Nuvi vs Onstar

Can your nuvi unlock your car if you have left your car keys inside the car?

Can you Nuvi call for emergency help in case you are in an accident?

Can your Nuvi immobilize your car in case its stolen.

See .. OnStar is much more .. just because it has no distance to next turn doesn't mean its inferior.

So there are merits & demerits to having an in-built Navigation system.

PS: I don't have Onstar nor work for them

If I lived out in a rural area and traveled extensively it might be worth it to have it. As was just pointed out there are things onstar can do that garmin, tom tom and others can't. I would always use a garmin or some other gps and use onstar in an emergency

"Can your nuvi unlock your car if you have left your car keys inside the car?

Can you Nuvi call for emergency help in case you are in an accident?

Can your Nuvi immobilize your car in case its stolen.

See .. OnStar is much more .. just because it has no distance to next turn doesn't mean its inferior.

So there are merits & demerits to having an in-built Navigation system.

PS: I don't have Onstar nor work for them"

1)My nuvi can't but I can, I carry a spare key in my pocket for that reason. I have locked myself out a few times.

2)No it can't, but I can. I keep my cell phone with me at all times, and if I can't use it, odds are someone there will have one.

3) No it can't, but if someone steals my POS, they can have it.

Just having a bit of fun with you, don't be upset!

To me both are very usefull. It is like comparing a bicycle and a boat for a pleasant ride... Both are enjoyable and have different services.

not an onstar fan. call me old fashion, but i find it creepy as in stalker creepy.

Nuvi _ Where Am I? {Nearest Address, Hospitals, Police Stations)

+

AAA Plus Membership - Roadside Assistant + Lock Out Service + Up to 100 Miles of Towing + Lodging and Many More discounts

+

My Unlimited Minutes Cell Phone

+

Comprehensive & Collision Coverage

+

My Transponder Ignition Key

=

Priceless

OnStar = Monthly or Yearly Subscriptions

My Nuvi = Speak Street names + Custom POIs (It also tells when it approaches the Red Light Camera and Speed Traps and many more)+ Most of all Subscription Free Navteq Lifetime traffic

These options not available in all areas.

Picture this in your mind's eye:

Some years ago while attending a conference, on a free day six of us rented a car and took a ride down the California coast. I had the honor of driving. Once we were out of San Francisco and alone on the coastal drive, I started playing with some of the car's buttons . . . including some located on the rear view mirror. I noticed no change in the mirror's view or performance and returned to listening to the chit chat taking place in the car. While listening to the chit chat an unfamiliar voice asked: "Can I help you?"

We remained a bit confused as this voice addressed us twice more. Did the radio accidentally get turned on, what did this voice want from us? A couple passengers were looking all about the car as if someone had just dropped in.

I then recalled reading something about a unique, new service available to motorist. When I responded to the voice that we were all just fine and doing a bit of joy riding, the voice responded with "No problem", and politely excused herself. The other passengers flipped out, laughing in the confusion of the moment. For a couple miles I let them enjoy the uproar this mystery created before explaining what I had done. It took several explanations and numerous "yes, for reals" before they settled down. I think a couple of the passengers still did not believe me that day.

olddog47

I was comparing Onstar Turn by Turn Navigation (at $28+ per month) with the Nuvi.

I have Onstar Safe and Sound and consider it a good investment.

I would go with the Nuvi and ditch the Onstar directions. For a little cash you can get a nice Nuvi and still have the security of onstar safe and sound. I have Onstar in both trucks and the factory GPS in one of those and of course a Nuvi in the other. I am trying to figure out how to get rid of the factory GPS for a indash Nuvi like system.

I think that On-star and nuvi compliment each other. Much like using a "layered" defense of a firewwall, malware, anti-virus software and a 'HIPS' system on your PC. Rather than putting 'all your eggs in one basket' or having one 'killer app' to rid your PC of trash.

Thats my two cent..

Have a great day !

I think that should read: These options MAY not be available in all areas...........which is true for cellular phone service too.

If you know which cell network that Onstar uses, you should be able to figure out in advance where it will and won't work. If it can make a connection, all the features should work; if it can't, none of them will.

With an external antenna, I would think that the coverage would be slightly better than a hand-held phone.

And I don't recall seeing anyone mention that Onstar can also be your mobile phone provider if you so choose.

The radio in the newer (post 2006) Onstar units is multi-mode and works on virtually every carrier's network - GSM, AMPS, CDMA - I do not know if it does iDen, but in any case rural iDen coverage is limited.

So you will get far better cellular coverage with Onstar than you would with any handheld single protocol phone.

Having said this, I find the prices to be a poor value proposition if all you wanted was navigation.

I have both - Nuvi 660 and OnStar.

For location and directions, the Nuvi can't be beat.

1. OnStar won't take coordinates (L/L).
2. Onstar doesn't have a map display that you can navigate to a point selected on the map. (Don't confuse OnStar with indash GPS - they are separate units and options)
3.OnStar doesn't have POIs.
4. OnStar can't tell me how to drive from Toulouse to Foix (in France) as it doesn't work there.

There are more, but those are the most importatnt to me.

I have OnStar for 2 reasons:

1. Seconds count! If I'm in an accident, the quicker the nearest rescue squad gets there, the better the chance for survival, for me or anyone else.
Note: Too many people don't bother to call because they think someone else will/did. Also - if the accident is on a back road with no traffic, you could sit there unconscious with no help on the way or die due to lack of medical attention. We had an incident locally where the driver left the road and went down a wooded enbankment on a heavily traveled road. They found him next summer when a Highway Dept. worker investigated the smell. OnStar might have saved his life - if he had it.
Note: I know it doesn't have coverage everywhere in the U.S. But, if you're on or near an Interstate highway, you are probably connected.

2. Monthly report by email of various vehicle sytems status. Such as "error codes" from system diagnostics (if any) and percent of "Oil Life" left.

Both have something the other doesn't and I think that it is up to the end user as to what they use.

It's very helpful to see the route especially when you have 2 or 3 interchanges in close proximity. If you don't visually check the proximity, you could simply get on the wrong exit.

p.s.
OnStar didn't seem to help Tiger Woods. His wife still had to use a nine iron, that she just happened to have by the front door as she ran out the driveway.

Yes, as long as you are IN the car. The service automatically comes with a phone number, does it not ??

I do not think they provide a hand-held for use outside the car, do they ??

A spare key.. or my cell phone, can.

My, or someone elses cell phone can.

Either Stop Sticks or a couple of rounds from my .40 S&W can.

Can you take OnStar from one vehicle and operate it in another?

Can you do POI's or updates with OnStar?

Can you..? Can You..?

Well if we didn't know better we would think it sounded that way.

Nuvi1300WTGPS

I have both, the traffic alerts on the NUVI & routing around problems is priceless

I have a GPS system and OnStar. I like them both and use them both - for the purposes I need them for.

I do not need turn by turn navigation, so I did not order that OnStar feature. But I use the hands-free phone quite often (it seems to have better reception than my cell phone) and have had to have my car door unlocked twice in three years. Great little system!

I have a nuvi 660 and a subscription to map updates. The GPS comes in really handy when we drive down to the States. I've loaded it up with all the POI files we need and it works great. My only regret is that it does not have waypoint capabilities.

I view them as complimentary devices rather than competitive units.

Onstar does have some benefits but I will never give up my Nuvi.....gotta have my garmin, i just gotta....

This is a classic apples and oranges comparison. Each does different things well and they overlap in certain capabilities.
The Nuvi for instance won't track your current whereabouts remotely and report it to the authorities

Great comments on both sides of the issue. I had no idea that On-Star had level/programs that could be bought separately. Always thought it was all or nothing. I like the safety and unlock ideas but the navigation from On-Star or any built in GPS won't match the portable GPSr. I have a friend with a Lincoln with built-in navigation and his cost for an single update makes Garmin lifetime look extremely cheap. I just love these discussions that provides new information.

I have both services and like others have said each service compliments each other.
Talking from experience Onstar is only good for unlocking doors and accidents. Don't forget that Onstar does not cover 100 % of the US territory so if you break down in western Texas on I10 you won't have phone or onstar.
Onstar directions are awful and not as good as a Nuvi.

Let it die

I have the Onstar Navigation package as part of the "free" introduction subscription on a new car. I have tried it a couple of times. The pluses for Onstar are ease of use if the driver is the only one in the car. You are not distracted while driving by trying to enter a destination into the GPS. The POI’s are virtually unlimited and possibly more current than the GPS. The turn by turn directions are comparable to the GPS with several voice prompts and distance displays. The negatives are the ongoing cost and the method of recalculating which is a slight nuisance. Instead of automatically recalculating, it asks you if you want to recalculate. Another negative is you don’t have an option to display the map of your route. I also haven’t figured out if you can save “favorites” or recently visited locations.
For someone without a GPS, this is a good alternative.

I have it on my saturn just for airbag deployment.

I second that opinion.

No, but your cell phone can.

No, but your cell phone can.

No, but there's things you can do to prevent it from being stolen.

Wife and I had OnStar for the first year when we bought our two new vehicles. Between the two vehicles we used OnStar exactly "ONE" (1) time. When it came to signing up for it, we both felt it wasn't worth the monthly charge.. so in our case, it was inferior!

Nuvi1300WTGPS

apple to not even orange

I pretty much ruled out OnStar. We already have 2 GPS, 2 dumb phones, AAA & a cleverly concealable key box...It is time to go new car shopping.

OnStar is a great thing for the dealer to disable your vehicle if you miss a payment...

True story. Google it.

Yep, I've heard that from friends.

The OnStar phone has a much greater range and I found that I can use it to make calls in areas where my Verizon Droid X can not get service to make a call.

Kind of gives you an added sense of security and safety if the need to contact help should occur when you are in the middle of nowhere driving through rural Nevada and your cell phone is useless.

How much would it be worth to you if it should save yours are someone else's life?

Too easy for you to be tracked with Onstar. Too easy for someone else to gain control of your vehicle as well.

You can be tracked with your cell phone even easier, since Onstar's is a closed network,

As to 'controlling' your car - they can unlock the doors and in some models they can disable the starter - they cannot shut the engine off while the vehicle is in motion - too dangerous. Big deal . . . . . . . .

OnStar can disable a vehicle while it is in motion. They do it by shutting down systems which causes the vehicle to slow and when it is in a clear area they can shut the engine off. (If I remember right, it's through fuel starvation. But I could be wrong.)

Haven't owned a GM for a while so this is a new-to-me concept.

I went looking and as of the 2008 model year they have the ability to 'slow down' the vehicle - they do it by cutting the signal from the TP sensor, causing the engine to idle. They apparently do not actually shut the engine off.

Supposedly they will only enable the feature with the co-operation of the police to avoid dangerous situations.

But you need to keep in mind that Onstar is a separate, closed user group in the world of cellular, so you can;t send messages to the car - you'd need to emulate a cell site and manage to get the vehicle's radio to think you were Onstar's dispatch center.

It is still very secure, though of course things can always change.

.

For those with OnStar, also recognize that the provider has reserved the right to sell data collected from your usage. Adds to the creepy factor to me.

I also think that somebody should come up with a smart phone "crash" app. Seems like most if not all the sensors to determine is you've experienced a sudden jolt (or the phone has) are there so with a little programming, why couldn't a cell phone just announce it was going to call 911 in 15 seconds unless you press the pound key or something. Then there would be no real purpose for OnStar - at least to me.

Jim

Smash your window with your Nuvi. Voila! Unlocked.

no recurring monthly fees!