This question is probably a better match for the electronics forum section. However I wanted a larger cross section of replies.

I usually garage all my vehicles so security is not a main issue. However I have to spend the next year away from my home living in an apartment (S2000 parked out front - small city environment 50-70K population). I was looking for advice and or others experience with the S2000 out like this. Thoughts on an alarm (necessary or just a noise maker)? If so what type (OEM or after market)? or am I just being paranoid? I hate the thought of pulling panels and splicing into wire harnesses, etc or trusting someone I don't know to do it right. Thanks for any help in advance.

 

Scambo,

Living in New Orleans, I face these questions on a daily basis. Most people I talk to feel that car alarms are a great way to annoy whomever is stealing your radio and piss off your neighbors. The various GPS based theft systems are a nice idea, although I have heard of more problems than solutions. You best bet may just be a car cover. Protects from rain. cockroaches, cats, and prying eyes. just lock it from the bottom.

 

You are faced with the same problem I have now. My opinion... if they are smart enough to get past the immobilizer then it will be a planned theft to which there is little to nothing I can do.

The there is this fact... It is a rag top. I could use a butter knife and still not set off most alarms.

Here is what I was told to do by a friend of mine who is a police officer who works stolen cars.

#1 NEVER LEAVE ANYTHING OF VALUE IN THE CAR. People will observe you getting in and out and will notice you putting your Valentine 1 or Passport 8500 under the seat. Let people see you take your valuables into the apartment.

#2 Park SMART!

Unlike most people I know I do lock my doors. I know some miata ppl that don't lock there doors so ppl won't cutt their top. I disagree with this.

Hope this helps...

 

I've always felt the little blinking LED is more of a deterrent than an expensive alarm. If they want in, there not gonna care about the alarm going off. And more often than not, neither will anybody that hears it.

 

Thanks all for your comments. I think I have come to the same conclusions. I currently keep it covered whenever possible (mostly when I know it is going to sit for more than one night). I think my other tactic, as suggested in other threads and here, is to get the infamous blinking LED from Radio Shack as a deterrent to the not so serious thieves. Again thanks for the input and if anyone else has some insight I'd appreciate it. Oh, Genghiskwong, I feel your pain, as a past President was noted for saying. Having performed my reserve drills for 7 years at NSA (Dauphine St.), I know what the NOLA area is like. At least I was able to park on base.

 

Unfortunately the seats have become a very valuable item. There have been some reported thefts of seats in the last few weeks.

You might want to consider a hardtop, at least for the winter months. Perhaps this will protect your seats for the period you have to park outside overnight.

 

Here's a circuit if you would like to use a BLUE flashing LED.

This involved only cutting into the accessory and ground connections, something you can easily do at the back of the radio. Which means you can mount it nearby your radio without taking your dash all apart.

The circuit stops flashing and recharges a 9V battery while the car is running, then runs off the battery when the key is off or removed. The current draw is so low, you'll never have to worry about the 9V battery running out of juice over less than a month storage.

All parts are easily available at Radio Shack.

Click image to enlarge:

 

Destiny2002 and ralper,

Thanks for the schematic it will be a great help. ralper now all I have to do is part with the $$ for a hard top - although $3K is certainly less than the $8K for two seats (to my insurance company of course, wonder if I could get a discount for the hard top - ha ha). That and the headache for all the trouble.