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Post by Custom88 on Mar 13, 2005 16:01:14 GMT -6
Just wondering how exactly do you use the built-in phone on the aurora? I press the phone button on the rear view mirror, then say "dial" then I say the number. The car repeats the number back, then there's silence. Then I hear "good bye" and that's it. Just curious how you complete a call. I really don't know how to setup any of it though. instructions are not in the owner's manual. thanks!
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Post by Marc on Mar 13, 2005 19:21:34 GMT -6
According to the 2001 factory manual, this is the proce- dure:  _________________ GM!!! BRING BACK OLDS!!!  |
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Post by stevensolds on Mar 13, 2005 19:41:34 GMT -6
dont you have to be subscribed?
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Post by Custom88 on Mar 13, 2005 20:02:47 GMT -6
alright. I was trying to use it right my subscription just ran out. I did have onstar when I bought the car but it just ran out. Figures.  I don't plan to renew it. The cheapest plan is $17/month and the phone service is $13 per 30 minutes. |
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scottydl
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Post by scottydl on Mar 14, 2005 12:28:34 GMT -6
alright. I was trying to use it right my subscription just ran out. I did have onstar when I bought the car but it just ran out. Figures. I don't plan to renew it. The cheapest plan is $17/month and the phone service is $13 per 30 minutes. A service for the truly "rich n' lazy" ...  At least it didn't work for you... the way companies act now, I'm surprised it didn't resubscribe you automatically (when you tried to use the phone) and charge itself to your credit card. |
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Post by stevensolds on Mar 14, 2005 18:57:02 GMT -6
thats lame. just get a cell phone.
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Post by Custom88 on Mar 15, 2005 7:25:45 GMT -6
thats lame. just get a cell phone. I do have a cell phone. Remember this was back in 2001. The calling plan for the car was around what a calling plan for a cell phone probably was at the time. also remember this is HANDSLESS phoning. You don't have to touch anything it's all voice activated. Much safer. |
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Post by Letitroll98 on Mar 15, 2005 9:44:34 GMT -6
Is anyone resubscribing to Onstar? I haven't had it available ( I buy only older, sub $10-20k cars) so I couldn't comment from experience, but it seems like an aweful waste. Is there a $17/mo benefit to the service? I mean beyond the peace of mind thing in case of emergency. Can you use it everyday for something?
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Post by erw38 on Mar 15, 2005 13:15:15 GMT -6
I believe that you can use onstar at anytime. Even to *gasp* ask for directions. |
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scottydl
Super Moderator
There's nothin' like an American V-8...
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Post by scottydl on Mar 15, 2005 13:27:34 GMT -6
Sure you can use it for lots of things, but who would pay *that* kind of money for it is the question?? As I said before, I think it's for people who are (1) too rich to care about $17/month, (2) too lazy/ignorant to cancel their subscription for a service they almost never use, or (3) too naive to realize that nearly *everything* OnStar does can be achieved much less expensively with other services. |
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Post by JimW on Mar 15, 2005 14:22:58 GMT -6
Its a luxury item, if you have the dough you keep it, and you dont sweat the $17 like Scotty mentioned, but like all luxury items, you find you can live without them once they A) expire or B) break down. GM could take advantage of this service but the fees are indeed ridiculous. Apparently after 07 ALL GM cars will be equipped with OnStar...at least in Canada anyway (cant confirm the source, but I read it somewhere)  |
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Post by Marc on Mar 15, 2005 14:33:14 GMT -6
Apparently after 07 ALL GM cars will be equipped with OnStar...at least in Canada anyway (cant confirm the source, but I read it somewhere) I saw that also. It was on GM's news site, noted below. The date of this announcement was 1/30/2005...."Onstar & Stabilitrak To Become Standard Equipment On GM Vehicles" www.media.gm.com_____________________ GM!!! BRING BACK OLDS!!! |
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Post by stevensolds on Mar 15, 2005 19:53:50 GMT -6
comes free for 1 year. after that, so what just cancel
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Post by Aurora40 on Mar 15, 2005 21:53:33 GMT -6
Is anyone resubscribing to Onstar? Yes. I got 3 years for a lower price, plus an extra 6 months free. It's true I don't use it, in the same way I don't use my airbags or my insurance. But the day I do need to use it, I'll be quite glad. I do find the phone feature useful because I don't have a cell phone. 30 minutes lasts me a whole year. Maybe I'm just rich, lazy, and naive, but I don't believe there is anything else out there that can call an ambulance for me (or my wife) if I'm unconsious and bleeding all over the place. |
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Post by erw38 on Mar 15, 2005 22:41:47 GMT -6
Maybe I'm just rich, lazy, and naive, but I don't believe there is anything else out there that can call an ambulance for me (or my wife) if I'm unconsious and bleeding all over the place. You should have thought about that before you bought the car. Now, I bet you see the wisdom in the optional Nightrider package that was offered to people named Robert. ;D And I bet you get very lonely not talking to anyone on all those long trip you take. Hindsight is 20/20 my friend. ;D |
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scottydl
Super Moderator
There's nothin' like an American V-8...
Posts: 7,373
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Post by scottydl on Mar 16, 2005 13:10:31 GMT -6
Maybe I'm just rich, lazy, and naive, but I don't believe there is anything else out there that can call an ambulance for me (or my wife) if I'm unconsious and bleeding all over the place. LOL! (At your response, not the thought of you bleeding all over the place ) Touche, my friend... it does sound like a useful service then for you in particular. I didn't think there was anyone under 70 without a cell phone.  |
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Post by Letitroll98 on Mar 16, 2005 18:43:29 GMT -6
Yes. I got 3 years for a lower price, plus an extra 6 months free. It's true I don't use it, in the same way I don't use my airbags or my insurance. But the day I do need to use it, I'll be quite glad. I do find the phone feature useful because I don't have a cell phone. 30 minutes lasts me a whole year. Maybe I'm just rich, lazy, and naive, but I don't believe there is anything else out there that can call an ambulance for me (or my wife) if I'm unconsious and bleeding all over the place. Well, better to be rich, lazy, and naive, than poor, industrious and well informed, eh? Seriously though, we all recognize the safety feature, they sell it on every commercial. And would imagine you got a much more reasonable price per month by buying three years out. I would have two further questions for Aurora40. Would you renew at $17 month in three years, assuming you didn't purchase another car of course. And is there anything you use it for regularly, like looking for resturaunts, theaters movie times, gas stations, etc? I should mention that I'm not attacking anyone's purchase, I think it's a neat idea that I'd love to make use of in my next car. I just wanted to know if you can use the darn thing and if there's any value other than having the odd epileptic fit with only your small child aboard? Oh, and if bleeding and near death, God forbid, there's always a bunch of curious onlookers dialing 911 and the local news chopper anyway. No worries.  |
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Post by Aurora40 on Mar 16, 2005 18:54:11 GMT -6
I would strongly consider renewing it when it runs out. Especially if it becomes my wife's car. I don't pay a monthly fee, I paid the whole thing outright. You pay more if you pay by the month (as with most things). For comparison, my DirecTV is about $40 a month. My local phone service is about $40 a month. My DSL is about $30 a month. Except for the local phone service, none of these is likely to save my life in an accident. Yet I don't blink an eye about paying for these unnecessary services. The OnStar works out to about $150 a year for me, and I consider it money well spent. I bet some of you pay $6 for Tivo... I do not have the package where they make reservations for you and give you directions and what-not. I have the "safe and sound" package, which mainly includes calling an ambulance in an accident, use of the emergency service, the remote-unlock stuff, the remote-diagnostic stuff (none of which I've ever used), and the ability to use the personal calling (but you have to buy minutes). Hey Elan, the Knight Industries Two Thousand had that ugly Formula hood. I never liked that much. I always preferred the Trans Am/GTA hood. In fact, I still think a 1989 Turbo Trans Am would be a cool car to own... It doesn't really talk to you, but it sort of whistles a bit...  |
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Post by Aurora40 on Mar 16, 2005 19:01:27 GMT -6
Oh, I should also point out that many insurance companies will give you a discount for having OnStar. Perhaps due to the vehicle tracking if it's stolen thing. It probably won't be as much as the service costs, but it does reduce the real cost of having it.
And I should point out that when it's time to renew, they offer you a lot of packages that are quite a bit cheaper than the advertised price of $199 a year.
Oh, I just checked the site, looks like the concierge thing is in the base package now... I still probably won't use it.
Also forgot roadside assistance. This can be anywhere from $5 a month from an insurance company, to $70 a year for AAA (which obviously has more to it than just that). Hopefully I will never need to take advantage of this either...
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Post by erw38 on Mar 16, 2005 23:03:39 GMT -6
It doesn't really talk to you, but it sort of whistles a bit... What's the fun in that. I want my car to run over people too (if I am ever in that bad of a situation.) ;D |
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I don't plan to renew it. The cheapest plan is $17/month and the phone service is $13 per 30 minutes. 
