hey guys i am willing to spend up to and over 500 dollars not including install
on a good car alarm..
looking for good range
2 way pager
shock sensor
prox sensor
etc....

My question is
i am looking for something reliable and will work for more than a year

compustar / clifford / dei / viper

and yes i did search without any definitive answers sadly
what is the best?

 

Dei makes clifford and viper so I would compare features of those 3 and then go with price.
http://www.directed.com/Products/Security/Default.aspx

compustar is supposed to be really good also.
http://www.compustar.com/

I would just compile a check list of the different models with the features you want and the narrow it down from that.

 

if you want range, compustar is the way to go IMO

b

 

compustar's newest alarm is by far the best looking one out of the bunch. around my area, it's $1000 installed though, so it's by no means cheap.

 

you should look into python; it's made by DEI. I used to sell car alarms and this was one of the most popular. They have everything your looking for and the most expensive one is 500 and most places offer free install (or at least around here they do). They don't come standard with a prox sensor but you can add one easily. Although i don't recommend it b/c they are most often useless. If you really want to get crazy with it python also offers gps tracking. you can get on the internet and set up speed, and other restrictions for your car. If someone steals it you can get online and track it and disable it. I think you have to pay annually or monthly for the service though.

 

hmmm..
can i pick up a compustar and install it myself?
i don't see anyone really selling them much.
so what sensors have i missed.
there is motion / tilt / knock / ir / hood / hatch...