$300 a year for Onstar?

[Ventilator]

My trial ends in 60 days as well, let the games begin. I have yet to even use OnStar other than the Mobile App, which is pretty cool. It's my understanding if you use the Mobile App during the trial, you are good to use it for 5 years whether you have OnStar service or not. For those who ditched OnStar, is this true? I already have AAA Premier so OnStar in that respect doesn't appeal to me for the extra cost involved.

 

 

Yes this is true, but you have to download the app and use it at least once during the 6 mo trial period. You will only have control of the remote function witch includes: horn & lights, stop horn & lights, unlock doors, lock doors, remote start, cancel start.

 

There was one time it would not work for me. I was in the garage, and the truck had been parked for around 10 days. I didn't have my keys on me but had my phone. I tried to unlock it with the app, and it would not do it. It replied "move vehicle and try again" or something close to that. Yeah right, if my keys were inside, I would have been screwed. How the heck can I move it without the keys. it also would not remote start it or sound the horn.

 

At about the year mark, I clicked on the app, and it asked me if I still owned the vehicle and I had to reply before using the app.

 

I called them "OnStar" and requested that they not send me any more e-mails or make calls back around 7 months ago when the trial period was over. I still occasionally get them phone calls for OnStar that tell you your vehicle does not have OnStar coverage, which pisses me off. Tells you to push the blue button to be connected.

 

I was trying to make a phone call a couple weeks ago, and OnStar interrupted to let me know I still had remote key fob on my truck. No $#!T

[nards444]

Onstar is a nice item, Ill give it that. Somethings suck like the nav, but in general its a nice system with some cool features. With that said between having a cell phone and AAA(which is cheap) onstar seems expendable, paying for something that I already have.

[Spurshot]

I don't lock my keys in the truck every month. Nor do I think I want my truck back if it's stolen. Let them take it to South America. I'll get a new one. I don't find the monthly: " you have 30% oil life left, your tire pressures are ....." worth squat to me. Nothing they do is worth $20 a month to me. I have a cellphone. I don't live in Timbuktu. I rarely drive to Timbuktu. OnStar will pickup when a non-subscriber pushes the emergency button...trust me on this. I'm also not paranoid...too much.

[nards444]

I don't lock my keys in the truck every month. Nor do I think I want my truck back if it's stolen. Let them take it to South America. I'll get a new one. I don't find the monthly: " you have 30% oil life left, your tire pressures are ....." worth squat to me. Nothing they do is worth $20 a month to me. I have a cellphone. I don't live in Timbuktu. I rarely drive to Timbuktu. OnStar will pickup when a non-subscriber pushes the emergency button...trust me on this. I'm also not paranoid...too much.

Now they are offering the hot spot, which Im curious at cost, which that could be handy. I cant find full figures but have found as low as $5 per month for data, which IM assuming is low data. IM also guessing youll have to pay for other crap to get the hot spot as well.

 

This is probably going to draw a lot of customers to these vehicles, and they wont have to pay for it up front, then they will be in for a surprise when the free time stops.

[OnStar Advisor]

Now they are offering the hot spot, which Im curious at cost, which that could be handy. I cant find full figures but have found as low as $5 per month for data, which IM assuming is low data. IM also guessing youll have to pay for other crap to get the hot spot as well.

 

This is probably going to draw a lot of customers to these vehicles, and they wont have to pay for it up front, then they will be in for a surprise when the free time stops.

 

nards444,

 

Being an active OnStar subscriber is not necessary to use the new 4G LTE data plans. There are monthly and one-time purchase 4G LTE-only packages available. Pricing starts at $10/month for 200 MB for non-OnStar subscribers. See more details here: bit.ly/1jT8S58. I hope this helps!

 

~Sara, OnStar Advisor

Social Media Team

[CAtaylor]

This post reminded me to call and cancel mine. Thanks for the reminder.

[nards444]

 

nards444,

 

Being an active OnStar subscriber is not necessary to use the new 4G LTE data plans. There are monthly and one-time purchase 4G LTE-only packages available. Pricing starts at $10/month for 200 MB for non-OnStar subscribers. See more details here: bit.ly/1jT8S58. I hope this helps!

 

~Sara, OnStar Advisor

Social Media Team

thanks

 

 

wow so about 30 bucks a month to get 3gb. Not sure the 10 bucks a month for 200mb would last long. lol

[bladz1454]

Onstar is garbage, I tried using it like 10 times and the directions never made it to my navigation. I always just end up using Googlemaps or Waze.

[thefishhawk]

I can see OnStar for a certain group of people. For me, Onstar would really need to be satellite based for it to make a difference. I would only need it if I was in the backcountry.

 

I do think they need to add a "basic" plan though. I'll be bummed when the 5 years is up and not be able to use the phone app anymore. All I want is a basic plan that has the remotelink app, and maybe throw in the diagnostics and roadside assistance for $5/mo.

 

The 4G, great in theory, way overpriced. Most phones have hotspot capabilities anymore, better off adding it through your existing data plan. I'll use T-mobile as an example since that's what I have, pretty much all their data plans include tethering/hotspot. it would just be redundant to add it to a car.

[Brian S.]

OnStar's services do not look appealing to me. I have a smart phone, a personal GPS, the truck does hands free calling, and it's own diagnostics.

[nards444]

OnStar's services do not look appealing to me. I have a smart phone, a personal GPS, the truck does hands free calling, and it's own diagnostics.

I have to wonder if Onstar is even profitable. Im guessing its a GM owned business? Or at the least subsidized by GM. Like I said before Onstar has some features, but for the most part they offer what people already have. I have cell phone(smart phone), GPS, truck tells me everything, I dont nee an email once a month stating it.

 

 

Fords sync which has most of the same features is free for like 3 years anyways.

[thefishhawk]

Onstar is a subsidiary of GM. I believe they are very profitable, simple electronics, outsourced signal, all they have to do is pay the reps.

[thefishhawk]

quick search, dated article but talks about their revenues and margins

 

http://www.autonews.com/article/20130527/OEM/305279958/not-satisfied-with-onstars-steady-profits-gm-wants-to-create-a-global-

[nards444]

quick search, dated article but talks about their revenues and margins

 

http://www.autonews.com/article/20130527/OEM/305279958/not-satisfied-with-onstars-steady-profits-gm-wants-to-create-a-global-

Good article. As I said earlier I dont think Onstar is terrible, it just offers something that most of us already have. And I didnt see how they made money when it seems everybody I have talked to doesnt subscribe.

 

They must have a cost built into each vehicle when you buy it, your buying the system. And they must have low overhead and get enough subscribers to make money,.

 

I just wonder when cell companies are going to jump in. If you think about it, office, home, shop etc all these places have computers tvs, internet etc. Whats the last place that really hasnt hasnt been fully automated, its the passenger vehicle. Yes, yes i know these trucks and cars have way more crap on them then, they used to. But in general its been bits and peices, aftermarket, or just doesnt quite offer what people want. What I can see is something where your phone hooks into the truck and runs everything. at that point I wouldnt mind paying my cell carrier another 10 maybe 20 bucks a month for unlimted access. But as it sits to pay what onstar wants, no thanks.

[Isriam]

like i said, verizon in-drive is way better and offers insurance discounts without a monthly fee. infact, my insurance tried to tell me i must have onstar if I have a Gm vehicle. After a few weeks they sent me the verizon obd2 module for free. also comes with a bluetooth visor speaker if you want hands free calling. saves me almost 40 a month on two vehicles on insurance