Would like to hear the board's thoughts on this. I absolutely want an active security system, but I would like one where my pocket remote goes off when the alarm on the car goes off. Now I KNOW that several manufacturers make this. So here is my dilemma.

I don't particularly want to buy a brand new car and take it to mobile one or whereever so that they can "rip apart" the doors, dash, etc. to install an alarm system. I dread the thought of the things broken that I cant see; the possible sqeaks created by improper handling of these components. :notnice: Even if they did it perfectly, then I would still worry that they didnt.

Now the best option for an installed active security system is to order the option from Ford where they install it while the car isnt yet put together. The major problem with this is that I don't believe the system from Ford comes with a remote that notifies (vibrates, chirps) me when the alarm is going off.

I consider being notified the best feature a security system can have, but man I dont want my new car to be taken apart.

Do any of you know of any systems where a "notifying feature" can be added to an already existing alarm system like the Ford one? That would solve a lot of problems! Or have any other thoughts on this matter?

 

you'll prolly have to go to mobile one or car toys for something like that. i know a lot of upper level alarms have that pager thing, but i don't know if you can buy that as an add-on feature only. you may just need to buy a whole alarm system.

besides...if i took my 05 to one of those shops, and they even put a scratch on the dash when they were doing the install, we'd have problems. generally i'm sure they're very careful...they're pros right?

or you can go somewhere like tweeter, which is probably more expensive, but i'm guessing they do a lot of upper end business, so they may be more careful w/ your ride.

let us know if you find anything. i'll look around when i have some free time at work.

 

Whatever you do, dont take it to a big box store like circuit city, best buy, etc...I am not trying to bash these companies, I just have experience as an installer (i did at one time do installs for BB as well as a much nicer shop in south florida) We did get training at BB but it was pretty useless. I know that I took pride in my work and always was very careful but there were others who were not and always did things like scratch up the dash when putting in a cd player or mess up alarm systems.

Whoever you go to, make sure that the installer has done that type of install before, don't go to the cheapest place you can find (they cut corners), and if at all possible, hang around during the install as close as possible (i dont mean stand 2 feet away but in the same room) That way they are sure to be extra careful and take their time.

I have never seen any systems with the status remotes that allow you to add it on to an existing system. Sorry...

I have always been a fan of the Clifford G5 systems, they are reliable and very intelligent. And the remote start can be configured to work with a manual transmission if your installer knows how to do it correctly. I have done it two ways...

hardware way-a sensor that makes sure that the transmission is in neutral and another to make sure the parking break is engaged, it is then redundant because I would install extra switches for each gear to make sure that not only it was in neutral but also out of any gears (this is just in case the neutral switch fails) I believe the boss charged about $900 total for this option

software way-this is more custom because you use the car's computer to check the status of the transmission but it is also more reliable. This option usually ran about $1400.

This is big money we are talking about and it was only the mid-life guys who wanted this stuff on their super exotics...vipers, lambos, astons, and ferraris.


edit: oh and just to be clear, i didnt do these installs alone, it was always me and at least one other person so that we would check each others work to make sure it was right.

 

Whats the point of the pager, if the car is far enough away to hear the alarm, you arent going to catch anyone Seem like the less I worry about that stuff, the less it happens. When I was young I'd check on my car CONSTANTLY, and stuff kept hapening to it.

 

I never said I put one on my car....

Some people like the added knowledge of knowing when their alarm is activated and most pagers will tell you exactly which sensor went off.

There are some newer ones coming out within a year or two that will actually use GSM to communicate with the pager which means you could be in a different state and know that your alarm is going off as opposed to the 1/4 mile on most of the existing pager systems...a feature for the "pimp my ride" crowd.