not to change the subject but will the solstice/sky get them from the get-go?

 

since there are so many OnStar experts in here, I've had a question for a while. If my sister got a newer GM vehicle that had OnStar, would my parents call up OnStar to get information about the location, speed, etc of the vehicle?


I do think it is interesting that GM is including BOTH StabiliTrack and OnStar on new vehicles. With OnStar "The Man" can find out what you are doing, then use StabiliTrack to kill power, increase braking, etc.

 

Thanks for reminding me. My Onstar ran out and GM took it upon themselves to charge my CC the $17 for 1 months service. I think i've used it twice and once was when I hit the button by accident. Gee, i wonder why they are going to give it out for free.

 

OK... fair point.
So Drivers.com is a no-name flim-flam website.
Would you feel better if the article came from someone like NPR News Radio, broadcasted all over the earth on AM and the WEB?
Listen to the article HERE.

So I wasted 1 more minute tonight and found this link too...
Canadian Broadcast Company (CBC)
"Marketplace called the major Canadian car rental companies, but they would not talk on camera about the GPS and whether they're installed in their vehicles. The companies don't include any information regarding GPS in their contracts. They don't charge for speeding.
AirIQ — a Canadian firm located near Toronto — provides the GPS technology used by trucking and car rental companies.
"We would be dealing with most rental car names that you would know," the company's president, Don Simmonds told Marketplace."

...and this one...
Linky -
"A Payless car rental franchise that allegedly failed to let customers know it used global positioning systems to track them when they crossed state lines and then slapped them with surcharges, has settled a consumer protection suit filed by the state.
The San Francisco Bay area company Acceleron Corp. agreed Tuesday to reimburse hundreds of customers who were hit with the additional fees – some to the tune of $3,000 – beginning in January 2003, according to California Attorney General Bill Lockyer."

So if they don't bust you for speeding, they'll bust you for crossing state lines.
Were we discussing RUMORS about this stuff?
Doesn't look like it.

Hey listen, I need to go put my kid to bed and snuggle with the wife for a while, it's been a long day.
Would somebody else mind popping a link to the warranty-voiding cases?
I think we had a link in guionM's thread about SVT holding their track day and inviting people to thrash their cars safely and in the presence of the manufacturer - warranty STANDING.

Like I said, I gotta go.
I have a business trip tomorrow starting at 4:50am, and I need some time with the family before bed.
Goodnight to all, and thanks for the conversation today!

 

I'd sh1+ a brick and then go hunting for some ****...
They just took it upon themselves to hit your CC?!?!
Oh my. Not in this house.

 

I am gonna go off on them. They got my CC # when they telemarketed me into buying 20 minutes of emergency cell phone time that I have never used.

 

To the person above who said On Star is not active until the dealer activates it? Not so. I've sold cars for 4 years. Its VERY active before the dealer activates it. You can call them up, have them list of the features for customers if you're too lazy (I am), ask them to demonstrate the concierge service by finding me the nearest Burger King drive thru because my customers were hungry (they did), explain why the service engine light was on in a brand new car (it was), and demonstrate how to unlock the doors when I lock them in the car. All this BEFORE the car was sold. Oh, its active...you just can't use it.

I have said this 10 times now, and will say it again. Its not what they do NOW, but give them the chance, and who knows what they'll do THEN. I guarantee you, when someone gets their warranty voided for doing 80+ in their new F5 someday, just remember you heard it here first

 

I think the problem with that is that they would have to demonstrate that traveling 80mph is in fact abuse. That would beg the question of why the vehicle is not limited to below that speed instead of at 100+.

 

Yea. you get to ask them how to get to the nearest Burger King once. After that you have to upgrade your package that costs like $30 a month. My DVD Nav on my V does it for free.

 

I don't see the manufactors voiding a warranty for speeding. Damn, a six speed LS1 can do 140 all day long cruising in 6th without any real dire consequences. Sports cars these days are designed to run and cruise at 120+ MPH. I don't think they'll have any ground to stand on for that argument. If they are going to void your warranty on a performence car for speeding, they shouldn't even offer a warranty.

 

No. OnSTar cannot be used to track the car at all, except when the car is stolen.

Even then, OnStar can NOT track the car without your permission... and on top of that, they will not be dealing with you personally for the tracking, they only deal with the police.

So, in short, if your car is stolen, you call the police and OnStar, give Onstar permission to track the vehicle, and then they work with the police to track and recover the car.

The do not notify you of the location to avoid vigilante justice, putting the owner in a risky situation, etc...

 

That is very interesting, because I have had 3 cars now with OnStar, (01 MC SS, 02 MC SS, 04 GP GTP) and all 3 of them had their subscriptions expire... and they did NOT take it upon themselves to charge my account. In fact, we had to call them to get the service restarted.

Secondly, unless you previously subscribed to OnStar on your own (ie not the free 1 year from the factory) then, how could they even have your credit card account information to it charge to?

 

Again, show me where it was on all the Datelines, 60 Minutes, and things that people actually pay attention to, and maybe I'll buy into it a bit more...

It's still not the same thing. Sorry.

Let's see... if ACME Rent-A-Car (only) had SUV's that had exploding tires on them, do you think it would get the same level of press of say, I dunno... if all Ford Explorers were doing it?

I think not. It's not even close to the same level of press, or public awareness.

I consider myself to be pretty up on world news, and ESPECIALLY automotive news, and until you posted this... from 2002.... I had never heard it. Hardly getting significant exposure.

Finally, these are all rental cars you are showing, and none of them had OnStar.

 

[PHP]That is very interesting, because I have had 3 cars now with OnStar, (01 MC SS, 02 MC SS, 04 GP GTP) and all 3 of them had their subscriptions expire... and they did NOT take it upon themselves to charge my account. In fact, we had to call them to get the service restarted.[/PHP]

I too have had 3 cars with Onstar. This is the first one to expire. I nor my wife authorized it and if you read my posts a little more clearly I stated they got my CC # on file for the extra cell minutes they sold me.

 

Ah. I did not see that, being that you posted that in a seperate reply.

I'm sure they'll refund the money, they probably include a rolling subscription in with the 20 minutes you bought, though. Sneaky tactic if they did.