Can Paying for a Telematics Service Actually Save You Money?
In these economically tough times, consumers are looking closely at every cent they spend. So it may seem counter-intuitive to think that you can actually save money by spending it.
But that's the premise behind a recent Edmunds feature story that examines whether car owners can shave a few dollars off of their yearly driving costs by subscribing to a telematics system such as OnStar.
We considered what you would pay for a la carte services such as an auto club membership and a portable navigation system and compared those costs against similar features offered by telematics services from BMW, Ford, GM, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz. We also took into consideration potential savings on insurance, fuel economy and vehicle maintenance.
We didn't, however, include in our analysis the intangible peace of mind that telematics systems provide in the event of a crash, when authorities are automatically notified and help is on the way -- and the prime reason most people pay for such a service.
While not an apples-to-apples comparison, the bottom line is that such systems can indeed save drivers money in many cases. And with new telematics systems on the horizon, the cost-savings potential may increase.
- Posted by
- Doug Newcomb January 28, 2009, 3:00 PM
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- Categories:
- Car Audio and Electronics, Car Buying
- Technorati Tags:
- Ford, GM, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, OnStar, Telematics
That new OnStar commercial with the cell phone flying around the cabin in an accident is pretty compelling.