[Chuck]

Looking for some advice,

Does the OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation display on the DIC? In other words If I subscribed to this Onstar feature, would the route be displayed on the dash? It seems this might be a much cheaper alternative to the DVD based Nav system. Thanks in advance for any insights.

 

[6Sixathome]

It displays on the stereo and also it will give you a voice command, you can watch a demo of it if you signed up for Onstar suberscriber servive when you bought your vehicle.

 

[Chuck]

Thanks 6six....I just test drove the Outlook and love it. Trying to decide on options I want before ordering mine.

 

[The Plainsman]

Get the DVD Nav. It's better. Also, if you want a back-up camera you have to have the Nav.

 

[rockbox]

I really don't understand spending $2K for functionality you can get for $200. I got a magellan NAV system, with text to speech, and the latest navteq maps (the best) for $200 dollars. The great part about it is when I travel, I can take it with me which is when I really need the nav system. Next year, I will be able to get the latest and greatest NAV system for probably less than $200 and give my current one away to my family.

 

[compnurd]

The Onstar Turn by turn works GREAT. No need for the DVD NAV

 

[federico]

I agree. Works great!

BTW, this service is offered under a 3-months free trial and my salesman had told me that I could extend it for the whole year for $100. However I recently received and offer on the mail to extend it for $50. I misplaced the post card and sure enough the trial expired. I called them (pressed the Onstar button) and told them about the offer and they honored it. In case you are up for renewal, I remember the postcard said "offer valid through December 31st 2007".

 

[gbshuler]

I really don't understand spending $2K for functionality you can get for $200. I got a magellan NAV system, with text to speech, and the latest navteq maps (the best) for $200 dollars. The great part about it is when I travel, I can take it with me which is when I really need the nav system. Next year, I will be able to get the latest and greatest NAV system for probably less than $200 and give my current one away to my family.

GM argues that your $200 magellan may attract attention you don't want.. from a thief. It is amazing how much it costs these days to repair damage from a crow bar to your window/door/lock.

Why not just get a cell phone with Navigation?

 

[gbshuler]

The Onstar Turn by turn works GREAT. No need for the DVD NAV

The Navigation screen also comes in quite handy since it is used for a rear-view camera in the 2008 Outlook. When the vehicle is in Park - and you have the DVD video system, you can watch the movie playing on the overhead up front on the Nav screen.

 

[Firebird]

Everyone has different needs & wants but I have an Enclave with OnStar turn-by turn and was invited to participate in a new to be offered program called OnStar Web Destination Entry pilot program. It works like this in conjunction with MapQuest on the Internet:

When you want a route using Mapquest/OnStar you just enter a destination. Then from wherever you are located OnStar will setup & download a route from your current location to the destination specified. For example...say you entered Lexington, Ky as your destination on Mapquest.. If you happened to be in St Louis and called virtual advisor and said "Lexington" Onstar would setup a route from St Louis to Lexington. Now your in Atlanta & called virtual advisor & said "Lexington" Onstar would setup a route from Atlanta to Lexington. As someone said all it needs is your destination and your location to setup the route.


Hope this isn't too confusing...

So for me this in combination with access to MapQuest I can setup routes with name tags & when you get in your vehicle ask for Virtual adviser, it will ask for whatever you named the route, say maybe "Grandma's house" . OnStar will then download the directions & display them on your Stereo Display whenever needed. Its not avail for general use yet but I think it will be soon.

 

[HockeyMom]

Firebird - that sounds really neat! I just got my Outlook a few weeks ago and have been enjoying the free trial of the Turn by Turn navigation. I am considering keeping it, as we will be moving to Minnesota in a few months and I won't know where anything is. It would be great if I could use it along with Mapquest. I would love to be able to get in the car and ask it to tell me how to get home :thumb:

 

[HockeyMom]

I've found a couple of news blurbs about this, I can't wait :blob:

http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2007/112_news070425_onstar_mapquest

http://www.onstar.com/us_english/jsp/new_at_onstar/mapquest.jsp

 

[compnurd]

it should have been out by now

 

[robb471]

Turn by Turn is much better than I had thought. I have the DVD Nav in my 2007.5 GMC Sierra and had I realized how good OnStar was, I would have not ordered the DVD Nav. You can not do much of anything on it while you are moving. No way to find the nearest Starbucks unless you pull over. OnStar - No problem just hit the button and a REAL person finds it for you.

Think of it this way, Turn by Turn is $100 above the base onstar rate. The DVD Nav is a $2300 option, thats 23 years worth of OnStar turn by turn, or about five Garmin's.

Yeah, you lose the Back Up camera and playing a DVD up front, but for me, those are extras I can live without.

 

[khansen30]

I didn't pay the renewell price for the tbt, rather any time I need it, I pay the 9.95 for a month of service. So far since my trial expired I have spent $20 over 4½ months.

I like the tbt, beats reading a map.

 

[lewisr]

khansen,

When you say pay for it as you need it. Do you need to plan in advance? I would like to be able to just call them and activate it immediately. ie: drivng along can't find where I'm going, so I call Onstar and get directions and they charge me the $9.95 on the spot for a month of service. Is this possible?

 

[khansen30]

khansen,

When you say pay for it as you need it. Do you need to plan in advance? I would like to be able to just call them and activate it immediately. ie: drivng along can't find where I'm going, so I call Onstar and get directions and they charge me the $9.95 on the spot for a month of service. Is this possible?

Yes, I have done it that way. Since they have your c.c. on file they can do it then.