OnStar time to dump it

[Gramps]

I've had onstar in 3 trucks over the past 21 years....never used it. I just realized I'm paying almost $400 a year for the plain basic plan. I think it's time to say bye bye to them. Anyone still use it?

 

[EarpRider]

Yes, also they offer military and first responder discounts, might be worth it. Just push the little button in your car and talk to the representative about a discount.

 

[sintax]

certainly seems to be a waste of $400 to me. I guess it comes down to if you actually use it and find value in it.

 

[Singleton]

I dumped it after the discount time ended. Never used it and IMO, was only needed in remote travel areas.

 

[Gonefishin5555]

I got hit pretty good in an accident last spring and I grabbed my phone as I was getting out of the car and it recognized that I was in an accident and a message came up to dial 911 which I did. Also has sos feature now so I would say onstar is obsolete

 

[kat_williams]

I have never had a car with it. I thought it was free or included with the car. What does it actually do for $400 a year? Isn't it just a red button that you can press to call someone if you are in an accident type of thing? Or is there more to it?

 

[Boatymcboatface]

I have never had a car with it. I thought it was free or included with the car. What does it actually do for $400 a year? Isn't it just a red button that you can press to call someone if you are in an accident type of thing? Or is there more to it?

Basically everything your phone does already only you pay an extra $400.




If you have Appleplay or Bluetooth there’s really no need.

 

[elco]

I believe it's prepaid for a few years on new vehicles. I use it fairly often for the wifi and remote access to start, unlock, etc.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

on star has some additional capabilities.

One, you need it to remote start the vehicle through the app. Yes you can remote start the vehicle without on star using the fob, but its distance limited.

Second, it will give you a monthly report of vehicle diagnostics, mainly the maintenance items. Whether this is useful or not depends on how clueless one is on vehicle maintenance.

Three, it is supposed to be easier to call for help when in an accident. Everyone assumes they will have their phone on them and be able to use it, but you don't know the level of your own injuries, or whether the phone will still be reachable in an accident.

Is it worth it? Maybe if it was free, but as a sub, its questionable. Warm fuzzies maybe?

 

[Kachina26]

on star has some additional capabilities.

One, you need it to remote start the vehicle through the app. Yes you can remote start the vehicle without on star using the fob, but its distance limited.

Second, it will give you a monthly report of vehicle diagnostics, mainly the maintenance items. Whether this is useful or not depends on how clueless one is on vehicle maintenance.

Three, it is supposed to be easier to call for help when in an accident. Everyone assumes they will have their phone on them and be able to use it, but you don't know the level of your own injuries, or whether the phone will still be reachable in an accident.

Is it worth it? Maybe if it was free, but as a sub, its questionable. Warm fuzzies maybe?

iPhone has crash detection built in. So that advantage has left the building.

 

[sintax]

iPhone has crash detection built in. So that advantage has left the building.

and they also have the new Satellite messaging, which i have not used, but i heard is awesome.

a lot of outdoors people are ditching their Spot / Garmin inreach units since this is now built into iphones

 

[92562]

iPhone has crash detection built in. So that advantage has left the building.

So does the Life 360 app if you have android.

 

[BabyRay]

My GMC truck requires OnStar to display speed limits. I’m locked in for that feature alone, as I’m so used to it that I don’t even see speed limit signs anymore. I’m sure the tickets and the hit to my insurance rate would cost more than OnStar.

 

[Gelcoater]

My GMC truck requires OnStar to display speed limits. I’m locked in for that feature alone, as I’m so used to it that I don’t even see speed limit signs anymore. I’m sure the tickets and the hit to my insurance rate would cost more than OnStar.

Last spring at Glamis we had a guy come to camp in his new truck. Towing a massive 5th wheel toy hauler.
We had to air him down significantly and still had to pull him in.
He had lights and shit going off all over the dash to stop immediately! And check air pressure.

Later he gets his phone out and there were several Emails telling him the same

 

[NIKAL]

I have a new 2024 Silverado and had a free 2 month OnStar trial. After the two months was up I started noticing my GPS maps were a mess. Some areas near the dealership I bought the truck from worked, but other areas it didn’t, and some random places it would.

I took the truck in, they re flashed it, dicked around with it and come to find out your factory GPS built in won’t work if you do not buy one of the Onstar plans. What kinda BS is that! Yes you can CarPlay your maps, but the Google maps with the truck are different , then the maps on your phone. Don’t ask me why, but I can’t get live traffic from my phone on the screen. But with the GM Google maps you can.

I pissed and moned a lot to GM and Onstar. Not sure I would have bought the truck if I knew they were playing these games. For the full Onstar package it’s $49 a month. Who is spending $50 a month on Onstar? I did find a plan that just maps & aps, and it was $15 a month, but they then offered me some “First Responders” discount that brought the price down to $12 dollars a month? (BTW I’m not a first responder) Its still stupid to pay that, but I did, as I really like the maps better, I like the traffic alerts and it tells you the speed of the road your on. You also get some Google, Alexa, Pandora, Spotify BS too. Just thinking about pissed me off again.

 

[Chili Palmer]

When I ended upside down from hydroplaning and bouncing off the guardrail I found out the hard way that OnStar doesn’t work if you grind down the shark fin antenna. There is no other antenna as a backup. My airbags never blew when that accident happened.

 

[TimeBandit]

This is worse than BMW charging for heated seats.
So it's already on the window sticker??

Mandatory subscription
GM has made a three-year, prepaid OnStar subscription a standard option on many new Buick, Cadillac, and GMC models. The subscription costs $1,500 and is mandatory, even if the owner doesn't plan to use the services.

 

[NIKAL]

This is worse than BMW charging for heated seats.
So it's already on the window sticker??

Mandatory subscription
GM has made a three-year, prepaid OnStar subscription a standard option on many new Buick, Cadillac, and GMC models. The subscription costs $1,500 and is mandatory, even if the owner doesn't plan to use the services.

I wonder which models it’s mandatory? It’s not on the Silverado, Tahoe or Suburbans.

 

[BabyRay]

This is worse than BMW charging for heated seats.
So it's already on the window sticker??

Mandatory subscription
GM has made a three-year, prepaid OnStar subscription a standard option on many new Buick, Cadillac, and GMC models. The subscription costs $1,500 and is mandatory, even if the owner doesn't plan to use the services.

Yes. It was mandatory on my ‘23 Canyon.

 

[Chili Palmer]

Yes. It was mandatory on my ‘23 Canyon.

You would think that they’d just increase the price of the truck by $1500 and just include it for the first 3 years as not to piss off the consumer.

 

[Sleek-Jet]

This is worse than BMW charging for heated seats.
So it's already on the window sticker??

Mandatory subscription
GM has made a three-year, prepaid OnStar subscription a standard option on many new Buick, Cadillac, and GMC models. The subscription costs $1,500 and is mandatory, even if the owner doesn't plan to use the services.

Also, GM is dropping Android Auto and Apply Carplay. The only option moving forward is their own integration app (that does kind of look like Android Auto). Some models of GM still support the third party but that is supposed to be gone in the near future.

 

[NIKAL]

Also, GM is dropping Android Auto and Apply Carplay. The only option moving forward is their own integration app (that does kind of look like Android Auto). Some models of GM still support the third party but that is supposed to be gone in the near future.

Another dumb move by GM!

 

[Big B Hova]

iPhone has crash detection built in. So that advantage has left the building.

Androids can stop the bleeding and go after the hit and run driver.

 

[NIKAL]

Just found this when looking up GM dropping CarPlay.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/general-motors-removing-apple-carplay-android-auto-for-safety-tim-babbitt/

GM is also looking at subscription services that would be managed through the same interface. GM's chief digital officer, Edward Kummer, toldReutersas much when the decision to drop CarPlay and Android Auto was announced. Automakers see subscriptions as huge new source of income to be tapped, with GM alone hoping to make as much as $25 billion per year just off subscriptions by 2030.

 

[Sharky]

$25 billion?????

Fuck, they can't make that much in 10 years.

Not with Em Barra sment running the company.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

Just found this when looking up GM dropping CarPlay.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/general-motors-removing-apple-carplay-android-auto-for-safety-tim-babbitt/

GM is also looking at subscription services that would be managed through the same interface. GM's chief digital officer, Edward Kummer, toldReutersas much when the decision to drop CarPlay and Android Auto was announced. Automakers see subscriptions as huge new source of income to be tapped, with GM alone hoping to make as much as $25 billion per year just off subscriptions by 2030.

Apple should just start making cars and give GM the finger.

I have never had an issue with Apple CarPlay and in fact I like its interface better than GMs crap.

 

[Sharky]

I got my new Chebby in 2024. Free BlondStar. Never have used it, never will.

Its as worthless now as it was in the 90's.


GM dropping CarPlay. . . another "brilliant" decision by GM. That's what you get from a CEO appointed by obama.

 

[Waterjunky]

Does this surprise anyone?

They are watching technology go to subscription base only and are thinking nothing but dollar signs.

And they wonder why they went bankrupt......

My prediction is that a few manufacturers will do this and watch sales plumet as word gets out and people start getting burnt by this. The remaining will watch and learn.

 

[Mikes56]

I had it in my 2016 Chevy Duramax when I bought it new. One day I locked my keys inside the truck and after calling OnStar and answering some questions, they remotely unlocked my truck.

 

[RichL]

This is worse than BMW charging for heated seats.
So it's already on the window sticker??

Mandatory subscription
GM has made a three-year, prepaid OnStar subscription a standard option on many new Buick, Cadillac, and GMC models. The subscription costs $1,500 and is mandatory, even if the owner doesn't plan to use the services.

How can this be an "option" if a $1500 payment is mandatory?

 

[Dog]

Apple should just start making cars and give GM the finger.

I have never had an issue with Apple CarPlay and in fact I like its interface better than GMs crap.

A better idea, Elon needs to start making phones in America and get rid of Apple all together. I don't care if Elon uses Android or it's own operating system.


FUCK APPLE !!!!!

 

[NIKAL]

Does this surprise anyone?

They are watching technology go to subscription base only and are thinking nothing but dollar signs.

And they wonder why they went bankrupt......

My prediction is that a few manufacturers will do this and watch sales plumet as word gets out and people start getting burnt by this. The remaining will watch and learn.

Actually quite a few auto manufacturers are already going to this subscription based platform. I foresee more if not most will. Tesla I believe was the first? Maybe BMW, which is actually worse, as after a few years, they drop support of a product as their technology changes. Volvo, Rivian, Mercedes, Kia are a few more that I know offer subscriptions to access features of the cars.

 

[napanutt]

Actually quite a few auto manufacturers are already going to this subscription based platform. I foresee more if not most will. Tesla I believe was the first? Maybe BMW, which is actually worse, as after a few years, they drop support of a product as their technology changes. Volvo, Rivian, Mercedes are a few more that I know offer subscriptions to access features of the cars.

Our Tesla is going the subscription route. We used to have what they called Slacker included with premium connectivity. Now they’re going to Live one which is an add on.
I can use my existing YouTube music account without having to pay for another subscription.

 

[NIKAL]

Our Tesla is going the subscription route. We used to have what they called Slacker included with premium connectivity. Now they’re going to Live one which is an add on.
I can use my existing YouTube music account without having to pay for another subscription.

My neighbor is a Tesla guy with a Model S twin motor & Cyber Truck. He was say the Full Self Driving is $5-$8K to buy outright? Or now they have a $99 a monthly fee option for FSD but I guess it’s not for everywhere?

Car subscriptions are going to be like paying for cable or streaming services. Watch in a few years we are going to be talking about how we are paying $100-200 a month per car for all the subscriptions just to have the features in the cars. My BIL has had several BMW’s and he was telling me his model in Europe, the seat heaters were a subscription to be able to turn on. I was like WTF!!! I guess BMW later dropped that due to backlash they got. But it’s crazy what they are doing now.

 

[Big B Hova]

Magicbox over rides all the automakers safey bullshit.

Adds apple/android wireless auto to yore screen.

Also watch Netflix/ YouTube while driving.

It's a win / win. No subscriptions (except for the movie services you use)

 

[Waterjunky]

These subscriptions are going to be great for a year or two. How much do you think a "tuner" box that just turns everything on is going to run? My bet is about the cost of one year subscription.

Go ahead as a manufacturer... if everyone does not do it, they will be cutting their own throat. Obviously a few higher end units will get away with it like BMW and Tesla. GM is playing out of their league with this. Caddy probably, Chevy? Doubt it......

 

[TPC]

It came around before everyone had a cell phone and seemed practical at the time.

I wouldn’t be surprised if other subscriptions will eventually be bundled with it.
We won’t buy a vehicle that requires any paid subscriptions for access to its features other than ONSTAR.

 

[rrrr]

My GMC truck requires OnStar to display speed limits. I’m locked in for that feature alone, as I’m so used to it that I don’t even see speed limit signs anymore. I’m sure the tickets and the hit to my insurance rate would cost more than OnStar.

There are people that observe speed limits? Must be in all those cars I pass on the Sam Houston Tollway.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

These subscriptions are going to be great for a year or two. How much do you think a "tuner" box that just turns everything on is going to run? My bet is about the cost of one year subscription.

Go ahead as a manufacturer... if everyone does not do it, they will be cutting their own throat. Obviously a few higher end units will get away with it like BMW and Tesla. GM is playing out of their league with this. Caddy probably, Chevy? Doubt it......

The problem you're not thinking about is manufacturers are moving to encryption. You can't hack what you can't read or can't change. Sure maybe eventually someone might crack it but not soon enough to benefit anyone who is the first owner.

 

[D19]

Last spring at Glamis we had a guy come to camp in his new truck. Towing a massive 5th wheel toy hauler.
We had to air him down significantly and still had to pull him in.
He had lights and shit going off all over the dash to stop immediately! And check air pressure.

Later he gets his phone out and there were several Emails telling him the same

I have this issue with my 2024. I run 37" tires at 45-50 psi. Head and tail lights flash, get texts, emails and alerts on the dash that the tire psi is low. Dealer wouldn't reprogram it and have yet to find a programmer that will change the psi settings. Eventually one will come out.

I like the Onstar for the vehicle locator on my phone and being able to remote start form anywhere and I'll keep it for those reasons. I was hit really bad in my last GMC earlier this year. The Onstar went off but my iphone did not. Not sure how effective that crash alert works on iphone.