Latest grab by auto manufactures

[Monster5601]

Bought two GM cars (Trax and Trail Blazer) and don't pay for On-star. Where do you get this "forced to purchase" stuff?

A good friend of mine has a new Cadillac Lyriq coming in. He told me that an OnStart subscription is now part of the purchase for the term of his lease. He didn't use works like mandatory, forced, required, etc. I guess it doesn't matter, if he wants the car he is going to also pay for OnStar.

How he explained it to me is that part of the OnStar feature is also providing the vehicle with an internet connection for navigation, weather, and gas/fuel pricing in the area you are driving. Seems like it is doing the same thing we can do with Andriod Auto or Carplay with our smartphones connected to the vehicle's display (basically free). I should have asked him what the monthly charges are but didn't think of it at the time. Since the subscription is embedded in the cost of the vehicle he may not know.

If you search the Internet for something like "is gm forcing onstar subscriptions", it looks like Buick, GMC, and Cadillac are the initial targets. From what I've read, there is a large amount of customer push-back.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

A good friend of mine has a new Cadillac Lyriq coming in. He told me that an OnStart subscription is now part of the purchase for the term of his lease. He didn't use works like mandatory, forced, required, etc. I guess it doesn't matter, if he wants the car he is going to also pay for OnStar.

How he explained it to me is that part of the OnStar feature is also providing the vehicle with an internet connection for navigation, weather, and gas/fuel pricing in the area you are driving. Seems like it is doing the same thing we can do with Andriod Auto or Carplay with our smartphones connected to the vehicle's display (basically free). I should have asked him what the monthly charges are but didn't think of it at the time. Since the subscription is embedded in the cost of the vehicle he may not know.

If you search the Internet for something like "is gm forcing onstar subscriptions", it looks like Buick, GMC, and Cadillac are the initial targets. From what I've read, there is a large amount of customer push-back.

Maybe because it's a lease and not an outright purchase.

 

[Jstpssng]

navigation, weather, and gas/fuel pricing in the area you are driving.

There is nothing on that list which I would pay for. I get the weather by turning on the radio, and already know the best places to get gas within a 100 mile radius. I keep a Delormes Atlas on the seat of each pickup...

 

[ultrarunner]

This is something I believe Tesla started. All their cars are built with all the same features with the exception of drivetrain, but depending what you pay changes what features you unlock. Its ridiculous.

I'm sure there are hacks that may allow you to access the features on some of the manufacturer's cars... but I'm sure it'll void certain parts of the warranty.

Don't forget OnStar and the various radio subscriptions...

14 years ago my friend who is nerve deaf bought a new car... it came with 1 year complimentary radio subscription.

He said he is deaf and didn't want it but told he had to take the FREE subscription...

For 14 years he continues to be solicited via mail and email with all kinds of deals... tried using the deaf service to cancel remove but no success.

 

[ultrarunner]

A good friend of mine has a new Cadillac Lyriq coming in. He told me that an OnStart subscription is now part of the purchase for the term of his lease. He didn't use works like mandatory, forced, required, etc. I guess it doesn't matter, if he wants the car he is going to also pay for OnStar.

How he explained it to me is that part of the OnStar feature is also providing the vehicle with an internet connection for navigation, weather, and gas/fuel pricing in the area you are driving. Seems like it is doing the same thing we can do with Andriod Auto or Carplay with our smartphones connected to the vehicle's display (basically free). I should have asked him what the monthly charges are but didn't think of it at the time. Since the subscription is embedded in the cost of the vehicle he may not know.

If you search the Internet for something like "is gm forcing onstar subscriptions", it looks like Buick, GMC, and Cadillac are the initial targets. From what I've read, there is a large amount of customer push-back.

It's mandatory until the manufacturer decides not to offer as happened to hundreds of thousands of GM owners.

 

[ismilelots]

Just read GM,Subaru and others now are going to have a mandatory subscription for;heated seats,remote start ect.Can you imagine!Unreal.In GM's case you are forced to purchase OnStar,no choice rolled into the price.
I was considering a trade,this may be enough for me(and a lot of others) not too.High end luxury
vehicles have had this for a while.

It won't be long before some hacker comes up with a plug-in to activate all your features and keep them active.

 

[ultrarunner]

Until they get shutdown...

 

[Hay Dude]

There is nothing on that list which I would pay for. I get the weather by turning on the radio, and already know the best places to get gas within a 100 mile radius. I keep a Delormes Atlas on the seat of each pickup...

Or:
Use your I phone, if you have one, to get accurate radar forecasts. As a farmer, I believe what I see (radar) over what I hear (some useless blabbermouth on a radio station).
I find the radio weather forecasts to be worthless. Most only tell you the current weather, which is kind of obvious lol

”currently its 84 degrees and sunny” WOW! THANKS!

Also, use your I phone for directions. Use “Maps” or another app to accurately give you up to the minute directions with traffic delays, construction, even police radar and stop light cameras.
Take the atlas and use it for kindling.

 

[IndyJay]

So reading this I see everything is already in the car. What this means is weather buying it new or used you are definitely paying for those features once at purchase and then they want to take even more from you to use them.

Kind of like many tractors do with horsepower? Same engine, different tuning, to the tune of $1,000+

 

[MossRoad]

There is nothing on that list which I would pay for. I get the weather by turning on the radio, and already know the best places to get gas within a 100 mile radius. I keep a Delormes Atlas on the seat of each pickup...

We’re going to drag you kicking and screaming into the present whether you want it or not!