http://media.gm.com/content/product/...an/0104_onstar

Basically you can buy an OnStar mirror at Best Buy and have them install it in your car. Then you pay for an onstar subscription which will give you crash response, stolen vehicle location assistance, turn-by-turn directions, hands free calling, etc.

I'm curious to see how well it will sell. Only thing that would possibly be of use to me is the crash assistance. Everything else can already be done by most newer cars. May be useful for older cars, but I'd guess that sales start out marginal and then go downhill from there.

 

It'll depend on the cost, both the initial purchase and the monthly subscription. If its cheap, many consumers might try it as an "added level of protection"... however if its too pricey... well you can already get a bluetooth (hands free calling) for less than $10, and navigation can be added for less than $150.

 

Looks to be going for $299 plus installation, then $19/month and up

 

This really surprises me. It seemed like GM really liked using OnStar for marketing as an item exclusive to them. I personally was never interested in it though.

 

Yes, they did use it as a marketing tool. However, now, GM just wants to make it profitable.

As there were some people who actually bought a GM vehicle, over a competitor, due to OnStar.............. I find this move, odd. Now they are telling folks "you don't have to actually buy our vehicles to get this, so please, go buy whatever you want."

The phrase "cutting off ones nose, to spite their face," comes to mind.

 

Are there really many (or any) people out there who bought a GM product simply for OnStar? I find it hard to believe. I'd still agree that this seems like a peculiar "advantage" to give up.

 

I think it might've been a useful product differentiator when it first came out, and it was the only thing of its kind. Now that the technology is commonplace and every automaker has something similar, it's no big deal. Might as well sell it outside of GM and try to make some money off it.

Also, don't forget that GM has licenced OnStar to its competitors in the past (e.g. LexusLink), so this isn't without precedence.

 

Both Toyota (and I bet Lexus) and Hyundai (Kia) have announced competitors to OnStar at the CES this year. So if it ever was something that made people pick a GM over something else, that's no longer going to be as strong of an attraction.

Hyundai:
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/05/c...wer-to-onstar/

Toyota:
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/04/c...lmost-w-video/
The Toyota system is more like Sync, but "also integrates with Toyota's existing Safety Connect telematics system, which handles everything from collision notification to roadside assistance."

Dumb question, but does Sync do anything in the event of a crash?

 

Something tells me GM has plenty of experience doing that

 

I just picked up my 2011 Camaro (2LT RS) 2 1/2 weeks ago. Thus far, I love EVERYTHING about the car except OnStar. WORST service in the world. GM might as well see if they can license it to others because it will in no way be an inducement for me to buy a car.

 

Whoever said that Onstar was specific to GM is mistaken. I know Volkswagon offered it for a while, I saw it in a 2004 Jetta. I don't know if they still do or not. GM has always pushed it to anybody who wanted to pay.

Not sure how this is cutting off your nose. It is more leveraging an asset.

-Geoff

 

OnStar used to be an exclusive feature. Now that there is competition, it appears they want to be first to market for 'aftermarket' telematic services which I think is a pretty crafty move.

I was not a fan of OnStar when I first had it. Now I like it. I like getting directions on the fly without having to punch addresses into a nav screen or carry an aftermarket unit which can be bait for car prowlers. It's also great when I have only a rough idea of where I'm going - a restaurant name, etc. I also have nav on my phone, but I just can't deal with following a little handheld device.

The hands-free calling feature is great. Yes, I have bluetooth that integrates with the factory radio, but it's on the AT&T network. The OnStar integrated phone uses the Verizon network and it's got significantly longer range than my pocket phone.

I was on an offroading trip with my old Colorado, and we had long since lost cell coverage. A buddy's Bronco II broke down. We knew we were going to have to tow it out. We thought maybe we could fix it on the trail, but we needed a diagram and also to confirm if the truck had a high and low pressure fuel pump.

In 10 seconds, I was placing a call out via OnStar to a buddy that had data access and he was reading me the diagram and fuel pump locations. Turned out to be a bad fuel pump in the tank, thanks to being able to e-diagnose instead of wondering if we were missing something stupid. We also arranged for a tow-truck to meet us.

On a few other trips, the OnStar phone has served as our primary communication back to family. Like when we went camping last year for a week, the only cell service via pocket phone was 2 hours away via trail, and about 20 miles by distance. OnStar was able to place calls from our campsite in a lake basin area, instantly, and allowed us to check in with family.

Just think if we'd had an actual emergency -- it would have taken us 2+ hours just to reach a cell signal with our ATT pocket phones, just so we could dial local EMS with ground transport. With OnStar, we could have instantly notified ground transport of an emergency, and then worked with Airlift to get a helicopter closer to our location in that 2 hour timeframe.

 

How is OnStar so bad for you?

 

Darth,

Here is the very short list:

1) Took a day off from work to do some errands. Was out in the tri-county area and my next stop was to go back to the dealership -- Hirlinger in West Harrison, IN. Thought I would try to use OnStar to get turn-by-turn directions. I pushed the blue button. The phone rang and rang and rang. Finally, it hung up. Pushed it again and got to talk with a "trip advisor" after having the phone ring another 15 times. I asked for directoins to Hirlinger Chevrolet in West Harrison, IN. The trip advisor said they couldn't find that and asked if I had an address. I VERY politely pointed out that Hirlinger is one of their dealers and had been for many decades. A few minutes of fumbling around and she said she finally found it and would have the system send the directions to my car. The download failed twice and the screen in my car said I should call OnStar.

2) Last Saturday, my wife and I were baby sitting my grand daughter. She had a fever so my wife sent me to Walgreen's to pick up some baby tylenol. Went to Walgreens, got back in the car, and turned on the radio since I was listening to an NCAA game. One team was down by 1 point with 7 seconds left and the ball was going to be inbounded. All of a sudden, OnStar calls me which shuts off the radio. The call was an advertisement for all of the wonderful stuff that OnStar can do for me. Well, I missed the end of the game. It wasn't the end of the world since it wasn't the Bearcats playing. I pushed the blue button to call OnStar. This time the phone only rang about 5 times before the system answered. It wasn't a person who answered. It was an automatic system with an advertisement for some sort of sweepstakes OnStar was running. Irony? I called to complain about advertising and I get more advertising. When the ad was over, a person came on the line. Again, I was VERY polite. I asked why OnStar was calling me with advertisements. The girl on the other end of the phone said that it never happened and then hung up on me.

3) Last night I was leaving work and decided to give OnStar another shot. I pushed the blue button. Someone answered and asked where I wanted to go. I merely said that I needed directions to go home. The person said, "No problem! I'll send them to you now." I then asked her how she knew it was me asking for directions and not someone who stole my car. She said, "Oops. I forgot to ask you for your code. What is it?" If the car had been stolen, OnStar would have led the perp directly to my house and via the HomeLink system, opened my garage door for them.

Like I said, this is the short list. I've only had the car for two 1/2 weeks. Thus far, it appears that ALL of the bad stuff from GM in the 70's and 80's have been rolled into OnStar in 2011.

Lastly, I should say that I have never found a dealer -- GM or otherwise -- who is as knowledgeable and as honest as Hirlinger. If you are in the market for a Chevy, do yourself a favor and visit them.

 

Disappointing. I've used the turn-by-turn a few times with success, but agree it is clunky to get it 'primed'... and a lot depends on the competancy level of the OnStar advisor you happen to get. Strange with the unanswered ringing and failed downloads though.


[quote]

2) Last Saturday, my wife and I were baby sitting my grand daughter. She had a fever so my wife sent me to Walgreen's to pick up some baby tylenol. Went to Walgreens, got back in the car, and turned on the radio since I was listening to an NCAA game. One team was down by 1 point with 7 seconds left and the ball was going to be inbounded. All of a sudden, OnStar calls me which shuts off the radio. The call was an advertisement for all of the wonderful stuff that OnStar can do for me. Well, I missed the end of the game. It wasn't the end of the world since it wasn't the Bearcats playing. I pushed the blue button to call OnStar. This time the phone only rang about 5 times before the system answered. It wasn't a person who answered. It was an automatic system with an advertisement for some sort of sweepstakes OnStar was running. Irony? I called to complain about advertising and I get more advertising. When the ad was over, a person came on the line. Again, I was VERY polite. I asked why OnStar was calling me with advertisements. The girl on the other end of the phone said that it never happened and then hung up on me.
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Honestly, this is the first Ive heard of OnStar calling you in-car with advertisements.... not saying it didnt happen, just that it's never happened to me. Hopefully it doesnt start.




Ya, that is not good at all... hadn't thought of that one before.


That said, it sounds like your issues are with the directions part of the service... (advertising call aside...)

I am a big fan of the Safe & Sound plan, but am not a big fan of the Directions & Connections plans because of cheap alternatives.