Looking for an Aftermarket Car Alarm Recommendation

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James - 12 Jul 2006 14:54 GMT

I have a 1999 Honda Civic Coupe EX that got broken into a couple of
weeks ago and they got away with all of my stereo stuff. I'm going to
install an alarm system before I put anything else valuable into it. I
know absolutely nothing about car alarm brands. I'm looking for
something reasonably priced, preferably under $200 (if that's
possible). I'm really just looking for something that will go off if a
door or trunk is opened or if a window is broken. Sure, remote start
would be nice, but it's not necessary. Are there any review sites out
there for car alarm systems? So if anyone has a system they love that
they think was a good deal or a system they hate, please let me know.
Thanks.

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Jim Yanik - 13 Jul 2006 00:53 GMT

> I have a 1999 Honda Civic Coupe EX that got broken into a couple of
> weeks ago and they got away with all of my stereo stuff. I'm going to
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> possible). I'm really just looking for something that will go off if a
> door or trunk is opened or if a window is broken.

$200 bucks at Best Buy will get you a nice basic alarm -installed,with
ignition cutoff.

> Sure, remote start
> would be nice, but it's not necessary. Are there any review sites out
> there for car alarm systems? So if anyone has a system they love that
> they think was a good deal or a system they hate, please let me know.
> Thanks.

Personal experience;

An alarm is only useful if YOU are there and prepared to deal with the
thieves,BECAUSE...
No one else is going to respond to the alarm.

Police will not arrive in time to catch them,and 911 operators will be
asking you all sorts of questions,eating up all sorts of time in the
process.
The thieves may not take off if you do come out.

Then there are false alarms caused by thunder or solar heating cycles.
Others may decide to vandalize your car because of a false alarm,too.

I would also suggest some sort of steering column collar to protect from
vehicle theft;In April,thieves cracked open my neighbor's '99 Civic coupe's
column,ruined the ignition in the attempt to steal the whole car,then took
his stereo.

Then they moved to MY car,triggered my alarm's "warning alert",and I went
out there,legally ARMED.

Signature

Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

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Burt - 13 Jul 2006 09:59 GMT

> $200 bucks at Best Buy will get you a nice basic alarm -installed,with
> ignition cutoff.

I didn't know Best Buy installers will cut the ignition. Did they changed the rules?

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Ron Jones - 14 Jul 2006 14:45 GMT

>> $200 bucks at Best Buy will get you a nice basic alarm -installed,with
>> ignition cutoff.
>
> I didn't know Best Buy installers will cut the ignition. Did they changed
> the rules?

Python is available for $200 installed at Circuit City. It has ignition
cutoff plus anti-carjacking and lots of other nice features. It also
provides remote entry, which I've always wanted on my 96 Integra.

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Jim Yanik - 15 Jul 2006 01:54 GMT

>>> $200 bucks at Best Buy will get you a nice basic alarm
>>> -installed,with ignition cutoff.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> cutoff plus anti-carjacking and lots of other nice features. It also
> provides remote entry, which I've always wanted on my 96 Integra.

My older alarm from Best Buy has the ignition cutoff,and they installed it.
It's about 3 yrs old.(on a 94 Integra GSR)

The installer has a list for what options you want enabled,and they perform
a check-off list you sign before they begin installation,to ID any problems
your car has so they don't get blamed for them,and retest after
installation.
They had a very clean,organized shop,too.

I would be a repeat customer.

Regarding anti-carjacking,if they take your car with the keys(and remote!)
in it,**how do you activate the feature** ??

Again,any alarm is only good if you are there (and prepared)to respond;no
one else will.

Signature

Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

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Burt - 15 Jul 2006 07:11 GMT

> My older alarm from Best Buy has the ignition cutoff,and they installed it.
> It's about 3 yrs old.(on a 94 Integra GSR)
> The installer has a list for what options you want enabled,and they perform
> a check-off list you sign before they begin installation,to ID any problems
> your car has so they don't get blamed for them,and retest after
> installation.

So the risk is yours to take. Sounds fair.

> They had a very clean,organized shop,too.
> I would be a repeat customer.

> Regarding anti-carjacking,if they take your car with the keys(and remote!)
> in it,**how do you activate the feature** ??

You enter a pin number on the keypad. You will need a spare
key.

This is how it works. If the door opens and the brake light is on the
horn and lights will go on less than a minute later. This is simple logic
that I could build using a switch, two transistors, a capacitor and
some resistors. If you want the horns and lights, just add a relay
and a diode. My current home built anti-carjack setup is much
simpler and it was tested on the field.

The current anticarjacking is far too expensive and does little to
prevent carjacking. What might work is the flame thrower as seen
on this video here.
http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/africa/9812/11/flame.thrower.car/

> Again,any alarm is only good if you are there (and prepared)to respond;no
> one else will.

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Burt - 15 Jul 2006 11:09 GMT

> You enter a pin number on the keypad. You will need a spare
> key.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> and a diode. My current home built anti-carjack setup is much
> simpler and it was tested on the field.

I meant to say, once the door opens with your foot on the brake, the car
will shut off the ignition 30 seconds later with flashing lights and horns. You
enter your pin on a keypad to restart the car.

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