i park my Z outdoors and am afraid of it getting stolen. how likely is that? anyone here who also parks outdoors? what can i do to make my car safer from theft? car alarm?

thanks!!

 

The very first thought of what i should get when I got my Z was the very same question you are asking now. Im trying to find a really great 2-way alarm for $200 or less.

 

if a thief wants your car and alarm is not going to stop him.

That being said, you do get what you pay for so I would not be shopping for a budget alarm.

 

Good thing I park on base then. I only need it while im doing errands or if someone is fckn around late at night.

 

Fort Lewis or McCord?

 

Lo Jack

 

only problem it isnt used everywhere

 

ANY deterrent is a good one...so to answer your question, YES!

Like others have said, spend a few extra $ and get a quality alarm system....OR maybe consider a storage unit, if the Z ISN'T your daily driver.

 

Public storage

Monthly rent on this space $79.00
Monthly rent (3+ months stay) $75.05
One-time administration fee $22.00
First month's rent only $1.00
Total cost to move in $23.00

 

my z is my dd. what do u guys do for extra security?? i have no choice but to park outside...

 

find a alarm with a kill switch. my friends car has a kill switch so that it wont start unless u do something with the cigarette lighter. pretty good imo.

 

What kind of alarm is it? I think Viper has some alarms that are like that? iono

 

i forgot, but i think he got a viper or clifford and had the installer install the kill switch thru the cigarette lighter.

 

wait, doesn't the Z have a car alarm??

 

sux. I have lojack - expensive, but the discount on insurance should take some of the sting off.

 

we're talking aftermarket.... captain obvious... we need something that tells people our car is getting stolen w/ a 2way pager.

 

i got the viper xv791 (model # correct?) for $200 on ebay from some guy sellin em out of texas who had 22 of em or something at the time. they normally cost 400-500?? i dunno how it works cuz i havent installed it yet

 

damn, the first and last time i tried to get a nice alarm installed, the idiot installer set of my Airbags!!!!!!! One week after i bought my Z last feb!! Since then im too afraid to let someone install any aftermarket electronic items in my Z. Which sux too b/c i really want an aftermarket alarm but dont want my airbags popped again. ughh

 

my friend told me to get clifford. does that have a kill switch? what if the thief hot wires ur car or something?

 

This 791 is very similar to the more common and less expensive 350 and 426 models, you are mainly paying a lot more for the 2-way remote and extra bells and whistles like remote start. Better to spend your money on adding say a battery backup accessory or a motion detector, IMO.

Unless you own a Porsche or some other high-profile target for thieves, be aware that the most realistic function of a car alarm is the deterrent effect of the flashing light on the dash.

Most car crooks are kids, homeless, junkies, and other amateurs who'll gladly move on to an easier, un-alarmed car; a determined pro will most likely still have his way with your car regardless. So the top priority for most people in buying a car alarm is really just reliability, which Viper does very well.

If you're looking for high-end, look at the Clifford alarms, they are now owned by the same parent company as Viper but they do offer more user-programming options. The hardware is of comparable quality, the Cliffords just offer more features.

I have the Clifford in my sedan and the Viper in my truck. The Viper actually has a louder siren, but unlike the Clifford if I want to adjust the sensitivity of the glass breakage detector I have to take it back to the dealer whereas with the Clifford I can just do it through the remote.

A tip: make sure that whoever installs your Viper puts it on "active arming" mode instead of "passive arming" which will drive you crazy because it will automatically arm the alarm every time you close all the vehicle doors.

These are still way better than the no-name cheapo alarms coming out now at Best Buy and other places. And please don't cut corners on the install, it involves cutting into your car's electrical system so you want somebody who knows what they're doing.