Stereo & Electronics - How many of you have car alarms?

I'm just getting my 2002 B4C the way I like it! After have several things stolen from my garage lately, (Echo chain saw:mad:) among other things I started to think about my car.

Not that I would expect that my car should be taken as easily as a saw, because when I'm not home the garage is USUALLY locked. Not to mention that my car is probably not in it! I know how angry losing a $350 saw made me, so I can't IMAGINE having my CAR stolen.

My sympathy to anyone who has gone through this.

I'm just being hit lately by how many F****NG THIEVES there are ready to take advantage of any opportunity.

Sorry the rant - my question if anyone cares to give me their opinion:

Do you have a car alarm and would you recommend it to someone else?

I don't know if we have any sponsors in the alarm area, so if possible I'd also like advice on what KIND of alarm would be best. My budget is about $250 max for the alarm, and I'm told by CC that they would install for $150.

My car does not have any remote of any kind now.

Any Ocala area specific advice on the best place to go for an install would also be greatly appreciated!

Thanks as always!

Tony

Don't use CC or BB for car alarms. You want a Clifford, Python or Viper alarm. Go to their sites which should list dealers authorized to install the products. Most of these dealers will do a much better job on the install, and non-authorized installs may void the warranty.

I believe CC carries Python and BB carries Viper now. Clifford, Python, Hornet, and Viper are all Directed Electronics brands. That is pretty much the best name in alarms. Some people have problems going to CC or BB, but there are many good installers working for either company. If you know anyone who's had things done there, ask them about it and see what the general consensus is about their work. The good thing about CC at least (I used to work there) is that they have guaranteed installations, so if you have problems you can keep coming back and they won't charge you. I'm sure BB has the same thing, but I'm not sure. A smaller local installer may not have a guarantee like that or even be around anymore if you have issues later on.

I wouldn't chance going to CC or BB. I purchased mine from a auto body shop and they installed it for $400. It is loud as hell and my factory keyless entry still works great. It came with a remote starter and all.

Don't use CC or BB for car alarms. You want a Clifford, Python or Viper alarm. Go to their sites which should list dealers authorized to install the products. Most of these dealers will do a much better job on the install, and non-authorized installs may void the warranty.


My FIST MOD was an alarm; fuck that cheap, cheesy factory POS "alarm". I used to work at Circuit City so i got the employee discount. I have a Python alarm w/ 2-way remote. I also have a motion sensor and glass break sensor. better safe then sorry...

I have a Viper 791XV system that ive run for a few years now, installed it myself and it hasnt caused me a problem yet!

I have a Viper 791XV system that ive run for a few years now, installed it myself and it hasnt caused me a problem yet!

That is a very popular model and I will also recommend it.

i had a clifford in my last car but it was from before DEI bought them,and it sucked. the DEI ones are great though.

My best suggestion is for the price you are looking dont get a high feature alarm. get a good quality but basic one, rather than a low quality but high feature. for example, you wont get the nice little 2-way clicker, or remote start, or remote window roll down, but you will get the basic starter kill (or fuel pump kill) with an impact sensor. i would spend the extra for a proximity sensor, and if you have nice wheels, a tilt sensor.

my clifford had:
-impact sensor
-proxy sensor
-tilt sensor
-hidden backup battery
-dual sirens
-100 extra dummy wires
-starter kill
-fuel pump kill
-remote start
-remote window roll down (all 4)

and i paid over $1000 and it was installed at my work

it was like fort knox. there was no thief smart enough to get past all of my precautions. I feel bad for anyone that works on that for for the new owner. ROFL

I wouldn't even bother hooking up starter kill. There are more problems with it than it's worth.

LOL fast01z28 that is by far the greatest sounding alarm ever. Between the backup battery and the dummy wires, can you say, OWNED? ;D

get one with a pager and stay within earshot whenever possible. nobody else will give two shits about your alarm going off except you.

The pager does come in handy...when you are within range. I had a Clifford before DEI took over and it sucked balls, kept messing up and had to replace the brain 4 times before I said screw it and went with a Autopage (both had battery backup, remote start, auto window roll up, proximity sensor, and some other stuff). I used to carry the pager around with me all the time, but it got scratched up and I was never in range for it, buildings block the signal easily. I have not had a problem with my autopage.
And like mentioned already, stay away from CC and BB...they really do not know what they are talking about. One guy told me they could set up an alarm for my T/A but that I had to make an extra key to put somewhere in the alarm system (???) then another guy said no they couldn't touch it because it had that resistor in the key. That was a few years ago and maybe the employees near you are more competent, but if you are worried about break-ins already, I wouldn't chance it. Most of the nicer alarms have a life-time warranty too.

That's why I said ask around about the local CC or BB's work. Some of them know what they are doing and some don't. They first guy was talking about a bypass for the gm passkey system. You need an extra key to put into the bypass unit to "fool" the system into thinking that the key is in the ignition for a remote start. That shouldn't be required for only alarm, though.

I can see that the DEI is looked at as the best.

I WAS looking at the Autopage RS1000 based on price, but I don't want problems with it. Two way, OLED display etc. But if the Viper is MADE better I don't want to get a mess.

Any other thoughts on Autopage?

Thanks again

My car was stolen July 4th of last year. Guy said it was his and a tow company came and got it for him and took it to his place. THANK GOD I just had the urge to go for a drive maybe 40 minutes after it was taken and I bitched enough at my neighbors to come up with something that they saw on the tow truck. Guy drove a v6 and wanted mine for parts i suppose. Anyways after this drama I finally got the car back...found out where the guy lived ...got revenge, and then bought my clifford which I have not had any problems with since. I just went to a local place near the house and they installed and everything for $500.

you do NOT need a pass key...that is what I could not think of...the guy I set up an appointment @ BB with said I needed one...when I showed up, another guy told me they couldnt install one because of the pass system and that even if they could they would not use the "extra" key (wasted 30 bucks getting another key made for nothing)

Are you saying that if you have the pass key system (I do) that they can't install an alarm or that they can't install an auto start?

I don't really care about auto start, and if the pass key is secure enough I guess I could leave it the way it is.

Of course the pass key won't protect my amp, GPS etc...

Of course the pass key won't protect my amp, GPS etc...

Exactly right.

I just spoke with a good friend who is a fantastic installer and got some info. The system that is used in our cars does NOT need a bypass for only security. For remote start, it DOES. BUT, the bypass that is used for these in remote start is not the one that needs an extra key. This one only needs to have a wire cut and a resistor put in place to bypass passkey. So whoever told you that you need a bypass for security is wrong and the one who told you that they couldn't do security for it is also wrong.

I met this friend when he was installing for Circuit City, so, like I said, some of their installers do know what they're talking about. :)

Also, he added that our passkey system is pretty much the easiest one in the world to bypass, so he could steal my car in a matter of minutes with just a pair of cutters and some resistors. So no, the passkey is not good enough if you're worried.

I've come to the conclusion that the only thing that'll protect your car 99% of the time...
A Rottweiler in your back seat.

I have a Viper 5000 which cost me $400 installed. I still need to get the motion and tilt sensors put on. No complaints from me.

Oh yeah, you're better off going to a car audio shop which have higher end alarms.

I decided to go with a Python 872 autostart system. I don't really care about the autostart, but I like the idea of a two way remote.

Here is the description:

24-channel security/keyless entry/remote start system
package includes module, one 5-button transmitter/receiver, one 5-button transmitter, a shut-down toggle switch, 2-stage shock sensor, 6-tone siren and harnesses
2-way transceiver confirms commands and system triggers with flashing LEDs and has a range of up to 2,000 feet
remote start can be configured for manual transmissions
4 remote-controlled auxiliary outputs
onboard starter interrupt and dome light relays
parking light flash with short circuit protection
2-stage shock sensor
built-in turbo timer and horn honk
starter anti-grind (starter interrupt must be installed)
optional silent mode warns you of a break-in by paging only — no siren
remote transmitters have multi-car capability
compatible with BypassKit and XpressKit modules and accessories

Looks really good - the range is a little less than others, but the remote is not the size of a cell phone either! Looks like it'll do anything I'm willing to pay for...

Anyway thanks again.