OnStar -- Have you used it?

[cgcw]

I'm curious. For those with OnStar, have you ever had a need to use it?

We've had our van for almost a year now and our OnStar subscription is almost up. It's $199 to renew - not a lot of money and definately a write off on my business expenses. But, I've never had a need for it. I'm debating on whether it's worth it. I always have a cell phone with me and wonder if that's enough.

I've heard all the great advertisements they have. My BIL is a volunteer firefighter and told me not that long ago, he was at the scene of a car accident and OnStar called into the vehicle checking on the driver. So, I know they truly do respond.

Just looking for some more real life experiences.

 

[BostonTigger]

Don't have it, but it would be nice to have. It sure would be nice to have if you ever get in to an accident and can't get to your cell (I hope this never happens).

 

[MaryJ]

I don't have it either, but the commercial I like is the one where someone has locked their keys in their car, and OnStar opens the car remotely. Since I have done that on more than one occasion and had to wait 45+ minutes for a locksmith to show up via AAA, I think OnStar might be worth it for that alone!

 

[ElizK]

My husband's truck has it. He used it a couple of weeks ago when a "check engine" light came on. They were able to run a remote diagnostic test to see what the problem was. That was pretty handy. Not sure if he'll pay to renew it when the trial period is up in Dec.

 

[monarchsfan16]

My dad renewed his and he wishes my truck had Onstar in it. Dad hasn't had to use it yet, but really likes the sense of security it gives him. After all, he's never been in an accident but what if he ever is in a bad one on one of the secluded town roads we live on and he can't use his cell phone? Onstar is a great feature and if you can afford to renew it, it wouldn't be a bad idea. You never know what will happen.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I do not have it but a freind does. We were in Galena a year or so ago, Marie, I and this other couple. We were going to dinner, in their car. We had a tough time finding the restaurant. He punched the button, they answered in seconds, 'Good afternoon, Mr B...and so on'. They confirmed our current location, to the intersection, put us on hold for a moment, gave us directions. I thought that pretty neat. Not a life saver moment, but saw certainly the capabilities. And a schedule C item, Cindy.

 

[Annette_VA]

I wish I had OnStar! I just think it's so cool. I'd definitely renew.

 

[Laz]

I had it on my old car and wish I had it on my wife's. You do not have to get the full service. My In-Laws just have the saftey and security plan for emergencies only.

 

[snarfer1]

I have had On*Star for 3 years now and I love it! In fact I did a six year renewall for some great rates (you can transfer it to a new vehicle)

Why:

1) I live in radio free Sussex county NJ. Many areas a cell-phone drops out in. My On*Star connects in all of them.

2) I have forgotten my Cell phone, or the battery died too many times to count. On*Star is a wonderful (although 41 cent a minute) backup. Has saved me business deals several times.

3) It is completely hands free! Now the law in NJ!

4) Wifey locked herself out twice so far! Free call and unlocked! Saved her time and money both times! (We have AAA too!)

5) Haven't yet lost my car (at least THIS car <G>) in a parking deck, but they can find it.

6) I drive over 33K miles a year, love the peace of mind!

Currently I will only buy vehicles with On*Star, or the equivalent.

 

[LisaSt]

Well look at it this way say you get into an accident and can't dial the phone On Star will try to contact you and will call teh police anf dire dept etc. Even if you only use it once in a situation like that it has been money well spent IMHO.

 

[perdidobay]

I don't have it but my parents do, due to the fact that they are older and live in and have to drive thru remote areas of highway in New Mexico.
This spring they drove 1000 miles to visit me and on the day they left, my Dad left behind his cell phone and a fanny pack containing a phone book and meds. I had written down their onstar number, but couldn't find it. After calling OnStar and explaining the situation and verifying with personal info who I was, and that they were indeed my parents, they contacted my parents. My Dad was then able to call me thru his onstar phone and arrange to meet me halfway to pick up his stuff.
No big life saver but still work having!

 

[hydster]

I have it on my Tahoe and I don't ever want to own another car without it. The peace of mind it gives me is worth the $16.99 a month that's for sure! I've used it more times than I can count when my keys are locked in my car (yep I do it a lot for some reason) and it was really nice when the guys at the Car Wash accidentally locked my keys in the ignition. A call to On-Star and 2 min later I was on my way. I also love the road side assistance with tire changing, bringing gas if needed etc.... the hands free phone is awesome and so easy to dial instead of trying to find my phone, dial, drive, etc

My service 4wd light came on so I called them, they remotely diagnosed it and then connected me with my dealer to get it checked. I didn't have to do anything they did it all while I just drove home.

I've even used the emergency button to report an accident for someone else and the people from on star were amazing! They told me what to do and they figured out where I was for those who were hurt.

We just renew monthly for the $16.99 and it isn't so painful as putting up the $199.00 a year!
I'll never let it expire that's for sure.

Heidi

 

[tinatark]

we just bought a new Denali, which has On Star. Our plan is to keep it once the initial subscription runs out. The satellite phone is one reason, in the mountains you frequently have no signal; hard for that to happen with a satellite! Also, the lock out service is great.

Our friends flew from Nashville to the CA wine country, left directions to where they were supposed to be in CA in the car in TN, called onstar, who unlocked the car for a friend, who gave them directions! That sounded like a commercial to me!

I want to research a little further, though, as I wonder if the unlocking service and the emergency service would be continued, without an onstar subscription, at least for the 3/36 warranty, like if you stop paying for home alarm service, it is still monitored... of course, GM wants you to do the pay service, but with the navigation radio you don't need the directional/trip planning part of the service.

The car we rented while we were in Orlando had onstar, we used it to figure out where a restaurant we were going to was from where we were!

 

[Disfan1]

Yes! I love OnStar! We hit some road debris somewhere in rural south Ga. on I-75 & damaged our car. Since we had noidea where we were, we hit the OnStar button & they were able to get a tow truck to us in about 30 minutes, give us directions to a nearby hotel, AND give us directions to a nearby dealership where we could get our car repaired the next day. I will NEVER be without OnStar! (Geez, I sound like a commercial! )

 

[DVC-Don]

We've used the phone a few times when there was no cell phone service. We did a lot of traveling this summer in the Caddy so we bought 100 minutes before summer. I think we've only used 20 minutes or so of it. Just for the emergency feature we will renew when our year is up the end of February 2005.

 

[MScott1851]

My father-in-law has had it on both his Escalades and has never used it...

We did, however, get a phone call at the ER where I work last week, from an OnStar representative saying that a lady had called and her husband was having chest pain in their car and they were guiding them to us at the hospital. We were outside waiting, and sure enough, within 5 minutes they rolled up. I thought that was neat, the couple was from out of town and had no clue where a hospital was.

 

[mickyzzzzz05]

We live in rural Iowa and I know of two times in the last year where our ambulance was called to a scene of an air bag deployment. In both cases the people involved were unable to call for help but an ambulance was on the way to help them with in minutes. We have it and are planning on keeping it.

 

[Boots]

We have had out car with it a little over a year now and I just renewed for one main reason, we are one of the few people left who do not have a cell phone. I only buy 120 minutes and it lasts almost a year. I had to renew the minutes before I did the subscription. I don't use the phone much, but it is nice to have went I need it. We talked about buying a cell phone but decided we would just as soon have OnStar.