Onstar..worth it???

[SoCalCTS08]

New member here with question about Onstar on my 08 cts. I was a bit suprised to find it didn't have bluetooth. Looking online the monthly fee seems to be more than anticipated. Mainly I wanted handsfree for my cell phone and possibly the turn by turn navigation. Does anyone have these options with Onstar and is it work the monthly fee?

[tr's-cts]

I'm 3 months into my 1 year new car trial. I don't use it much...but when I do, I like it. I don't have navigation....but have a good idea where I'm going before I leave. The times I tested On Star it was dependable and accurate. As far as bluetooth...that is on mine. I also read hear that it may be possible to use the OnStar phone through verizon in conjunction with your cell service if you have verizon. I know....I'm not explaining it very well. A search will give you what you're looking for.

[louiefl99]

I called the day before my renewal and they offered $50 off the directions and connections annual plan. Works out to be the same as a monthly basic plan ($240/ yr). I have Navigation and don't use the turn by turn, but comes in handy when I'm looking for something unexpectedly and directions are only a button away. That and my wife like the idea of the paramedics being able to find me if I'm upside down in a ditch during one of my frequent late night trips crossing the state of Florida.

[Northern SRX]

I like it and we just renewed on the SRX after its first free year - Directions & Communications pkg and they gave it to me for ~$50 off per year. Plus, they gave me 100 free minutes and rolled over our balance of minutes. Since the SRX lacks Bluetooth and Nav, the OnStar is very convenient. The bonus - and the clincher - is its emergency response. Having lived through a serious accident last month and experiencing how OnStar works in an emergency, it (or one of its competitors) is now a mandatory feature in our cars.

[elo_mcfeelo]

I didn't renewed my On*. I hardly used it in the first 12 months. The GPS navigation, the cell phone and AAA towing and service, for every car I have, will do the job for no extra cost. I used their direction a couple of times but it wasn’t any special, and I wasn’t impressed with the built in phone since nobody can leave a message, and it was hard to ask for dialing a number while driving since, in many cases, I had to repeat the numbers.

[300:29:1]

Originally Posted by elo_mcfeelo

I didn't renewed my On*. I hardly used it in the first 12 months. The GPS navigation, the cell phone and AAA towing and service, for every car I have, will do the job for no extra cost. I used their direction a couple of times but it wasn’t any special, and I wasn’t impressed with the built in phone since nobody can leave a message, and it was hard to ask for dialing a number while driving since, in many cases, I had to repeat the numbers.

Keep in mind that the On* uses sat signal vs cell phone. There are times when you can only get one of those in certain areas. Just a thought.

[fritze18]

Originally Posted by louiefl99

That and my wife like the idea of the paramedics being able to find me if I'm upside down in a ditch during one of my frequent late night trips crossing the state of Florida.

Late night trips crossing Florida? Do you ever watch a show called Dexter? Maybe you two have something in common? LOL

[rchern]

Originally Posted by 300:29:1

Keep in mind that the On* uses sat signal vs cell phone. There are times when you can only get one of those in certain areas. Just a thought.

There are times when you can't get OnStar. I called them up and asked them if they would be able unlock a locked car if it was in a parking lot say one level below street level and they said probably not. In the owners manual it says that you might have poor reception around tall buildings. They try to sell you telephone minutes by saying that in an emergency your cell phone might not have service but instead of buying a years worth of phone service "just in case" if you found yourself in an emergency and you had no cell service, you can just hit the OnStar button and buy minutes right then and there.

[C&C]

I have retained the Safe and Sound coverage on two of my vehicles (and keep a minimal amount of minutes just in case). Relatively cheap road insurance; hardly ever use it but feel better knowing it is there. JMO You will need to evaluate your individual requirements/wishes.

And you can save a few bucks if you purchase the contract on a yearly basis (opposed to the monthly charge).

[jpenn]

The way I look at it, On Star is cheap insurance if or when an emergency occurs. Add to that the excellent phone service and it's really a no brainer. I bought 100 minutes of phone service for $18.95, it's easy and very handy now that the Law is cracking down on cell phone use while driving. I had the opportunity to experience a no cell situation a couple of months ago and was able to use the On Star phone without a problem.

[GMFAN]

Originally Posted by SoCalCTS08

is it work the monthly fee?

Is it worth it? Absolutely.

[ddawson]

Don't leave home without it.

[evois]

just have to make a comment as to if it is worth it. you can use it to find some obscure place in the middle of your travel, like a meier store while cruising I75 in michigan/ohio. when I went to toronto, my cellphone charges me roaming as well as exorbitant call/minute and text fees which is absent if you use your onstar phone(neat!).

[OneLapCoastie]

I keep the minimum emergency service but not the phone or turn-by-turn because I have Nav and a well-integrated aftermarket bluetooth. Were it not for the latter, I would definitely use the OnStar for their other services as well. Nice system.

[anonfrank]

I have had OnStar for several years--I had it on the Acura RL I owned before my CTS-V (YES, Honda/Acura and OnStar partnered up until the 2006 model year for upmarket Acuras).

Despite the technical limitations, I kept and will keep OnStar because of a) vehicle locator feature--even if the car's driven to a parking structure, it has to come out at some point... b) I drive a lot for work, it gives the spousal unit peace of mind.... c) I love the vehicle slowdown and remote ignition block features in my attention-getting CTS-V... d) the Mapquest transfer to my navi via OnStar Virtual Adviser is very convenient--I've used Mapquest for directions since it came online years ago and find it reasonably accurate. I use it enough that it's worth the money.