BEST Alarm system ?

I got a Clifford Matrix alarm system installed in my car and it BLOWS. The other night someone managed to cut the mesh grill, open the hood and cut the siren wire. Luckily I have no engine upgrades yet and they didn't take anything. I took it back to the dealer and they said it's too late for a refund and offered to repair what was damaged of the alarm. Direct Electronics told me they could only replace the alarm system under my warranty. So I just had it repaird by the dealer (Fry's Electronics) and had them maximize the sensitivity in which the installer added "if a cat jumped on the hood it would go off."

I sat in my parking lot to our apartment for a good 15 minutes trying to simulate what the last theif did and could not get the alarm to go off, just a few warning chirps. I even started banging on the hood and slapping random spots of the car. Just more warning chirps. I even opened the door, set the alarm, and popped the hood from inside and again, just chirps. It took actually opening the door to get the alarm siren to sound, which is completely unsatisfactory.

I'm out the 200 bucks it cost for this p.o.s. alarm system , but have a lesson learned. Get a GOOD alarm system.

Who here has an awesome alarm system on their 7th gen civic that would like to inform me on what to do. There are so many thieves it's disgusting. I want to upgrade the engine and what not but fear the worst.

EDIT:

i have the viper 300esp... everytime a car drives by the damn thing goes off. i cant get no damn sleep and now ppl are starting to complain, is there anway turn the sensitivity down?

Hmm, maybe I need to get one of these!

DUDE, you have single most best alarm on the market, period! The problem is with the install. Did they sell you just the alarm with no upgrades???? They should at least hit you up on some mercury tilt switches, maybe a backup battery siren, back up battery for the system and a prox. sensor. That way as soon as the hood pops open the alarm goes off. If they cut the siren wires, the siren will never shut off until you turn it off with the supplied keys. The prox. sensor you do not even have to touch the car and it will start to beep and if you keep at it, it will trigger the full alarm. DEI also has hood locks to lock the hood from inside the car. They'd have to have pretty stout bolt cutters to get past that.

Remember, not even a $900 alarm won't do squat unless you beef up prone areas of your car. I just grates me to hear some shop sold a decent alarm but with no extras then to have the customer bad mouth a good alarm when it wasn't the alarm's fault.

Also, keep in mind that if someone wants something bad enough, it will be theirs!

When buying an alarm always check what features it has. Ask what extras can be added to better secure your ride. A basic alarm system with shock sensor isnt enough. The shock sensor is normally in the unit and under the dash and not sensitive enough to feel vibrations from the rear of the vehicle. Hood and trunk pin switches are a must. Battery backup and prox. sensors are too. I agree that it wasnt installed correctly. Opening the doors while armed should have triggered the alarm. Viper 2way systems in my opinion are the best. I own an Autopage LCD750 2way and have had no problems with it. I rate it second. Go Two way

i think any alarm that are made from DEI are good to go ...

Seriously, i think alarms are just there for style. People that steal cars and even try to make an attempt are experts on how to open the door, cut the alarm, and drive off in less than a minute. lets admit it, theres nothing we can do about that when it comes to just an alarm system. well, this goes for those who live in la hahahaha. i think lojacking your car would be best. just my two pennies

Seriously, i think alarms are just there for style. People that steal cars and even try to make an attempt are experts on how to open the door, cut the alarm, and drive off in less than a minute. lets admit it, theres nothing we can do about that when it comes to just an alarm system. well, this goes for those who live in la hahahaha. i think lojacking your car would be best. just my two pennies

Lojack would be best if they offered it in more places. Coverage areas are slim if you dont live in a the few coast states that offer Lojack. Alarms arent full proof. The trick is to make it hard to get into. Like I said-"Two way paging alarm" with full features. This way you will know when your ride is being broken into. I have a pager and have chased off a few people trying to get in my ride.

Lojack would be best if they offered it in more places. Coverage areas are slim if you dont live in a the few coast states that offer Lojack. Alarms arent full proof. The trick is to make it hard to get into. Like I said-"Two way paging alarm" with full features. This way you will know when your ride is being broken into. I have a pager and have chased off a few people trying to get in my ride.
I 2nd this all the way. We all know that if someone is good enough and wants it bad enough, they'll get it. It's just that people are led to believe they can stroll into Circuit City or Best Buy and pay big money for some DEI alarm to think it is bullet proof. Yes, it is a good alarm but you need to add things to it to be more effective.

Case in point. Customer had a $40000 truck and wanted to put $8k of stereo stuff in it and no alarm. Even though we live in a small, rural area I knew he liked to travel to big cities. I talked him into getting an alarm since he already wanted a remote starter. I got him to get a prox. sensor, backup battery siren, and batteries for his alarm brain too. About six months later he went to Columbus to a dance club to find out that he'd been broken into. They did get his Eclipse CD player (which is useless when taken out) but the truck was still there. They cut all kinds of stuff trying to get this truck to start but it wouldn't. They instead stole another vehicle and threw all the loot they got that night!!!!! Trust me, these people were pros at it. Time makes them too nervous so the longer they have to dick with stuff the better. :jump3:

ponchonutty and I are installers man. Take our word for it. Make it hard for thieves by adding all features available. And buy DEI

i just put a Viper responder pager alarm in my accord and it's great. It went off the other night and i ran outside in my boxers to see some guy trying to get into my car. i would definately recommend a prox. sensor if you're concerned with someone cutting the grille again. basically like everyone said on here, upgrade like no other. i just have a basic page system, shock sensors and stuff like that, but it works for me. Later i may get a prox sensor. so far i love my alaram though.

i just put a Viper responder pager alarm in my accord and it's great. It went off the other night and i ran outside in my boxers to see some guy trying to get into my car. i would definately recommend a prox. sensor if you're concerned with someone cutting the grille again. basically like everyone said on here, upgrade like no other. i just have a basic page system, shock sensors and stuff like that, but it works for me. Later i may get a prox sensor. so far i love my alaram though.
DUDE get that beefed up soon. That theif will be back if he wants your car. All he has to do is cut the power and you'll never hear anything.

i hear that, for the most part my car is parked in my garage and my house has a crazy alarm with it. but it only takes one time. i'll probably go this weekend.

I have a very easy solution for the theft of vehicle not contents unfortunately on 92-95 civics the Main relay is located under dash next to the hood release (Gray box says mitsuba on it ) remove it when you want security or splice wires and put a switch of some sort on it i used a electrical lockout from coke machine and placed in a hidden spot need key to get fuel/shift lock just an idea dont know what kind of car you drive i also have a stellar alarm made by autoloc with all the added features these other guys mentioned way i look at it cant steal what the cant start just turns over no fuel lol

In my opinion i think GuidePoint is the best system, Take lojack and combine it with on star and a GPS that can track the car anywhere and u get guidepoint. its a little pricey, but if u mod your car its worth every penny. check out the web site www.guidepointsystems.com (http://www.guidepointsystems.com)

I have a very easy solution for the theft of vehicle not contents unfortunately on 92-95 civics the Main relay is located under dash next to the hood release (Gray box says mitsuba on it ) remove it when you want security or splice wires and put a switch of some sort on it i used a electrical lockout from coke machine and placed in a hidden spot need key to get fuel/shift lock just an idea dont know what kind of car you drive i also have a stellar alarm made by autoloc with all the added features these other guys mentioned way i look at it cant steal what the cant start just turns over no fuel lol
The new relays from DEI are much easier. They look just like normal relays but take the place of an OEM one like the starter or fuel pump relay. Inside this new relay is a transeiver that can work with their remotes. So, you can just get a DEI keyless entry, alarm, or remote starter and plug and play. Theives will have no idea what's going on!

I have a clifford matrix and it works great, Like they said, get all the additional upgrades possible. This alarm has already saved my stereo equipment atleast once

I don't think you can blame the alarm. It is all about the install. Most of the time, if you want an alarm system done up right, you should expect to pay more for the install than the alarm.

A security system is worthless if you don't have hood, and trunk pins. Sadly though many people are not educated about this, and even more people are not willing to spend money on a good install.

You can have the best alram money could buy, but if it isn't installed correctly with the right accessories, it won't do jack. I suggest going to a reputable installer and getting hood and trunk pins installed. If you want more piece of mine get a single zone prox sensor. This will monitor anything that moves inside the car. If you are anal like me, get a dual zone prox sensor. This will warn you if anything even gets close to your car.

2 way pagers are great too. I have a Compustar and I can monitor the state of my car from 5000 feet away.

Just my 2 cents.

I don't think you can blame the alarm. It is all about the install. Most of the time, if you want an alarm system done up right, you should expect to pay more for the install than the alarm.

A security system is worthless if you don't have hood, and trunk pins. Sadly though many people are not educated about this, and even more people are not willing to spend money on a good install.

You can have the best alram money could buy, but if it isn't installed correctly with the right accessories, it won't do jack. I suggest going to a reputable installer and getting hood and trunk pins installed. If you want more piece of mine get a single zone prox sensor. This will monitor anything that moves inside the car. If you are anal like me, get a dual zone prox sensor. This will warn you if anything even gets close to your car.

2 way pagers are great too. I have a Compustar and I can monitor the state of my car from 5000 feet away.

Just my 2 cents.
2nd that all said above except the last line. None of my Compustars have done 1 mile range. They did more like 1/4 to 1/2 at best. Of course this is downtown real world testing.

2nd that all said above except the last line. None of my Compustars have done 1 mile range. They did more like 1/4 to 1/2 at best. Of course this is downtown real world testing.

Yeah, thats true. If you are parked underground, or in area with a lot of buildings, it reduces the range by quite a bit! However I have tested the alarm in areas where there isn't many obstructions in the way, and the range is amazingly good. It all depends on where you are, where the car is, and whats in the way.