanism installed it’s not really worth it to us. We’re still waiting for Subaru to fix the transmission, remote start is a bit superfluous when your car is disabled

 

I just learned that SUBARU canceled STARLINK in Massachusetts.

 

Happened over a year ago I believe. Started with the 22MYs. Their way of complying with state law.

 

If you already have remote start in your vehicle, you have several options. You can totally go rogue and install an aftermarket system which uses a button to start up to a mile away, or get the app and have many of the features of Starlink with a one time buy. I guess it depends on how long you intend to keep the car. It is rather expensive but a one time buy so if you had the car for 6 or 7 years renewing yearly after three it might be a better option. It also gets you away from big brother Subaru.

Remote Start Kit | 2020-2022 Subaru Outback | 12Volt.Solutions

100% Plug & Play | Get our 2020-2022 Subaru Outback Remote Start Kit at 12Volt.Solutions for the best Plug and Play Remote Start Kit on the market!! NO DEALER ACTIVATION REQUIRED!

www.12volt.solutions

Also Subaru makes a keyfob with a start button. I am wondering how much this would cost at time of purchase.

2023 Subaru Outback Remote Engine Starter - Push Start - H001SAN001 - Genuine Subaru Accessory

Allows vehicle to be started by pushing a button from the convenience of home or the office (up to 400 feet away depending on obstructions) so that the vehicle’s interior temperature is more comfortable upon entry. Push Start works in conjunction with the Keyless Access and Start system. This...

parts.subaru.com

Googling this it appears that a regular FOB should work by locking the doors and holding lock for 3 seconds but I was unable to get that to work on my 2020 Outback oynx which does have remote start that works with the app.

As more independents crack the code like with the autostart eliminator we might be able to break loose of Subaru's hold on feature costs. This is one area where hackers are welcome!

 

Also Subaru makes a keyfob with a start button. I am wondering how much this would cost at time of purchase.

2023 Subaru Outback Remote Engine Starter - Push Start - H001SAN001 - Genuine Subaru Accessory

Allows vehicle to be started by pushing a button from the convenience of home or the office (up to 400 feet away depending on obstructions) so that the vehicle’s interior temperature is more comfortable upon entry. Push Start works in conjunction with the Keyless Access and Start system. This...

parts.subaru.com

Googling this it appears that a regular FOB should work by locking the doors and holding lock for 3 seconds but I was unable to get that to work on my 2020 Outback oynx which does have remote start that works with the app.

As previously stated, the standard key fob remote won’t start the car without the remote start system you list above installed. It’s not just a fob, it’s the entire remote start system designed for the cars as a dealer installed/aftermarket item. You can install it yourself, but the dealer has to program the remotes. The Starlink capability and the system you linked above are two completely separate systems with zero crossover or compatibility between them. You can have them installed and use them independently of each other.

 

Here is a Canadian company that sells a DIY remote start system. Probably a little complicated for some, but maybe fun for others. They sell them for many makes and models.

Lockdown Security "Connected Car Experts"

Lockdown Security is your Canadian source for advanced in-vehicle electronics and installations. Security, Safety, Surveillance and Comfort.

lockdownsecuritycanada.ca

 

Why do you have to cancel? They don't have your credit card, just let it expire.

 

They had mine as that's how I paid the $75 at the dealer the day I bought the car. The next issue is that on the web site the default is to auto-renew which would be on the new, higher rate.

 

You can easily check your billing and renewal settings online at mysubaru.com under My STARLINK subscriptions. You have the ability to enable or disable automatic renewal. You can also check to see if you have a credit card on file.

 

Same for me. Jusr received a email reminder warning that time is running out to renew

 

Hey guys - this thread is about STARLINK - not Sirius/XM!

 

Starlink9 didn’t work, calling them on the phone they suggested calling SOA customer advocacy department 800-SUBARU3, option 7, then option 3. First call no luck. Tried again and got a different person, very nice, created a case, emailed me a confirmation of the case and said I should hear something in a couple days. Sure enough I received a voice message today saying they had put a discounted renewal into MySubaru account. Logged in and discovered they gave me three years free with the option to extend even longer at a reduced rate. Pretty easy decision to take the longest term they offered, so I got 7 more years of Safety Plus for $225 vs $700. Since Starlink was one of the main reasons we switched to Subaru from Honda, who only offers their HondaLink version on the highest trim levels, it was an easy decision to buy the additional coverage at a great rate.

Along with 3 free years of the Safety Plus service, they gave me 6 months of the add on Security Plus that includes the remote services. Most of you want this for remote start, but for me the value is the stolen vehicle immobilizer and recovery service. After the 6 free months they have it set up for monthly renewal, but I’ll check then to see if the annual rate is available. Not a big difference, since it’s $50 annual or $5x12=$60/year when paid monthly. To me it’s worth it, especially since they gave the big discount on the more expensive Safety Plus service that you must have before adding the Security Plus option.

So the moral of the story is the same as others have mentioned: ask and you just might receive. Subaru continues to take good care of me both from the corporate level and at my local dealer. Yes I pay the dealer to do my work, but it’s worth it to know the job will be done right. When the mechanic came out to tell me my CVT fluid change at 48K looked fine but could have gone longer, and suggested 60K intervals going forward, I was sold.

Here’s the screenshot of the offer Subaru gave me. Probably going to pick up an Ascent soon so we’ll be a two-Subaru family again, and I’ll definitely be adding whatever the longest term they offer for Starlink on that vehicle too. We were leaning towards an Odyssey, but their infotainment screen is tiny compared to the big Outback screen we’re used to, which has now been added to the Ascent for 2023.