I am going to pick up my Civic Si on Monday. One of the items that the dealer suggested was the LoJack. They want $995 for the basic system and $1295 for the early warning system.

It seems like a lot of money to me, and I'm not convinced that it's worth it. On the other hand, I expect the Si to be a very desirable car and probably will be at the top of the stolen car list.

Do any of you have LoJack? Have any of you had actual experience with it? Is it worth installing? What do you think?

Thanks.

 

We put LoJack on the '01 Silverstone. At the time, our neighbor was a honcho at LoJack, so we got it for $500, I think it was, put on in our driveway. We didn't get it on the '05. I forget it's even on the car.

I got it on the '01 because I got a good deal. If I had to park on the street I would get it again. If I lived in the next town, I'd get it again. I live in a fairly safe town and I have three German Shepherds guarding my cars during the day. I think it depends on where you park your car and if you think it might be stolen.

 

<<I am going to pick up my Civic Si on Monday. One of the items that the dealer suggested was the LoJack. They want $995 for the basic system and $1295 for the early warning system.
It seems like a lot of money to me, and I'm not convinced that it's worth it. On the other hand, I expect the Si to be a very desirable car and probably will be at the top of the stolen car list.
Do any of you have LoJack? Have any of you had actual experience with it? Is it worth installing? What do you think?>>

My S2000 dealer offered it to me for $900+ as well. Too bad he turned the computer screen toward me to show me the cost---'cause I read real fast and saw the cost to the dealer was $495.00. I declined. They also offered window etching. I declined that too. When I went to pick up the car, I notice the windows had been already etched by the prior owner! Good thing I passed on that one! <vbg>

A police officer (retired NYPD Detective) friend of mine told me this---
If you S2000 is stolen, and you don't notice that it's gone in the first hour, (done at night or while in work)...You won't WANT it found. Seriously. The damage that will be done, the amount of time and effort the repairs will take, the violation that you will feel when driving it again---You don't want it back. Just keep 'theft' on your ins. and file the claim if it happens...and use the $$$ to get a brand-spanking new S2000 He also said, if the thief can disable the 'theft deterent' ignition---they certainly will know their way around a lo-jack.

Planky

 

Planky,

Thats exactly what I thought too. It seemed to me that even if the car is recovered, the damage would probably be so extensive that I wouldn't want it back. Of course the dealer does a song and a dance about how very good it is and about the guarantee, but I've learned over the years that whenever anything sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Thanks for the advice, I think I'm going to turn it down. If anything, I might just install an alarm.

Thanks.

 

@ plankfarm: What is window "etching" and why would I want that?

 

That'a another add-on that the dealers are pushing. They etch your VIN into each window for tracking purposes. They charge some ridiculous amount of money for it and I think that anyone that is disassembling your car would notice the numbers and not sell the glass.

I think it's a "Rusty Jones" scam, but that just my opinion.

 

<< @ plankfarm: What is window "etching" and why would I want that? >>

Short answer: You wouldn't.

Long answer: Like Zippy said, it's a dealer add-on. I was told it would deter theft. Personally, I don't thing the thief would be after my windows...more like my engine. My retired NYPD friend says the #1 reason S2000s (and other Honda vehicles) are stolen is for the ENGINE. Apparently there are some unethical racers out there who mod their cars to the max, then wind up blowing the engine...so since they have so much invested in the mods, they steal another car for the engine (saving $7,000.00 for a replacement) and keep their tricked out bodies.

I just thought it was pretty ballsy of the dealer ---trying to charge me for something the previous owner already had done!

My theft deterent---I park my car in a long driveway, with a mini-van and a neon between it and the road.


Planky

 

I could do that with my Vanagon and GTI.

 

Sounds like it might be cheaper to buy your S a cell phone on the family plan with GPS,. Add GPS to your car for $9.99/month. Just hide the phone in the secret compartment.

 

[QUOTE=Rdrunner,Jan 16 2006, 06:20 PM]Sounds like it might be cheaper to buy your S a cell phone