Autostart any good?

[Vibe2009]

These anyone have experience with Autostart remote starter/alarm?This is one of the model my local Pontiac dealer can offer me, just wondering if any had bad experience with them...http://www.autostart.ca/prodIn...TW-FM

[goochsmooch]

I owned a basic Autostart for my old manual Mazda Protege. I bought it about 9 years ago and it worked wonderfully the entire time I owned it. The range was incredible and it never failed in the cold. And I live in Edmonton so our winters are very similar. I'd recommend going with it. I'd assume they've only improved their product in the last 9 years too.My Pontiac dealer could only offer me some other brand (I was hoping to get another Autostart) and the range is half of what my Autostart was and it cost the same amount ($500).No alarms on either unit though, so I can''t help you there.

[DarkSpork]

Quote, originally posted by goochsmooch »I owned a basic Autostart for my old manual Mazda Protege. I bought it about 9 years ago and it worked wonderfully the entire time I owned it. The range was incredible and it never failed in the cold. And I live in Edmonton so our winters are very similar. I'd recommend going with it. I'd assume they've only improved their product in the last 9 years too.My Pontiac dealer could only offer me some other brand (I was hoping to get another Autostart) and the range is half of what my Autostart was and it cost the same amount ($500).No alarms on either unit though, so I can''t help you there.Do you know if it can be setup to bypass the safety feature our vibes have where the clutch pedal must be in for the car to start? I don't like the idea of parking my car in neutral but being able to sit in my room and smoke while my car warms up this winter sounds nice.

[goochsmooch]

As far as I know, there is no way to get a command start for a manual that will allow you to park it in gear. Just make sure your e-brake works well and pull it up tight. My starter has a setting that puts it in ready mode simply by setting the park brake, but it will not set if it's in gear.I should mention, the biggest hassle with having the starter is that you must carry 2 fobs around and now my keys won't fit in my pant's pocket. It would be great if Pontiac made a fob that accommodated a starter and had the key attached.

[DarkSpork]

I guess the issue is that I was warned against using the parking brake in the winter by many people because the linkage has a tenancy to freeze. In fact, while operating vehicles at work I have been instructed not to use the parking brake during the winter months.

[goochsmooch]

That's true. Although, I've always used the e-brake throughout several Edmonton winters and the only seize occurred on a 1986 mustang with 330,000 km's. It's a chance I'm willing to take to enter a warm vehicle at 7am in -40 degree C.