I was just curious to know after having our car for a little over a week now, who has either resigned with OnStar after the free year is up or is planning to.

I pretty much use OnStar every day. I use the Virtual Adviser to check my traffic to see which route I should take to/from work every morning and evening (since one accident on our beltway can easily cause a 2-3 hour delay). I also use the eNav quite a bit. I will definitely renew, but I'll be sure to get the Directions/Connections upgrade. In the pamphlet, it says using Virtual Adviser uses phone minutes, but it never has for me.

I'm planning on renewing mine also. XM radio... NOT

I pretty much use OnStar every day. I use the Virtual Adviser to check my traffic to see which route I should take to/from work every morning and evening (since one accident on our beltway can easily cause a 2-3 hour delay). I also use the eNav quite a bit. I will definitely renew, but I'll be sure to get the Directions/Connections upgrade. In the pamphlet, it says using Virtual Adviser uses phone minutes, but it never has for me.
Redhorse,
How does Virtual adviser check traffic for you?
That feature alone is worth the renewal.

I definitely plan on renewing with Directions & Connections! I use it every day to find things I need.. I also like the peace of mind knowing that help is a touch of a button away or automatic (since I NEVER know where I am.. literally), you can have your vehicle unlocked remotely if you lock your keys inside, you can have your vehicle tracked if stolen, you can get roadside assistance, etc...

I actually used it the other day for good samaritan purposes.. a vehicle became disabled in the middle of an intersection and they connected me with the local police and relayed my location.. great tool.

Redhorse,
It only uses your prepaid minutes when you have the Safe & Sound plan.. it's an included feature with Directions & Connections and therefore doesn't deduct from your minutes.

bf1942,
When you call into Virtual Advisor, based on your current location (and settings on OnStar.com), it will tell you of any major/unusual traffic events within a radius you specify (I believe the default is 5mi).

I'm planning on renewing mine also. XM radio... NOT

No XM :eek: Tony why :D

I would suicide without XM!

I think Onstar is kinda neat, but I doubt I will renew. It's only worth maybe $5/month for me. I don't see the real value in it since most services provided by onstar could be covered by a combination of cell phone, gps, and roadside assistance, all of which I already have.

Im planning on keeping it..

Its kind of hard to put a value on safety and convience.. I dont care how many other features or cell phones you have.. The Phone in an accident will not always be with you or where you can reach it after an accident..

My Cavalier rolled over and not only did my cell phone fly out the moon roof I was pinned and couldnt get out.. If it wasnt for someone stopping to help no telling if I would ever gotten out.. Now that I have onstar I feel much safer..

I use the GPs Feature as well a good bit so I plan on keeping the full service..

My life is worth a few extra bucks a month

useless in the county i live in they do not have an agreement, also it interupts the radio, bought a good gps for less!

I will renew my OnStar when it's time. For me just knowing that if it's stolen it can be traced and recovered. I will also renew my XM.

I renewed my XM for at least 6 months. Only paying 4.99 per month for the six. That's worth it. Will have to look at OnStar. Not sure it's worth the money when I really don't use it.

No XM :eek: Tony why :D

One word...Ipod Unless, the good folks at XM make me a deal I can't refuse, i.e $50 - $60 a year :p

I renewed my XM for at least 6 months. Only paying 4.99 per month for the six. That's worth it. Will have to look at OnStar. Not sure it's worth the money when I really don't use it.

How did you get that deal. I would renew XM for $4.99 a month. Honestly, I don't think it's worth more than $6 or 7 bucks a month, not the $13.99 they like to charge.

Same thing with onstar, wonderful service, but I don't think it's worth more than $10 a month for me. I do like it but it's not a necessity.

XM is a joke now. There are freaking commercials on some channels and they even upped the price to renew.

Onstar is kind of cool. We dont use it very often but the few times we have its been pretty good. I still think the price is too high. GM could make a ton of money by lowering it to $99-119 a year for the safe and sound plan as most people just want the basic stuff and dont need all that fluff.

Crash assistance, stolen vehicle, crisis and remote door unlock should be a VERY base plan for $60-70 a year.

IE, I dont need onstar to do the diagnostics. The car will tell you whats wrong with an idiot light and then you get the code read for free at an autoparts store. I also dont like the roadside assistance feature. My insurance company includes this on my full coverage for no fee.

XM is a joke now. There are freaking commercials on some channels and they even upped the price to renew.

Onstar is kind of cool. We dont use it very often but the few times we have its been pretty good. I still think the price is too high. GM could make a ton of money by lowering it to $99-119 a year for the safe and sound plan as most people just want the basic stuff and dont need all that fluff.

Crash assistance, stolen vehicle, crisis and remote door unlock should be a VERY base plan for $60-70 a year.

IE, I dont need onstar to do the diagnostics. The car will tell you whats wrong with an idiot light and then you get the code read for free at an autoparts store. I also dont like the roadside assistance feature. My insurance company includes this on my full coverage for no fee.


Im in the same boat. I like XM, but at what cost? They're changing the channel line up too much, and Ive noticed more & more commercials. I love having access to sports while traveling, though, and not losing the signal, so we'll see. I think my trial is technically up, but I haven't lost service yet.

OnStar is also really cool for some things. I dont want the directions or anything, but I like the idea of being able to open my car with a phone call, get assistance when needed, emergency/theft protection, etc., but again, at what cost?

Im in the same boat. I like XM, but at what cost? They're changing the channel line up too much, and Ive noticed more & more commercials. I love having access to sports while traveling, though, and not losing the signal, so we'll see. I think my trial is technically up, but I haven't lost service yet.

OnStar is also really cool for some things. I dont want the directions or anything, but I like the idea of being able to open my car with a phone call, get assistance when needed, emergency/theft protection, etc., but again, at what cost?

Totally agree with the channels changing... it's because of stupid Sirius (since they're merging/merged)...

Redhorse,
It only uses your prepaid minutes when you have the Safe & Sound plan.. it's an included feature with Directions & Connections and therefore doesn't deduct from your minutes.


I didn't know that! Thanks! I have searched the whole GM website and read all the literature on OnStar and have not found that anywhere...where did you find that out??


When you call into Virtual Advisor, based on your current location (and settings on OnStar.com), it will tell you of any major/unusual traffic events within a radius you specify (I believe the default is 5mi).

It will start by asking you if you want to go to eNav (where you can store locations from MapQuest). I just say "Get my traffic". I have set up local traffic, plus my primary route and a secondary route. It gives me all updates regarding road construction and accidents locally, for my primary and then for my secondary route. That way, I know which route to take home.

You can also get weather and stock information (you need to go to your OnStar account and set it up).

I didn't know that! Thanks! I have searched the whole GM website and read all the literature on OnStar and have not found that anywhere...where did you find that out??

Trying to be honest, I called and asked them why my minutes weren't being deducted and the advisor told me that's only on the safe/sound plan

...but I like the idea of being able to open my car with a phone call, get assistance when needed, emergency/theft protection, etc., but again, at what cost?

The Directions and Conns plan is $299/year, less than a dollar per day -- less than a morning cup of coffee at most places, so worth it to me.

Trying to be honest, I called and asked them why my minutes weren't being deducted and the advisor told me that's only on the safe/sound plan

I wonder why that info isn't more "available"? Thanks.

i passed on the onstar subscription but continued with my xm...can't be without it, Channel 42 rocks!!:D

i passed on the onstar subscription but continued with my xm...can't be without it, Channel 42 rocks!!:D

Nahhh it's channel 21 that rocks!

DominoGold:

They sent me an email. If your interested, I would just call them and see if they have that available. I bet they do.

DominoGold:

They sent me an email. If your interested, I would just call them and see if they have that available. I bet they do.

This is for the full program except the Sirrius channels? It is definitely worth it for $4.99 a month. The best deal I had heard previous to that was $77 a year, but this is even better than that.

Nahhh it's channel 21 that rocks!

I am loving XM70 myself.

Has anyone got the XM $77 a year price since early this year? The last thread I read ended in Jan/Feb I believe and some people were still getting that price IF they asked for it.

Has anyone got the XM $77 a year price since early this year? The last thread I read ended in Jan/Feb I believe and some people were still getting that price IF they asked for it.

My trial expired. I called yesterday and they had no idea what I was talking about. I was eventually told that if I let the subscription lapse for long enough I'd likely be contacted with such an offer. I was then told I could have a 1 month extension on the trial, and I did that, for free.

I thoroughly hated Directions and Connections. One time I was going camping and I missed my exit, so I took another exit I knew would take me to the correct place except the highway was closed for construction. I called onstar and asked if they could tell me how to get back to the main highway using backroads. Long story short, they sent me all the way through the middle of Flint (I was scared for my life) and sent me on country highways TOTALLY out of my way (they took me to Frankenmuth, not even close to 75!!). :eek::eek::eek:
Plus I travel a lot for my job and it just makes much more sense for me to buy a navi system I can take in and out of my car and use in rental cars, instead of pay a ridiculous price for directions that get you lost and you can only use in your own car.

I did keep the basic onstar subscription (safe and sound). It did get me $25 off my car insurance (though I think I paid $150 for it) and I haven't needed it yet. I like having the assurance that onstar can call 911 for me if I am unable to, and HOPEFULLY I will never need it. With the Michigan winters, you never know what will happen!!! :p

Love XM. I will always renew that.

I could be wrong but I don't think we here in Canada have the enav feature. I will renew my onstar and is waiting for xm to call then I'll let the "Indian" in me out. In all fairness to xm I did receive a flyer for the 4.99 deal but I wanna press my luck and see if i can get two years instead of one...probably for a bit more than the $77.

I'm kinda peeved that GM is now offering two years trial period...it was within a matter of two months after I bought my car they came out with that deal. I guess that's gonna be my main bitching point.

wish me luck.

Two years trial period for Onstar? Has anyone in the US gotten this with a recent purchase?

Two years trial period for Onstar? Has anyone in the US gotten this with a recent purchase?

I didn't and I just bought it last week.

I bought two weeks ago and got 1 year. That hasn't changed in the US anyway.

OnStar is great. The people are very friendly and help you when you need it. I'll be renewing next year, and renewing my XM too!

OnStar? Love it!!

XM? Love it!!

'08 Malibu? Love it!!

To be honest, I've used my Route advisor once, on a trip from Wichita, KS to Omaha, NE. It could never tell me anything about traffic as neither city is large enough for that.

The only reason I'm going to keep it, is if I'm in an accident and unconcious, I can't use my cell to call for help, and OnStar can. I've got a friend whom, as far as i'm concerned, OnStar saved his life. He was in an accident, head on collision with another car. He was out and his cell phone was found outside the vehicle (got ejected through the shattered driver side window) about 20 feet away. had they not contacted emergency services the other driver AND him would likely have died from injuries sustained.

It's worth the money if it saves my butt even one time. :)