John Harry

In 2006 GM eliminated the XM antenna “wart” on the Corvette by placing the antenna in the outside mirrors. Yet most other GM models and most cars from other manufacturers (Tesla being a notable exception) continue to use the wart. Why would a manufacturer choose to tack a blob on their cars when there are other choices? It can’t be cheaper. Is there some difference in functionality? Have Corvette owners given up something by losing the wart?

87SAM

Vette_DD

I couldn't tell any loss of signal between my 2005 and my 2006.

marinablu67

I haven't had the opportunity to drive an 05 with the "wart", but I have rented other recent model GM cars over the last few years, that had the XM radio activated and I think had the "wart". I don't think the location of the XM ant. makes to much of a difference, because the signal is line of sight, and when any object(trees, tall building etc.) get between the car and the 2 XM satellites, you have momentary signal loss.

I've experience this in my 08 C6, and the rental cars. Doesn't seem to make any difference where the antenna is located.

jrose7004

Our Cadillac and BMW both have more of a shark fin than a wart.

FAUEE

Cost and line of sight

Dano523

Because is cheaper to just slap on a single wart for the XM radio option, then to take the time to design the XM antenna's into say the mirrors isntead.

Why the 05 even had a Wart to begin with, is still a mystery, and would bank that the XM deal was late to table during the design process of the car. Hence on the XM modules and antenna's, GM gets them from Sirus pretty much for free to start with, and Sirus makes the money up in the long run from subscription instead.

Take the case when Sirus bough out XM radio, and the old XM modules would not work. So if you buy an older used vet from a GM dealer that the XM module will not work since it needs to be re-programmed, GM will pull the module, send it to Sirus to have it updated, reinstall it back in the car, and give you a free 6month subscription to Sirus to get you hooked; so Sirus can still make up the money for such on the back end still.

Hence no mater what, Sirus is still beaming the signal 24-7, so it it just a mater of how many subscriptions they can collect monthly, to make the profits that much greater over all instead.

John Harry

Thanks Dano and others. I hate the wart on all cars and couldn't understand why it's used, but the cost factor kind of makes sense.

ZEEEE 06

I have other cars with Sirius/XM and the reception is much better than in my 06 Z06, I think the signal is horrible that unless I'm on the open highway I'd rather not listen to it.

John Harry

Interesting; thanks, Brian.

RobLo

I kind of figure the "wart" on my '05 adds about $10K in resale due to "exclusivity fees"!

sjw91

The reception is much better on my Lexus with an external antenna.

Gman in NC

I ordered my '05' with no XM just to get rid of that.

owc6

I'm so glad my '05 has no wart.

Once I got rid of the wart on the nose plate holder, that is.

danl23188

I own an 05 convert and my brother in law has an 06. Reception on mine is much better than the 06.

Sox-Fan

The reception on my 08 Cobalt SS with the wart is better than the reception on my 08 Z06 without.

madsonp

Be one with the wart.

John Harry

Again, thanks for the info, everybody.