Anyone add after market OnStar?

[starflyte1]

When traveling, I feel very secure with OnStar. However, I am selling my travel trailer, so will no longer need my Tahoe with OnStar.

I am following the thread about the best car for TV, but would like to have OnStar in my next car. Before considering other than a GM car, I need to know about the add on OnStar that has been available for a short time. Anyone have it?

[skyguy79]

When traveling, I feel very secure with OnStar. However, I am selling my travel trailer, so will no longer need my Tahoe with OnStar.

I am following the thread about the best car for TV, but would like to have OnStar in my next car. Before considering other than a GM car, I need to know about the add on OnStar that has been available for a short time. Anyone have it?We just purchased and had installed the OnStar FMV from Best Buy on our second vehicle. I did a couple of tests just this AM and in both cases the step by step directions worked just like it does on the factory installed OnStar on our Chevy. There are a few differences in that your car cannot be unlocked remotely and it can't monitor the systems in the car, like tire pressure for one. It will though sense an accident.

One of the things I liked is that unlike the non FMV, you can adjust the volume using the visor control. So far so good except for my having given it a tough route to handle and it kept trying to direct me to a route that wasn't as direct as I normally use. However, I did test it by leaving the programmed route several times and it passed my test of adjusting the route with flying colors.

Note that here is no visual screen on the FMV like there is on the factory installed unit. And before you buy check that the FMV is compatible with the year and make of your vehicle. You can do that online at their website... www.onstar.com (http://www.onstar.com). There are also possibilities that some other functions of the car might be affected if you have them installed, like temperature displays or similar type displays. We had no problems with our Ford Windstar.

So my recommendation would be to go for it if what I've stated above is not an issue for you.

p.s. The pre-programming route/destination (send to) feature on MapQuest worked nicely with the new FMV too!

[starflyte1]

Thank you so very much! That is the information that I wanted. I mainly want it for security, (have called two times in 5 years, and have just started calling for driving directions.

What sold me on OnStar was when we were in our Avalanche towing our 25 ft Airstream and the Avalanche had a mechanical. OnStar had a wrecker there (on I-75 near Sarasota) in 30 minutes that towed both the truck and the trailer, still connected, to a Chevy dealer. The other time was for an ambulance. It is kind of like the security of having ****Aid in TV.

[skyguy79]

You're welcome! You do have to watch out for their routing though! i.e. If you were leaving The Village of Hadley heading for The Village of St. Charles, you'd be sent up to Bonita Blvd via Morse, over then back down Buena Vista to Bailey Tr. instead of staying straight on Odell until you reach Bailey Tr. That happened to us when we went looking for a garage sale in St. Charles. We told OnStar no thank you for the trip back. :D