LE and non-LE opinions on ON-STAR

[Creeker]

Hey Creeker,

They will come bring you gas won't they? Or is that a GM Roadside thing? I don't remember.

I really don't know for certain, but I suspect that's a Roadside thing... like AAA. If it were an On Star thing, you'd see "On Star" labeled vehicles on the road somewhere.

[texaschickeee]

The friend that got charged for the popped lock - happen when on star just started. Maybe its not still going.

I know that the couple of peeps I know that have it don't think great things but they dont think its all *bad*. The BFE thing happen to a guy friend that went fishing. The tree happen to jump in front of him some how.:eek:

[Creeker]

Both times my wife locked herself out of the car, the guy on the other end tells her it could take as long as 15 minutes... but about the same time he tells her that, her locks popped open.

I never go anywhere without 2 door lock keys, and when I ride with her, I take my set of keys for her car. An old habit.

I'll have to try my door lock keys to see if it will still set the car alarm off without using the remote... some day when I remember to do it and the neighbors aren't asleep... :cool:

[texaschickeee]

I have got to learn to lock myself out of the car. I have only done that one time ever.

[retdetsgt]

I've never done it. My wife has several times....:rolleyes: I put a hide a key under the car, but she still has to call me and ask where it's hidden on the car. With all the plastic on cars, it's harder to find a metal part to attach it to.....

Toyota gives you a key that will open the door that's plastic and cut into a credit card shape. I keep that in my wallet if I ever do. But anytime I get out of my car with the key in the ignition, I consciously open the driver's window first.

[greg72982]

Well......not to rock this boat, but I love it. I have owned 3 Pontiac's, and had it on each one.


I have had my lock popped. Never been charged. If they could not pop it, they had a lock smith come out and make me a key. No charge.

When I have broke down, they sent a flat bed.

When I had need to make an emergency phone call and my cell is dead...I have my car.

They run monthly diagnostics, and send me an email. Keeps me informed of what problems I may unknowingly have, like recalls, etc.

When I got in an accident, this incident was several years ago, but they called me. I didn't call them. And they knew my location.

Even if you don't keep your subscription, the service is always just a push away, and you only get billed I think for that month in which you have used the service, you don't get back billed.

So I don't pay for all of the services, because there are plenty, but I give it two thumbs up.

Also...to add, this was kind of cool. A long time ago I had to leave my car in Toledo. I called onStar and asked them to give me the GPS location of my car. I called them back during my vacation, to check that my car was still in the same location I had left it. I don't know. That was worth it to me.

Due to the bold text being impossible as Pontiacs do not break down, you can pretty much consider the rest of the post a complete lie.

[Cass]

Well......not to rock this boat, but I love it. I have owned 3 Pontiac's, and had it on each one.


I have had my lock popped. Never been charged. If they could not pop it, they had a lock smith come out and make me a key. No charge.

When I have broke down, they sent a flat bed.

When I had need to make an emergency phone call and my cell is dead...I have my car.

They run monthly diagnostics, and send me an email. Keeps me informed of what problems I may unknowingly have, like recalls, etc.

When I got in an accident, this incident was several years ago, but they called me. I didn't call them. And they knew my location.

Even if you don't keep your subscription, the service is always just a push away, and you only get billed I think for that month in which you have used the service, you don't get back billed.

So I don't pay for all of the services, because there are plenty, but I give it two thumbs up.

Also...to add, this was kind of cool. A long time ago I had to leave my car in Toledo. I called onStar and asked them to give me the GPS location of my car. I called them back during my vacation, to check that my car was still in the same location I had left it. I don't know. That was worth it to me.

Due to the bold text being impossible as Pontiacs do not break down, you can pretty much consider the rest of the post a complete lie.

Hmmm .... I read that as "When I have fainted, they brought a stretcher."

[Cass]

The more I think about it, the less I would want Big Brother on board.

Does On Star cooperate with the FBI, state and local law enforcement agencies?

Imagine someone denying they were at a crime scene, and then OnStar telling police that on this date and time the vehicle was at that exact location. And then the suspect claiming “Someone else used my car that night” and On Star hands over the in-car video (installed so that in case of a crash OnStar knows if the victim is conscious or not, decapitated etc.) showing the suspect in the driver seat. Better even, the dash cam video (initially installed as possible evidence in a collision) recorded the crime itself. Thanks, On Star!

If they know where you are, they also know where you were, and would likely know how fast you were traveling. Imagine going to court to “fight” a speeding ticket. You tell the judge “Your honor, there’s no way I was speeding. The officer is lying and the radar was broken.” And then your friendly OnStar representative comes on the witness stand testifying that at the time the officer pulled you over you were doing 93 mph.

I wonder if OnStar is hiring? If I cannot be a cop, maybe I can develop an Anti-Crime OnStar package? We’ll just call it something else. ;)

Or how about a Life-Improvement OnStar package?

Imagine a scale built into the driver’s seat. When OnStar senses that you have been gaining weight lately, it’ll disable your steering when you try to pull into a fast food joint.

Or maybe some OnStar person is listening to all conversations in the car and when there’s a nasty argument, the passenger door opens and the boyfriend is ejected.

Wow. The possibilities are endless ... :D

[Jynkxxie]

Due to the bold text being impossible as Pontiacs do not break down, you can pretty much consider the rest of the post a complete lie.

You know....There seem to be an awfully lot of criticism here. I didn't know that one company could make so many people's pee pee's hurt. I like the company. These were some of my experiences. If you don't like them, or don't want them, don't get it. No one is forcing anyone. Sheesh. LOL

As far as the Pontiac. They do sometimes breakdown. My master cylinder went on the Grand Prix. It happens.

[Cass]

Ummm...how do people lock themselves out of their cars?

Mine I can only lock the doors using the key, either manually or with the little remote thingy. The doors won't just lock upon exiting the car and shutting the door.

Is this because people get cars where the doors lock automatically so that they don't have to remember to lock it? I suppose if they have trouble remembering things, they just might forget to take their key out of the ignition before slamming the door shut. Sounds like a catch 22 to me. :confused:

[Creeker]

The more I think about it, the less I would want Big Brother on board.

Does On Star cooperate with the FBI, state and local law enforcement agencies?

Imagine someone denying they were at a crime scene, and then OnStar telling police that on this date and time the vehicle was at that exact location. And then the suspect claiming “Someone else used my car that night” and On Star hands over the in-car video (installed so that in case of a crash OnStar knows if the victim is conscious or not, decapitated etc.) showing the suspect in the driver seat. Better even, the dash cam video (initially installed as possible evidence in a collision) recorded the crime itself. Thanks, On Star!

If they know where you are, they also know where you were, and would likely know how fast you were traveling. Imagine going to court to “fight” a speeding ticket. You tell the judge “Your honor, there’s no way I was speeding. The officer is lying and the radar was broken.” And then your friendly OnStar representative comes on the witness stand testifying that at the time the officer pulled you over you were doing 93 mph.

I wonder if OnStar is hiring? If I cannot be a cop, maybe I can develop an Anti-Crime OnStar package? We’ll just call it something else. ;)

Or how about a Life-Improvement OnStar package?

Imagine a scale built into the driver’s seat. When OnStar senses that you have been gaining weight lately, it’ll disable your steering when you try to pull into a fast food joint.

Or maybe some OnStar person is listening to all conversations in the car and when there’s a nasty argument, the passenger door opens and the boyfriend is ejected.

Wow. The possibilities are endless ... :D

I realise that most of this post was in jest, but just FYI:

If your car has a computer module in it, your speed, braking, acceleration etc is already suseptable to being deciphered by interrogating that computer module. I've heard of it being done in fatalities and I'd bet that Insurance Co.s do it on big claims.

Besides, it sounds like a good way for you to dump your boyfriend and have plausible deniability;)

Ummm...how do people lock themselves out of their cars?

Mine I can only lock the doors using the key, either manually or with the little remote thingy. The doors won't just lock upon exiting the car and shutting the door.

Is this because people get cars where the doors lock automatically so that they don't have to remember to lock it? I suppose if they have trouble remembering things, they just might forget to take their key out of the ignition before slamming the door shut. Sounds like a catch 22 to me. :confused:

Both of my cars are programmable. My wife likes the fact that she can park her car, gather her purse and check her surroundings before she unlocks her car door. Me, I have my doors unlock when I put it in Park. The headlights, horn, radio buttons are all also programmable for each remote preference.

My wife once locked her keys inside when she hit the doorlock button, then reached back inside for her cooler, dropping her keys on the seat just before her door blew shut as she was pulling her hand out.

[Cass]

I realise that most of this post was in jest, but just FYI:

If your car has a computer module in it, your speed, braking, acceleration etc is already suseptable to being deciphered by interrogating that computer module. I've heard of it being done in fatalities and I'd bet that Insurance Co.s do it on big claims.

:eek: I doubt my crap car has any type of computer module in it, but still... I bet one day they'll require every car to have a "black box" recording everything and the info will be used to prosecute people. Aren't they already going to require cars to be set up so that law enforcement can shut the engine off remotely? Being a race car driver and all, I'm not sure I'd like that. ;)

My wife once locked her keys inside when she hit the doorlock button, then reached back inside for her cooler, dropping her keys on the seat just before her door blew shut as she was pulling her hand out.

Hmmm...I guess it had never occurred to me to lock my car BEFORE shutting the door. :confused: But I can see how that could happen to your wife in that scenario.

[WilliamTomFrank]

Or maybe some OnStar person is listening to all conversations in the car...

And they listen to all of us crazy teenagers enjoying "all the finer things in life" in the back seat....:D

Ummm...how do people lock themselves out of their cars?

That's what I was wondering...Ive never done that. I drive a 2000 Chevy Pickup and if the keys are in the ignition and you push the doorlocks on the door, they will automatically unlock themselves. It also unlocks the doors when you pull the keys from the ignition just after you turn it off. Hmm....

[Cass]

And they listen to all of us crazy teenagers enjoying "all the finer things in life" in the back seat....:D

LOL. People usually refer to wine as one of the "finer things in life", but I don't think that's what you're talking about. ;)

And heck, they're not just listening, they're watching! :eek:

That's what I was wondering...Ive never done that. I drive a 2000 Chevy Pickup and if the keys are in the ignition and you push the doorlocks on the door, they will automatically unlock themselves. It also unlocks the doors when you pull the keys from the ignition just after you turn it off. Hmm....

I think that comes with all the hi-tech gadgets that old people get on their fancy new cars, and then they can't figure out how to use them. :rolleyes: ;)