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32000 messages,  Last post on Feb 14, 2013 at 7:24 PM

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Messages Page 3048 of 3201

#30467 of 32000 Re: OnStar [ateixeira] by busiris

Jan 11, 2013 (1:11 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 11, 2013 10:12 am)
I can't speak for other areas around the country, but in the Southeast, its very, VERY common to hear of multiple auto accidents weekly in which those that died were not wearing seat belts.
 
So, it seems logical to me that if a occupant isn't willing to use a basic safety device for bodily protection that has been standard equipment in every single vehicle for decades, then the occupant probably isn't going to pay anything extra to get the benefits of OnStar or any other competitive product.

#30468 of 32000 Re: Malibu beats Altima, Passat, Optima, Subaru [uplanderguy] by andres3

Jan 11, 2013 (1:24 pm)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Jan 11, 2013 7:53 am)
Speaking of 'unfair or not', CR also tested the Avenger, but they had it down to 43 points to the Malibu's 83.
 
Based on my rental experience, I'd say 43 points was being kind to Dodge.

#30469 of 32000 OnStar... by lemko

Jan 11, 2013 (3:52 pm)

I've kept the OnStar active on my 2007 Cadillac DTS since new. It did kind of scare me when I first stepped into the car after purchasing it and a woman's voice come out of nowhere, "Good evening, Mr. Lemko!" "AAAAHHH!!! What's that?" "Congratulations on your new Cadillac, Mr. Lemko!" "Uh...yeah...thanks."

#30470 of 32000 Re: OnStar [steve_] by andres3

Jan 11, 2013 (5:04 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Jan 11, 2013 10:06 am)
Yeah, not having to worry about calling 911 when you plow into a deer and hit the ditch would be a nice feature.
 
Yes, but how often does that happen.
 
Meanwhile, you receive good Horsepower and good fuel economy from a well built car with a good engine every single time you use it.
 
Put the money into the car, not fringe features useful once a decade.

#30471 of 32000 Re: OnStar [andres3] by uplanderguy

Jan 11, 2013 (5:07 pm)

Replying to: andres3 (Jan 11, 2013 5:04 pm)
andres3, the same could be said about crashworthiness in a vehicle.
 
My wife and two young daughters were lost en route to a hotel in NJ just outside of NY in a torential downpour, with exits flooded, construction they weren't expecting and the Holland Tunnel coming up. OnStar stayed on with my wife for fifteen minutes 'til she pulled into the hotel parking lot. She's a customer for life.

#30472 of 32000 Re: Malibu beats Altima, Passat, Optima, Subaru [tlong] by andres3

Jan 11, 2013 (5:09 pm)

Replying to: tlong (Jan 11, 2013 11:27 am)
So they're really not saying much of anything. It's kind of like Honda saying they're they have sold more Ohio-made sedans than any other foreign-nameplate manufacturer in Ohio.
 
That's some genius right there Tlong! Fantastic analogy to GM's PR campaign. Be careful, Honda's been a slump lately and might actually copy GM's marketing and steal your idea and use that line of yours.

#30473 of 32000 Re: OnStar [uplanderguy] by andres3

Jan 11, 2013 (5:11 pm)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Jan 11, 2013 5:07 pm)
A $89.99 GPS unit by Garmin could have done the same for your wife to get them to that hotel in NJ, and it doesn't require a subscription.

#30474 of 32000 Re: OnStar [andres3] by steve_ HOST

Jan 11, 2013 (5:16 pm)

Replying to: andres3 (Jan 11, 2013 5:04 pm)
Well, if it's a matter of life and death, it only needs to happen once, and it'd be cheap at ten times the price.

#30475 of 32000 Re: OnStar [uplanderguy] by andres3

Jan 11, 2013 (5:20 pm)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Jan 11, 2013 5:07 pm)
Crash worthiness is indeed something that might only be useful once a decade or less, but the stakes are high; your life.
 
I prefer "accident avoidance" abilities myself, which can be used more often and negate the importance of crash worthiness to some degree (or at least make it required less often).
 
But saying having someone call 911 in case you are unable to respond after an accident is taking it a quite a bit further. I would say it's Nth degrees further less useful. First, if it's a multi vehicle accident, it assumes all people involved are so injured no one can call for help. Second, it becomes irrelevant if crash worthiness didn't keep you alive first of all, so that you can even use the help.
 
And GM has been known to skimp and cost cut. Might crash worthiness of the vehicles be 10% better if OnStar wasn't required? I'd put the extra effort and expense into the crash worthiness.

#30476 of 32000 Re: OnStar [andres3] by uplanderguy

Jan 11, 2013 (5:44 pm)

Replying to: andres3 (Jan 11, 2013 5:11 pm)
That was her one free call. Does a Garmin give you a human being at the other end? I can tell you that my wife has borrowed a Garmin before and would tell you that OnStar was a lifesaver that day.

Messages Page 3048 of 3201

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