National - National Still Have XM

Has National cut back on XM over the last couple of months. Until the car I have now, none of the XM equipped cars that I have gotten over the last couple of months have been activated (only got Ch 1 and the emerg channel). The last one that did have it at the start of the rental, actually deactivated halfway through my rental. I have also noticed the XM sticker no longer appears to be on the keys and I have not seen it advertised on the bus lately.

One of the main reasons that I have stayed with National is because I can pick a car and usually go for the one with XM. Now when I do that, I have to physically check the radio to see if it is still activated, I used to just look for the antenna. Actually, on Monday I had 2 Aura's to pick from, both with an XM antenna. However, one was activated and the other wasn't. Do they just let the 3-month free subscription run out and not keep it active?

I'm pretty sure that's all they do now. The 2009 Sonatas all had XM for 3 months, and then the trial was up and it didn't work in any of them. Sirius lasts around 6 months in Fords I think so there's a better chance of getting that.

I haven't had a car with active Sirius or XM since July. I've got a very new Lacrosse this week that is low enough mileage it should be within the trial period on a new car, and the XM isn't active.

On the other hand, it is nice to at least have a car that's fairly new this week, given the really old stuff I've been driving lately.

I've got a very new Lacrosse this week that is low enough mileage it should be within the trial period on a new car, and the XM isn't active.



I actually think that it is worse to have XM cars not activated, than non-XM cars. It really frustrates me when the car has XM, but you can't use it.

The automakers are making the trials shorter due to their money issues. Or not activating it at all for same reason.
That's why you aren't finding it like you used to.

It's called the trickle down theory...When the automakers have their probs...it' trickles down to the Auto Rental comps...all across the board on many fronts...not just the satellite radios.

The automakers are making the trials shorter due to their money issues. Or not activating it at all for same reason.
That's why you aren't finding it like you used to.

It's called the trickle down theory...When the automakers have their probs...it' trickles down to the Auto Rental comps...all across the board on many fronts...not just the satellite radios.

Wouldn't Sirius XM want to make sure there were trials in new vehicles? This is how they get people to sign up.. give them a taste to get them hooked!

Ron.

This is how they get people to sign up.. give them a taste to get them hooked!

Ron.

Maybe, but satellite radio is no longer new in the U.S. It's been around since 2001. The market may be approaching saturation, as with cell phones: everybody who wants one (and has the means and will to pay for it) already has one.

I've found them much more rarely. It's sad when my selection criteria is: Try to find a car with XM radio, that doesn't stink, and that doesn't have a ton of miles. I had one that deactivated mid-rental, as well -- very frustrating!

I was told that they can extend the activation on Sirus, but not on XM. (Maybe that was just because I had a deactivated XM with my rental.) If you get a deactivated Sirus, try calling roadside service and see if they can extend it.

When I drove a 300 with 5 miles on the odometer, the XM worked fine.

That being said, I don't really like the XM music selection; many of the new 2009 and 2010 vehicles have USB ports, so I prefer bringing my own collection along.

it's been a hit or miss for me this year. :)

it's been a hit or miss for me this year. :)

Ha! It's been mostly miss for me!

Not having the Sat radio is a stinker (compared to 2008), but nothing irks me more than when a car doesn't even have an Aux input. The Amanti comes to mind as the most annoying rental because of this. What were the engineers in Korea thinking?!

I have had significantly more cars with Sirius than XM. I guess it is OK because I have my own XM that I travel with (just in case) and use the AUX input. If I get Sirius, then I can also listen to Howard!

I have been pulling a number of Dodge Chargers, Ford Edges, and Hyundai Sonatas off the Exec Aisle lately that DO have the Sirius activated.

I've had the best luck with Fords this year, since I think every new Ford has Sirius now (even base model Focuses). The trial used to be a year, but now it's 6 months. XM is 3 months regardless of make iirc, so it's hard to get unless you find a BRAND NEW Sonata. It's been a long time since I've had a Chrysler or GM with active sat radio, since on their products it only comes on higher end models or as a stand-alone options and National now prefers base models on everything.

My OP was does National ever extend XM when the trial is up? I know they used to advertise it pretty heavy and put a sticker on the key. They no longer do this. Does that mean every car more than 3 months old is deactivated?

Sirius has been active in 3 of my 4 rentals since July.

My OP was does National ever extend XM when the trial is up? I know they used to advertise it pretty heavy and put a sticker on the key. They no longer do this. Does that mean every car more than 3 months old is deactivated?

Unless they're buying cars from manufacturers that have sat radio trials longer than three months, I believe this is a fair conclusion. Not directly addressing days in service, but I have had one vehicle with less than 7K miles on it in the last ten rentals. The median mileage is about 29K.

Unless they're buying cars from manufacturers that have sat radio trials longer than three months, I believe this is a fair conclusion. Not directly addressing days in service, but I have had one vehicle with less than 7K miles on it in the last ten rentals. The median mileage is about 29K.

Correct. XM has dropped the trail period down (used to be 6months). National does not pay to extend satellite radio service. Once the free trial is over, XM/Sirius deactivate the service.

The cost to pay for the subscription this based on the fleet size would be prohibitive.

Correct. XM has dropped the trail period down (used to be 6months). National does not pay to extend satellite radio service. Once the free trial is over, XM/Sirius deactivate the service.

The cost to pay for the subscription this based on the fleet size would be prohibitive.


Thanks. Not what I wanted to hear, but it is what I expected. I would be willing to pay an extra dollar a day for it. I am sure other people would too. With me, it is either satellite or cd. I don't know the last time that I listened to terrestrial radio.

My car this week has active XM and 28K miles. That sure is a lot of miles for under 3 months!

With me, it is either satellite or cd. I don't know the last time that I listened to terrestrial radio.


I've got a BB with a 16GB microSDHC card and a thousand songs on it. A retractable aux cable costs and weighs just about nothing. Maybe eight of ten rentals I get have an aux jack I can find, and I don't select make & model on that basis. Happy travels.

I've got a BB with a 16GB microSDHC card and a thousand songs on it. A retractable aux cable costs and weighs just about nothing. Maybe eight of ten rentals I get have an aux jack I can find, and I don't select make & model on that basis. Happy travels.


Some people might me like me, and like to listen to music on demand. I don't have the time or patience to maintain a music library on an iPod-like device. :)

Ron.

Some people might be like me, and like to listen to music on demand. I don't have the time or patience to maintain a music library on an iPod-like device. :)

Ron.

+1, or sports networks on demand!

Seems relevant to this thread: from November 17-30, XM will have 60 channels active on non-activated radios (full list here (http://www.orbitcast.com/archives/xm-will-turn-on-60-channels-on-non-activated-radios-for-free.html)). Looks like a pretty good selection.

I rented a Durango from National recently, with 25K+ miles, and it had the factory Sirius still activated. Satellite radio is so hit or miss in rental cars that I didn't even look for it... it was a nice surprise.

I rented a Durango from National recently, with 25K+ miles, and it had the factory Sirius still activated. Satellite radio is so hit or miss in rental cars that I didn't even look for it... it was a nice surprise.

It wasn't that way 6-12 months ago when, if I took a car with a satellite antenna on it, it received satellite radio. A time when National used to advertise XM radio and even had it displayed on the key chain of cars so equipped. Man, I miss those days.