I am looking for an alarm system for around $800 without installation.

Does anyone have an idea of what is good in this price range?

 

Why $800? Is there something in particular you want it to do?

I have the WLaurent, Arizona member, alarm - which is an alarm shock sensor and motion sensor add-on that allows you to still use the stock remote fobs. Cost was a lot less than $800.

 

There are no alarms that cost that much to the best of my knowledge (street price anyway)

 

I did some research, and I am leaning towards the Compustar 2WSS-A.

I really did not do any research before throwing out that $800 number.

 

Compustar is available brand new for about 260 on ebay. Installing compustar however, is very expensive if you arent doing it yourself.

 

Why is it so expensive to install?

 

Its an extremely complicated wiring job....youll need to get into the steering column, both doors, battery, mount the siren, etc. Lots and lots of wiring. Its not hard, just time consuming and tedious.

 

The compustar is one of the best (if not the best) alarms on the market. The specification saids 1.25 miles, but they are over exaggerating. The farthest is probably 1.5-2 blocks. If your in the city, figure half of that.

It cost around 500 installed. Don't buy it on ebay, unless you plan on installing it yourself. It takes a lot of knowledge to install this alarm.

i give it

 

A 75 dollar alarm installed by a crafty and talented installer will protect far better than a super high end alarm installed by a decent installer.

If you had a compustar alarm on an S-2000, a thief could slice a small hole in your top, reach in and unplug the cable that plugs into the 2-way antenna that mounts on your windshield. This would render your paging system useless and give you no warning.

A two person team of crooks can disable most alarm systems in 2-5 seconds. One person can hold a brick in his hand and punch out your drivers window and reach in and pop your hood in the same motion, the other is at the front of the car and lifts the hood and with a big pair of wire cutters snips a positive or negative battery cable and within seconds its done. A thief can familiarize himself with locations of the hood release, battery ect easily via the net.

I would suggest a basic alarm with battery back-up, a hood lock, glass break sensor, no visible antennas, no window decals telling the thief exactly what type of alarm he needs to defeat, have a veteran installer install it and give him an extra 100 dollars advanced tip and tell him you don't want the average alarm install. Tell him that you want a honda mechanic to have to really look hard for any sign of alarm wiring especially under the drivers side dash. Only the LED light should be easily visible.

All of this can be done for under 500 dollars for sure. My guess is that the installer would have fun and like the challenge. Its getting to be the busy time of the year for installers. It will be harder to find an installer willing to spend the extra time needed for a really great job as it gets closer towards Christmas.