Telematics - Toyota support (rant)

[BimmerGuy]

I picked up my new 2025 Supra on Saturday. There is (was) a sticker on the radio or dash (I forgot where) that said something like "This car reports telematic data to BMW, your data provider. To find out more information about this or to disable the feature, go to SupraConnect.com or call us at 800-yada-yadayada".

SupraConnect is not a valid URL. So I called the 800 number. The very nice lady asked me how she could help me with my 2024 Supra. I said sure, but it's a 2025. I read the message to her and asked if it can be disabled. "Let me contact your dealer's service department and see if they can help," she said.

I said no, they couldn't even do the PDI/setup properly so I'm sure that they don't know how to do this. OK, she says, "Let me call the Supra hotline". I'm on hold for 2 minutes, and then a nice off-shore gentleman asks how he can help. "Didn't <insert name of rep> tell you what this is about?" I asked.

"No sir, she just transferred me."

So I went through it all again with him. He had me read the sticker to him verbatim. He had no idea what to do, and suggested that I contact my dealer.

Useless. Beyond useless, because useless wouldn't have wasted 15 minutes of my day.

I forgot sometimes, that Toyota is a huge multinational conglomerate, and sometimes customer service is just an oxymoron.

With BMW, a real badged BMW, there is an option in the privacy section in the iDrive to turn this feature off. Toyota removed that option from the menu.

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[bushido]

no need to worry about this. toyo/bmw won't report to your insurance provider. this technology is for emergency SOS and whatnot. carry on, have a hot chocolate

 

[Rensuhlo]

You can just disconnect the module. Or code it out.

 

[razorlab]

With BMW, a real badged BMW

Strong foreshadowing with this statement...

 

[BMWAF]

Strong foreshadowing with this statement...

He's not wrong though. Toyota started with a fully fledged BMW and then chipped away at it removing features until they got a Toyota. ?‍

 

[razorlab]

He's not wrong though. Toyota started with a fully fledged BMW and then chipped away at it removing features until they got a Toyota. ?‍

I didn't say he was wrong. I just sense that there are going to be a lot of "my *real* BMWs weren't like this" as he gets deeper into his Supra ownership, and of course, we will have a jolly laugh.

 

[BimmerGuy]

I didn't say he was wrong. I just sense that there are going to be a lot of "my *real* BMWs weren't like this" as he gets deeper into his Supra ownership, and of course, we will have a jolly laugh.

Well, I will expect you to keep me reeled-in if I get carried away.

Looking back, I realized that I have always wanted a Supra since Gen II, but they were too expensive. Now that I can afford it, I can scratch that itch and of course, it's not really a Toyota underneath after all, so I did miss out on all of that bullet-proof Japanese car ownership.

I had a coworker with a Gen II Supra, but he wouldn't let go of it even if I had asked, and honestly now, nearly 40 years later, the performance is nothing to write home about compared to today's cars. Even something as mundane as a Honda Accord can probably outperform a Gen II.

So I will try to temper my expectations and whining and complaining accordingly.

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