I signed up for AcuraLink's 90 day trial and it's pretty disappointing so far. Not only does it take forever to connect to the service, it also takes minutes (!) to connect to an agent. I say minutes because I've tried to connect to an agent on numerous occasions and it hasn't once connected me, after 3-4mins of waiting. At that point, what's the use? Lexus has a similar product and it's much better.

 

Is that the OnStar type service?

 

Yes. They supposedly can help you book reservations, flights, get flight info. It's a concierge service.

 

I like Acuralink a lot. I have nothing else to compare it though. I used the concierge a few times already and they were extremely helpful and even intuitive. I was speaking with a live concierge agent within I'd say just over a minute. I'm in Canada though so maybe it's a little different.

The Acuralink Connect app though, that's a different story. That thing is an abortion!

 

I've had mixed results; one time it connected quickly and it recognized my voice commands readily. The next time it took several minutes to connect and I could not get it to respond to my voice at all. I don't think I'll pay for the service when it comes time

 

Thanks for all the good feedback. I don't really need a concierge service. I do like it for possible emergencies and lockouts, but I have a cell phone.

Are there any advantages I am missing?

 

Steve, some of the aspects of AcuraLink that I really like: There are 3 levels of service available for sale that have varying prices depending on how many years for which you sign up. The Tier 2 service provides a Stolen Vehicle Locator, mobile alerts if someone tampers with your vehicle and automatic collision notification in the event of an accident. I recently saw a Bay Area news article where a woman whose car went off a cliff on California's highway 1 was found in part due to the OnStar notifications.


AcuraLink does come with a mobile application that lets you check vehicle status. It seems to take on average about 45 seconds to connect to the TLX and it displays if your doors are locked, fuel %, lights on/off and lets you do some basic things like lock the doors, beep the horn, etc.

 

I have never had any issue with AcuraLink, however I had major problems trying to get my Lexus Connect set up last month for my IS350. Everything went through fine and I was connected with an agent within a minute, but when the time came to disconnect the call it didnt properly disconnect. I was unable to turn the radio on even after turning the car off and back on, and was unable to call back in because the system thought I was still connected! I ended up on my cell phone with a Lexus Connect advisor for about 2 hours with them trying to figure out the issue. Once they finally got everything resolved I decided that I won't be pressing that SOS button again!

My only complaint with AcuraLink is the app, yes its great to be able to lock and unlock the car from my Iphone, but it does take forever to load! Aside from that though my experience has been better with Acura than Lexus.

 

AcuraLink Dashboard




Vehicle Status Information

 

You can also access the car status from a web browser when you sign on to Acura Advance and go to the AcuraLink tab. There is also a Map tab where you can search for address and download them to the car. The only drawback is that they are stored in your Previous Destination with a blank entry and do not show the actual street and number until they are selected as a destination.

 

Thanks!

Tier 2 could be handy. For some reason I thought I had the automatic collision notification. Now I know I don't. I think I have tier 3 which is free for 3 years, but tier 2 may be worth it. I remember there was a 90-day trial. Wonder if I can get what's left of the trial?

Thanks for explaining AcuraLink to me.

 

How does Acuralink communicate? Is it via a built-in cellular service, or does it our phone's data plan?

 

It has its own cellular transceiver so some of the services work using it. For example, you can lock your doors remotely when your cellular phone is not anywhere near the car. Some of the services do work through your phone like Pandora and Aha.

 

I thought they did it over satellite, but I am willing to update my information. Thanks.

 

I think it is unlikely via satellite as my XM radio cuts out as soon I enter my underground parking, but AcuraLink while my car is parked underground. This suggests that it is via a cellular network, and my phone was not connected.

 

Cool. Thanks! I learned something new today. I can now go to sleep.