I wanted to make a separate thread because maybe this will be informative to other Z owners.

Here is my story:

I left my car running with the key in the ignition and the door closed and somehow the car locked itself. I was right next to my car talking to a friend for about 30 minutes while the car was running. I couldn't get into the car using a clothes hanger and I didn't want to pay a locksmith so I called the dealership to see if they could fashion me another keyless entry.

They couldn't fashion me another keyless entry but the guy in the service department asked me for my VIN. I gave it to him and he asked me to give him 20 minutes and he could make me another key that I can use to get into the car but not to drive it. The VIN is visible from the outside of the vehicle so I dictated it to him and 20 minutes later he provided me with this primitive looking key with a rubber black head. He didn't ask for identification, or confirmation that the car was mine. He just gave me the key.

I was happy to get into my car but disturbed at the fact that anyone can dictate a VIN and have fairly easy access. ANYONE!!!!!

Reading the thread about cars and unauthorized entry, I thought that it would be cool if someone familiar with theft deterrent systems could provide a list of the best after market alarm systems. I noticed that JonSilvz and Gooey had more intimate knowledge about this subject so maybe they would be willing to mention the best deterrent systems. I no longer trust my factory alarm.

I have heard that "Viper" is good???

If there is a separate forum for this, please move mods. I just figured that the "story" part would make it relevant to this forum.

Thanks.

 

hmm.. that IS quite disturbing. Yes, viper alarms are great. I had one in my old Camry that rolled the windows up and everything. I have thought about the same thing for my Z.. since the stock alarm is crap

 

Viper is good, i have one on my bronco. A little expensive but worth it compared to whats inside the truck. I got the 791 w/ remote start, back up batt and proxy sensor. Nice...

 

The new viper alarms even have an online theft deterent check up. Basically you can check the status of your car online(can't see your actual car but can see the specs of them alarm and all the sensors to see if anyone has been tampering with your car) and even from a laptop or computer you can set the alarm off with a program it comes with but you have to subscribe to their satelite service I think for that service to work. I'm too lazy to look up the name of that certain Viper alarm but I'm almost certain it's the top of the line viper alarm. Basically it's the same thing as a pager alarm and tells you which part of your car is being tampered with but it's well worth it. Also if your car did get stolen there is a $2500 money back gurantee, Also I think it calls Viper Automatically if the car is being tampered with but don't quote me on that I'm not 100% sure.

 

That story is very disturbing! Just went and covered up my VIN with a piece of black electrical tape!

 

Is that legal? cops may think your car's stolen

 

I have done that on past cars, but not this one. If you want to take my car, go for it, all I ask is that no one is able to find it for 30 days, so I can get a new one cheaper.

 

something tells me this post should be deleted!!!

 

i want all of that without the price tag!...I live in a nice area and i knwo its always a possibility to have it broken into and stuff but money on a new alarm is not in my future yet...i have lots of other stuffs i want to do first

 

Why?

I think that if this post assists people in safeguarding their Z, it has been an undeniable success.

 

scytek makes awesome alarms, they have a model that takes a picture of the intruder. or other nice ones like im selling, paging,remote start, all that stuff.

 

No matter what you do they can still tow it away with the alarm going off or shoot or mug you when the pager goes off and you come running out armed or unarmed. I only think about my car being vulnerable when someone starts talking about it again.
I had an Alpine alarm on my last car and it made me feel a little better since it had nothing from the factory, but don't want to go to the expense and hassle of getting one for my Z because of what I said above and becuase I'm lazy I guess too. However, does anybody know if there are any effective products to supplement the factory system to better the odds by a lot? What comes to mind is something that Crutchfield used to sell that everything plugs into the factory harnesses or if the Nissan system can accept any inputs, etc.
I've had my VIN covered up since I saw a story on the local news last year that someone as a test at the news station went and got a key made for a co-workers car at the dealer. No questions asked as in your story, the only thing is theirs fit in the car and turned but the car would not start. They interviewed some guy and he recommended covering up the VIN as a good deterrent.

 

Yea...I mentioned that in my story as well. The guy in the service department said that I could use the key to unlock the door, but not to start the car. He actually told me that if I tried to start the car with the key he made it would have some harmful effect. I can't remember exactly what he said would happen.

But just the fact that someone could gain entry into your car that easily is disturbing.