Are You Going To Renew OnStar?
04-10-2008, 10:56 AM
#22
Racer
OFF-Star
I just don't see its value. I'm annoyed that its there because I didn't want it in the first place. I think eventually every vehicle will be required to have one so they can tax you for miles driven, minutes the engine is on and the number of times you exceeded certain revs. Maybe because I live in the Republik of Maryland I just think the government liberal clones are cash-vacuums. Drivin' & Smilin' (in spite of living where I do for the present time). 
04-10-2008, 11:05 AM
#24
Drifting
Onstar cannot be used the same way as a cellphone is used because the user has to be in the car to use it , the sound is on the speakers so if you are not alone in the car you cannot have a private conversation . There is no dialpad so you cannot use services which require you to enter a number also the voice dial is a pain you have to have a very clean voice and accent otherwise it takes a very long time to get it right at least for me that is , Also to use services like getting direction and etc, require you to pay more for monthly fees, so they are not included in the basic service .
I needed it twice in one year , both times it did not work therefore I cancelled it. On the third car I never activated it.
I would say your best bet is to get a cellphone and bluetooth for car use.
I needed it twice in one year , both times it did not work therefore I cancelled it. On the third car I never activated it.
I would say your best bet is to get a cellphone and bluetooth for car use.
04-10-2008, 11:10 AM
#25
Racer
Member Since: Mar 2006
Location: Mansfield Ohio
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Onstar told me the other day, that if I had bought another block of 100 minutes before the year was up, they would roll the old ones over to the new year. Doesn't make much sense to buy another 100 minutes when I didn't use the last block I bought.
04-10-2008, 11:18 AM
#27
Melting Slicks
Onstar is bascially like insurance. You pay for it and hopefully you don't need it often. I suppose that in an that one hopefully never to come emergency it would be well worth it's cost.
As for the phone minutes, they are pricey. I bought the first 100 minutes for $14.99 in a new customer promotion but I am not sure I will buy more. They do expire in one year from pruchase or if your Onstar plan terminates. You do have to be aware of that.
Cost aside because it is a 3-watt full power cell phone it has a much better signal so calls at least for me are better that my regular cell phone most of the time.
As for the phone minutes, they are pricey. I bought the first 100 minutes for $14.99 in a new customer promotion but I am not sure I will buy more. They do expire in one year from pruchase or if your Onstar plan terminates. You do have to be aware of that.
Cost aside because it is a 3-watt full power cell phone it has a much better signal so calls at least for me are better that my regular cell phone most of the time.
04-10-2008, 11:23 AM
#30
Le Mans Master
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St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
I just don't see its value. I'm annoyed that its there because I didn't want it in the first place. I think eventually every vehicle will be required to have one so they can tax you for miles driven, minutes the engine is on and the number of times you exceeded certain revs. Maybe because I live in the Republik of Maryland I just think the government liberal clones are cash-vacuums. Drivin' & Smilin' (in spite of living where I do for the present time).
True, true..........
04-10-2008, 12:26 PM
#31
Melting Slicks
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Expensive? It's all relative but I disagree (at least about the OnStar service itself). Assuming you own the car a 'fair' number of years it costs pennies a day.
Some of the features I could care less about but with a manual transmission, I do like the built-in, hands-free, more powerful OnStar phone. I can't quite drive, shift gears and make a hand-held cell phone call at the same time. There may be other hands-free cell phone options but OnStar is there and it works (I'm not about to wear some Flash Gordon earpiece either).
The OnStar phone can often 'get out' when other cell phones can't. I've been on numerous (horse) trail rides on ranches in southeastern Arizona in my OnStar equipped Suburban...guys with conventional cell phones can't get a line out...the only guys making phone calls are those with satellite phones or OnStar.
Whenever I've had 'excess' minutes OnStar has always rolled them over to the next year.
Should your car be stolen, the GPS locator just might locate it (I know of an instance where OnStar worked with the Police to locate a stolen car). Yes, if my car is stolen I want it back. As you insure your car for actual cash value, if it's stolen and never recovered your insurance company will likely give you enough money to buy a GEO Metro.
In the unlikely event you're involved in a serious accident, OnStar response might just save your life.
It's worth pennies a day to me.
BTW...OnStar does not bill your credit card without permission. I don't like the practice of automatic renewals but if they do, you agreed to it.
Some of the features I could care less about but with a manual transmission, I do like the built-in, hands-free, more powerful OnStar phone. I can't quite drive, shift gears and make a hand-held cell phone call at the same time. There may be other hands-free cell phone options but OnStar is there and it works (I'm not about to wear some Flash Gordon earpiece either).
The OnStar phone can often 'get out' when other cell phones can't. I've been on numerous (horse) trail rides on ranches in southeastern Arizona in my OnStar equipped Suburban...guys with conventional cell phones can't get a line out...the only guys making phone calls are those with satellite phones or OnStar.
Whenever I've had 'excess' minutes OnStar has always rolled them over to the next year.
Should your car be stolen, the GPS locator just might locate it (I know of an instance where OnStar worked with the Police to locate a stolen car). Yes, if my car is stolen I want it back. As you insure your car for actual cash value, if it's stolen and never recovered your insurance company will likely give you enough money to buy a GEO Metro.
In the unlikely event you're involved in a serious accident, OnStar response might just save your life.
It's worth pennies a day to me.
BTW...OnStar does not bill your credit card without permission. I don't like the practice of automatic renewals but if they do, you agreed to it.
....I don't use it that much but it's nice to know it's there in case I need. Yes, if you're in accident someone with a cell phone may call it in, but what if you're alone on a country road and you have an accident with no one around to call it in and you're not in a position to do so. As Wayne said, the Onstar response might just save your life. The GPS function is great too since my car is leased, hell yes I want to increase my chances of getting my car back if it's stolen. I'd rather not it screwed by my insurance company when it comes to time settled up.
To me having an Onstar in my car is sort of like owning and carrying a pistol. Plenty of people could go, "Why spend 500-600 dollars on a pistol and money on a CCL when you'll probably never use it??" The idea is you hope you never have to use it's full benefits but it's sure nice to know you have it ready if you need it. The cost is immaterial to the benefit it could provide and you can't put a price on having your life saved.
04-10-2008, 01:08 PM
#32
Instructor
Member Since: Apr 2005
Location: Oakton VA
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I took it for resale value and will not renew. If my wife were a frequent driver, if I were an agressive driver,
for if I often drove in remote areas I would reconsider.
I used the cell phone at highway speed and my side if the conversation was very noisy. When I use a "Jawbone" bluetooth headset on my personal cell phone, my side of the conversation is crystall clear.
for if I often drove in remote areas I would reconsider.
I used the cell phone at highway speed and my side if the conversation was very noisy. When I use a "Jawbone" bluetooth headset on my personal cell phone, my side of the conversation is crystall clear.
04-10-2008, 01:18 PM
#33
Drifting
Remote area is where I live. I have been able to make calls via OnStar when my cell did not work. I agree that minutes should roll over. There is no call log available. As was said, out here we view it as insurance.
No bluetooth is far more troubling to me.
No bluetooth is far more troubling to me.
04-10-2008, 02:10 PM
#35
Instructor
I activated it and will renew.
I love the phone. I go to the YMCA most mornings and don't have a pocket to carry a cell phone so now I have a way to call.
I love the phone. I go to the YMCA most mornings and don't have a pocket to carry a cell phone so now I have a way to call.
04-10-2008, 02:29 PM
#36
Racer
I just paid $300 +/- to have both my cars upgraded to the digital system and also paid for 1 year sevice for both of them. I like the emergency response feature and there are areas were my cell will not work but onstar will. You can also get a small credit on your insurance with onstar due to the vehicle tracking feature.
The "LoJack" feature is the main reason I will renew mine.
04-10-2008, 02:39 PM
#37
Racer
Member Since: Oct 2005
Location: Lakewood CA
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In case... in case... in case. blah, blah, blah. I have a cell phone (pre-paid minutes) and it's only on if I'm traveling. Otherwise I'd rather not talk to anybody while I'm on the road. I can wait to talk and so can they. If you're driving and yacking, at least have the courtesy to get out of my way. It's like those other inconsiderates that walk into a busy store and STOP in everybody else's way as soon as they get in the door.
04-10-2008, 02:45 PM
#38
04-10-2008, 03:43 PM
#39
Having used OnStar once, I was very unhappy when they tried to sell me more minutes when all I needed was a damn tow-truck.
If I traveled a lot or lived in a rural area, it might make sense. Otherwise, my cell phone works fine and other drivers are bound to report a bad accident. Save your money.
If I traveled a lot or lived in a rural area, it might make sense. Otherwise, my cell phone works fine and other drivers are bound to report a bad accident. Save your money.
Same issue, Onstar was no help when called upon. I've had other non critical issues with their service, and since calling and Navi is duplicated, and the cost is excessive for poor unreliable service, I will not renew.
04-10-2008, 03:51 PM
#40
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Aug 2005
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St. Jude Donor '06
I had it for a year plus. The biggest advantage was that the phone coverage is MUCH better than our regular cell phone especially when we're in relatively remote areas (road trips). My wife liked the security but I think she's cooled to that. I seriously doubt that we'll renew again.