I've been out of the market for awhile in researching car alarms, but I just got a new Mazda3 and need one now. I've tried to find some stuff on the web, but havent't found to much as far as reviews and ratings. So... are there any current leading systems or systems to avoid? I'm not looking for a $100 system. The last one I had installed was a Clifford Solaris.

Thanks

Nate

 

Car alarms in my opinions are worthless....a theif that wants your stuff bad enough will not be intimidated by an alarm and for the most part, even if it does go off, people find them so common place nowdays that they will not even pay attention to them going off. Best advice to you would be make sure your car is covered by theft and acts of vandalism through your insurance company...its much better security in my opinion. I would put a cheap alarm in it so that your premium will go down.

 

I agree. Maybe one with a pager telling me when the second sensor went off.

LOJACK would be more effective if you want a stolen car back...

Let the insurance co. buy you a new one...

 

I used to live in Louisiana, 15 minutes from New Orleans.

At that time one had alarm and the other one did not.

The thieves broke the windows of both cars on different ocassions. In the car I did not have the alarm; the damn bastards took the AIWA radio.

With the other car, the one with the alarm, they took off right after the alarm went off.

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Things to take in consideration:

Get an alarm that will TURN ON when the windows are busted. That is the best alarm.

WHY?

For example;

the Toyota RAV4 has an alarm that will only turn on if the door is opened.

What does this mean?

That if a thief gets in thru a busted window the alarm WILL NOT TURN ON as long as the door is not opened.

I highly suggest a car alarm that goes on when the windows, NOT THE DOOR, is broken in...

*****************

 

My last car had the window sensor, and it was great.

I was parked in a public garage... a car on one side was pretty much stripped of everythig, the car on the other side was stolen, and mine just had a broken window.

Plus the system I had gave the car extended power, such that when you turned the ignition off and removed the key.. the radio and windows and everything still were running. Neat feature. (Plus the whole remote start thing)

I also like the fact my insurance goes down by $150 by having the thing installed.

Still searching for the right one.