Onstar..

[f0st3r]

I'm sorry if there is tons of rants about this, but I just bought a new to me, used 08 Silverado Crew Cab. It has Onstar on it of course and my dealer activated a 3 month trial of onstar and xm for me. I love the XM, and knew I would, and like onstar. When I activated it the guy tried to sell me some minutes for the phone and my dealer warned me about that, but it was pretty cheap I thought, 200min or so for only 10 bucks. So I bought it. The wife has ok'd the xm sub once it expires, she doesn't really see much of need for onstar, but I think its kinda handy and she loves the hands free calling so much that she wants too keep onstar, UNTIL we priced the cost of the minutes. OMG, the just made us loose total interest in keeping our onstar trail going. Not only are the prices not reasonable, they are beyond outragous. vIn fact it has killed my interest in there plan! I wonder if they realize how many customers they lose because of the unreasonable prices of there minutes?

[slapshot]

Onstar lost me at the high pressure sales on the phone to get me to buy more phone minutes and services. I kept trying to tell the lady that I didn't want Onstar to begin with and she could cancel everything right then. She told me to enjoy the free year and was certain I'd change my mind. I have yet to use Onstar for anything. I don't know why people would want Onstar phone when most everyone has a cell phone now.

[MS3DALE]

I don't know why people would want Onstar phone when most everyone has a cell phone now.

 

I do,I don't have a cell phone....don't want one either

[MS3DALE]

I don't think $40 bucks is a lot for 100 minutes

[Fozzy]

I thought about starting the OnStar with my 08 but I have no idea what it would cost overall.. but the insurance is supposedly cheaper with it activated.

[MS3DALE]

I thought about starting the OnStar with my 08 but I have no idea what it would cost overall.. but the insurance is supposedly cheaper with it activated.

 

For the basic "safe and sound" plan it would be $199.00 a year,for the "directions and connections" plan its $299.00 a year.

You can buy various minutes for the phone,I always buy the 100 minute plan for $39.99

 

On-Star pricing

[jtramsey]

I don't think $40 bucks is a lot for 100 minutes

 

That is high.I get Unlimted minutes and email and text and Internet for 59.99.maybe you were kidding

[MS3DALE]

I don't think $40 bucks is a lot for 100 minutes

 

That is high.I get Unlimted minutes and email and text and Internet for 59.99.maybe you were kidding

 

 

I wasn't kidding,Remember.....I don't have,need,or want a cell phone,so for me paying $60 a month ($720 a year) When that 100 minutes for $40 bucks is good for a year,add to that $200 for a year of On-Star,and thats only $240 a year compared to $720,especially since I rarely use all 100 minutes.

Now if your on the phone a lot then a plan like you have is great,It just doesn't work for me. But everyone is going to have different needs.

[jtramsey]

Gotcha.Mine is business and personal.Being self employed I use it a good bit.

[mike1944]

First of all hello to all of you. Bought a 2010 Yukon Denali in July and have been poking around different forums. I'm lucky enough to be retired and have been on two long driving vacations for a total of 9k since and am really enjoying the car. I live in Orange County CA and it takes some driving to get anywhere decent.

 

This is a topic I actually know a little about because I used OnStar daily when I was traveling. It was great. I don't make plans, just drive until I decide that's enough for the day. Can't beat them for finding/making hotel reservations, then they download the directions directly to the Nav (no minute charges for this service). I can't imagine using the car phone for anything other than quick messages to/from people while driving so I could care less about the per minute charge. They are good for a year. Also there is some peace of mind that they can track your car if stolen.

 

If I wasn't using it on driving vacations and really using the functions I doubt I would keep paying for it. For me, probably not worth it just beating around town.

 

However, take this advice with a grain of salt because I must admit that on my trips I started listening to blue collar radio and my brain is completely rusted out.

[tanked_darren]

Onstar is a joke. I bought some minutes and then they used the credit card I used to renew my Onstar subscribtion without my approval!!! I was choked, not to mention the directions from onstar suck, really bad, I don't have a nav system so a guy directs you. When I canceled my onstar I lost the minutes I had left. NOT IMPRESSED. RIPOFF.

 

Hands free calling? Bluetooth is far superior!

[Popeye77]

I thought about starting the OnStar with my 08 but I have no idea what it would cost overall.. but the insurance is supposedly cheaper with it activated.

 

For the basic "safe and sound" plan it would be $199.00 a year,for the "directions and connections" plan its $299.00 a year.

You can buy various minutes for the phone,I always buy the 100 minute plan for $39.99

 

On-Star pricing

 

 

+1 I keep the basic Safe and Sound in effect. Have used it several times. I also keep the 100 min. Onstar can connect in some places my cell phone can't. Had that happen more than once also. Just my .02

[Fozzy]

I have a company cellphone that is like a nagging tumor.. if I get somewhere where the drivers or company cannot find me.. I don't want a service that will actually aid them in getting a hold of me.

[f0st3r]

Yea I have a company cell with unlimited everything, but I will admit since my truck doesn't have bluetooth, the hands free of onstar is pretty nice. And it is separate from my phone, so if my phone is lost, stolen, dead, etc. that is another plus. But I didn't expect there minutes to be double the price of the prepaid plans that you can get from walmart, considering you would already be paying at least 18.95/mo for the onstar service.

[ShimanoFisherman]

With bluetooth integration I'm not interested in the Onstar cellular minutes but I find that I use the hell out of it for directions. It's really easy to get used to hitting the button, talking to the rep and having your destination downloaded to the nav system. It's also really handy to send destinations from Google maps to the nav system if you know in advance where you'll be going.

 

I just feigned cancellation and got them to drop it down to the equivalent of $18/mo for Directions and Connections.