On-Star: what's your opinion?

What are your opinions about On-Star? Our ’09 came with it installed. After one year the contract ran out and we didn’t renew it. Wifey wanted it, but I told her a cell phone would do just as well. I’ve driven cars for 40 years without it, so I didn’t want or need it. When I bought the car, having On-Star on it did not influence the purchase. To me it was just another unwanted electronic gimmick… (Ho-hum.)

Now, after the service being lapsed for four months, On-Star is offering us another full year of service for free, apparently with no strings attached.

I’ve read that with it activated your car can be tracked at all times, without your knowledge. Are there any real disadvantages to having it?

If you have it, do you use it? Did it influence anyone’s decisions to buy an Aveo?

even without it activated, they can track you. you have a fully power sim card in your car with an assigned connection.

I HATE IT, i dont like having buttons that dont work (because i dont pay for service) i dont like having lights infront of the rearview mirror (of close to), and i dont like that it makes things more expensive for how integrated it is. MAYBE if some of the features worked on my car, like the iphone app, unlocking my manual lock doors, etc.. but when mine ran out it was like paying for cell service all over again, and even more for the additional features.

Onstar is a sham business designed to spy on people just ask Jessie Ventura every time he buys a car he rips out the Onstar or anything that has anything to do with the government out. The Sync from Ford is no different.

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Originally Posted by dragonwarrior2016

Onstar is a sham business designed to spy on people just ask Jessie Ventura every time he buys a car he rips out the Onstar or anything that has anything to do with the government out. The Sync from Ford is no different.

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WOW........paranoid? You have to weigh in the advantages/disadvantages(money)of having said onstar in your car. In one use of their "we can unlock your car for you" you can save some cash compared to calling a locksmith, stolen car can be tracked and disabled and the (hope you or no one ever needs it) automatic crash response feature. If I had the option I would definetly renew but I drive on alot of rural roads and mostly at night so thats my reasoning for it as well.

With Jesse Ventura's show, I think that would be a very good idea for his safety. IDK if what he says is true, but if it is, then he is doing the smart thing. But I do have a thread about a guy who was, in my opinion, very paranoid, but had a great point about Onstar. But even if you do take out the Onstar or get a car not equipped with it, the government can pretty much do what they want and can sometimes get away with it. Onstar would be very useful, if only it wasn't for the government invading our privacy for "our protection".

For me, at first Onstar was quite a feature to have. A year & a half after buying the car, I have slightly less than 230 minutes on the phone, and have never really used the onstar. So Onstar wouldn't be that big of a deal to me if I bought another car.

Here's the thread that I mentioned (Check out the article in the original post): http://www.aveoforum.com/forum/f81/f...i-found-11359/

But even if you disabled the Onstar, the government has other ways of tracking or eavesdropping on you: Caught Spying on Student, FBI Demands GPS Tracker Back | Threat Level | Wired.com

In other words, with the level of technology, and irregardless if it's government or non-government, anyone good with a computer could spy on you and you would never know it.

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Originally Posted by MoneyMike

But even if you disabled the Onstar, the government has other ways of tracking or eavesdropping on you: Caught Spying on Student, FBI Demands GPS Tracker Back | Threat Level | Wired.com

In other words, with the level of technology, and irregardless if it's government or non-government, anyone good with a computer could spy on you and you would never know it.

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Yes Sir..............it's the gov. man.........cmon if they want to spy on you or just check what you ate for the week they can do it easily and have no consequences for it. I mean even if you have proof they were spying on you and you decided to go to court about it you probably wouldnt find a lawyer that would take the case and if you did find one you sure as hell couldnt afford(its the aveoforum for ****sake)it for long.

Back on topic though...........I think its up to you to get the onstar again and if they are offering it free no strings attached for a year get it.

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Originally Posted by redrob

Back on topic though...........I think its up to you to get the onstar again and if they are offering it free no strings attached for a year get it.

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Just yesterday, before reading these latest posts, we did renew it. Since it was free and wifey wanted it, I couldn't see any harm in it. The only place she ever drives is to work and to go shopping. If anyone could spy on us they'd find it pretty boring. :sleepy1:

^^ lol. I have the next best thing to onstar. It's called Bluetooth. It's as traceable as the cell phone I own. And there is a nice little button on my radio that doesn't cost me every month to use.

Alpine 103BT.

So what do you guys think a GPS does for tracking abilities? There really isnt much that cant be linked to you and used for purposes other than what they are intended for.

the only thing that bothers me about onstar is HOW much it is integrated into the car.. i mean, you can't put an aftermarket radio in without additional cost or your airbags might not go off. They can shut your car off, they can lock you inside the car, and they can change your radio station, etc.

GPS gives an approximate location and thats fine. Onstar can sell information about you like what radio programs you listen to, how fast you drive, what times of day, if you wear your seat belt. How often you change your oil, what routes you drive, ETC.
It seems like a marketing scam.

It also seems like (if you like the big brother thing) that they could call a police officer sitting on the side of the road, and say "_______ is traveling at 9 miles over the legal limit, is not wearing a seat belt, and is listening to death metal, when he passes you we will shut his car off and lock his doors for you."

Aside from Onstar, their are other companies out there that are similar. Mercedes Benz has a system JUST LIKE onstar. It is Mercedes Benz Teleaid. I worked in the teleaid call center roughly 10 years ago. Their is one major misconception ( actually a few). Their is not a constant connection to the vehicle, government DOES NOT have access to the system. Each employee associated with the systems as far as monitoring goes has to be licensed by whatever state they are in for security work. Aside from how complex the system is, yes it is a celullar connection so providing certain laws (depends on where you live) certain entities can access certain information. If the government feels you (not anyone in particular) are involved in terroristic activity, cell phone records can be pulled for GPS triangulation and to see who was called (conference or 3 way). If the entity obtains a warrant to track via stolen vehicle tracking, you will know something is up when you get the monthly minute usage statement. I my self would never need a system like this, but from my experience some people really benefit from it. In case when I was at the call center, I received an airbag signal. the lady in the car had a diabetic stroke and passed out and wrecked her car. She was passed out so she couldnt do anything, we were connected so we were able to call paramedics and police. these systems do have benefits but not everyone needs them. but government DOES NOT and CAN NOT monitor your car just because they want to. they have to have a legit reason, reasoning enough to obtain a warrant.

Until the government changes what its allowed to do again.

they are already listening to 75% of international calls screening for keywords and "intercepted" code words.

onstar actually advertises that if your car is stolen they can shut it off and locate it. We are just one step away from the police being able to shut it off in a high speed chase if its your own car. Then all the democrats in congress will pass a monitoring law to help protect the people from themselves, and all the republicans will allow it to pass if they put provisions in it to monitor cars that cross the border as potentially smuggling illegals or drugs into the country.. and the car will automatically call into the center when you hit 72 mph. (done feeding the guys with the aluminum foil hats).

And when you sign up for the emails, the apps, etc they have disclosure statements in them saying the company can monitor your vehicle to get that information, etc. they don't need to be on constantly. if the computer remembers it, they know what the radio is turned on to when they access the car, and they know where your car is during the call.. etc. You would be surprised what runs through the body computer. As well as the built in cell phone connection... (try taking it out).

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Originally Posted by petrified.rabbit

the only thing that bothers me about onstar is HOW much it is integrated into the car.. i mean, you can't put an aftermarket radio in without additional cost or your airbags might not go off.

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If you've owned GM cars in the past, you might notice a trend that is not new.

I have a 1988 Chevy Caprice. It has a Delco radio that works, but it's nothing to brag about. I wanted to replace the radio with a better one, but when I found out how much work it would be to remove it, I decided against it. In short, they built the entire dashboard around that radio. Following that trend, they now have built the entire car around... their radio. disgust

I must admit that on the Aveo the upgraded radio (the one with satellite capability) does sound very good, however. As the Brits called the truck monitoring devices imposed upon them decades ago, it's "the spy in the cab".

Onstar is crap. My buddies dad got in his newer wrx and was hitting the interstate at about 100 like every normal person and instate came on and said slow your speed down to 80 MPH in the next 30 seconds or your vehicle will be shut off and authorities will be called! I say don't get it its pointless a hide a let and a cell phone are easier and cheaper.

Mileage tax a "practical option," budget analysts tell Congress - Political Hotsheet - CBS News

just to feed the trolls.. saw this on the news found an article.

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Originally Posted by petrified.rabbit

Mileage tax a "practical option," budget analysts tell Congress - Political Hotsheet - CBS News

just to feed the trolls.. saw this on the news found an article.

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munch munch munch @#$% #$%#$ F#$ Congress $^^^# can't find their A$$ from hole in a ground @#%%% munch!

There the troll was fed.