ONSTAR!

Blackie · January 1, 2005

I just bought a 2002 Denali that has ONSTAR built-in. If I want to use it there is a fee. Is this feature a good value. or a waste of money and dashboard space?

dcalex · January 1, 2005

I'm getting real close to getting an '05 Silverado LT.........it comes with the OnStar too. I sure wouldn't pay for one outright from what I can see from their web-site. I won't be re-subscribing once the 1 year thing is over. On the bright side (maybe) is that it's already there and down the road they may increase it's usefullness at a decent price. Pretty expensive for what you get IMO.

GM-Tech · January 1, 2005

I just bought a 2002 Denali that has ONSTAR built-in. If I want to use it there is a fee. Is this feature a good value. or a waste of money and dashboard space?

It's kinda like insurance or an extended warranty. If you never use it, you are pouring your money down the drain, but the first time something happens, you'll be really glad you have it.

Some day when you lock your keys in your truck, get lost, get in an accident where your air bags deploy, you'll be thankful you have it. If you never use it or need it, it's a waste of money, like anything else.

gave20 · January 2, 2005

Some day when you lock your keys in your truck, get lost, get in an accident where your air bags deploy, you'll be thankful you have it. If you never use it or need it, it's a waste of money, like anything else.

Locked my keys in mine one time called Onstar 10 minutes later I'm driving away. Oh yeah it's worth the money.

Ron J · January 2, 2005

A friend of mine travels a lot. Onstar helps him with directions - fuel-lodging-roads- almost daily. He loves it. I have 3 vehicles with Onstar. I didn't resubscribe after the 1st year freebe and paid upgrade on the first vehicle. I rarely leave town, know where I'm going and have GPS- 15 inch screen-voice activated- in a laptop cpu for $100.

silverado04 · January 2, 2005

I had Onstar for 2 years in my Monte.. Used only the phone feature.. so it was a very pricey phone..

I bought extra minutes that they canceled because the time ran out on them.. My

subscription for onstar was still good but they still stole my minutes back,

Not saying they are all bad.. it does have its ups as well.

I would never pay the price for it again, unless I was a full time traveler. I mean Over the road...

It would be great if you locked in your keys or break down, or ????? but it proved to be a waste of money for me..

Good luck with it, If it was about $100 instead of $200 it would be more worth it.

and the higher priced packages I do not feel are worth it at all!!

My Pennys worth anyway.

millerwd · January 3, 2005

For me the $16 a month fee is a little pricey. I have to pay it to use the cell feature.. My portable/pocket cell doesn't work in some areas. The Onstar cell extends the area a little.

As for the unlock feature, spare keys are only $1.Onstar staff can't unlock you in underground, and some covered parking garages. In areas not covered by cell service.. how are you going to contact them?

Just an observation. Regarding the Onstar commercials. How many have you heard where a guy is asking for directions?

It's always a damsel in distress.

Onstar is a asset, but by no means a cure-all.

dcalex · January 10, 2005

and the higher priced packages I do not feel are worth it at all!!

Yeah, Silverado4, this is like the on-star. I'd have never thought I would ever be getting an LT anything....always seemed so far away and un-necessary. But I'd priced an LS with the options I wanted for the truck.......Fog lights, camper mirrors, etc., etc.......and after I was done, I priced an LT with the same options.....$1,500 difference since most of the options we're either included with the LT or reduced in price. I really wanted the 10-way adjustable seats because of arthritis......can only drive about 2 hours and then have to stop and walk around a bit.....I drove adjustable seats across country this summer and what a difference it made. So for the difference, I got the LT and those seats. Same goes for the on-star package......doesn't flip any of my switches, but as you can see from above, some like that security and service and it's worth it to them.

toneman · January 21, 2005

Bumping this topic...I thought I read somewhere that OnStar was gonna eventually go away from their analog network and go digital (a la digital cell phone network), in which case, current OnStar equipment found on our GM vehicles would be useless.