Ok, here we go with another one.

Cadillac Tony said on a prior post that that bluetooth will only work with cars that have the generation 8 hardware.

Onstar says generation 8 hardware (available on select MY2009 models) supports stolen vehicle slowdown (SVS).

So can we infer that if we have bluetooth, we have SVS??

Sounds rather cool. http://www.onstar.com/us_english/jsp/new_at_onstar/svs.jsp
Watch the video.

Pretty cool feature...but what happens if the Onstar antenna is ripped off. Useless if they can't communicate to your car.

I would doubt very much (not confirmed by any means). That just by upgrading OnStar will this feature be available. I would imagine that the Engine Controller and/or Body Controller would require support for this as they are the devices responsible for actually carrying out the Slow Down. I think you'll have to wait for '09 for these features.

I would doubt very much (not confirmed by any means). That just by upgrading OnStar will this feature be available. I would imagine that the Engine Controller and/or Body Controller would require support for this as they are the devices responsible for actually carrying out the Slow Down. I think you'll have to wait for '09 for these features.

But isn't it already tied in to all of those control modules? They can talk to your motor, unlock your doors, etc. It needs to be tied in to the ECM and BCM.

Pretty cool feature...but what happens if the Onstar antenna is ripped off. Useless if they can't communicate to your car.

This is a good point...but is the OnStar antenna on the '08/'09 CTS different than the stem type (that you twist off for car washes) like on my '04 GM car? :confused:

The antenna type really doesn't matter- when upgrading an Analog system to digital (like on an '04 model) they still used the "whip" style call antenna on the back window. Cadillac is in the process of changing to a body colored "sharkfin" antenna (like on the 7-Series), but it's a cosmetic change only.

That's a good question about the vehicle slowdown and I don't know the answer. I'm sure they'll make a big deal about the feature when it becomes available, so I'll let you know what I hear.

I'd like to be able to call OnStar and tell 'em to slow my car down to 20 MPH for the next 10 minutes, no matter whether it's stolen or not.

:)

The antenna type really doesn't matter- when upgrading an Analog system to digital (like on an '04 model) they still used the "whip" style call antenna on the back window. Cadillac is in the process of changing to a body colored "sharkfin" antenna (like on the 7-Series), but it's a cosmetic change only.

I was just asking because the car thief can EASILY break or remove the twist off antenna (going back to the point about not having communications with OnStar to activate the SVS)...

Thanks, Tony!

Ah, I see. The roof mounted antenna is only to increase clarity on voice communication- OnStar can still locate, unlock or slow down the vehicle with the antenna twisted off its base.

I thought the roof mount antenna had nothing to do with vehicle communications, I thought the external antenna was for XM and voice calls?