Alarm selection help

[dominoSLEV6]

I don't know if this should be in General or not, but it's aftermarket and it's for my car so why not.

I've had in the back of my mind to get an alarm for my Solara since I got it as our factory one... doesn't really exist. I never thought it to be much of a large priority to me, but that's all changed as my sisters car was broken into in our driveway 2 nights ago. Thank god I wasn't home or I fear the same may have happened to mine. Also my Solara is looking better by the day which I think may also attract more potential theives to it.

So I've been kind've browsing alarms and I figured you guys must have some experienced input on this.

I found this on ebay...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Car-Alar ... 1085QQrdZ1
And it doesn't look to be a bad alarm, but then again I don't know what the standards are, and am also aware that on ebay you get what you pay for. It looks kind of cheap/knockoffish, but really what disadvantages does this have as compared to say... a Viper alarm. Any worse, any better? Any features it lacks, anything good it has? Anything in particular I should look for in an alarm. I mean I know I want it to protect my car, but are there any special technoolgies etc. that are better which certain companies utilize?

I've been thinking about it constantly since the other night when her car was broken into and want to get one ASAP. I'm just looking to find out if it's one of those things where in getting something liek a Viper you're just paying for a name, or if it really is that much better.

-chris

[Deion]

I got my alarm locally and installed because if there any problems, the installer would fix them without charge, and replace parts that break (hood pin, faulty wires, etc).

My last alarm was a viper on a previous car, really liked it because it had a seperate sensor and battery unit. So if someone broke into my car, cut off the power to the battery, it would still sound. That sensor also monitored for things hitting the body of the car.

My current alarm on my solara is a Compustar. It only turns on if a window is broken or a door opens or pin is opened up. Personally I don't like it because i like knowing when something happens to my car, like if something hit the body.... This is a 2-way which is nice to have. If you want to know if something hit a body panel of your car, i'd look into a peremiter alarm, but i hear they can be annoying (cats, birds, flying debris) can all set those off. I'm not sure how well my alarm would let me know if someone ripped off my rims, that's why I took them off for now until I get a peremiter alarm.

All I really look for: secondary battery source, what kind of sensor (peremiter, impact/shock), dont forget starter kill option. I've had a problem with my 2-way when it alarms when i'm in important meetings/movies/etc, because there's no vibrate mode. But personally I'd rather lose a client or miss a movie then not realize something's happening to my car. If that's important to you viper does have a "quiet" 2-way that still lets you know when something happens to your car.

If you don't want to have a automatic/remote starter, you can probably find something cheaper than the Compustar.

[dominoSLEV6]

So the viper will alert you to broken window, stuff hitting your body panel, and any messing around with the door handles? These ar emy main points of interest. The secondary power source soundsquite appealing as well.

-chris

[Deion]

That viper I had wasn't a 2 way, but I liked everything else about it.

I wouldn't go with the Compustar.... I've had soooooo many problems with it going off by itself, going off in the snow, rain and even wind... and i changed the sensitivity soo many times. But at least this way I saw how getting it locally would be so benificial than online.... you get better support/service and its immediate.

Just because Viper has been around so long, I'm sure they know their alarms. They also have so many options and models of alarms for what you want. Starter/Starter Kill/Window protection/Seperate Shock/Seperate battery.... just so many options.

Oh... one of my friends has my same Compustar, your able to attach accessories to your remote like a button to roll windows up/down, turn on your radio... etc. I'm not sure if Viper offers the same kind of flexability but who cares, its for security right?

If it was my choice, I'd go Viper, but I'm sure there in the US you have more options of alarms, here our main choices are Arctic, Viper and Compustar. I also went to large retail stores (Visions, BestBuy) for all of my alarms so their work doesn't look DIY, dont wan't a alarm screwing up, plus the lifetime/install warranty.

And be sure the check your options after you get the install done. Ex: if you get a starter kill, go in your car, turn on your alarm then try and start it with the alarm on... it shouldn't start. Just stuff like that to make sure you get what you pay for. Or kick the tires... etc, just normal checks to make sure you have everything.

Good luck!

[ICrazyChrisI]

Any product made by DEI. High quality stuff.

[ChargedSolara]

got me a clifford arrow old school alarm.. works good though. DEI is good quality stuff.

[Jon11582]

DEI = Viper = Clifford

I'm in the market for one too before the winter hits.

I say get it installed locally and buy it from the installer, dont get it off ebay no matter how much you would save. An alarms quality and warrantee has alot to do with the installation unlike alot of other aftermarket products.

Been looking at the Viper 791XV/Clifford RSX 3.5 (same unit). Thier two-way responder RS/RE/Alarm units.

[StockSolara]

A lot of the security place don't recommend cheap Ebay brands because of there lack of quality if you have them put in remote engine start it can mess up your ignition system over time. . . Just spend the extra money and go with DEI, Viper, or Clifford. I got a Clifford 450 Concept w/ shock sensor, glass break sensor, proximity sensor, ignition kill, anti code grabbing, etc all this good stuff for $250 for parts and labor AND Life Time Warranty

[krook]

Any product made by DEI. High quality stuff.

i work at an alarm shop and i've never had any problems with DEI products. get a Viper 790XV or Clifford Matrix 3.5 w/ remote start.

the best out there. bar none.