XM, OnStar, or Nav System?

[Rob]

XM, OnStar, Nav System??

Would you want to see XM, OnStar and/or a Nav. System on the C6. Which of these features would you like to see or not and why?

 

[grapeknutz]

I would like to see on star on the vette and a retro kit for earlier vettes too!

 

[Gorgon]

I have no desire to pay a subsciption price for music so no XM for me. While some may I would hope that it could be inplemented in a way that did not have the large antenna mounted and disturbing the lines of the car.

I don't need to pay GM for an OnStar subscription when I already pay for a cell phone.

I guess if I had a choice the gadget guy in me would choose the nav system. Though I think it's just that, a gadget. It may come in handy once in a while, but feel it would be a very underutilized piece of technology for me personally.

Leon

 

[LMN8R]

I know it's not practical, but I'd like to see those things only available as options. It's probably easier to put those types of things on the cars standard, and charge more for the car, but I don't want any of that crap. When I get in my Corvette, I know where I'm at, where I'm going, and how to get there. If I'm listening to anything but the engine, I'm listening to CD's, and I certainly don't need someone over the speakers telling me how fast I'm going down I-35.

It seems like it would add weight, add complexity, and add cost without much benefit.

-Greg

 

[JBsC5]

Personally I have no desire for those three luxuries.

I do like the idea of no keys. Just a credit card to place in our wallets to open the doors and start the car with the push of a button.

 

[Tom73]

I know it's not practical, but I'd like to see those things only available as options. It's probably easier to put those types of things on the cars standard, and charge more for the car, but I don't want any of that crap. When I get in my Corvette, I know where I'm at, where I'm going, and how to get there. If I'm listening to anything but the engine, I'm listening to CD's, and I certainly don't need someone over the speakers telling me how fast I'm going down I-35.

It seems like it would add weight, add complexity, and add cost without much benefit.

-Greg

Got to agree 100%. To me, those items are just a big waste of money. But some may want them, so make them another high cost option.

tom...

 

[Rob]

When Dave Hill asked the crowd if they would want XM in the C6, I was one of the people that raised their hands and shouted, "YES".

Here is my reasoning: I normally drive my Vette with the radio OFF. It is a weekend, good weather cruiser for me, so when I climb in behind the wheel, I want to soak up every single bit of feeling I get from driving the car. I love hearing the engine and exhaust working together on acceleration through the gears, so the radio quickly becomes an annoyance to me.

However, on long trips, when the car is burbling along at around 2,000 RPM in 6th gear, the radio is kind of nice to break up the monotony.

If I bought a C5 to use as my daily driver back and forth to work, and I had to sit in traffic morning and night, the radio would be more important to me.

Here in the DC Metro area, pardon the expression but, the radio stations "suck" and after a while, I get tired of having to fumble through CD cases trying to find what I want to listen to.

The guy I car pool with has XM and in my opinion, it is one of the greatest things since sliced bread and well worth the $9.99 per month.

I agree that if GM was to consider these features for production in the C6, they should be offered as options and not automatically built into the car.

 

[Tom73]

I agree that if GM was to consider these features for production in the C6, they should be offered as options and not automatically built into the car.

One problem is that GM likes to lump these things into the option packages. Almost impossable to buy a loaded Tahoe or 'Burb without getting OnStar. It is a standard part of the upscale packages.

If they can keep them as an option and keep them out of the option packages, then okay.

tom...

 

[veteluvr74]

I would go for the XM, however, I dont want that antenna on the top of the car like that. It looks horrible on all the new cars that are rolling them out. All the new BMW's and Audi's are using it and it looks horrible. If they could bury the antenna somewhere I would definitley take it. It ruins the lines of the cars

 

[Rain]

Not to worry/

The XM antenna can pick up the XM sat signal thru fiberglass with no problems.
So mounting it in a body panel is not that hard to do with success in XM.

Susan and I have the Nav system in our Expedition. Very nice feature. I've used it while on the road for gigs. Simply entering the address of the venue and the Nav system guides me to my destination. Tells me what side of the interstate my different exits are, how many feet until the next turn, etc.
Its also been very handy when we have run up on construction zones. Being able to pull out to a 1/2 to a full mile shows us the side roads to get around the construction backup.
Or, for fun to find out where certain rivers run that we have passed over or other general over head views by pulling it back for 4 miles.

On star - We all have Cellphones these days, and I have never owned a vehicle that was equipped with it.

Good post

Rain

 

[L82Dan]

I think that there is a misconception about OnStar in selected GM vehicles. I just bought a 2003 Saab 9-3 Arc. It came with OnStar communications installed. But it is UP TO YOU if you want to use it. The first year is FREE, as in it COSTS YOU NOTHING EXTRA. Sure, I know, you paid for it in the cost of the vehicle. But you can say that about other options that you accepted, but didn't really want. After the first year, you just can't use it anymore. It's deactivated. Also, as for cell phones, they are good to have with you, but, one of the features of OnStar is that in a collision with airbag deployment, OnStar will contact you, to see if you need emergency services. If you don't answer, they will send them automatically. If you're passed out and bleeding on that nice leather bucket seat, that cell phone in your pocket doesn't do you a damn bit of good.

As far as XM radio is concerned, I use to think the same thing about "paying" for radio. But living in a major market area like Chicago, the commercials are getting more and more hard to bear as they are so stupid and do nothing to get me to buy or use the service they are selling. And they are repeated continously over and over again every hour. XM is not completely commercial free, but not nearly as annoying as free radio. The Saab vehicles don't have XM, even as an option. If they did, I'd gotten it. I have the Delphi Sky-Fi unit that I use at home, at work and soon to have the car kit installed in the Saab. I love it. But that's my opinion.

For me, I don't know much about Navigation systems, so I'll pass on those for now. But I'll keep an open mind on them.

 

[Rain]

Any of you XM users dropped by channel 40, Deep Tracks?

Great commercial free, live DJ, station.

Like they took my album collection, your album collection, and 5 others and dropped em all in at once.

Great album rock of the 60s and 70s.
Zep, Zappa, Cream, Faces, Jeff Beck, Beatles, Hendrix, Doors, CS&N (and their solo stuff), Traffic, Tull, Floyd, Bowie, Stones, and such.

http://www.xmradio.com/programming/channel_page.jsp?ch=40

Just one of many great stations I stay tuned in with on XM.

Rain
(worked in FM radio back in the 80s and never thought Id pay for radio until now)

 

[WhalePirot]

Options three, only please

Nav is great for the occasional 'off the beaten track' trip. Then again, a map works as well and can be carried from car to car.

I won't pay for radio; don't have cable TV. I prefer the changer as second choice to the engine, used as Rob describes.

U want? U opt; U pay.

 

[Patrick]

I got the chance to sample XM radio in a limo me and some friends rented a few months ago, and I have to say, I agree completely with Rob- the fact that's a subscription service is irrelevant to me, I see a great deal of value in it. The fact that there are virtually no commercials, the impressive array of programming (everything from sports and talk radio to just about every kind of music you could possibly want) and the ability to listen to your stations no matter where you go.

I can see value in the Navigational system, for those who frequently travel to new places. I personally probably would not have much use for that- on those occasions when I do travel, I've found my AAA membership and the triptiks they provide to be quite sufficient.

On-Star is the system I have the most reluctance about. Even the concierge service can be duplicated by other sources, and the subscription amount strikes me as a bit pricey.

-Patrick

 

[ROCKETBLOCK]

I'm from the old generation and I like to search for free radio stations or play CD's and I am afraid that OnStar can be a tracking device.

 

[gt30]

XM, ONSTAR OR NAV SYSTEM

Personally I think all three should be available, but only as an optional feature, for those individuals who would want them and who are willing to pay extra for the convenience, BUT it should not become a standard feature item so that those of us who enjoy the sound of our machines (and I am one)and the feel of fresh air on our faces do not have to pay for the items in the base price of our cars.

 

[IH2LOSE]

I have to comment on all of the services

As with the hud display in the c5's (an option I did not want) Once you have it you cant live with out it.I have a cell phone and still keep my on star services THE MOST RECENT POWER FAILURE WE HAD THE ONLY WAY I GOT IN TOUCH WITH MY WIFE WAS THRU THE ON STAR SERVICE,home phones out along with cell service.

As for the nav system if you do any traveling it a must have.If you just stay local no need to have it.Nothing was better then leaving carlilse show feild after one of neighbors in our hotel left and beeting him back to the hotel and having a shower and then watching him pull in to the hotell some 45 minutes later because of the traffic on hamberg turnpike. this is something that could be done with a local map but its always there ready to help you

As for the xm radio.I have always felt it was criminal to charge for radio service but once you listen to it you will never go back to cd,s tapes,radio.I cant wait untill you can get tv service for the car like this for the kids.I have the xm in my pick up,in my house,and in my wifes car,I will be adding it to my C5 shortley (as soon as I can find a place to mount the tuner)

So no one thinks I am rich and have money falling out of my pockets I am probabley one of the cheapest people you want to know my wife wanted XM radio and I complained and wined about the charges for it and finally said to my self "you know she never ask for any thing I ll get it for her" After one day of listening to it I purchased the equiptment for my truck and living room.What a pleasure to tune into your faforite style of music and leave it there all the time no switching thru the channels to find some music.

 

[HOTMOTORSPORTS]

Nobody's mentioned Sirius. It is more than XM, but offers SpeedTV on Radio.

That in itself would be worth the 12.00 per month.

I'm on the road 2 1/2 hours per day to work not counting any non-productive cruising.

I'm getting the add-on package that can be swapped from Corvette to Corvette, to the truck, or to home with base kits.

Chuck

 

[Corvette-Pilot]

I have no desire to pay a subsciption price for music so no XM for me. While some may I would hope that it could be inplemented in a way that did not have the large antenna mounted and disturbing the lines of the car.

I don't need to pay GM for an OnStar subscription when I already pay for a cell phone.

I guess if I had a choice the gadget guy in me would choose the nav system. Though I think it's just that, a gadget. It may come in handy once in a while, but feel it would be a very underutilized piece of technology for me personally.

Leon

;stupid
I never did understand why someone would pay to listen to music in this fashio. Especially these days with everyone having a CD HU, listen to what you want when you want it!

Dragging around my laptop and GPS sucks in the Vette so a built in system would be great. Wont have as many features but still hand as a map in the glove box.

OnStar ??

 

[gonetobama13]

Rob, if you think the radio stations in the DC metro area suck, you should live in the Huntsville/Madison, AL area. I really like where I live, but the stations REALLY suck.
Since we're on the subject, I can't believe that my C5, with all its bells & whistles, doesn't have a compass as an option. Even my '99 Silverado has one. I like to explore different areas around the country and sometimes (minor understatement) I get off the beaten track. I feel more comfortable when I at least know what general direction I'm going in. When the sun's out, I use that as a guide, but on a cloudy day day or at night, I sometimes have no idea what direction I'm going in.
What all this boils down to is the C6 should at least include a compass as standard or optional equipment.

John K.