Is XM really worth it?

[cuchulainn]

I just found out that my 03 Av has XM Radio as well. I thought about re-activating it; but, is it really worth the price? I mean $130 a year is a little high for something I may not use much! I mean my wife talked me into Direct TV and we can never seem to find much worth watching! Opinions?

[Vaeagleav]

I think XM is good if you travel a lot and would loose regular radio reception either due to terrain or distance. Or if you don't have a local radio station that plays what you want to hear. Nice to be able to listen to one station coast to coast. XM is also good if you like talk radio or sports on radio.
I think if you are good with an IPOD or similar device you might save money in the long run by downloading your songs onto a music device and playing it through the AV radio. If you don't use the new devices then XM can be nice. I have it on my 2008 AV and listen to it all the time. I also have XM on one of my bikes too.
(you are right- I was thinking of Onstar digital vs. analog in first post-since deleted) OOPs.

[MS03 2500]

03s Stock XM still work, I think you are thinking about On-star. I did the 20 bucks for 7 months deal, now I have 5 bucks per month deal.

[ca2kjet]

IMHO, ever since the merger everything that made XM great was lost... too much DJ talk, random commercials on various stations, many of which I listened to... and then they chose to raise prices AND charge for internet listening. I felt like I was being slapped in the face after that and gave up on them... I miss the original XM  

[MS03 2500]

I'm a old guy and like the classic rock station 50 60 70 and Deep Tracks

Here is a post about the specials from XM

http://www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php/topic,50784.0.html

[Rocky07]

On the road a lot (3 years now at 88,000 miles).  Will never be without it.  Period.  AM/FM sucks.  XM forever.

[TXSZ66AVLANCHE]

I have XM in my Av and Burb but not in my Silverado and I am lost without it.... Worth every penny

[mnpewter04]

It was a lot better before the merger, lately Sirius has been killing off everything that was XM.  I have it in my work vehicle along with my two personal vehicles and wouldnt be without it.  No matter where you go you have the same station no more searching and getting nothing worth listening to.

[bassbuff]

I too take a lot of trips and XM has been a great friend on the road. I've got to where I listen to it more than the local stations.

[spacegator]

Agreeing with above, depending on drive time and wallet it's worth it, especially if you can get the deal.  In my experience they're flexible.  +1 the programming was better before the Sirius merger.

[dnice58]

we have XM on  a 06 and my wife now wants one her vehicle, I always said I would never pay for radio but XM is the bomb

[MS03 2500]

I said that too I would never pay for radio, but I also said it about TV.

[Jolt]

I love my XM!!

[CodeBlueEMT]

 I recently reactivated my XM. They offered me 5 months of service for $20. I'll see what they're willing to do when that offer expires. I love the Boneyard and Hair Nation channels.

[MS03 2500]

I just called them and told them about the promo I heard about they then transferred me to the Promo agent and got the 5 buck deal which I can live with. Actually it's 4.99 a month.

Don't forget you have to call in to cancel or they will keep charging you card.

[Flint4x4]

I've had XM since 2004, they usually send me a notice before charging my card since I pay once a year. I listen to comedy, baseball & hockey before work and at lunch. Running errands in an out of the truck just a push of a button gives me the score. Never used the internet XM much so don't miss it.

I listen to Classic Vinyl and other older music stations too.
One good reason to have XM, it shuts the wife up 
When Wendy's with me we play "Name that Tune", push the button for Title & Artist

[ygmn]

I bought lifetime membership for few hundred.... had it for.. heck I forget...

and yes I wear out the comedy channels

[badfish]

 When Howard Stern went over to satellite radio so did I. I wish i would have got it before. There is always some thing to listen to.

[scottieo23]

i enjoy hd radio. one time fee. tons of channels

[NVABob]

I liked the XM radio in my Avalanche so much that I bought one of the add-ons to use in my other car, and when I bought a new car XM was one of my must haves.  I really liked the availability of Weather Channel information as I traveled around the country.  Now, they've taken it away.  In my opinion XM has been going downhill ever since they merged with Sirius.   

All of my favorite channels have been gradually disappearing. Now, with the demise of the Weather Channel and their move to charge extra for the once free Internet access, I'll probably not renew my subscriptions next year.   

[Jax-04-Z66]

I love having so many channel's to choose from. $130? Wow, thats cheap! I paid over 200 for mine back in Feb. I recently found out I had the playboy channel, but could care less for it. I wear out the comedy channels as well. Just found out that they changed my favorite radio station here to some other format, I had no idea. Thats how much I listen to FM anymore.

[07HrlyHlr]

I really enjoy my sat radio!

[xoutofmyheadx]

 it boils down to: if you do alot of driving then yeah it's worth it. if you're only going back n forth to work 20-30mins each i'd say no. you have FM, CD's or your IPOD to listen to in that short run. i have sirus but i only got it cause i'm a truck driver. going through city after city too many stations come and go you spend so much time just changing the channel. it does have a bunch of things to choose from. things from the elvis channel to 50's 60's 70's 80's 90's to heavy metal, rap, to buisness, cnn, to any sports game, to old shows that use to only be aired on the radio. there is something for everyone. as for cost, it depends on what package you get. they offer like 6 packages that range from, 7-20/month or save more money by payin yearly either 1 or 2 years

[Flint4x4]

I don't drive far often but before work & lunch adds up to an hour a day I listen to XM
When I drive north in Michigan the choice of FM stations drops off really quick,...

[Ski Edition]

I don't leave home without it!  Even have one in my camper!! 

[05Guy]

Nothing better, always something to listen too

[thunderstruck06]

Pandora Radio is a far better deal than XM or Sirius IMO, that is, if you already have a smartphone and at least a 2GB dataplan.

[MS03 2500]

What is Pandora Radio and why would I need a smart phone in my AV.

[Flint4x4]

I just checked out  http://www.pandora.com/   and it's an OK internet radio option.

I don't have a cell phone let alone a smart one, XM is far cheaper than another phone bill. 

[CodeBlueEMT]

I recently reactivated my XM. They offered me 5 months of service for $20. I'll see what they're willing to do when that offer expires. I love the Boneyard and Hair Nation channels.

 My five month deal recently expired. I had the "XM Everything" package, but wanted to downgrade to the "Mostly Music" package. I called XM (I couldn't do it myself on the XM website) and instead of paying $9.99/month for the "Mostly Music" package, they offered me "XM Everything" again,  5 months for $20. Now, I'm good to go until May 2011.

 XM's customer service sucks. I hate calling them. At least XM is willing to deeply discount their programming these days. I'll deal with their poor customer service once every 5 months if needed.

 I love my XM. The signal is always good and their music programming  beats the socks off of the local FM stations around here.

 $4 a month is a great deal.

[Flint4x4]

I bought lifetime membership for few hundred.... had it for.. heck I forget...

and yes I wear out the comedy channels 

They want $271.95 to renew XMeverything for two years next month.

I really screwed up not buying the lifetime 7 years ago when I traded for the '04     

You need a magnifying glass to read the XM channel lineup card they sent me.

[Allen705]

I just took advantage of the promotion of one year for $77 bucks(really about $90 after taxes, royalty fees). It's XM Everything so you will even get the sports. Just tell them you received an offer, or saw it advertised, from a friend, etc.

As for as for is it worth it?  I like the selection, talk, laugh radio, and sports...especially when they update the scores on the digital readouts!! So if you just tuned in and don't know the score, it's displays it.

[dman]

I have the $77.00 deal on my first radio, on my 2nd and (brothers) 3rd radio, I use to have the $20 for 5 months deal. I have had that deal for about 2 years, I would call back to renew and always get the same deal. Now when I renewed XM said they don't offer it any more. The new 2nd and more radio deal is like $90.00 plus tax and royalty fee, about $102.00. Not a good deal anymore. I may have to drop the 3rd radio. 

[Flint4x4]

... sports...especially when they update the scores on the digital readouts!! So if you just tuned in and don't know the score, it's displays it.

If you push that display button the announcer will tell you the score     If you have the same feed on AM/FM and get frustrated waiting for the score just click over to XM and I swear they will tell you the score as soon as you push display 

Not sure about this season but on XM MLB you can listen to either the home or opposing team broadcast, baseball season is so long it's nice to break it up and listen to what other team's announcers think of our Detroit Tigers.

[CodeBlueEMT]

 I recenty added XM to my desktop and BlackBerry.

[BFDengine5]

I must say i absolutely  XM. I have had XM for quite a few years now (5 or 6??), and i cant say enough good things about it. I currently use an aftermarket XM receiver which i have carried over from a 96' Ram 2500 to a 2003 Xterra to my current 99' Ram 1500. When i pick up my Av, (2008 LTZ) the first thing I'm doing is activating the XM. A few of the key aspects i love about XM are the diversity of music, listening to the "live" (pre-recorded) concerts (XM55....Buffett is the best!!), and the amount of channels. Here in CT, we only have 1 country music FM station. XM instantly boosts that to 5 (that i listen to), and its just amazing. The only down side I've noticed is a few dead-spots (literally maybe a 1 second cut-out of signal, probably due to RF interference from businesses or communications systems on trains). Aside from that, listening to a concert really makes the time fly on some 3 hour road trips 

[Buckshot]

I just took advantage of the promotion of one year for $77 bucks(really about $90 after taxes, royalty fees). It's XM Everything so you will even get the sports. Just tell them you received an offer, or saw it advertised, from a friend, etc.

As for as for is it worth it?  I like the selection, talk, laugh radio, and sports...especially when they update the scores on the digital readouts!! So if you just tuned in and don't know the score, it's displays it.

I did this the other day, I  didn't mention the deal and they tried to sell me on the $271 deal, when I asked the lady said 'I will have to look that up'. I did end up with the $77 (which is $85 with taxes and fees)

[dman]

I have the $77.00 deal on my first radio, on my 2nd and (brothers) 3rd radio, I use to have the $20 for 5 months deal. I have had that deal for about 2 years, I would call back to renew and always get the same deal. Now when I renewed XM said they don't offer it any more. The new 2nd and more radio deal is like $90.00 plus tax and royalty fee, about $102.00. Not a good deal anymore. I may have to drop the 3rd radio. 

I called back today and got the new 5 months for $25 deal that I found about online, for the 2nd and 3rd radio. Much happier now.......

[DarkSky]

I just found out that my 03 Av has XM Radio as well. I thought about re-activating it; but, is it really worth the price? I mean $130 a year is a little high for something I may not use much! I mean my wife talked me into Direct TV and we can never seem to find much worth watching! Opinions?

That all depends on how much you listen to the radio   I only listen to about 5 or 6 of the channels available, but I listen to them all the time.  I really like having CNN there to throw on as background chatter just to keep up to date on the goings on.

The one thing I've found I DON'T like with XM since I've been a subscriber (since before 2007 at least!) is when they change the channel #'s.

But in reality, nobody will listen to 90% of the station on it, but there's something there for everyone.

Very good for sports lovers as you get multiple channels for each major sport, broadcasting the games.