Do you pay for satellite radio?

[Susie]

My new car came with 3 free months of Sirius satellite radio, which I've never had before.  I always thought it was unnecessary with decent FM radio stations, especially in a car with bluetooth connectivity for an iPhone and a 6 CD changer (which admittedly is probably soon to be as obsolete as the tape deck in the car I traded in).  But I'm finding I'm actually using it quite a bit, and it's kind of nice on road trips.

Please either remind me not to get used to it, or tell me what stations you like?

[Deleted]

We have two subscriptions, on in DH's car (he uses it daily and we drive his car on road trips) and one in his work truck because he spends several hours per day in there.

I could take it or leave it, which is why I don't have it in my car.

We never pay the full price. They're super negotiable. Paying full price for satellite radio is for suckers.

[StJess80]

Right now, no. My dad had over a year left on his subscription that he'd prepaid for, so I transferred it to my car. When I was paying for it, I googled the latest promo code and always paid about $30 total for 6 months.

However, I also have a six disc changer, and am always running my iphone through the aux jack and listening to pandora or itunes radio (unlimited data), or music stored on my phone. In fact, when my dad's service runs out, I'm not certain that I will renew.

I do have to admit to sort of loving backspin some days, as well as 90s on 9 and pop2k. I also have Octane, Lithium, and Disney Radio (hey, I have a 10 year old! lol!) programmed.

[arch01]

We've cancelled all of our subscriptions.

DH pays $3 (I think) for Slacker radio on his phone. I'm fine with audio books at the moment or my free version of Slacker.

[WinterWine]

How much does it cost a month?

I don't have the option in my car, though I barely listen to FM radio now so I'd skip. I'm definitely an oddball here though.

[lizrd7579]

I pay for it and I think it's worth it. I live out from the city, so sometimes I have issues getting good stations, but I like it for trips because I can keep it on the same station and not have issues. It's also nice to not have a bajillion commercials!

I don't know the station numbers, but the kids and I listen to: The Highway (country), One Hits One, Kids Place Live, 80's on 8, 90's on 9, and Pop 2K.

[AAM2012]

I don't but I have a very quick commute and am rarely in the car for a long time. Now when we rent a car for longer road trips we usually so pay for it (it's like $6-8/day) since we are in an out of areas and hate having to scan for a new station.

[ssmjlm]

Nope, but if you're interested in it, let it expire and they'll keep sending you offers. We had the same deal, but the little time I spend in the car isn't worth the price.

[sicilygirl]

I have it in my car. I drive an hour each way to work 3 days a week and don't get clear FM stations between towns, so it's worth it for me. I never pay full price and always end up with the $25 for 5 months deal.

I listen to Hits One, the 80s, 90s, and Pop2K stations, Classic Rewind & Classic Vinyl, and I love it during Christmas time (the 40s station plays classic Christmas music and I think it's "Love" that plays more contemporary stuff).

[Deleted]

I bought my car used and the Sirius subscription continued for almost 2 years. It's gone now and I miss it! Backspin was my favorite, also the 80's and Studio 54. I cannot justify the expense as I drive < 10 minutes to and from work each day.

But we do a few road trips every year so it was nice to not have to search for stations. Our last road trip, we just loaded up the CD changer (but our CD's are from like 7 years ago, probably more).

[sporky]

We absolutely pay for it, but we have really crappy FM stations in our area. I mostly listen to 90s on 9, Lithium, and Pop2K, but I also like the jazz stations and the coffeehouse station when I'm in the mood for something slower.

[StJess80]

I think the commercials on pop2k and 90s on 9 are hilarious. The one I remember on pop2k is "If you are listening to 90s on 9, you are TOO OLD!" 90s on 9 has a similar retaliation.

[v]

Yes -- we negotiate it heavily so it ends up being something like $6 a month. My husband listens to Howard Stern, which is why we have it. Grr.  I would get rid of it because it gets used like 4 times a month (he doesn't drive much), but he refuses.

Honestly, I'm not a huge fan. I like First Wave and the 80s channel. That's about it. There's a wider variety of stations than on regular radio, but I find the stations to be pretty repetitive.

[halfpint]

I used to, until we sold my car. I loved it and found it worth (some of) the money. Like most services, call to cancel and you'll get a good deal. I think the lowest promotional rate you can get is somewhere around $5/month. They'll offer one slightly higher, say no, and they'll go one lower.

It was worth it to me at that price.

I listened to BBC World News, 80s, 90s, sometimes even the 40s/50s/60s for something different. They get some great holiday stations - 40s becomes kind of classic, Bing Crosby-esque Christmas stuff, the Pops station becomes great choral and instrumental carols, etc. I also liked Lithium when I was feeling like being nostalgic for my angst-ridden teen years. Pearl Jam station. On longer drives, I liked some of the comedy stations.

[crashgizmo]

Oct 23, 2014 9:58:15 GMT -5 @sfgal530 said:

Oct 23, 2014 9:56:02 GMT -5 superduper said:

Is this for real? I think I need to check our credit card statement because I think that we are paying at least 5 times that.

It might be a little hyperbole (like maybe we are paying $5) but our bill got slashed by something like 70% when I called in. Just keep calling in and they keep giving you the promo rate because making a few dollars a month for them is better than nothing.

I remember when you posted about this months ago, and our subscription on my car ran out last week. I called them and threatened to cancel and they dropped the annual price from $182 to $66. I was cool with that. I don't use it a ton since I listen to audio books, but around town I definitely do. I'm a country music fan and there is only one good FM channel here, which has tons of commercials, so I'll take XM for that alone. 

DH has it in his company car and it's paid for (at least right now) and he listens to CNN all.the.time. 

[Deleted]

I do, I like the Highway (56 I think, country music). There are 3 other country stations on FM where I live so I guess I could listen to those, but I like it and it's great for road trips. I pay annually and it auto renews

[Deleted]

I had it for a while. I got it free for a year when I bought my car, then every time I tried to cancel they'd con me into some great deal (like $25 for 6 months) and I'd keep it. I finally cancelled for good when I split with my XH and cut all unnecessary spending (temporarily, lol).

I really liked it, but I honestly kind of forgot about it so I guess I haven't missed it. It IS really nice for road trips, but I've gotten used to using my iPod or streaming on my phone during those. That said, if you can get the $25/6 months deal, it's totally worth a few bucks a month. I think full price is kind of a rip off.

[mich1]

Have it and love it. My b/f bought me a new stereo for my car for my birthday one year and provided a lifetime subscription. We live in the mountains and radio reception is lousy without it here. LOVE IT!!

I either listen to music from the 1960s, 70s or 80s, depending on mood.

[illgetthere]

Mine ran out 2 months ago, and they keep calling offering $72/year. I haven't renewed yet, but we don't really travel much. If we start driving more than 10 miles round trip, I would probably do it.

[dexteroni]

We have it and really like it. I think we paid the $5 a month rate for the first couple years, then the deals weren't as good but were still pretty cheap for as much as we use it. I think the most we've paid has been $10 a month. I've heard that if you cancel altogether, they'll send you $5 offers again, but I don't want to keep cancelling and restarting service just to save a few bucks a month.

[heyrebekah]

We got it free for one year with our car. I'm so spoiled, and it ends on October 31. I think I'll try calling to see what kind of deal we can get. Or else just spend the whole next week driving around listening to Comedy Central.

[trissie18]

When DH's free subscription was up in his truck I was able to negotiate a lifetime subscription. Since we have already owned the truck five years and don't have any plans to get rid of it for at least another five it has worked out to be a good deal.

My mom pays hers each year but she always lets it expire and then they call her with really good deals for the year to get her to sign back up.

[shaynaatl]

I love it, mainly for the variety of music stations and talk radio. I don't think I could ever go back to a car without it.

We pay $5 a month under their retention special.

[cosmos]

I pay $6/month as well. i have to call every 5 months when it ends and they adjust it.

I drive 20 miles each way to work and it's worth it.

I listen to many stations- 80s on 8, 90s on 9. Lithium, E street radio, alt nation, XMU, classic rewind, 1st wave, NPR and college football.

[M]

We never keep it because it seemed like they played the same 100 songs in a rotation. H still has it in the Leaf. I drove it the other day and heard the same songs as was playing 2 weeks ago when I last rode with H. H plugs in his phone for slacker radio a lot of times because XM got old.

As far as price, they kept bugging the crap out of H and called him sometimes 3x a day. So he finally answered and they wanted $30/mo. H said no and they said $20/mo. H must have been bored because he said he stayed on the line with them to see just how far they would go. $1/mo and H still said no lol. They were supposed to cancel it in the Leaf after 3 months (2 months ago) and it's still going.

[giantsgirl]

I have had XM for 11 years (next month). I love it and couldn't imagine life without it. We spend alot of time in the car (over 30k miles per year in my car and lots of road trips in DH's). I listen to Howard Stern, Hits1, Venus, 90's on 9, Pop2K, Prime Country, Highway, Lithium, KISSFM and Z100 (even though I am in their regular listening area), The Pulse, plus I have songs that I like saved and my radio tells me if they are on a channel that I don't have saved.

I have no clue what I pay, but it is worth every penny. I tried to negotiate last time based on threads here, but wasn't overly successful. I need them more than they need me!

[ECB]

We have it in both our cars. We use it for music, sports, etc, but we specifically got it for Howard Stern.

[flatlan]

I had a free subscription when I first bought my car. I didn't renew it because I don't drive that vehicle very much. I would seriously consider it if I drove a vehicle a lot that was compatible.

[spindle92]

I have had it for over 10 years and will never give it up. I think I pay like $4 a month for it since I have had it so long.

[zitiqueen]

H has it in his car for $5 a month. We're nerdy and listen to crazy stuff on road trips, like the 40s station, the old-time twangy country station, and the station that plays radio dramas from the 40s and 50s.