Why are most people not adding OnStar or XM to their car?

5729 Views 68 Replies 46 Participants Last post by Sol Cruisin, May 6, 2005

madmac9

Discussion Starter · May 3, 2005

In the recent build my car topic, most people got every option but xm and onstar. I just wanted to know some reasons why. I can understand xm but onstar looks like a really good program. Sure I have never used it....so is there some kind of catch that I'm not aware of?

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Small Dealer

· #2 · May 3, 2005 (Edited)

madmac9 said:
In the recent build my car topic, most people got every option but xm and onstar. I just wanted to know some reasons why. I can understand xm but onstar looks like a really good program. Sure I have never used it....so is there some kind of catch that I'm not aware of?

With OnStar currently unavailable to order, even people that see the benefit aren't able to place it on their orders. That could be the reason. I hope when it is available, people add it to their orders.

Those who are unsure of what XM can offer, there is a free trial on-line that you can check out. http://xmro.xmradio.com/xstream/index.jsp Something I always find funny is that one of the great benefits to XM is the lack of commercials on the music channels (XM radio promos are there). In GM, Xm is considered part of the OnStar group. On Star is the largest radio advertiser in the US.

stonebreaker

· #3 · May 3, 2005

Are you aware they track your car continuously via onstar? I'll risk the accident to preserve my privacy. Since they include the module whether you order it or not, I'll probably remove it once I figure out where it is on the kappa platform.

Salamander

· #4 · May 3, 2005

stonebreaker said:
Are you aware they track your car continuously via onstar?

No, they don't. They know where you are when you call them, if the collision detector calls them or they are served with a court order to find you. They do not continuously track you.

SlySol

· #5 · May 3, 2005 (Edited)

I have no intention of ever using either service. I am perfectly content to listen to local radio stations or use my own CDs or mp3s if I want to skip the commercials. As for OnStar, I don't feel it's worth my money either. I keep a spare key at home and am responsible enough that I never really need to use it. I have lots of friends in the area, so I can always get a ride if I need it and I'm not afraid of having to walk a couple miles in the unlikely event that it comes down to it. Also, almost all my driving is on well-traveled roads, so I'm not really concerned with driving into a ditch somewhere and not being found. I haven't ever had a car stolen and don't really frequent high-risk areas and if it ever is stolen, that's why I pay for insurance. I haven't had to pay for a tow truck or locksmith in the past 10 years, but if I did need one, I could pay for it with a lot less money than paying for OnStar (unless I'm doing it all the time). I'm certainly not going to pay for equipment that I'm never going to use, particularly since you also have to pay a subscription to use it beyond the first year. And if the OnStar poll here is any indication, the vast majority of others don't care about it either, so I doubt I'd ever get anywhere close to my full resale value out of it. It might be different if you compare it to the minivan market, but that's just not a priority for most people in a roadster. And that's just not going to change anytime soon.

Oh well ... those are my thoughts on the matter, since you're looking for input. Don't get me wrong, though. I'm not trying to put the system down. I think it's a great idea and will be well worth it for some people and give peace of mind to many. It's just not something I'm going to pay for.

Also, I don't like the idea of anybody just giving up my location because of some stupid court order if I happen to be on the lam.

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SteveB

· #6 · May 3, 2005

There is a monthly fee associated with both of these options. I don't want monthly fee's for unnecessary services. I already get music for free and I have a Cell phone. Additionally, I already have roadside assistance for all of my cars that cost next to nothing.

dlent

· #7 · May 3, 2005

Many folks on this forum, are choosing NOT to include these options, due to the location of the "Little" antenna/receivers on the rear of the car. Check out some of the other threads, I think you will find further discussion.

Small Dealer

· #8 · May 3, 2005

stonebreaker said:
Are you aware they track your car continuously via onstar?

Thats not OnStar, that is the chip your barber updates every time you get a haircut.

PAS22

· #9 · May 3, 2005

Small Dealer said:
Thats not OnStar, that is the chip your barber updates every time you get a haircut.

Which suplants the one embedded in your hip when your born! :lol:

dengel

· #10 · May 3, 2005

SteveB said:
There is a monthly fee associated with both of these options. I don't want monthly fee's for unnecessary services. I already get music for free and I have a Cell phone. Additionally, I already have roadside assistance for all of my cars that cost next to nothing.

:agree:

In addition, for me this car will be a weekend/good weather car, not a daily driver. I don't want to be paying every month for a car based service when the car will be hidden away in the garage for several months waiting for spring.

I have roadside assistance through my cell phone company which is tied to the phone itself, so it covers any car so long as me and my cell phone are present.

As for the XM radio, I would be more likely to buy one of the portable systems, so that I could move it from car to car, and get full time use out of it, rather than only part time use.

mceb

· #11 · May 3, 2005 (Edited)

Different carrier is my answer....handheld Sirius is what I want once Sirius finally releases one

OnStar in addition to being delayed for first batches of cars, the $700 up front was too much. I'd buy it if it was around $250 for the receiver + annual fees.

Luc

· #12 · May 3, 2005

My reason for not getting XM is quite simple....it is not available in Canada. Actually, even if I was in the US, I'd probably prefer Sirus over XM.

Fformula88

· #13 · May 3, 2005

I don't think I need Onstar, and I don't want to pay for the service. Sure it can be convenient, but overall it would be just an added expense. I already carry AAA to cover roadside emergencies, and I will continue to since I own more than one vehicle.

XM, I don't want to pay for a second receiver just to have XM integrated into the stereo. I have a SkiFi now, which I can put into any car I want, in the house, etc. Adding the Sol receiver to the account would only be an extra $7 or so a month, but its just as easy to mount the SkyFi in the car and save that $84 a year!

solli4me

· #14 · May 3, 2005

Many folks on this forum, are choosing NOT to include these options, due to the location of the "Little" antenna/receivers on the rear of the car. QUOTE]

Where is this antenna supposed to be placed?

SOCAISLANDER

· #15 · May 3, 2005

i live in germany and it will be a waste of money!
Will GM offer the IPOD INPUTS as a standard feature?

LatinVenom

· #16 · May 3, 2005

I will mentioned again, there is no room on a car like this for mini shark finn with the XM pimple.
So if I would want satellite radio I would go the portable route, also must GM cars come with road side assistance for the duration of your warranty. I also have AAA service that gives you a lot of other benefits for a lot less.

brentil

· #17 · May 3, 2005

solli4me said:
Where is this antenna supposed to be placed?

http://www.solsticeforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=443&size=big&sort=2&cat=3017
As far as we know that's only the XM antena. It might also be the OnStar though. We've heard there will be a dual purpose antena, but that was when you had OnStar and XM, and this might jsut be an XM antena.

I'm not getting either because [1] I won the Roady2 in the findthemessage.com contest so I don't need it [2] OnStar is too damn expensive up front. $700 just for the module and one year is too much for me. I don't mind the yearly fee, I jsut can't afford the $700 lump sum at the begining. So instead GM will loose the monthly subscription fee from me, and LoJack will get my money instead. As I've said before if GM made it a $200 option I'd get it in a heart beat.

hyzer

· #18 · May 3, 2005

LatinVenom said:
I will mentioned again, there is no room on a car like this for mini shark finn with the XM pimple.
So if I would want satellite radio I would go the portable route, also must GM cars come with road side assistance for the duration of your warranty. I also have AAA service that gives you a lot of other benefits for a lot less.

Yup, AAA, portable Xm or Sirius and no exterior antenna.

I don't even know if i'll leave the mast antenna for the radio on. Might go with cd's and mp3's only. Most of the pictures we see don't even show the car with the antenna on.

mceb

· #19 · May 3, 2005

SOCAISLANDER said:
Will GM offer the IPOD INPUTS as a standard feature?

Yes. We know it's on the upgraded radios and think it's on the standard radio too.

achieftain

· #20 · May 3, 2005

SOCAISLANDER said:
i live in germany and it will be a waste of money!
Will GM offer the IPOD INPUTS as a standard feature?

You do know that the Solstice will not be exported to Germany or any EU country due to frontal impact with pedestrian regs.

Biggest reason nobody is getting OnStar is cause we can't order it yet. I have never used it, yet but I feel comforted knowing it is there in case of an accident or theft of car for recovery.

XM can be purchased from BestBuy for $100 or less for the unit that can be carried from vehicle to house to beach to vehicle, etc. (plus fees) so the factory installed piece is just too high priced.

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