GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Just would like to hear a couple opinions on this subject. They can get pretty expensive so I want to make sure I don't go out and buy something I don't need or isn't very useful at all. I know when I'm in a parking lot and hear an alarm go off I just tend to ignore it, just like everybody else now-a-days. Car immobilizers??? Let the knowledge-fest begin...

Well, it depends.... Alarms usually keep the honest people honest... If someone wants your car bad enough, THEY WILL GET IT.... it's that simple.Now alarms make getting to the things that thieves want harder... There are many ways to make things harder... Back up batteries is a big one. If they can get to a battery cable, you're done, unless you have a back-up somewhere. Interior sirens can make a big impace by making it difficult to sit in the car... one or two tucked away under the dash and or under a seat can go a long way... Strobes, mounted inside the wheel wells and on the dash in places can do the same as sirens. there are many many way, but they are all basicly the same, noise makers that "should" disable the starter on the car... The ones with the pagers and GPS are the ones that really do good for you... But, again, if they can get to a battery cable, it's not worth the time and money involved... I'll have more later, my work day is done..

I too more get annoyed about car alarms, it does draw attention but they could fake it was their car I guess. I just like that I have a blinking led in my headunit and think that should be enough to warn any "stupid" thieves off. I dont have any special audio system but I do have work tools and things in my car so Im just planning on getting my car tinted to help keep peepers out. If your car stays pretty stock looking you prolly shouldnt be to worried unless you have lots of things in it. If you mod the heck out of it then maybe an alarm is worth it? I always thought most theives would know what to do with alarms and be able to take care of them quickly.....

Quote » Do car alarms actually work?? For annoying your neighbors when you don't know how to operate them? for that they work extremely well. In reality a lot of it depends on your neighborhood, your parking situation, and what you're trying to accomplish.In most cases i have a combo alarm/recovery unit in my car if I want to get it back when they steal it. I see no reason for a just alarm unit.Right now I'm in a quiet neighborhood, and there are plenty of other more attractive vehicles to steal and break into, so no alarm.But I agree with the point that nothing will stop someone that really wants your vehicle. It may keep out the joyriders, but not by much.Diane

Mine works great!!! Oh wait you wanted to know if they deter theft. Like it was mentioned the alarm really get very little acknowledgement when they are tripped. all they do is make it a little harder for a theif to steal a car if it has an imobilizer of some sort. I did mine for a piece of mind issue.Aron

i'd get this system from mass electronics(ac delco stuff) that you have this little card like thing that you swipe near the reciever, which is hidden behind the plastic..say un the center console or just under the steering wheel..and the only way you can start it..is by using the swipe card..it's actually pretty good..just afraid that if it malfunctions then i wont be able to start the car til i get it fixed or something

I have a paging system....woth every penny!!! Kept my car safe more than once.

Quote, originally posted by Celtic_Curse »I have a paging system....woth every penny!!! Kept my car safe more than once.Yeah, the paging systems are about the best way to go.... There are systems now that have GPS so they can be tracked, but, if they don't get tracked ASAP, by the time they find the car it's stripped.... I feel the best bet is to make it as hard as possible to steal the car. Internal sirens and back-up batteries will help a lot. Many of the interior sirens are listed as "pain generators" as they are SERIOUSLY hard on the ears... There used to be a product called a Autotazer, that was like a Club, but with a built in tazer and siren, it was remote activated and motion controled, so if you got in the car and moved the wheel, it started the siren AND a count-down... after 5-10 second the whole thing became charged with 50-80,000 volts... There are some videos at the bottom of this page to look at... http://www.istargazer.ca/sequo...1.htmI don't think it made anymore though...

^^ ooh i want one of those

it reminds me of this, which is somethin i REALLY want: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyuKEK7wmsw