They really did! They did a "comeback tour", playing small theaters (1000-2000 seats), and John Cougar (no Mellencamp then) opened for them.. Their new album was named Low Budget, and they had a pretty big hit with Superman. While on that tour, they recorded a live album..
The next year, they toured again, in support of the live album, and played bigger arenas... I think I saw them in about a 10,000 seat arena, that year.. Again, John Cougar was the opening act.... For this concert, I had backstage passes and was basically standing about 10 feet from Cougar's guitar player.. and, couldn't have cared less.... I was all about The Kinks!! Unfortunately, after Cougar's set, they made all of us lesser lights leave the backstage area...
But, I was standing right in front of the stage for You Really Got Me... and, that's when Ray jumped down into the crowd... I think I was about 21 or 22, at the time... very cool..
Nah.....I like seeing others take the same path that the rest of us take....buying and selling our cars for no good reason.
I'm staying local. Again, still on the lookout for a 10+ years old Acura or Mark VIII (prefereably an LSC). I might even be interested in a 90s vintage S/C Riviera. I'. checking out a "for sale by owner" Avalanche tonight, although it might not qualify for my $3K limit.
What was the rebuttal song to Eve of Destruction and who did it?
I remember there was a rebuttal song, and I kind of remember some lyrics...but, I don't know what it was or who did it. I could try to look it up but you will have to just give me the answer. Assume, whoever did it was also a one hit wonder.
I believe Barry maguire say Eve of Destruction.
I am writing from Budapest Hungary. Nice old and some unusual new buildings. Lots of VWs and even a few Ladas. I have jetlag and it is 6 hours later here. I'm starving, but I don't know if I should be eating or sleeping.
I didn't renew my sirius service when the free trial expired in January. I keep getting letters asking me to renew.
Yesterday I got one for 6 months at $24.95. That was too good to pass up. I just need to remember to cancel before the regular price kicks in. Was able to renew online and the letter even had my account number and radio ID. It was painless.
Third time seeing a car painted matte black. Today it was a 350Z. Earlier this week I saw two old classics the same way. Yuck! Who ever thought that was a way to go for painting a car?
I even saw them do this on Fast n' Loud but it was some old hot rod that then intended to look rough.
Tell me this fad will fade quicker than Bennie Babies.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Same here except I couldn't figure out a way to send $24.95 without a card (they won't take cash). However I was fumbling with steering wheel buttons and on came sirius with about 12 stations. Been working for a week now no charge as I have never given them a credit card.
I wish there was a credit card with one time ONLY use so the recurring charges wouldn't happen.
My favorite show. Richard and Aaron have a good life with all the different cars. Sure wish I had Sue next door to put in a two tone leather interior with heat and massage seats. I would love to buy an old favorite car and install a crate engine with updated brake/safety/tech/A/C.
I wish there was a credit card with one time ONLY use so the recurring charges wouldn't happen.
There are. One of my credit card accounts used to offer this service, I could go online to their web page and generate a "one time use credit card number", complete with a security code. I don't remember now which one it was. Another way to do it: Get one of the prepaid VISA cards at the Walmart checkout line. That method will cost you about $4, though.
Yeah... my limit is $6/month, including all fees and taxes... When they offer that deal, it is invariably for only 6 months... I tell them I'll gladly pay it all upfront for 12 or 18 months (or, whatever I have left on the lease), but they won't do it...
So, I take the 6 months.... do without it for a couple of months, then start again..
RE: Credit card.... I only renew on the phone, and I tell them specifically... that I do not agree to automatically charging my credit card... So far, no issues with that... they take my credit card, but then bill me on paper for the renewal, which of course, I don't pay.. and, it starts all over again...
XM (sirius) ran a promo for the last couple of weeks where they basically reactivated non-active radios. So that might be what you were getting. I think it is over by now, so if you continue to receive stations, just keep quiet about it!
That is what I remember being on the air filter cover... Been a long time since then, so the memory might we fuzzy on that. Perhaps it was 170 CI and I am remembering 156 CI from my Datsun 260 Z. I searched a little and the only 156 CI Ford I found around that time was for the Ford Zephyr and Zodiac, England and perhaps Australia. I doubt I had one of those engines since this was about the most economical model (had a little plug where the cigar lighter should have been if that tells you anything) and was purchased from the local Ford dealer in Arkansas. It is possible the original owner somehow got hold of a cover for the air filter other than the original. Performance sucked, top speed not over 85 downhill.
Matte Black Paint - It looks really cool under the bright lights of the auto show, but very impractical. A friend of mine has a 2013 M5 in Frozen Black. He participated in the "Bull Run" road race this past summer. He plastered his car with these logos and the car's number that were stickers made to come off easily. They did come off after 2 weeks or so of driving from NY to Montreal and ending up in New Orleans, but left a permanent mark where they were.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
I've seen a couple of cars repainted in that flat black. To me, it looks just as bad as the cars I've seen with nothing but primer on them. If it's a trend, I suspect that they'll take a huge hit on a sales price when they try to sell those flat black cars 5 years from now.
I have Sirious on the Audi....going on 18 mos and it still works (only supposed to have it for a few month trial period). I never gave anyone my credit card. And, no one has asked me to for one to keep the service.
With bluetooth audio streaming podcasts, music and Pandora from my iphone to my car stereo, I really don't listen to Sirius all that much anyway.
With bluetooth audio streaming podcasts, music and Pandora from my iphone to my car stereo, I really don't listen to Sirius all that much anyway.
I don't listen to their music stations for the same reasons you mentioned - I have 200 songs on my iPhone which connects directly to the audio system by "wire" which also charges the phone at the same time (connection is in my console), or I can connect via Bluetooth or I can play my MP3 DVD, or my CD's, or listen to FM HD on at least12 stations down here.
But I also use their traffic and weather satellite data which works right ony csr's NAV sustem. Even show traffic on feeder streets and avenues and state routes along with interstates. Weather shows up with wind direction and speed as well as cold and warm fronts and Highs and Lows - very sophisticated system. Shows lightning hits and thunderstorms as well as intensity of the rain.
I think I can get the weather and traffic without having to pay for the music channels. My trial period ends October 31st. I'll find out what they are offering me. Definitely want to keep it for weather and traffic. My Mercedes MBrace ends too - they want $310 for 18 months, which includes stolen vehicle recovery. I save $120 a year on my insurance for the recovery system, so I will probably sign up for that too.
I sent you an email as you had requested. It came back saying that you had server problems. Not to worry. I don't mind keeping "sterlingdog" as my new name.
Loved that song. The Diamonds returned a couple of years ago for an anniversary performance. Though white haired and a bit older, they did a fantastic job.
I went to the garden center today to pick up a few things and parked next to a Ford F150 painted in that flat black. It looked awful! Can you imagine my black Caddy painted like that? Not in this life time.
I've been wrestling with the Sirius/XM decision for a while now. I pay $45 a quarter for music and traffic. And although I enjoy the occasional repertoire of music from different genres somehow I find it hard to justify that price. Yet, I am reluctant to cancel my subscription. In short, I have become a creature of habit.
I have the same problem with OnStar. At $299 a year or $28.90 per month the economics of this service seems irrational yet I still continue to subscribe without interruption. Again, I think it is a small price to pay for peace of mind--safety and concierge service. Also, to me, OnStar and Sirius complete the luxury car experience. I look at this way, what is the point of buying a 60" HDTV without a good surround sound system?
I let the Audi Connect (Audi in car internet service) lapse. I forget how much it was....but I know it was some crazy amount...certainly much more than my home internet service. Plus, it was woefully slow and next to useless.
Maybe your MBrace is faster and more reliable.
The Sirius music channels seemed to have much lower fidelity than HD radio stations. And, on my iphone, I automatically download podcasts of things that interest me (vs some of the inane programming I heard on Sirius). Pandora Bluetooth sounds worlds better than Sirius, too.
Personally, I see a relatively short future for sat radio unless they really reinvent themselves with much better programming and much better fidelity.
Thanks for the answer, now I can sleep at night. I guess the Dawn of Correction guys were right..........Viet Nam was not the Dawn of Destruction.
This info about Dawn of Destruction may be of interest;
The vocal track was thrown on as a rough mix and was not intended to be the final version, but a copy of the recording “leaked” out to a DJ, who began playing it. The song was an instant hit and as a result the more polished vocal track that was at first envisioned was never recorded.
tjc....yes, wifi devices could connect in the car. But, I think Audi contracts through Tmobile. At least around here, the Audi Connect was mostly at EDGE speeds (comparable to dial up speeds). Fastest was 3G, but even there, it wasn't very reliable.
Given I can use my iphone as a WiFi hot spot, at 4G and LTE speeds (comparable to my home cable modem speeds), Audi Connect really wasn't needed, nor cost effective to begin with.
btw.......The Diamonds' version followed a month later. The Diamonds were soon covering Little Darlin' successfully. The Diamonds were a Canadian pop group that evolved into a Doo-Wop group. The Diamonds' version reached number two in sales for eight weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.
I've been wrestling with the Sirius/XM decision for a while now
I know what you mean.
MBrace now offers an 18 month plan (since the first 6 months are free) for about $360.00, which is not that bad. My MBrace connection and system are top-notch - connection is through satellite, not cell towers, like on so many other systems.
As for Sirius, they told me I could keep the Traffic/Weather service for $45.00 every 6 months, or $85.00 per year, which is what I think I will do. I don't need their music stations - I only listen to their Love Station and one or two others, and very rarely at that. HD radio is far superior to Satellite anyway. I also can connect my Iphone directly to the audio system via cable in the console - the sound quality is the best that way rather than Bluetooth audio - Bluetooth lacks the quality and crispness of direct cable connection to my phone. It acts just like an Ipod.
So I will maintain Mbrace and cancel the music/news/talk portion of Sirius and keep traffic and weather as they are outstanding features in the Mercedes.
When I got the ragtop I tried to get them to give me a trial period for the satellite radio but they wouldn't (bought it used) so I just didn't get it. When we got the wifes Sonata we had a three month subscription and after the novelty wore off we rarely, if ever, listened to it so we never subscribed.
I have 200 songs on my iPhone
Only 200? I am up to around 700 and still adding, so far it comes to over 48 hours of music.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I let the Sirius subscription for my Fusion run out. It stopped on the day it was due to. Since then, I have been listening to HD radio, which sounds good, but it fades out a lot, which is very annoying. Don't have any sort of music collection and don't want it. I'm going to start Sirius back up soon. Part of the reason I haven't is that my account is screwed up. I think they had some kind of problem, which could be why GG still has service. We really like Sat radio for long trips, mostly sports related.
2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
MBrace now offers an 18 month plan (since the first 6 months are free) for about $360.00, which is not that bad. My mBrace connection and system are top-notch - connection is through satellite, not cell towers, like on so many other systems.
Mike - I'm not trying to pick a fight here but I thought MBrace was a combination of satellite and 3G cellular. MB's faq sheet seems to indicate that "vehicle cellular" service is required for the features to work. I would presume that there is a built in cellular device in the vehicle to allow the user to speak to an mBrace representative. Unless of course it works with your phone.
I just pointing it out that if you were in a dead cellular zone, that the full capability of mBrace might not be available. The satellite connection of course does everything else.
Sirius / XM is really bad about piling on the extra charges, "fees" or "taxes" or whatever. If you let your service expire, they will offer you 12 months for $95, but they wind up charging your credit card about $110 or $112. I have been doing that instead of the 6 months for $24.95, which apparently winds up being close to $40. I pay slightly more per month, but I only have to do without and fight with them once a year instead of twice a year.
Onstar is very much a non-starter with me. The last new vehicle I bought, during the pre-delivery inspection the salesman insisted that I talk to Onstar. I refused. He insisted. I refused, he insisted again. "But you have to. You don't have to sign up, but you have to talk to them." If I hadn't already turned over the keys to my trade-in, I would have walked out on the deal. I probably should have anyway, life is too short to deal with obnoxious idiots.
Mike - I'm not trying to pick a fight here but I thought ...
I don't use their web services so I cancelled that part of their subscription. To contact Mbrace, I do not use my cell phone - it is directly via satellite (unless the car is equipped at the factory with an internal cell phone device. Mbrace Plus includes Internet connectivity and web browsing - but I have a 4G cell phone so I don't need that service in the car. It also includes a concierge service which is a total waste of money.
I have the basic Mbrace which includes stolen vehicle recovery assistance (the police dept. contacts them is car is stolen and they assist the police in recovering the car via GPS Tracking. It also has emergency services - if I need to make an emergency phone call and my cell is not functioning, they will make the call for you via the Mbrace connection.
I can also plan a trip using my desktop computer and send the data right to the car via my Mbrace application. When I get into the car and start the car up, it pops up on my NAV screen. The only reason I keep Mbrace is for stolen vehicle recovery assistance - I save quite a few bucks on my insurance. Liberty Mutual requires me to have Mbrace activated in order to get the additional savings.
So I do not need a 3G or 4G cell phone since I don't have that part of their services for web and Internet.
To contact Mbrace, I do not use my cell phone - it is directly via satellite (unless the car is equipped at the factory with an internal cell phone device.
As far as I can tell, the vehicle does have an internal cellular device supported by Verizon. Everything I've read seems to indicate that many of the functions are 3G based but the functions around the vehicle location are satellite based.
Here is an article that notes there is a 3G cellular connection in the vehicle:
Again, not trying to pick a fight. It would be great if it were 100% satellite based but in this case, I believe it's a combination of satellite and cellular just like other telematic systems.
I talk to Onstar. I refused. He insisted. I refused, he insisted again. "But you have to.
A quick call to OnStar stating that you're being held against your will by Big Bobs GM motors on X and Y streets would have done the trick and given you a quick test of the service to boot.
When I bought my Buick I had to speak to OnStar too. It was a five minute call, tops. I see no value in OnStar except the ability to unlock your car from your cell phone if the keys are locked inside (which should be impossible with proximity key, but my wife found a way to do it).
Michael, are you doing okay through all the Colorado storms? Friday I released all my employees to care for their homes and families. Three were stranded and couldn't find any accessible roads to their towns. Crazy times around here. Several more were working through flooded basements. Fortunately most were doing okay and we got them home before more flooded roads locked them out of their neighborhoods.
Comments
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysVLzXWnTzA
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
Great song like so many others that had one big hit and disappeared.
We danced to " In the still of the night" (The Five Satins- 1956!)
The Diamonds are still together but they sure look different now!
The next year, they toured again, in support of the live album, and played bigger arenas... I think I saw them in about a 10,000 seat arena, that year.. Again, John Cougar was the opening act.... For this concert, I had backstage passes and was basically standing about 10 feet from Cougar's guitar player.. and, couldn't have cared less.... I was all about The Kinks!! Unfortunately, after Cougar's set, they made all of us lesser lights leave the backstage area...
But, I was standing right in front of the stage for You Really Got Me... and, that's when Ray jumped down into the crowd... I think I was about 21 or 22, at the time... very cool..
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
You want me to save you from yourself.
Nah.....I like seeing others take the same path that the rest of us take....buying and selling our cars for no good reason.
I'm staying local. Again, still on the lookout for a 10+ years old Acura or Mark VIII (prefereably an LSC). I might even be interested in a 90s vintage S/C Riviera. I'. checking out a "for sale by owner" Avalanche tonight, although it might not qualify for my $3K limit.
I remember there was a rebuttal song, and I kind of remember some lyrics...but, I don't know what it was or who did it. I could try to look it up but you will have to just give me the answer. Assume, whoever did it was also a one hit wonder.
I believe Barry maguire say Eve of Destruction.
I am writing from Budapest Hungary. Nice old and some unusual new buildings. Lots of VWs and even a few Ladas. I have jetlag and it is 6 hours later here. I'm starving, but I don't know if I should be eating or sleeping.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Yesterday I got one for 6 months at $24.95. That was too good to pass up. I just need to remember to cancel before the regular price kicks in. Was able to renew online and the letter even had my account number and radio ID. It was painless.
I even saw them do this on Fast n' Loud but it was some old hot rod that then intended to look rough.
Tell me this fad will fade quicker than Bennie Babies.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Same here except I couldn't figure out a way to send $24.95 without a card (they won't take cash). However I was fumbling with steering wheel buttons and on came sirius with about 12 stations. Been working for a week now no charge as I have never given them a credit card.
I wish there was a credit card with one time ONLY use so the recurring charges wouldn't happen.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
My favorite show. Richard and Aaron have a good life with all the different cars. Sure wish I had Sue next door to put in a two tone leather interior with heat and massage seats. I would love to buy an old favorite car and install a crate engine with updated brake/safety/tech/A/C.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
It was called Dawn of Correction.
If you "google" that you can hear it. Pretty cool actually for the time.
Be careful over there!
There are. One of my credit card accounts used to offer this service, I could go online to their web page and generate a "one time use credit card number", complete with a security code. I don't remember now which one it was. Another way to do it: Get one of the prepaid VISA cards at the Walmart checkout line. That method will cost you about $4, though.
So, I take the 6 months.... do without it for a couple of months, then start again..
RE: Credit card.... I only renew on the phone, and I tell them specifically... that I do not agree to automatically charging my credit card... So far, no issues with that... they take my credit card, but then bill me on paper for the renewal, which of course, I don't pay.. and, it starts all over again...
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Thanks... Bill
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
I have Sirious on the Audi....going on 18 mos and it still works (only supposed to have it for a few month trial period). I never gave anyone my credit card. And, no one has asked me to for one to keep the service.
With bluetooth audio streaming podcasts, music and Pandora from my iphone to my car stereo, I really don't listen to Sirius all that much anyway.
I don't listen to their music stations for the same reasons you mentioned - I have 200 songs on my iPhone which connects directly to the audio system by "wire" which also charges the phone at the same time (connection is in my console), or I can connect via Bluetooth or I can play my MP3 DVD, or my CD's, or listen to FM HD on at least12 stations down here.
But I also use their traffic and weather satellite data which works right ony csr's NAV sustem. Even show traffic on feeder streets and avenues and state routes along with interstates. Weather shows up with wind direction and speed as well as cold and warm fronts and Highs and Lows - very sophisticated system. Shows lightning hits and thunderstorms as well as intensity of the rain.
I think I can get the weather and traffic without having to pay for the music channels. My trial period ends October 31st. I'll find out what they are offering me. Definitely want to keep it for weather and traffic. My Mercedes MBrace ends too - they want $310 for 18 months, which includes stolen vehicle recovery. I save $120 a year on my insurance for the recovery system, so I will probably sign up for that too.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Those cars remind me of southern black cars where the clear coat has failed.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Richard
Richard
Richard
Richard
I have the same problem with OnStar. At $299 a year or $28.90 per month the economics of this service seems irrational yet I still continue to subscribe without interruption. Again, I think it is a small price to pay for peace of mind--safety and concierge service. Also, to me, OnStar and Sirius complete the luxury car experience. I look at this way, what is the point of buying a 60" HDTV without a good surround sound system?
Maybe your MBrace is faster and more reliable.
The Sirius music channels seemed to have much lower fidelity than HD radio stations. And, on my iphone, I automatically download podcasts of things that interest me (vs some of the inane programming I heard on Sirius). Pandora Bluetooth sounds worlds better than Sirius, too.
Personally, I see a relatively short future for sat radio unless they really reinvent themselves with much better programming and much better fidelity.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
Thanks for the answer, now I can sleep at night. I guess the Dawn of Correction guys were right..........Viet Nam was not the Dawn of Destruction.
This info about Dawn of Destruction may be of interest;
The vocal track was thrown on as a rough mix and was not intended to be the final version, but a copy of the recording “leaked” out to a DJ, who began playing it. The song was an instant hit and as a result the more polished vocal track that was at first envisioned was never recorded.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Given I can use my iphone as a WiFi hot spot, at 4G and LTE speeds (comparable to my home cable modem speeds), Audi Connect really wasn't needed, nor cost effective to begin with.
btw.......The Diamonds' version followed a month later. The Diamonds were soon covering Little Darlin' successfully. The Diamonds were a Canadian pop group that evolved into a Doo-Wop group. The Diamonds' version reached number two in sales for eight weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.
To see why the Diamonds version was superior, check wikipedia;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Darlin%27
When these 50s and 60s groups appear these days they seem to have a lot of fun singing those old songs............much more fun than todays twerkors!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
I think I have a 45 of that from the good old days. I might have a German version as well on 45. I remember all the furor about the lyrics.
The people complaining about the lyrics then would die upon hearing the lyrics in some of what passes for music today.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I know what you mean.
MBrace now offers an 18 month plan (since the first 6 months are free) for about $360.00, which is not that bad. My MBrace connection and system are top-notch - connection is through satellite, not cell towers, like on so many other systems.
As for Sirius, they told me I could keep the Traffic/Weather service for $45.00 every 6 months, or $85.00 per year, which is what I think I will do. I don't need their music stations - I only listen to their Love Station and one or two others, and very rarely at that. HD radio is far superior to Satellite anyway. I also can connect my Iphone directly to the audio system via cable in the console - the sound quality is the best that way rather than Bluetooth audio - Bluetooth lacks the quality and crispness of direct cable connection to my phone. It acts just like an Ipod.
So I will maintain Mbrace and cancel the music/news/talk portion of Sirius and keep traffic and weather as they are outstanding features in the Mercedes.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
I have 200 songs on my iPhone
Only 200? I am up to around 700 and still adding, so far it comes to over 48 hours of music.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Since then, I have been listening to HD radio, which sounds good, but it fades out a lot, which is very annoying.
Don't have any sort of music collection and don't want it.
I'm going to start Sirius back up soon. Part of the reason I haven't is that my account is screwed up. I think they had some kind of problem, which could be why GG still has service.
We really like Sat radio for long trips, mostly sports related.
Every other word is as bad as it gets and the "N" word seems to be in every other verse.
Out lot attendants used to think it was funny to tune the new cars to Channel 66 and crank up the volume.
Then, an unsuspecting sales person would jump in the car, sometimes with a family along and that garbage would come out of the speakers.
Finally our GM said anyone caught doing this would be fired on the spot.
Mike - I'm not trying to pick a fight here but I thought MBrace was a combination of satellite and 3G cellular. MB's faq sheet seems to indicate that "vehicle cellular" service is required for the features to work. I would presume that there is a built in cellular device in the vehicle to allow the user to speak to an mBrace representative. Unless of course it works with your phone.
I just pointing it out that if you were in a dead cellular zone, that the full capability of mBrace might not be available. The satellite connection of course does everything else.
Onstar is very much a non-starter with me. The last new vehicle I bought, during the pre-delivery inspection the salesman insisted that I talk to Onstar. I refused. He insisted. I refused, he insisted again. "But you have to. You don't have to sign up, but you have to talk to them." If I hadn't already turned over the keys to my trade-in, I would have walked out on the deal. I probably should have anyway, life is too short to deal with obnoxious idiots.
I don't use their web services so I cancelled that part of their subscription. To contact Mbrace, I do not use my cell phone - it is directly via satellite (unless the car is equipped at the factory with an internal cell phone device. Mbrace Plus includes Internet connectivity and web browsing - but I have a 4G cell phone so I don't need that service in the car. It also includes a concierge service which is a total waste of money.
I have the basic Mbrace which includes stolen vehicle recovery assistance (the police dept. contacts them is car is stolen and they assist the police in recovering the car via GPS Tracking. It also has emergency services - if I need to make an emergency phone call and my cell is not functioning, they will make the call for you via the Mbrace connection.
I can also plan a trip using my desktop computer and send the data right to the car via my Mbrace application. When I get into the car and start the car up, it pops up on my NAV screen. The only reason I keep Mbrace is for stolen vehicle recovery assistance - I save quite a few bucks on my insurance. Liberty Mutual requires me to have Mbrace activated in order to get the additional savings.
So I do not need a 3G or 4G cell phone since I don't have that part of their services for web and Internet.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
As far as I can tell, the vehicle does have an internal cellular device supported by Verizon. Everything I've read seems to indicate that many of the functions are 3G based but the functions around the vehicle location are satellite based.
Here is an article that notes there is a 3G cellular connection in the vehicle:
http://translogic.aolautos.com/2013/04/30/hands-on-with-mbrace2-and-mercedes-ben- z-smartphone-apps-video/
Further, MB notes "vehicle cellular service" is needed to use many of the mbrace features:
http://mbrace.mbusa.com/help-page.htm#faqs
Again, not trying to pick a fight. It would be great if it were 100% satellite based but in this case, I believe it's a combination of satellite and cellular just like other telematic systems.
A quick call to OnStar stating that you're being held against your will by Big Bobs GM motors on X and Y streets would have done the trick and given you a quick test of the service to boot.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic