Just yesterday, 4 SUVs in my work parking lot were victimized by burglars in broad day light. I work the night shift, so i can't imagine how much easier it would be to burglarize my car. Almost everyone i know got his car broken into. I know its only a matter of time until its my turn

I've been thinking about getting a car alarm but there are so many options out there. I dont mind spending the extra money to get something reliable and actually works!!! What are some of your suggestions???

For some of you who don't have car alarms, how are you dealing with it???

My temporary solution at the moment is to move my car closer to work entrance.

 

I do not have alarm in any of my 3 cars. I actually never lock my S at work or at home, and I have a spare key in the glove compartment for convenience. There are many nicer cars at my work parking lot, nobody pay attention to a Honda.

 

If it is that bad in your workplace, you should think about getting a clunker as a commuter.... and keep the S as a weekend car. Hope you can do that, since some can't afford to do that.

 

if they want it they are gonna take it. one thing I do is completely document everything I've added to my car, any mods, receipts and pictures. so if it ever gets stolen or jacked up, i have photos to support my claim.

with regards to an alarm, how often do you look at cars when the alarms are going off? leave it open, unlocked, is better than them slashing the top..happened to my friend for a $200 radar dedector???

get a POS as a daily drive is also a great way to go...

good luck,
X

 

Yeah, if you don't use the trunk release on your remote, you can stop carrying the remote too. There is little sense in even locking the doors. I never lock mine as enough friend's convertibles were broken into and the top was cut.

If you're interested in having the car stolen, have a GPS tracker installed. You could invest in tamper proof screws and whatnot, but the vandals are likely to screw your equipment up if they can't take it out of your car. So, you're screwed either way. The joy of owning a convertible.

While I'm on that subject, I know a few guys who work for LoJack. LoJack charges dealerships under $200 for the module (including install.) The dealerships go and sell it for whatever they want (typically $500.) They've all laughed at how Mercedes dealers often charge $1000-1200 for Lojack! What a markup!

 

I don't know if I'm unique in this area, but I have found car alarms to cause more problems than they prevent. It seems like no one pays attention to a screaming alarm, other than to complain about the annoying sound, and that false alarms are are a plague on society. I prefer to have a sticker that identifies that the car is protected by an alarm, rather than the expense and hassel of having an alarm. Now, if anyone decides to look up my address and steal my seats, be aware that the damn alarm was already installed in my car by the dealer when I first saw my S.

 

if you were a thief and as you approach the vehicle, the alarm gives a warning by chriping the siren. Would you back off or go for it??? I would definitely go for easier targets. That would be a very effective alarm.

 

well i'll just have to come down and test drive your car!

just kidding

 

Honestly I really don't think alarms are worth the money. I spent $700 on an alarm on my last car, 2000 accord, has every bell and whistle you could imagine. In broad daylight in front of my house some losers decided to bash my window and drive off. My pager went off and I was out in front of my house in about 10-15 seconds. Now it could have been one of two situations. They simply wanted to break my window or two they were trying to jack something. However, nothing was stolen and by the time I got outside my house they were no where to be found, I didn't even see a car speed off or anything. So, while the alarm may have deterred them from stealing anything, they still shattered my window. But seeming that they just wanted to break my window, I dont think they cared about the alarm. I would just stow things out of view. Lock up the center console, get seat locks, and use that radio door to cover your deck, or leave it open if you have a stock deck. My 2 cents. You pay for insurance. So might as well use it when you need it if you ever do. If vandals want to just mess up your car, they will. alarms will be useless. Who cares about a stolen radio when your top was ripped up or window was bashed in and seat were ripped open, or worse car is keyed scratched or dented in, or a brick was thrown at it. get the picture?

 

Wire your alarm to a block of C4 under your gas tank and I guarantee a thief will only try to break into the car once.