Alarm Recommendations Please

Hi,
I would very much like to hear opinions, comments, and recommendations for an alarm system for my 1987 328.

Thank you.

 

You'll be wasting your money if you install an alarm system.

First of all, no one pays any attention to an alarm sounding. Secondly, if a professional car thief wants your car, or anything in it, they will get it!

 

Agree. Leave it unlocked. Leave nothing of value inside.

 

I'm not sure I'd recommend leaving it unlocked. Some people might slash your upholstery just for fun. (Not that prying the lock to get in makes it any better.)

My 308 was stolen - with a towtruck! - just weeks after I bought it. That's another (long) story, but I did get it back.

I use a gate lock, which is simply a block of metal with a key lock, which fits over the gearshift gate, so your car is locked in reverse. Probably not enough to stop a really determined professional, but perhaps enough to deter them, or at least slow them down.

It's about $100 from italiancarparts.com

 

IMO think out your fears...everyone's fears are different. Then conjure up what it would take to reduce them. In most cases it isn't something equipment can do, but what you yourself can do, routinely. Should it be a risk which can be improved by available equipment, get the best.

 

I read somewhere that Jay Leno only takes one of his more expensive cars (although it's not a Ferrari) on "Round Trip" excursions, never parking it anywhere.

I have made some exceptions with my Ferrari, but I would NEVER leave it, for example, in a mall or grocery store parking lot. (It's hardly a practical car for shopping, anyway.)

For the most part, I limit parking my Ferrari to visits to the homes of people I know and trust, homes of family members, and the occasional high-end restaurant after a drive with the club.

This doesn't leave me completely invulnerable - some idiot once covered my car with, of all things, Chinese sweet and sour sauce when I was parked in front of my parents' house - but it does reduce the risk of theft or vandalism.

Contrary to the opinions of some other Ferrari owners I have met, exotic cars are not so conspicuous that they don't get stolen - I learned that the hard way two weeks into my ownership.

 

I have looked into an alarm, my car had one and it was removed before I bought it. But, I came to the same decision as the others here, it's of limited value, unless it reduces your insurance spend the money on something else.


1. No one pays attention to an alarm anymore
2. The parts the thief will damage getting in cost more than what he will steal
3. It's not that desirable to steal the complete car, they want Mitsubishi's and BMW's

Just keep valuables out of sight, the only time my top is on is if it's going to rain

 

NOTHING beats a Spyder-Lock portable wheel boot. The car cannot move with it attached, and requires quite a bit of plain-view tinkering to get the thing off the car would someone want to try (unlike 'The Club' or other interior devices that can be 'worked' in relative privacy once inside the car). I guarantee, most thieves will look at a wheel boot and 'pass' on your car - too much work to remove it, and too much risk being-seen while attempting to remove it. Fits in a 308/328 trunk or passenger footwell with room to spare (or behind the seats, if you prefer). Won't damage Factory mags, can be adjusted to fit different tire widths, simple to install, and has pick-resistant tumblers. Everyone I know with 'electrical' car alarms only accomplish one thing - killing their battery.

 

I have been considering adding an alarm to my car also. I do believe that car alarms dont do much to deter someone from stealing the car. People just dont pat attention to car alarms going off. However, they do make car alarms now that are 2 way. The key fob actually receives data on the alarms status and could alert when the alarm has been triggered. If you are 100yds away this would be enough time to prevent the theft of the vehicle.

Does anyone have experience with these alarms?

Aaron

 

Plain and simple. Anything else is a total waste of money.
If the car is stolen, and reported quickly, the police wil be able to track it within minutes.
My brother is a MA State Trooper and they love LowJack.
- Ron

 

I have looked up LoJack and it gives the usual sales pitch, what's it cost, I assume it has a monthly or annual fee too

 

There is no annual/monthly fee. There is an installation fee and then if you want to check and make sure its working every few years, they will come down and test the system for around $70.00.

There is no monthly/annual fee because they do not actually have to do anything until you call and notify them your car is missing.

Best regards,
Dino

 

I agree with recommendations to not install an alarm. The electronics are goofy enough without having to deal with an alarm.

I use this little bugger in my car, and it works well as a visual deterrent. Yes, a motivated thief can steal anything, but this probably stops the random crimes-of-opportunity:

http://www.ricambiamerica.com/product_info.php?products_id=224407

 

1+ People used to tell me the same thing with my 68 SS Convertable Camaro and I didn't listen. Sure nuff, someone slit the roof to steal a $30 portable cassette deck I had on the back seat. I rather they just open the door and steal the shift knob or whatever they want and not break the windows. Forget the alarm, buy good insurance and be carefull where you park it.

 

Just insure the car for MORE than you paid for it and and up it 10% per year...done

 

I NEVER EVER EVER lock my door. In fact I check to make sure it's UNLOCKED. I don't want any broken windows or worse...

As far as alarms; I just went to radio shack and bought a little red blinking LED. I rigged it so it comes on and blinks when I turn the car off. It is just a deterrent light.

 

The red blinking light is a pretty good idea. The I.Q. of your average Ferrari joyrider is pretty low... they are likely scared by it! Didn't Dr.S have his 348 joyrided a few years ago when the scumbags hopped into the car and just pressed the clutch in, rolling the car down a hill? IIRK, they then realized the steering wheel was locked.

 

Now there is a great business to get into, we could sell rides in a Ferrari, just let them coast down a long hill. You wont have to worry about them tearing up the gear box or over revving the engine.

 

I have red blinking lights on all of my cars. Never had an incident.

I had a Clifford on my Mondial with a proximity sensor. It was pretty cool, as it would go off if someone reached inside the car. I could leave the top down, unattended. No one ever tried to get in the car, though. I know, because it would chirp 3 times when I returned to turn it off. Never happened. I'd say install a red blinking light and any other obvious physical locks you like, like a gate lock. Only a very knowedgeable thief or a simple vandal will mess with your car and there isn't much defense against either of those.

 

Thanks to everyone who posted a reply. From what I've gathered here I think the best solution is to get a reasonably priced proximity alarm, Lowjack, and leave the car unlocked at all times.
Thanks again.

 

Birmingham Al, just saw a satellite of the Larry House's guitar shaped mansion ( Google Earth - 33 25 5.4N, 86 37 12.59W ) in your fair city. So where do your park your unlocked car, Tommy?

 

This is interesting, I realize now that I should leave my car unlocked, and I can easy put in a GSM telephone tracking system and make a visit later with my AK47, "make my day punk"

 

Here's another approach..Install a quick release on the steering wheel..take it into the house with you. In public I remove it and lock the wheel into the trunk using a big black bicycle lock to something very permanent..takes 10-15 seconds max...and you'll just love the comments..awk..Jacques.

 

I looked all over the internet and could not find the Spyder-Lock portable wheel boot..