Onstar (topic Ii)

xGMCx · October 25, 2007

Since taking delivery of my `08 Sierra, I have been battling with the ideas of using OnStar vs. AAA. I'm beginning to think AAA is a more cost effective service. Onstar: $250/ year, AAA: $80.00/ year.

When I asked my OnStar advisor how they compare to AAA she stated that if I roll my vehicle down a cliff, OnStar could find me. How many people roll their vehicles over a guard rail and down a cliff? I'm sure there are plenty, but how many people per year actually are trapped in there vehicle for days; surviving on ketchup packets and seat crumbs, we've all heard the stories, and there aren't many. I didn't find it very convincing. Everything else she mentioned, AAA can do too, bring gas, change tires (I can do that), roadside assistance, etc.. I do like the idea of stolen vehicle recovery, but as I've gathered, stolen vehicles often times are not a priority for law enforcement and OnStar cannot locate a vehicle without a police report. Therefore many wait painful hours for the recovery of their vehicle while its being joyrided by some thief. Not to mention, it is likely vehicle thieves will learn to deactivate OnStar sooner or later. I also like the vehicle diagnostic email, but is it worth $250/ year? What is the email going to tell me that the DIC already doesn't? I have nav in the truck, so I don't need turn by turn guidance either.

I'm not ranting here, I guess I'm just trying to see if anyone can make the argument that OnStar is a cost effective/ better service when compared to AAA and how everyone that has it, uses it to their benefit. So...opinions, questions, arguments, whatever you've got, throw it out there.

Jameson · October 25, 2007

Ill admit when I got my truck last month I was excited about the Onstar, mainly since Ive never had it. Now after a month, I havent used it once and the diagnostic email is crap. DIC tells you 80% of the stuff. Ill probably keep though. Im a sucker for crap.

chevinator · October 25, 2007

You can also use onstar's phone option, which for me comes in handy when I'm out in the everglades where there is bad phone reception. And the instant lock out help beats waiting a few hours for the AAA guy. Also I dont have to get a Lo Jack. And I dont have the Nav feature so if I get lost I dont have to pull over and ask directions.

xGMCx · October 25, 2007

You can also use onstar's phone option, which for me comes in handy when I'm out in the everglades where there is bad phone reception. And the instant lock out help beats waiting a few hours for the AAA guy. Also I dont have to get a Lo Jack. And I dont have the Nav feature so if I get lost I dont have to pull over and ask directions.

True about the lock-out, but that's why I keep a $ .99 spare key in my wallet. Phone is clutch too with the better service, but it sure is no Bluetooth, either.

NathanL · October 25, 2007

My friend asked me if my new truck came with it and he was excited that it did. He said he wanted his next vehicle to have it in case he locked his keys in the car. He lives in the same area I do. Pop-a-lock charges $39 to unlock your door here.

To break even you'd have to lock your keys in your car at least once every 3 months to make it worth it financially.

There may be other reasons people want OnStar but that's the one that he said he really wanted it for.

LAGA · October 25, 2007

I bought a spare key off of EBAY for $ 12.00 had it cut for free at the dealer and programed it myself, now it sits in my wallet. If it is roadside assistance you`re looking for check out your cell phone company. I have AT&T and it is $3.99 per month per phone and they offer all the features that AAA does. When my Onstar sub runs out I will not renew it.

hotwheels57 · October 25, 2007

Here comes my rant...

It's free for a year on new GM vehicles. All GM vehicles will have it sooner or later, from the most expensive to the least expensive models.

If you don't wish to use any of the services, that's your choice. If you don't want to subscribe to it after the one year free subscription, that's your choice. If you don't even want it in your vehicle (hper paranoia), disable it or buy another manufacturer, that's your choice. I'll bet that all manufacturers will have similar service in the near future.

Hands free technology in one form or another is safer than divided attention at 75 mph. I'd rather face the unimaginable odds of being listened to by ONSTAR, than face a 4,000 pound vehicle coming at me because the soccer Mom is talking on her cell phone or some 16 year old is texting his friends and driving down the highway. Paranoia aside, the technology has it's advantages.

I have it in two vehicles. I wish I had it in my third vehicle, but it wasn't offered at the time. I like it and use the services. Their site may explain what they offer on various plans.

http://www.onstar.com/us_english/jsp/index.jsp

...and no, I don't buy into the "Big Brother" or "Chicken Little" worry warts.

The government won't waste it's time on my personal habits while I'm in my vehicles. I'm law abiding and give no reason for that "intrusion". Even if that happened (fat chance w/o probable cause, IMO), I don't care if anyone knows I sing along with country music radio or where I drive my vehicles. Imagine how many super secret government agents will be needed for that task...or they might outsource the job to India, I suppose.

There is no conspiracy by the government to track your every movement. George Orwell was not a visionary. We haven't seen a War of the Worlds yet.

The majority of US citizens are honest and don't commit criminal acts that would warrant law enforcement to request ONSTAR tracking or the next generation technology of ONSTAR stopping your vehicle if it's stolen.

As crazy as some judges are (and I have plenty of experience with them), I don't see a judge issuing state court orders (a search warrant) to listen in on private conversations within an ONSTAR equipped vehicle w/o significant probable cause or exigent circumstances to protect life.

I have personal knowledge of how much probable cause that a court ordered interception of wire, electronic and oral communications requires from state and federal courts. It takes months of written justification (affadavit) when all other normal investigative methods have failed or pose risk of life. The US Patriot Act doesn't bother me. I support it, but then I also support limited, reasonable, medical professional oversight of non life threatening physical and/or psychological torture of one person if it might save thousands...no matter what country the potential victims may have been born or reside. No terrorist has a right to deprieve anyone of their life and well being for believing in a different God or supreme being. That's the type of enemy we're fighting.

If a foreign or domestic terrorist bent on killing innocent US citizens is driving a GM vehicle with ONSTAR, more power to the US Government for doing it job.

I apologize for my slight digression, but I wanted to take the opportunity to cover all of the "what ifs?" that technology topics usually bring.

...back to ONSTAR...

If my vehicle is stolen, I want ONSTAR to locate it. If I lock my keys out of the car, I want ONSTAR to unlock the doors. If my tires are low on air pressure, I want ONSTAR to remind me to check them before it's to late. If my air bags go off and I don't respond to their call, I want ONSTAR to use the GPS and send a first responder. If I'm lost, I want ONSTAR to direct me back on track. If I want to make/receive a phone call, I'll use hands free calling. If there is an emergency and I need to call 9-11, I like only having to push one button. The regular ONSTAR reports of systems analysis is fascinating to me. I don't fear it.

I don't understand why people buy a new vehicle with prior knowledge (hopefully) of the technology, then complain about it...

I return you now to whatever you were doing before you were predisposed by government experimentation in mind control to read my rant...

willysts · October 25, 2007

Here comes my rant...
It's free for a year on new GM vehicles. All GM vehicles will have it sooner or later, from the most expensive to the least expensive models.

If you don't wish to use any of the services, that's your choice. If you don't want to subscribe to it after the one year free subscription, that's your choice. If you don't even want it in your vehicle (hper paranoia), disable it or buy another manufacturer, that's your choice. I'll bet that all manufacturers will have similar service in the near future.

Hands free technology in one form or another is safer than divided attention at 75 mph. I'd rather face the unimaginable odds of being listened to by ONSTAR, than face a 4,000 pound vehicle coming at me because the soccer Mom is talking on her cell phone or some 16 year old is texting his friends and driving down the highway. Paranoia aside, the technology has it's advantages.

I have it in two vehicles. I wish I had it in my third vehicle, but it wasn't offered at the time. I like it and use the services. Their site may explain what they offer on various plans.

http://www.onstar.com/us_english/jsp/index.jsp

...and no, I don't buy into the "Big Brother" or "Chicken Little" worry warts.

The government won't waste it's time on my personal habits while I'm in my vehicles. I'm law abiding and give no reason for that "intrusion". Even if that happened (fat chance w/o probable cause, IMO), I don't care if anyone knows I sing along with country music radio or where I drive my vehicles. Imagine how many super secret government agents will be needed for that task...or they might outsource the job to India, I suppose.

There is no conspiracy by the government to track your every movement. George Orwell was not a visionary. We haven't seen a War of the Worlds yet.

The majority of US citizens are honest and don't commit criminal acts that would warrant law enforcement to request ONSTAR tracking or the next generation technology of ONSTAR stopping your vehicle if it's stolen.

As crazy as some judges are (and I have plenty of experience with them), I don't see a judge issuing state court orders (a search warrant) to listen in on private conversations within an ONSTAR equipped vehicle w/o significant probable cause or exigent circumstances to protect life.

I have personal knowledge of how much probable cause that a court ordered interception of wire, electronic and oral communications requires from state and federal courts. It takes months of written justification (affadavit) when all other normal investigative methods have failed or pose risk of life. The US Patriot Act doesn't bother me. I support it, but then I also support limited, reasonable, medical professional oversight of non life threatening physical and/or psychological torture of one person if it might save thousands...no matter what country the potential victims may have been born or reside. No terrorist has a right to deprieve anyone of their life and well being for believing in a different God or supreme being. That's the type of enemy we're fighting.

If a foreign or domestic terrorist bent on killing innocent US citizens is driving a GM vehicle with ONSTAR, more power to the US Government for doing it job.

I apologize for my slight digression, but I wanted to take the opportunity to cover all of the "what ifs?" that technology topics usually bring.

...back to ONSTAR...

If my vehicle is stolen, I want ONSTAR to locate it. If I lock my keys out of the car, I want ONSTAR to unlock the doors. If my tires are low on air pressure, I want ONSTAR to remind me to check them before it's to late. If my air bags go off and I don't respond to their call, I want ONSTAR to use the GPS and send a first responder. If I'm lost, I want ONSTAR to direct me back on track. If I want to make/receive a phone call, I'll use hands free calling. If there is an emergency and I need to call 9-11, I like only having to push one button. The regular ONSTAR reports of systems analysis is fascinating to me. I don't fear it.

I don't understand why people buy a new vehicle with prior knowledge (hopefully) of the technology, then complain about it...

I return you now to whatever you were doing before you were predisposed by government to read my rant...

Count me in on this rant...

I have it in my '07 STS and I wished I had it in my newly aquired '03 Silverado. I want all the bells and whistles so that I can "ring every bell and blow every whistle!" I'll bet some of those same people wouldn't opt for a TV or VCR with remote control until they didn't build them without one.

hotwheels57 · October 25, 2007

...ok, now this is just spooky. I just received a message from ONSTAR advising me of all the features (11) that their "Safe and Sound" plan offers and the theme song of "The Outer Limits" is playing in my head...

http://www.onstar.com/us_english/jsp/plans...erONL_2007VONSE

hubbycap · October 26, 2007

Had my GMT900 since the end of August and I was fascinated with OnStar the first couple of weeks and until I saw this post I had forgotten that I had it. I bought the extra 100 minutes for 14.95 and I bet I haven't used 8 minutes total. If I'm no more infatuated with this (and I love toys) than I am right now, on the aniversary of the first free year I'll probably decline. Of course, if I have a major boo-boo in the mean-time I might change my tune.

Woodcutter · October 26, 2007

My truck is pretty plain jane as far as options are concerned, so I'm still SOL if I lock my keys in the truck (I'm a minority without power locks!). Maybe I'd be better off to purchase a DIC upgrade so that I could monitor the same info that's emailed monthly in the OnStar reports.

About the only real advantages to this service are hands-free calling, because I've used this in the woods where my cell phone had no service, and the ability to have diagnostics done on the road if the worthless "check engine" light comes on.

It's still up in the air whether I'll renew or not -- I have until next April to decide.

rogerf · October 26, 2007

I don't understand why people buy a new vehicle with prior knowledge (hopefully) of the technology, then complain about it...

Just don't see this as complaining about the technology. Many (like myself) think it's just a waste of money for our needs in life. Was raised to know how to read a map and use a tire guage along with inspect my vehicle's critical systems.

The way Onstar is marketed (bundled), it looks free...it's not. It's a rather pricey service that jacks up the cost of a vehicle and contributes little if anything to the residual value. Watch GM drop this as standard equipment if sales drop and money gets tight, especially on their less expensive models. If given a choice, would rather have the 3 yrs of XM service than dumping money into Onstar.

PaulR · October 26, 2007

Give me an open bluetooth standard over OnStar any day of the week. Hell, I'd probably even pay for OnStar if it allowed me to hook my existing cell phone up to it rather than having to use another phone number and cludgy dialing.

rmreid · October 26, 2007

Onstar after the initial 12 month period I did not renew way too expensive - but they continue to try to convince me to come back month after month.... I did like the monthly diagnostic emails, but I never used any of the other Onstar services in the 12 month period.

Note: Watch your credit card statement as Onstar will continue to charge your CC that is on file with them (at least they did to me) if your not careful.

xGMCx · October 26, 2007

Onstar after the initial 12 month period I did not renew way too expensive - but they continue to try to convince me to come back month after month.... I did like the monthly diagnostic emails, but I never used any of the other Onstar services in the 12 month period.
Note: Watch your credit card statement as Onstar will continue to charge your CC that is on file with them (at least they did to me) if your not careful.

Happened to me with calling minutes as I think I've explained in one of my OnStar topics, maybe not. I'd like to know how many people they do this to. "Oh that charge does not show up on our end, can you fax us your CC statement as proof?" I call BS, or scam!