25 Apr 2004 | dru said...

If I remember correctly some of the features can be used even if you don't subscribe, it just costs more when you use them. My in-laws have it and it is pretty nice but they use it mostly as a car phone.

25 Apr 2004 | CM Harrington said...

OnStar's 911 functions can be used without subscription, much like a plan-less mobile phone [if you can turn on a mobile phone, you can dial emergency services].

Most OnStar installations will give you the service "for free" for the first year. After a year, cancel if you want. Of course, if you are a privacy freak, don't even get it installed [or rip it out]. The OnStar system can be turned on without your knowledge, should "Big Brother" choose to track you. Good Times.

I just wish you could use OnStar for tactical air strikes against the idiot in the SUV sipping a latt while talking on her mobile phone

25 Apr 2004 | huphtur said...

Totally Useless. You might want to read this Jason: GM's OnStar System Hacked.
Just get your own GPS (This one can also handle DVD/MP3/XM Radio).

25 Apr 2004 | Jeremy C. Wright said...

I nearly got OnStar on the car we got last month, but decided we'd enjoy our luxury car first, and if we felt we couldn't live without it next time through (in 3 years) we'd get it then.

Personally I see a lot of value in it, even at th 17$/month (most places will tack it onto your lease payment, in which case the 17$ feels cheap).

25 Apr 2004 | Jesper said...

Just get one with 37BetterMotors. ;)

25 Apr 2004 | steve said...

JF, what happened to your S4? What kind of car are you looking at now?

25 Apr 2004 | JF said...

Traded the 2001 Audi S4 in for the 2004 Audi S4. It's just the perfect car for me. Super fast (0-60 in 5.3), sleek, stealth, all wheel drive, compact, huge trunk, 4-door, really beautiful interior, etc. Only thing that blows is the gas mileage (15/21) so I'll just have to make it up for it by not running the water while I'm brushing my teeth and making sure the lights are off when I'm not home ;)

25 Apr 2004 | ek said...

The idea of having someone read directions to you over a phone link just seems kind of silly to me. Maybe I'm just a misanthrope, but I'd much rather get directions from a built-in nav system with a screen and voice prompts. That way, I can detour whenever I want without feeling "guilty" about wasting someone else's time.

26 Apr 2004 | Lance Osborne said...

I had no idea there were areas of Chicago where you could actually go 60 mph! ;-)

26 Apr 2004 | Don Schenck said...

We have OnStar and love it. Use it quite often. Just yesterday we asked for a certain kind of restaurant that was along the route we were traveling and *presto* -- we had a dozen suggestions. Pick one, they phone ahead and reserve a spot.

Once went on vacation with no plans for the first night. Drive a while, then pressed OnStar and said we wanted a room about five hours ahead of us. Bingo, we had a reservation.

I won't purchase another new car without it. To us, it's worth the less-than-an-hour's-pay per month ($37) for the service.

I've had it for three years, by the way.

26 Apr 2004 | Don Schenck said...

P.S. It's definitely a *luxury* item, however. Don't get it if you'll always be thinking "Gee ... I could use that $37 a month for XM radio or cigars or what-have-you." In other words, you gotta have $37 a month to piss away for luxury.

26 Apr 2004 | Ed said...

Lance - you've obviously never been on the Eisenhower (290) or the Stevenson (55) "expressways". Chicago can be a surprisingly fast drive if you do the reverse-commute or late at night/early morning especially on the weekends. City driving can be slow but even Lake Shore Drive can be a quick trip if you're aware of where the cops like to hang out and catch drivers.
Anything less that 70 m.p.h. on the Stevenson or Eisenhower is asking for problems. I now regret not getting the Turbo in my VW Beetle strictly for these reasons.

26 Apr 2004 | Sharif said...

You realize by saying "I've never locked my keys in the car," you've destined yourself to lock your keys in the car? That being the case, OnStar might not be bad to have on hand.

26 Apr 2004 | Lance Osborne said...

Ed - Looks like I'm going to have to schedule a trip to Chicago to test your theory!

Now, if I only knew someone in Chicago who was getting a fast, new car...

26 Apr 2004 | ek said...

Isn't it just about impossible to lock your keys in a modern car?

Hey Don, the call ahead stuff is definitely pretty cool, but I guess I'd still rather do it myself. To me, the perfect setup is the one in the new Acura TL. You can use voice commands to find a nearby hotel (or restaurant) on your route, and then use the car's built-in Bluetooth link to dial the hotel and book reservations yourself — all hands-free, all without any monthly fees (aside from your car payments ;-), and all without anyone at GM knowing where you're headed.

The upcoming RL is going to be even better, in that it'll do all of the above and provide real-time traffic/roadway congestion warnings via the Navi — super cool and truly useful.

27 Apr 2004 | bret ashworth said...

would like to ask you a ? i am thinkin about being a distrubitor of a new company offering gps tracking i thought onstar was much more expensive than 495.00 a month please let me know exactly what it cost and do you offer this technology to the public instead of just dealers . you can call me at 512-947-4400 ask for bret

27 Apr 2004 | Don Schenck said...

I pay $37 a month, bret.

ek -- That *does* sound about perfect. As far as GM knowing where I'm going, I'm not that paranoid. Work, home, work, home, gardening center, home, cigar lounge, home, beach, home ... that's about it. :-)

Oh, and the summer trips to wineries *hiccup*.

27 Apr 2004 | Bill Westerman said...

OnStar (or its equivalent) is completely useless and frivilous ... until you need it. I've used it to get driving directions to pick up my 6-year-old at a birthday party when I was hopelessly lost and knew my kid was the last one left there. My wife accidentally dropped the keys in the trunk along with a bunch of frozen food, and then closed the lid before putting the cart away ... and I unlocked the car remotely for her. And it'll tell you anytime the car alarm goes off, by calling your mobile phone. As far as the paranoia is concerned, you can always install an in-line on/off switch between your OnStar system and the antenna :-)

Bill

04 May 2004 | ewebb said...

whot if OnStar cood stop!!!!Some one from driving off in your car??????

06 May 2004 | Beweep said...

Let's clear some things up......
#1) OnStar doesn't offer free service - even if you cancel thes ervice after the 1st free yr. Yes, even the EMER service. Please do not be fooled by CM Harringtons comments - Yes, OnStar works like a cell phone, but if you cancel the subscription, the hwd in the vehicle will be disabled and you will NOT be able to connect to the call center. Nothing connected with the OnStar system will work - including the OnStar Personal Calling(OPC)
#2)The basic service is call SAFE&SOUND - you will get 1(ONE) free route support service - afterwards if you wish to continue to receive route supporr - directions - you'll need to upgrade your subscription to DIRECTIONS& CONNECTIONS.
Learn of these features @ OnStar.com
#3) OnStar can NOT 'listen in' nor can Big Brother or the FBI, CIA, or anyone else without your knowledge - I swear the general public is stupid! When OnStar connects to you vehcile, you'll hear a ringing noise (like a telephone) and they will announce that they are on the line......Your radio will turn off.....Your radio LED will show "phone".....OnStar doesn't have the ability to listen into the cabin of your vehicle without you knowing.
#4) OnStar doesn't have the ability to know when your car alarm goes off, and they certainly don't call you to tell you that it went off, either. Where do you people get this shit?
The OnStar system is an analog base cellular phone - basically - digital hwd is available with some new 04MY - the OPC is worth the purchase.

I am very close to OnStar - I would HIGHLY recommend that you go to the OnStar.com website, and review the Terms & Conditions. And when you active the OnStar system, and you sign the Service Subscription Agreement(SSA) at the dealership - READ THE FINE PRINT!

11 May 2004 | Doug said...

Obviously wewepp is a shill for On-Star. Why would anyone pay so much for OPC when you can get it cheaper from everyone else. I have a nav unit so i don't need directions. Don't care about the emergency features.

Does anyone know how to activate the system through a service provider like Verizon Wireless? I want to use the voice activated cellular system built into my Acura 3.5RL, however can't activate the system without going through On-Star.

I'm willing to pay Verizon Wireless but it seems that they are in bed with On-Star.

12 May 2004 | Marjie said...

My husband just had a serious accident yesterday with our Chevy Silverado that has OnStar. When he tried to use it, it would not connect. When he finally got in touch with OnStar, they told him that it may not have connected because he was in a remote area. This really has us furious, since when the salesman gave us his pitch he told us we would be able to use this service anywhere when we needed help. Not only is our truck and camper totalled, we have been fools these past 4 years for wasting money for a service that did nothing for us when we needed it.

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