XM, OnStar, or Nav System?

[Blade]

I might be a little bias since I own a local Radio and Television station….


Reading this thread reminds me of the same debate we had 20 years ago about Cable TV. No way people a going to pay to watch TV!

Today, with cable and DSS I have over 200 channels to watch. Guess what: most days there still isn’t anything on TV to watch! Same thing was said back when the roof top antenna only picked-up 3 or 4 local stations. Dial-surf around 3am on an early Monday and just about everything is Infomercials!

Satellite Radio will bring you a bigger selection but you still have to listen to what they are playing at the time. Plus you have no local information for the majority of the USA (i.e.: Weather and Traffic). The secret to local radio is Localism, giving people something they can’t get anywhere else. Yes, most radio stations are now group owned in a market and play a Satellite delivered cookie cutter format, so it’s very much becoming like XM and the fledging Sirius system.

My observation is that XM Radio will survive along with the strong local radio stations that make the transition to Digital Radio.

gonetobama13, think WVNN
Rob, think WMAL

The landscape should look something like you have with Television today (i.e.: Cable/DSS channels and local stations providing local information that affects you where you live)!


As for options on the Corvette, I would love to have electric seat warmers under the leather seats. My wife’s cheap little VW Cabrio even has them; they are great in the winter.

 

[gonetobama13]

Jeez, Wolfman, I thought you was dead.

 

[Rob]

I'm actually very pro-satellite radio.

I love just about all types of music with the exception of rap/hip hop and some types of jazz. As a result, I usually have music playing at least 1/2 of my day whether it's in work, in my truck commuting or here in my home-office.

When I'm in work or home, I'm listening to internet radio. If I'm car pooling, I get to listen to my buddy's XM radio. If I want to get a quick traffic report, weather report or get a run down on the latest headlines, I have the local news channel plugged in to my radio and I can easily switch to it in a second.

All of the other statons, at least in this area, totally rot.

I hate shock jocks. I hate DJs that think they're funny when in fact, they are pathetic. I hate morning shows that try to insult people and make them look like total idiots, only to increase ratings and make the DJs look like some sort of demi-gods.

Take the BS out of radio, and I'll be more than happy to go back to listening to FM broadcasts. Until that happens, give me Satellite radio.

 

[Blade]

Sometimes you just have to ask them directly ...

I sent XM this e-mail question:

Will XM radio be available on the 2005 Corvette C6?



Their response:

Thank you for contacting XM Satellite Radio.

We apologize for the delay in our response.

Unfortunately Corvette C6 2005 would not have XM radio install as far as we are concern at this moment. However you may purchase one of our portable units that can be use at home and in your vehicle. For any further inquiries you may contact us at our Listener Care Center toll free number....


Best Regards,
Zuly Morales
XM Listener Care

 

[LongTimer]

All three represent technological progress, which has been (IMO) integral to the vette's theme since the orignal radical-at-the-time design in '53. I think all should be available to buyers as long as there are not UGLY black antennae anywhere. I think I recall an article on the XLR that indicated there is a little black box behind the inside rear view mirror that functions for these three features.

If they are available, I probably buy them simply because my C6 would be worth less $$$ at trade-in time without these options. I doubt that XM will ever replace my extensive CD collection, though I hope the player is MP3 capable. I think I will subscribe to Onstar, the safety and theft benefits alone outweigh the costs, IMO. Depending on the operation (pushing buttons or verbal commands) I may use the NAV occasionally, but it will likely join the airbags (I hope) as my least used function.

 

[Hib Halverson]

Dumb poll.

It has no choice for none of the above.

 

[Blade]

Dumb poll.

It has no choice for none of the above.

Will "None of the Above" be a choice on your Oct 7th Ballot?

 

[jst4fun]

The Navigational system would be great, but Homelink is a must have....can't seem to find a convenient place for that garage door opener.
:cool

 

[Dad]

I'm with the old fossil Hib, none of the above works for me.

There should be a "Vacate the office" on every ballot. Lets vote on it, yeah, right.

 

[Hib Halverson]

Ok...I'll claify my stance a bit.

The poll asks if I wanted those features on my C6.

I realize that all three of those, especially XM, are popular right now.

I'd want them to be optional and not standard equipment.

With C5 there was too much of a trend to make convenience options standard in groups, ie: "option packages". I'd rather see a return to the time when the buyer had a little more control over equipment.

I'd never order a Corvette with a navigation system. I doubt I'd buy it with XM, and I probably wouldn't order On-Star.

 

[Dad]

Again I agree, why pay $$$$'s up front and $$ per month when a map still only costs 4 bucks. The music I listen to come from a pedal on the floor.

 

[LongTimer]

I'd never order a Corvette with a navigation system. I doubt I'd buy it with XM, and I probably wouldn't order On-Star.

Price would determine, for me, whether to order the seldom-to-be-used NAV or not.

I would never activate an XM subscription

I like the Locator capability of On-star. Can't it act like a Lojack?

 

[LongTimer]

oooops

 

[JRMaroon]

Since the day I set up the account, I never really gave OnStar a second thought. That is until last Thursday when I :duh locked my keys in my Impala. I hadn't done that in about 18 years.

I didn't even have my account number written down anywhere except on the contract in the glove box. I was able to navigate through the process with the person at OnStar and five minutes later my doors were unlocked. I am now a fan.

I'm sure a lot of folks have a spare key in their wallet, therefore you would never need this service. I've done that in the past and should probably do it again, but on this day OnStar saved me and I was able to keep my next appointment while working on the road in a neighboring state.

Whether we're talking Vettes or not, we are talking about daily drivers. I think it should be an option for the buyers who drive their cars daily. That's not me, but I would like to have this type of system on any new car that I depend on daily. I also like the tracking feature if the vehicle is stolen.

Jeff

 

[cntrhub]

Dad says: "The music I listen to come from a pedal on the floor." What a classic line.
XMSR is the stock symbol. Closed today 11/24/03 at 18.21 -0.87. My nephew told me about XM radio when it was at $3 a share months ago. Did I do anything about it? Of course not.
I have OnStar and I use it to call my lover, so it doesn't show up on the phone bill at home. Yeah, I'm a dick. I'm not married either. Life is too short anyway. Hey, you have two Vettes, I have two lovers.
I listen to talk radio anyway. Rush and his Oxycontin, Larry Elder and his dissing Jesse Jackson. And anyway, I'm more of a Deep Forest, Jane's Addiction kind of guy.

 

[Dad]

Only two? You must be allot older than me.

:booty :dance

 

[CFour]

What U See on CA DEE LAC Corvette will not lack

 

[ROCKETBLOCK]

Again I agree, why pay $$$$'s up front and $$ per month when a map still only costs 4 bucks. The music I listen to come from a pedal on the floor.

I tend to agree. I guess I'm old school! I have only locked myself out of my car once in 1976. I fished my way in with a coat hanger someone gave me for free! I like to snoop around on the radio and find local stations indiginous to the area, and I don't mind reading the free maps from AAA. Hey, traveling should be an adventure!!!

 

[Skull One]

Navigation. As long as it is the same system Acura uses. Best one out.

XM is a waste of money. I have a 10 Gig MP3 player already installed that has about 2000+ songs on it. And it stuff I actually want to listen to.

Onstar is not a bad system in general. But I like my C-Phone better. And I have yet to lock myself out of my own car in 20 years of driving (knock on wood).

 

[worldsoldestcorvette]

iPod for me

Don't have a C5 but can vouch for the iPod. Wife uses 5Gig for commute and workout, I use the 30Gig for everything.

With 7000 songs on tap I haven't listened to a commercial in a long time. You can have a stereo shop add an input jack and you are ready to plug and play direct through your car stereo.

And as of recently, the iPod can also hold a lot of digital pictures should you be into photography and traveling, and there is a dictation mic available.

About the size of a pack of cards. Digital quality of XM but no monthly fees and you pick the music, and you can take it anywhere.