| Author |
Message |
    
Eire
Citizen
Username: Eire
Post Number: 177
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, June 1, 2006 - 9:06 pm: | 
|
A dealer tried to sell us a $1,500 lojack system the other day. I turned it down - seemed like a lot of money for an alarm/retrieval system. I mean, theoretically, even if they end up with your car for 1/2 hour, it's likely in pretty bad shape already, right? Just curious if anyone has it or knows anyone who does.
If anyone has any recommendations for good auto alarms, etc. that would be great - thanks!
|
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 2369
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, June 1, 2006 - 9:31 pm: |
|
I got a car back with LoJack, took 15 minutes after reporting. Now I have OnStar which will work the same way, only OnStar tell the police where the car is. |
Larry Seltzer
Citizen
Username: Elvis
Post Number: 11
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, June 1, 2006 - 9:33 pm: |
|
I'm glad I got it for the alarm and retrieval, but DON'T GET THE "EARLY WARNING RECOVERY SYSTEM"!!!!
This is a feature whereby they give you a little box that goes on your keychain(s) and if the car moves without that box inside it calls, pages, e-mails, etc. to warn you that the car may be in unauthorized motion.
I've had countless false positives, so many that it's hard to take the feature seriously. They seem to come in waves, and when the next wave comes I'm calling and asking to have it disabled. |
Greeneyes
Citizen
Username: Greeneyes
Post Number: 804
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Friday, June 2, 2006 - 1:52 am: |
|
Our vehicle has LoJack. The vehicle was purchased two years ago. It's a Volvo and the LoJack system did not cost $1,500. I recall the installation being closer to the $600. range. Our vehicle has never been stolen( knocking wood) so I don't have experience with the retrieval aspect. |
Mergele
Citizen
Username: Mergele
Post Number: 397
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Friday, June 2, 2006 - 5:28 am: |
|
If you have a car stolen and get it back, it's almost certain to be a mess. Then you have to do battle with insurance adjusters, repair shops, etc. Mine was nabbed from the NJT lot in SO a couple of years ago and I spent the whole 30-day waiting period imposed by my carrier holding my breath and hoping it wouldn't turn up.
When it did (a convenient 2 weeks after it had been written off as a total loss), it had been abandoned on the GSP near South Amboy, and it was my understanding that it wasn't driveable.
Rather than go for anything that aids in recovery, I'm a fan of focusing on deterrence - for my current car I use a heavy steel thinggie that locks the brake pedal in place so it can't be driven. And I have a screaming yellow steering wheel cover that advises anyone walking by and looking inside of its presence.
It's my fervent hope that anybody looking to grab a car will pass on anything that might slow them down. So far, so good. |
CJH
Citizen
Username: Christel
Post Number: 9
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Friday, June 2, 2006 - 10:05 am: |
|
I second the suggestion that you avoid the early warning recovery system. I regret having the lojack in the first place (the dealer on our used car made it sound like the lojack was in place and just had to be activated, when in fact they were installing it new... long story, big headache), and the early warning system is the worst. You have to keep that stupid plastic tag with you at all times, and I've also gotten tons of false alarms. Luckily they only warn you, they don't contact the police, but like Larry said, it means getting a bunch of phone calls and emails and text messages about the car even when I know it's being driven with the special tag. |
John Caffrey
Citizen
Username: Jerseyjack
Post Number: 273
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Friday, June 2, 2006 - 10:17 am: |
|
First of all, car thefts have been reduced in our area over the past several years. Secondly, What kind of car are you considering? For instance, no one steals Volvos: they aren't cool.
Look up the most and least stolen cars and make your decision based on that.
On the other hand, you get a discount from the insurance. Will it pay for itself over the amount of years you plan to keep the car?
Negative: After having my lojac for a couple of years, I got a notice from them that something was going to expire/wear out or something and they needed a couple of hundred bucks to renew it...I passed on that one.
|
Shanabana
Citizen
Username: Shanabana
Post Number: 473
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Friday, June 2, 2006 - 10:19 am: |
|
We were informed by the NYPD that lojack doesn't work in the city. Apparently here it's ok. Personally, I wish we hadn't installed it (in our minivan, no less! ) |
kevin
Supporter
Username: Kevin
Post Number: 718
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Friday, June 2, 2006 - 10:35 am: |
|
John, The LoJack transmitter has a battery backup in it in case the thief snips the wires to the unit. The battery need to be replaced every few years. This is probably why they were looking for more cash. |
Eire
Citizen
Username: Eire
Post Number: 179
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Friday, June 2, 2006 - 11:52 am: |
|
We got a toyota highlander. It's not that the car's so gorgeous, but I happen to work at Irvington High School. Car theft in Irvington is really high... |
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page