7-sins

I was looking for a car alarm but I havent been able to decide on one. I would like to have a feature were I could track my car but the only thing I have heard of like that is LoJack. It would be nice to find it incorporated with an alarm. I know Spyfish raves about the Clifford G4 but what features make it stand above the rest? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris

Icemark

The best car alarm is the one that works. As I have said in several threads, the installer is the most important part of the car alarm.

If he micky mouse's it then it will false, and be a pain to use. Which means you won't use it. If you don't use it, it won't protect your car.

So shop for a good installer that knows his stuff, then ask him what he recommends. And you should figure spending at least 5% of what the car is worth for average protection. More for important options like a back up battery, and extra sirens.

All that said; Alpine, DEI (viper/sidewinder/python/automate), and clifford all build good security systems, once you get above the basic $350 installed alarm. My personal choices are DEI and Alpine

BTW: in consumer reports a few years back Clifford had 2 of the top 5 alarms, and DEI 3 of the top 5 alarms, but they also found that in 70% of the installations of the 17 alarms they tested, that something was installed incorrectly or was broken on the car by the installer. So again, double check your installer first.

Ryde _Or_Die

Whats a good price to have keyless entry/remote start alarm put on a 5 speed with no power door locks? My friend paid $900 for his with every option available like 3 years ago. Just wanted to know a good price before I go and buy one. Thanks.

Icemark

I generally charged around $500-$550 installed for a DEI 553 series remote start alarm (Viper 550 HF/ESP-Python 1500-Sidewinder 6500) with keyless entry on most vehicles, But most shops will not install a remote start on a manual transmisson vehicle.

However the RX-7 is safe to install a remote start on providing you use the neutral safety input wire hooked up to the neutral wire on the tranny or ECU.

Just a non-security remote start with keyless on most cars was around $300.

7-sins

Thanks man, any word on the Lo Jack type stuff?

aw101584

I say wait and buy the DEI Viper 560ESP is has a awsome LCD on the remote. Its got a bazillion options you could add onto it also. Just my .02

RedFD

Hey man........ I dont have anything super high tech but If I dont put it in my car before it sells Ill give you my Matrix III REAL cheap.

Lunar7

This is the best alarm I have run across.

http://www.autopageusa.com/autopageusars750.htm

It has true 2-way confirmation of every command you send to it via the LCD remote.

Remote will alert you if there is a violation etc.

It has remote-start built in.

Check it out.

I bought 2, but might sell 1 if some one wants one.

It has the Best looking LCD remote and features/quality compared to the other new paging alarms from:

Viper/ Clifford
http://www.viper.com/press/new.asp

Audiovox
http://www.audiovox.com/cgi-bin/ncom...rrfnbr=1025873

Crimestopper
http://www.crimestopper.com/index2.html

I have seen all of these in person and the Autopage RS-750 LCD is by far the most impressive.

dclin

iTrader: (4)

The problem with LoJack is that you have to depend on the police to actively look for your car. If you live in an area where most of the police cruisers are equipped with LoJack receivers, then you stand a better chance of recovering your vehicle.

If you live in Houston, each patrol area may have only two-three LoJack reciever equipped cruisers (this according to my cousin, HPD investigator, when I was checking late last year, may have improved since), and there is no gaurentee that those cruisers are not tied up doing somehting else.

It is also largely area/location dependent - so if you found out your vehicle was stolen several hours after the fact, the Lojack cruisers in your area will not be able to locate it if it has left the area. The Lojack equipped cruisers 'home-in' on the beacon signal in your car.

I like GPS enabled systems better, like Pagetrack2 http://www.selfdefence.com/pagetrack2.htm , http://www.elitelog.com/, Securatrak2 http://www.securatrak.com/products/index.html, http://www.compusa.com/products/prod...t_code=287173, and Teletrac Teletracer http://www.teletrac-online.com/products/products.htm (available only in Miami and LA)

I thought there was one from DEI, but can't find it anywhere. They had a really nice webpage back when I was looking last year, and indicated availability expected by now. Anybody know?

The systems are better in that you have control over the tracking of your car (except Teletracer), and can monitor in real time the location of your car.

Directfreak

iTrader: (2)

An Aftermarket "ON-STAR' system would be the ****!

mazdaspeed00

iTrader: (6)

you dont need an alarm....just make a switch connected to your eletronic fuel pump that you can turn on and off so they cant take your car. if a thief wants to steal your car they will however they wont be able to if they cant find the switch so just hide it somewhere where they cant find it.

Munchy2000

What has anyone got to say about Alpine security systems?

dclin

iTrader: (4)

Unless the thief is in cahoots with a repo guy with a flatbed or a tow truck, like in the case of Brad Barber (and probably Rotaryknight).

dclin

iTrader: (4)

Icemark: Have you done any VSE alarm installations? I have an old Derringer 2 from an old car before they went out of business, and would like to put that in. Don't have the schematics though. Is there a public resource for this kind of stuff?

Thanks!

Lunar7

I have the Derringer-2 Install and Owners Manuals.
If you need one or both photo copied or scanned let me know.

BTW, those are great alarms.
They were my favorite back in the day.

dclin

iTrader: (4)

No way! I have the owners manual, just need the install manual. Got Paypal? Photocopies or scanned, either way is cool. Sending you a PM - thanks!

Icemark

yeah I have the manuals for the VSE stuff... PM me your fax # and I'll send them over too you.

I am surprised anyone still has one of those, most of the remotes failed after the fisrt two years as they were not water resistant and tended to fill with sweat when left in people's pockets.

dclin

iTrader: (4)

Yup yup. Exactly what happened to mine. Yanked the alarm as that VSE had just gone out of business and thought I could not replacements.

Just found a couple places on the internet that sells replacement remotes still though hehe. Thanks goodness for the internet (and guys like you two!) Need to get a another and spare. Think it will be ok to silicon the 'board to help it last longer?

Daniel

daem0n

Go with a CompuStar system...comes with an LCD display so you can see everything confirmed and it comes with a built in Turbo timer You also get the autolock functions if you get the extra motors installed in the doors - this is important if you have an FD since other alarms will damage the factory system. It also has amazing range...

mazdaspeed00

iTrader: (6)

buy a racing steering wheel and get the wheeld hub that lets u take off the steering wheel.

Mr Rotary

I just went on ebay to read up on the Clifford alarm & they sound like they're worth the money. I also went on the website & I read some info on the same alarm there also.