Onstar enabeled...and I am glad I did it!
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: palatine, il
Posts: 2,264
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Onstar enabeled...and I am glad I did it!
After sitting on the fence for a month or so, I pushed the little blue button and enroled. Shit, I paid for it, so, why not.
I have a cell phone, and during the work week I get usually 15 to 20 calls per day. Getting the damn thing out of the case and off my belt is a hassle. After answering, I will generally try to get off the road and stop the car to talk. Also, when you have to make a call, pushing them damn tiny buttons is a bitch, especially at night with fifty year old eyes.
Enrolling was simple, and the Onstar people were very nice. It takes about 10 minutes to enroll, and your car should be on and running when you enroll. You get 30 free minutes of you dial a number time, not total phone use time. If you get called, whatever audio function is playing stops until you answer and finally end your call. Then it resumes where it left off.
Essentially you have a device in the car that emulates LOJACK. My car insurance was lowered because of it ($15, big deal, but it was lowered). And if you bash the machine up to the point where air bags are deployed, a tow truck and an ambulance are automatically dispatched.
Further, if your "check engine" light comes on, push the blue button and Onstar will tell you why. If you are dumb enough to lock your keys in the car, or, forget to lock it, just dial 1-888-4-Onstar, and they will correct either problem.
Guys, I travel by car, A LOT! And I gotta say, if you punch your destination in on the navi, and use the Onstar hands free phone, this beats the crap out of trying to drive 60 miles an hour, making a necessary phone call on the cell with one hand, and holding a mapquest map with the other. By my calculations, if you get to that point, you are fresh out of hands to do frivilous tasks like shifting and steering. The navi and Onstar are, in my opinion, great safety devices.
After the first year, which is free, this service is $7 per month CHEAPER than America on line. I have no problem with that.
I have a cell phone, and during the work week I get usually 15 to 20 calls per day. Getting the damn thing out of the case and off my belt is a hassle. After answering, I will generally try to get off the road and stop the car to talk. Also, when you have to make a call, pushing them damn tiny buttons is a bitch, especially at night with fifty year old eyes.
Enrolling was simple, and the Onstar people were very nice. It takes about 10 minutes to enroll, and your car should be on and running when you enroll. You get 30 free minutes of you dial a number time, not total phone use time. If you get called, whatever audio function is playing stops until you answer and finally end your call. Then it resumes where it left off.
Essentially you have a device in the car that emulates LOJACK. My car insurance was lowered because of it ($15, big deal, but it was lowered). And if you bash the machine up to the point where air bags are deployed, a tow truck and an ambulance are automatically dispatched.
Further, if your "check engine" light comes on, push the blue button and Onstar will tell you why. If you are dumb enough to lock your keys in the car, or, forget to lock it, just dial 1-888-4-Onstar, and they will correct either problem.
Guys, I travel by car, A LOT! And I gotta say, if you punch your destination in on the navi, and use the Onstar hands free phone, this beats the crap out of trying to drive 60 miles an hour, making a necessary phone call on the cell with one hand, and holding a mapquest map with the other. By my calculations, if you get to that point, you are fresh out of hands to do frivilous tasks like shifting and steering. The navi and Onstar are, in my opinion, great safety devices.
After the first year, which is free, this service is $7 per month CHEAPER than America on line. I have no problem with that.
#4
Where is my super sauce?
I love the OnStar phone and system. It's expensive, but has been 'worth' it so far. I find it a well incorporated hands-free system.
The per-minute expense hasn't been too daunting, but I don't use the phone all that much.
Driving through Canada recently without a roaming fee was nice.
The per-minute expense hasn't been too daunting, but I don't use the phone all that much.
Driving through Canada recently without a roaming fee was nice.
#5
Drifting
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: palatine, il
Posts: 2,264
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
JohnK: No, no. It is 7$ LESS than my AOL fee of $23.90 a month.
Onstar basic service (it is all that you need) is $199/yr, or something like $16.95 a month. They have higher service plans, but if you decide you HAVE to have a higher plan, well, you basically can afford to burn money.
One thing I neglected to mention is this: After the 30 free minutes, you need to buy more when they expire (you must use all 30 in 60 days.) Phone minutes are $1 each! That ain't cheap! You do this by credit card.
Now, my cell phone is provided by the company, and I never see the bill, nor do I pay for it. And I NEVER abuse my phone priviledges, with the exception of calling Mom and Dad, to make sure they are OK. Both 85, so, it is worry time.
However, I would rather be called on the "phone in the mirror", even if I have to pay for it. I am even getting my business cards reprinted, with my desk phone first, Onstar second, and my cell phone third.
If the combination of navi and Onstar save one accident on my part due to distractions, it is well worth the price.
Onstar basic service (it is all that you need) is $199/yr, or something like $16.95 a month. They have higher service plans, but if you decide you HAVE to have a higher plan, well, you basically can afford to burn money.
One thing I neglected to mention is this: After the 30 free minutes, you need to buy more when they expire (you must use all 30 in 60 days.) Phone minutes are $1 each! That ain't cheap! You do this by credit card.
Now, my cell phone is provided by the company, and I never see the bill, nor do I pay for it. And I NEVER abuse my phone priviledges, with the exception of calling Mom and Dad, to make sure they are OK. Both 85, so, it is worry time.
However, I would rather be called on the "phone in the mirror", even if I have to pay for it. I am even getting my business cards reprinted, with my desk phone first, Onstar second, and my cell phone third.
If the combination of navi and Onstar save one accident on my part due to distractions, it is well worth the price.
Trending Topics
#8
DC Cruiser
Even if you get into an accident without paying for OnStar service, and you airbags are deployed, 911 will be called. i'm not sure if a rep will get on the phone like if you were to pay for the service, but thought I'd mention that the proper authorities will be notified of the incident. I called OnStar and found this out. The rep had to put me on hold to ask someone, but as long as the device is not damaged in the accident (antenna or OnStar device), 911 will be called on your behalf-
#11
Stay or leave
You should also know that for the 199 a year you really don't get much other then the basic safe and sound plan. You don't get any minutes to call anyone, you can't call and talk to anyone and ask them anything important. The only things you recieve is the call if you get into an accident. And a tow truck and maybe some other junk. I guess its worth it cause whats 200 a year, especially when it comes down to safety. The other plans are much more expensive. And the car phone call minutes are crazy! I would just rather use my cell phone with an ear piece. The plans they offer are way to expensive and definitely unjusitified. They would make so much more money if they just lowered the cost of the phone calls, I do agree that its much easier and convienent to use the speaker system in the car but refuse to pay that much for it. So until it gets less expensive i'll keep using my celly and just pay the minimum.
#13
Team Owner
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Hellertown, Pa. USA
Age: 57
Posts: 20,014
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by greyjhu
Even if you get into an accident without paying for OnStar service, and you airbags are deployed, 911 will be called.
I called OnStar and found this out. .....as long as the device is not damaged in the accident (antenna or OnStar device), 911 will be called on your behalf-
Even if you get into an accident without paying for OnStar service, and you airbags are deployed, 911 will be called.
I called OnStar and found this out. .....as long as the device is not damaged in the accident (antenna or OnStar device), 911 will be called on your behalf-
I never used my OnStar the first year so I let it expire.
I feel 200 a year for what it does is a waste.
If it were like 75-80 dollars a year for a basic protection package I think they would have a whole lot more renewals.
Shawn S
#14
Drifting
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: palatine, il
Posts: 2,264
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Shawn: It is FREE for the first year, except for the phone minutes of which they give you 30 for free, but you have to use those in the first 60 days.
What I will most probably do is use the Onstar phone for incoming phone calls only, and pull over to the side of the road and use my cell when I know I have to make a call to keep the costs down.
I did not enable Onstar until I had the car five weeks, and Onstar gave me no flack about it. For those of you who are Onstar capable, it costs nothing to push the blue button and ask questions. And the onstar people were not pushy. They asked me if I would like to be auto billed for my second year of Onstar (one year from now). I said I will cross that bridge when we come to it.
I had my boss and my VP in the car today, on the way to a business division. My VP was lamemting he forgot to tell his secretary something, so I fired up the phone, and he was able to talk to her, clear as a bell, from the back seat. Both Al and Lee were favorably impressed. In fact, Lee said "I wonder why my G35 (sedan) doesn't have this." (it DOES have a navi!)
Once again guys, you paid for this. You might as well use it. If for nothing else than incoming calls. The more of us that use it, the cheaper it will get. I remember, back in the 70's, blank VHS tapes were $27 each. Now Walgreens sells them two for a buck.
What I will most probably do is use the Onstar phone for incoming phone calls only, and pull over to the side of the road and use my cell when I know I have to make a call to keep the costs down.
I did not enable Onstar until I had the car five weeks, and Onstar gave me no flack about it. For those of you who are Onstar capable, it costs nothing to push the blue button and ask questions. And the onstar people were not pushy. They asked me if I would like to be auto billed for my second year of Onstar (one year from now). I said I will cross that bridge when we come to it.
I had my boss and my VP in the car today, on the way to a business division. My VP was lamemting he forgot to tell his secretary something, so I fired up the phone, and he was able to talk to her, clear as a bell, from the back seat. Both Al and Lee were favorably impressed. In fact, Lee said "I wonder why my G35 (sedan) doesn't have this." (it DOES have a navi!)
Once again guys, you paid for this. You might as well use it. If for nothing else than incoming calls. The more of us that use it, the cheaper it will get. I remember, back in the 70's, blank VHS tapes were $27 each. Now Walgreens sells them two for a buck.
#15
back in 1997 it was ok to pay 23.90 for dialup internet, in 2003 people should know they can get the same shit for around 9.99 and have $14 more to go towards your onstar fund a month, but hey its your money
#16
OnStar has been great, used it twice and the customer service people are actually helpful AND can speak English. I just have the basic service.
Their per-minute phone rates are insane though.
Their per-minute phone rates are insane though.
#18
Originally posted by dfreder370
Jake: For UNLIMITED use?
Jake: For UNLIMITED use?
#19
Re: Onstar enabeled...and I am glad I did it!
Originally posted by dfreder370
Further, if your "check engine" light comes on, push the blue button and Onstar will tell you why.
Further, if your "check engine" light comes on, push the blue button and Onstar will tell you why.
![what](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/what.gif)
Yea I can just see calling OnStar to ask them why the check engine light is on after I blow up my engine from N2O
![Smile](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Wholly $hit I could just emagine how long I would be with the OnStar operator as she reads off the shopping list of engine codes after I blow the engine.
Juker008
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
joflewbyu2
5G TLX (2015-2020)
105
08-18-2019 10:38 PM
ITSJESTER
4G TL Audio, Bluetooth, Electronics & Navigation
17
12-06-2018 02:29 AM