A PSA For OnStar

[Bailey Guns]

News to me, maybe some of you know this already. I'm usually WAY behind the times on most tech stuff:

Just got a 2015 Cruze diesel. Comes with the standard GM-offered 3 months of complete OnStar service. What I didn't know is that for 2014 and newer used vehicles you can get a "Basic Connectivity Plan" free for 3 years. You don't access it thru the little, blue OnStar button in your car but rather thru a cell phone app. So, when the 3 months runs out it reverts to the Basic Plan. No CC info required. Of course, when you push the button to sign up they'll try to up-sell you to paid plans but they weren't aggressive about it and it took about 5 mins.

Through the OnStar app you can remotely start/unlock your car, find it (horn and lights), get diagnostics, send a location to NAV system, etc... The link below will answer your questions. Seems like a pretty good deal to me.

OnStar Basic

Off Topic: My wife liked the little Cruze diesel so much we drove to Missoula, MT for one at a dealer there. She traded her Impala almost straight across. On the way back, over Lolo Pass and the winding mountain roads between Missoula and Lewiston (about 220 miles) the car averaged 52.6MPG! And I was in a bit of a hurry so I had my foot in it most of the way.

[Great-Kazoo]

So you have 2 now ?

[Gman]

Sounds like functions similar to my 2012 Hyundai that I bought in 2011. It uses their Blue Link app.

Biggest problem I have with the new cars/trucks are the nanny functions like auto-stop/start and "driver aids" that become a distraction.

[milwaukeeshaker]

The car can be tracked, and shut off remotely. Why would anyone allow that?

[Bailey Guns]

The car can be tracked, and shut off remotely. Why would anyone allow that?

Probably because I seriously doubt anyone's gonna want to track and shut off my car. You may worry about that...I don't. It's a good deal for people who don't think everyone is out to get them. Maybe not so much for others. And, I will occasionally fill out a 4473 Registration Form when I buy a gun from a dealer.

So you have 2 now ?

I know. I needed a commuter. It got here and Mrs BG went apeshit over it. So she traded for one I had my eye on. Really out of character for her. We've been together 30 years...she's bought 4 cars during that time. She's not into spending money on cars. But she really liked this one. And she's always bitched about the way diesel fuel smells...now, all of a sudden, she's gotta have one. And, during that same 30 years, I've bought 1 car...30 years ago. Had it for like 6 months. I buy trucks. The whole freakin world is upside down.

[hurley842002]

Probably because I seriously doubt anyone's gonna want to track and shut off my car. You may worry about that...I don't. It's a good deal for people who don't think everyone is out to get them. Maybe not so much for others. And, I will occasionally fill out a 4473 Registration Form when I buy a gun from a dealer.

LOL

What size tank do they have?

[Bailey Guns]

Not Colorado safe. It holds 16...gallons.

[Great-Kazoo]

The car can be tracked, and shut off remotely. Why would anyone allow that?

The other side of that equation is............Aunt buys a new caddy. Out of nowhere she hears a voice. Mrs... jones are you ok, Mrs jones help is en route. Seems she had a stroke went off the road and rolled the new car. Onstar noticed she had stopped in the middle of nowhere for 5 min, what ever they use (satellite tracking?) showed her 20+ feet off pavement where no pull off existed.

[spqrzilla]

The system is also triggered by airbag deployment.

Some years ago, in an insurance fraud investigation, I subpoenaed the Onstar records of a vehicle to discover the accident did not actually happen where the plaintiff claimed ...

[Wulf202]

They're not 100% reliable on airbag deployment. I've been first responder when on star wasn't activated by the obviously deployed airbag