Sat/Radio question / New yaris owner - Toyota Yaris Forums

Wolf · 12-13-2009, 10:53 AM

I just learned about this the hard way myself. Toyota stuck some proprietary hardware in their vehicle so that you would have no choice but to go to a dealer and pay for overpriced hardware and services.

After a couple months with my new Yaris (which I love), I decided it was time to get my satellite radio set up. I went to Best Buy, thinking they would be able to hook up whatever I needed to make my "satellite ready" stereo pick up Sirius. They told me that I need to see the dealership, because Toyota developed their own proprietary hardware that isn't compatible with what aftermarket merchants like Best Buy carry.

I looked at the other solutions out there... finding only 2 alternatives to the outrageous $400 Toyota wants just to make their satellite button on the radio work.

One option is buying a whole new stereo... for that $400, you can get a pretty nice one with satellite reception and a USB jack (eliminate your iPod aux clutter to boot).

The other option is a Starmate 5, which I just saw in the Sunday ad for $99.99. This option isn't acceptable to me though, because it requires 3 wires (6 foot lighter adapter, the magnetic satellite antenna that somehow has to emerge from your dash to plug in to the device, and an aux audio cable). My cabin is already cluttered enough with GPS and iPod wires, not to mention that there would now be 3 devices competing for a single outlet. It also has to be clipped to a vent or suctioned to your dash. No thanks.

Anyhow, I'm not to happy with Toyota about this. When I called the dealership, the mechanic said he has had about a dozen calls about the same issue, and that it almost always results in an unhappy customer. To the original person who posted, don't blame your dealer. It's a corporate Toyota decision that you would be dealing with no matter where you bought your car. I think Honda does the same thing. They really shouldn't be allowed to call this money pit of a stereo "satellite ready" unless all you need to do is plug in a satellite receiver and be ready to go.

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12-13-2009, 10:53 AM	#14
Wolf I've made a post! Drives: 2010 5-door AT Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1	I just learned about this the hard way myself. Toyota stuck some proprietary hardware in their vehicle so that you would have no choice but to go to a dealer and pay for overpriced hardware and services. After a couple months with my new Yaris (which I love), I decided it was time to get my satellite radio set up. I went to Best Buy, thinking they would be able to hook up whatever I needed to make my "satellite ready" stereo pick up Sirius. They told me that I need to see the dealership, because Toyota developed their own proprietary hardware that isn't compatible with what aftermarket merchants like Best Buy carry. I looked at the other solutions out there... finding only 2 alternatives to the outrageous $400 Toyota wants just to make their satellite button on the radio work. One option is buying a whole new stereo... for that $400, you can get a pretty nice one with satellite reception and a USB jack (eliminate your iPod aux clutter to boot). The other option is a Starmate 5, which I just saw in the Sunday ad for $99.99. This option isn't acceptable to me though, because it requires 3 wires (6 foot lighter adapter, the magnetic satellite antenna that somehow has to emerge from your dash to plug in to the device, and an aux audio cable). My cabin is already cluttered enough with GPS and iPod wires, not to mention that there would now be 3 devices competing for a single outlet. It also has to be clipped to a vent or suctioned to your dash. No thanks. Anyhow, I'm not to happy with Toyota about this. When I called the dealership, the mechanic said he has had about a dozen calls about the same issue, and that it almost always results in an unhappy customer. To the original person who posted, don't blame your dealer. It's a corporate Toyota decision that you would be dealing with no matter where you bought your car. I think Honda does the same thing. They really shouldn't be allowed to call this money pit of a stereo "satellite ready" unless all you need to do is plug in a satellite receiver and be ready to go.