Just got my TRD 86 what is best way to get XM?
 

I just bought a TRD86. Not a fan of stickers but got a good deal and this radio looks like something from a decade ago. How do I get XM on this? What is the best way to go? New headunit? If so what the popular one for good sound OEM look with XM and memory slots.

Wut?
It should already have XM radio. All you have to do is call XM service. In your manual there should be a radio ID number.

If for some reason your head unit doesn't have XM radio or you actually bought a base model Scion FR-S with fake TRD badges, the the cheap fast way is to get the XM app on your smart phone.

All XM radio does require a monthly subscription. It's not free.

You do not have to figure out anything. You will start getting emails/phone calls/letters in the mail trying to push that shit on you.

2017-2019 Toyota 86 head unit does NOT have XM

The satellite navigation feature is a 900$ option, and you'd think being a satellite thing they'd have thrown in XM but nope. If your bandwidth allows, the XM phone app is probably the easiest, if not, junk the radio and got aftermarket. Of if you're feeling janky, use the aux in for a standalone xm receiver like in the old days :lol

Correct, it appears to be missing and they sell a Vais Technology GSR-TY51 Adapter to get XM for $300. I wonder if an around $300 new head unit would be better than OEM?

Yes. For $300 you can have a great head unit with apple/android car play, back up camera option, satellite radio, proper input/output rca jacks.

Take trip to your local car audio shop, or try your luck at Best Buy, then once you get the basics, look stuff up on the internet. Or YouTube a bunch of car head units.

The car comes with rear view mirror backup camera. Pretty strange and I hope that wiring is not related to the head unit. Just found out the USB doesn't work. I wonder if the dealer ever plugged it in the head unit.


I'll try the XM app tomorrow but prefer to use steering wheel controls.

If you have an android phone the USB is always an issue. It's been a known problem since forever. For what ever reason Toyota/Subaru where always in favor of iPhone.

I just find it very odd your TRD version does not have satellite radio. But eh they got to save money somewhere. Does it at least have navigation?

USB not working? How were you intending to use it? The USB connector on the console is intended to connect a usb drive, not charge a phone, it's probably got a 500mA power supply, not enough to charge a modern phone. My cousin's Nissan leaf is the same, he asked me if the usb was broken because his phone wasn't charging, but no it's fine, it's just a data plug, not a charging plug.

Just checked. The data USB worked. You guys are probably correct.

About phone apps, usb charging and steering controls...

Since the car's USB isn't for charging, I'm running a dedicated USB3 charger in the cup holder compartment and I've got the smallest stick-on scosche magic mount just a bit right and back from the shifter, the setup is awesome, spotify is but a flick of the wrist away from the shifter. The setup is clean and there is only a tiny bit of of the USB cable poking out of the cup holder bin. No giant cradle suctioned to the windshield of dashboard or worse: clipped to an air vent, no cables dangling.

Also, steering controls work for spotify, well, of course volume up/down works, but depending how the xm app interprets the forwards and backwards skip, it'll probably change the stations just fine on the phone app over BT, like it skips tracks on spotify.