I had it but let it expire so I didn't vote. Didn't think it was worth the money since I mostly drive it around town on nice days.

I also have a Bluetooth cell phone and the Escort Entourage. With the Entourage (hidden in the car) you can track your car via GPS on the internet and have a message automatically sent to your cell phone if your car is moved out of a designated 'zone'.

Can't a thief disable the OnStar system fairly easily? Wasn't there was a thread on here a while ago about some new Corvettes being stolen off of a dealers lot and they disabled the Onstar so they couldn't be tracked.

 

I have On Star Safe and Sound plans activated on my 03 Tahoe and 08 Malibu. Using the On Star Cell Phone is nice in fringe areas since it has better transmitter characteristics than your hand held cell phone and will work when your hand held is showing No Service. My daughter lives in LA the area and at her house ATT/Verizon cell phones don't work very well. Her 08 Tahoe has no problem connecting with Verizon while my Verizon cell phone is switching back and forth between Service and No Service.

I usually get 100 minutes per year on each vehicle. I had the OnStar in the Tahoe updated when the analog system went away but I do not know if the digital system has the same diagnostic code access the analog system had. There were several times with the Tahoe that I called OnStar and had them read codes for me. They didn't have access to them all but did have access to more codes than an Autozone scanner would have.

The best feature of OnStar which I haven't used and hope not to use is accident notification. A co-worker was in a serious accident on his way home from work with his Silverado in a No Service area and while still dazed from the impact the OnStar advisor was on the phone with him and calling Emergency Services. I only pay $149 for the service each year (GM discount) but its worth $199 just for that feature alone.

As far as disabling it. I don't know how easy it would be to disable but pulling a fuse might do it. As for cars on dealer's lots OnStar isn't activated until the car is sold so it wouldn't be able to help recover a car stolen from a dealer's lot.

Bill

 

I used to be a proponent of OnStar here at CF. I thought it was a terrific deal for the money, and often defended it against the nay sayers. That is until I actually needed it. The first time I pushed the button to get roadside assistence, I heard the recording but no one came online to help. I even pushed the red emergency button... nothing!

Then I called them on my cell phone and guess what - again no answer. I then called my Dealer since I had roadside assistence coverage through my warranty. Nope, no one answered the phone there either. I then called a tow truck and paid out-of-pocket.

The next day I called OnStar to complain. Their story was the bad economy forced them to reduce services but that someone *should* have answered even on a Sunday. They told me to send in the towing receipt and they would reimburse me, which they eventually did by check.

Shortly after that, the OnStar unit itself was malfunctioning. It had just been replaced from the analog to the digital only a year before. It was 2 months past warranty, so the dealer quoted about $300 parts/labor plus a year subscription to get it working.

I had enough. I switched to AAA the next day. So far they have always answered the phone and someone gets out in less than 15 minutes

 

OnStar - my 90 day free trial expires later this month, I haven't used it once, not a DD.
XM - the PO paid through July 2011, and it's nice. However, I've noticed that in certain songs with swear words, they play the radio versions. Therefore, why not just listen to the radio! It's FREE and you hear the same stuff!

 

It also keeps track of our Oil Life Monitor and when you reset it (oil change). That could come in handy. I'll probably renew next month.

 

Onstar is old school and Useless,,, We installed a Kenwood 9140 and now have hands free voice controlled bluetooth,,Garmin Nav, complete Ipod onscreen control, USB, for music and picture files, DVD, CD, HD radio. 5.1 surround sound..
Onstar is obsolete.
And,,, I have checked my tire pressures for years before Onstar charged me $199 to email me a report with my tire pressures,, What a joke,

 

Waste of money if you have a cell phone.

 

 

This system is a joke. I had my GPS in the car and gave the OnStar directions a try and they failed me terribly. They could not give me clear directions on my destination using the backroads I was currently on. I could not believe it! Tried it a second time and asked them to route me to a mall that had been in Charlotte for over 15 years. They could not locate the mall!! Unbeliveable, so dropped the OnStar service completely. Huge waste of money from my experience. My Garmin is cheaper and many times more reliable.

 

Don't have it! Don't want it! Don't like it! Any newer vehicle that I buy has and will have the Onstar antenna cut as soon as its parked in my driveway.

 

Some like it for safety. That is the only reason it makes any sense. And that is only if you are someplace very remote. Even if the driver is not able to use his/her cell everyone has one know. Even children know how to dial 911

 

Just curious, when you guys say disabled, cut antenna, are you serious?

I know some people liken the system to big brother in that you can be tracked, car disabled and such though the system is not active.

Any truths, stories?

 

I have OnStar on my 08 coupe and would NEVER own another Corvette without it.

How can you reject a system that could one day help to save your life?

 

How?

 

Nice Bill - Your my ROI

 

I clicked "Don't have Onstar" because it came standard on our 2009 but I removed the antenna to mount my Valentine.

Now, Onstar sleeps with the fishes.

 

 

What happens when your rolling around on the side of the road on fire and you have a melted Valentine embedded in your head and nobody is around to call 911

 

As posted above, my Onstar antenna was removed to mount my Valentine.

I have nav in the car and on my cellphone, plus bluetooth for the phone.

In fact, Onstar could save my life with the crash notification system. However, in order for that to save me, the following would all need to happen:

1. I'm in an accident.
2. Accident gives me life-threatening injuries.
3. But injuries are not so serious that I'd die anyway.
4. Onstar system is not disabled by crash, or out of contact.
5. No one in my car is able to call for help.
6. No one in the other car (if involved) is able to call for help.
7. No witnesses are able to call for help.
8. No one comes upon the accident scene in time to help.
8. Ambulance gets there soon enough to save me.

Could all of this happen? Yes.
Is it likely to happen? In my opinion, not very likely.

I have no problem with people who choose to keep Onstar, but i chose not to.

 

Wanted it. Bought it. Like it.