Alarm systems... inform me

Hey guys, Brian's radar thread got me thinking... I have been looking at getting a security system for a while and now being that I may end up living down here in Minneapolis I definately want one. I'm a calm dude, but there is a handful of things that would make me go fuckin ape shit and one of those is someone breaking into/stealing my car, particularly the Talon.

I should say that I dont know much about them, I do remember reading a couple threads years ago but those are undoubtedly out of date by now. I dont want the best of the best, but I want something that will do the job. I dont know about a price range, but if the difference between me losing my car and keeping it is the difference between a $100 security system and a $500 security system I will eventually shell out for the decent system.

I am thinking that I am going to put one in which ever car I decide to keep... or both if I decide to keep both. So anyway, any suggestions? Reasons why you suggested a particular model would be good too :).

I wouldn't go with anything but a Compustar or a Viper alarm. They're a bit more on the expensive side, but they have very good review/feedback, rarely cause problems (not working at longer distances, remotes breaking, etc), and they're pretty user friendly. They also have extra input so you can add glass sensors and shit like that.

Ok... any model in particular you would recommend? I'll check those out...

Of course my primary alarm system is a 12 guage. I am half thinking about putting like a 20 second delay on the horn if possible, I would love to suprise that fucker when he runs away from the car when the alarm goes off with the fat end of a bat, a gun butt, or some good old fashioned mano y mano action. I wont do it though, even if I could figure out how to put on a timer, I am afraid that if I caught them I would kill/severely injur them and get myself in trouble.

The model is going to depend more or less on what your price range is, they're all good, so I can't really say which one is better or worse, it's just personal preference and price range.

All I know is my buddy had a viper on his mustang and all you had to do was tap the hood and that thing would go off like nobodys business. Maybe a little bit too sensitive. Hell the exhaust noise from my talon would set it off. I know that damn keyless entry on my gsx gets aggrivating especially when I try to unlock it and I hit the panic button.....Damn technology

On the new ones I believe you can set the sensitivity. Depending on how new his was, I think he should have been able to turn the sensitivity of the alarm down.

On all of them you can adjust the sensitivity level. Viper is all I would buy. Although I went cheap and bought a Code Alarm I think it was. Some POS from Circuit City that I got a great deal and installed myself. Thing would go off in the middle of night for no reason. Even when I disconnected the movement thingy it would go off for no reason. Plus those little switches that tell you when the doors are open/close don't work too well. Which is why I want new ones if people would look in the Classified section once in awhile.

All I know is my buddy had a viper on his mustang and all you had to do was tap the hood and that thing would go off like nobodys business. Maybe a little bit too sensitive. Hell the exhaust noise from my talon would set it off. I know that damn keyless entry on my gsx gets aggrivating especially when I try to unlock it and I hit the panic button.....Damn technology

The sensitivity is adjustable. Viper is good. Its a DEI brand and Directed makes good security. DEI makes other brands too which are probably the same product (just like they do with their car audio). My brother has had a viper alarm for like almost 10 years with out any problems. I think it started acting up once but he took it back to Circuit city (they installed it) and they fixed it for free. One of my good friends owns a car audio and security shop and all he does is DEI security so, yeah its good.
Heres directed's site:
http://www.directed.com/

I just got a python security system. It cost me like 250, and it definentely gets the job done. Mine particular model, dont remember what it is, has lock/unlock (obviously) - auto start - and a trunk unlatch. It was reletivily easy to install. All I had to dowas tap into the wire harness and connect a shit load of wires. I like the auto start option, except the box will say do not use with manual cars. If you have a habit of leaving the car in gear when you turn it off this isnt right for you, since the car will jump when you that button. Also I like it because it comed with its own alarm that sounds pretty cool, instead of the horn just honking. Also, when you you lock it it makes an interesting sound and all of the lights flash. It sure does help tho, because when I didnt have it my car was like always unlocked, and now it never is. Plus it come with like 10 features I never user like somekind of velet service mode that will disable the electric start and unlock until you set it back to normal. Pretty sweet for a moderatly easy install and moderatly cheap. It has done me well.

I just got a python security system. It cost me like 250, and it definentely gets the job done. Mine particular model, dont remember what it is, has lock/unlock (obviously) - auto start - and a trunk unlatch. It was reletivily easy to install. All I had to dowas tap into the wire harness and connect a shit load of wires. I like the auto start option, except the box will say do not use with manual cars. If you have a habit of leaving the car in gear when you turn it off this isnt right for you, since the car will jump when you that button. Also I like it because it comed with its own alarm that sounds pretty cool, instead of the horn just honking. Also, when you you lock it it makes an interesting sound and all of the lights flash. It sure does help tho, because when I didnt have it my car was like always unlocked, and now it never is. Plus it come with like 10 features I never user like somekind of velet service mode that will disable the electric start and unlock until you set it back to normal. Pretty sweet for a moderatly easy install and moderatly cheap. It has done me well.

Most alarm/remote starters now adays have either an automatic or a manual version. The manual versions usually come with a clutch switch and some other safety measures to ensure that the car doesn't jump. Did you get this second hand or from online? It's possible you ordered the wrong one. I know Viper and Python are similiar companies, with Viper being the better one, but even so, the Python should have came with those safety features if you did speficy a manual transmission.

Lol, well see the deal was that I bought it for my mom for xmas, and kind of fell in love with it. I just went to the store and told them it was an auto, guess I didnt look into the manual at all. But that is good to know from now on so I dont look like a fool again.:lol: But it works fine for me knowing that I have never left it in gear when shutting it off, and since I dont let anyone else drive my car its not a problem.

I have a Hornet Alarm installed on the Talon, I guess it's pretty good. It goes off with just about any hit, the only thing I don't like about it is I don't think it's loud enough. It's loud, but I know I've heard louder alarms on other cars.

I've read that CompuStar makes really good shit, but can't back that up with personal experience. I know if I were to buy an alarm, it would be CompuStar.

Ah you beat me to this thread... I was actually trying to decide on an alarm system for the Cobalt too since it lacks from the factory. lol...

I'm gonna be spending so much money on that car, its not even funny...

I had a viper alarm on my Cobra. That thing is awesome. I think I paid about 350 for it installed. With the nice 5 mile raidus remote and all the bells and whistles.

Viper, by Directed. all the way... Honestly, i would suggest the 5002, but the 3002, and 1002 are gonna give you the protection you need, definately.

Keyless entry, remote start, and all that jazz really doesnt entice me all the much... but it would sure be nice eh? We'll see how much it all is. One thing that I am going to think about is GPS tracking, Viper has a unit for their car alarms. How fucking sweet would it be to track that asshole down and put the boots to him?

My uncle had one with a gps tracker like that in his impreza. It got jacked because he left it running on a cold winter day while running into the liquor store. The police tracked it to minneapolis and some punks just couldnt figure out why they got caught lol.

Your uncle is much nicer than me. I would have waited for it to stop then I would call the police and tell them they better get there before me, and they had better have an ambulance ready if I beat them there.

Haha, well in my uncles case he would have gotten his ass tossed if the car was stolen by 15 yr old school girls. But im with ya man. I have no clue as to how POed I would be if I walked outside and my car was gone. It almost makes me pissed thinking about it.

Being a senior, in my town we have a thing called TP night. Where its the juniors vs. seniors and you stealeach others tp and the throw it on there trees. Things is I got a text from a couple of juniors asking when I got this car. After finding out that they had walked thru the garage that my Talon is stored in, I absolutly flipped. All I have to say is they were lucky I didnt see them that night, and that everything was accounted for.

Does anyone have any input on any of the Alarms that come with the remotes that have a pager function on them to let you know when your alarm is going off.

The 2-way remote? I've heard great things about them. Some of the very high-end ones can even have your phone programmed into it so that when the car "responds", it'll call your phone.

Does anyone have any input on any of the Alarms that come with the remotes that have a pager function on them to let you know when your alarm is going off.

Yep. I have a Compustar 2wss-as alarm/remote start with a 2way remote that has about 2 mile range. I pulled my Viper 2way system because it'd only do about 500' of range. This Compustar is great. My dad got their Computrac setup in his Hummer. I think they are a little nicer than the DEI stuff. Here's their website www.compustar.com

The 2-ways are great. Alot of my friends have/had them in their cars. You can see what doors are open, if the alarm is going off, range to the car, start, windows roll down, everything. I remember being in the back back warehouse at Best Buy and the dude started his car which was all the way out in front in the parking lot. Long range hit and it started first try. They're nice. I would get one of those too.

I had a viper alarm on my Cobra. That thing is awesome. I think I paid about 350 for it installed. With the nice 5 mile raidus remote and all the bells and whistles.

how did you get such a long range on yours, I have a Viper with the 2way (pager remote) and it seems like the distance is horrible

Im going to get a viper alarm, they kick ass, lots of extras too, if you want them....

Im going to get a viper alarm, they kick ass, lots of extras too, if you want them....
If you plan to put one in your 5-speed you should get a Compustar since they make remote start/alarms for manual trannys

how did you get such a long range on yours, I have a Viper with the 2way (pager remote) and it seems like the distance is horrible
Yeah, that range is BS. I've sold and installed just about every make and model of alarm out there and to date, the only alarm that has the furthest distance is the Compustar Pro 2wSS-AS sytem. I got about 2.5 miles according to my GPS. www.compustar.com

If you got a stick and you won't remote start, just wire it so it will only start when the ebrake is up. So it won't run away.

Well, I don't know about your ride but I've seen a few Honda's and even a srt4 take off with the Ebrake on. If you notice these days manufacturers do not call them E-brakes anymore but rather parking brakes. The newer systems don't clamp as hard as say a 15 year old car does. I know back in my early years driving older cars we'd pull the ebrake to do a 180. You can't always do that with newer cars.

Again, it's very dangerous to install a remote start that isn't designed for a manual tranny'd car. People have been sued over it.

Yea, I asked circuit city about it (just curious) and they dont install remote starts on manual tranny cars for that reason (lawsuit). Yea I guess some parking brakes arent as strong as others but the ones on all of my cars are. '92,'95,'99.

Yea, I asked circuit city about it (just curious) and they dont install remote starts on manual tranny cars for that reason (lawsuit). Yea I guess some parking brakes arent as strong as others but the ones on all of my cars are. '92,'95,'99.

Tell those tards at CC they are missing the boat. DEI has part# 689M which will make those overpriced DEI alarms they sell safe to install in a manual tranny'd car.