Cat 1 alarms...

[stevespic]

Evening all. I have decided to have a new alarm fitted to the car to secure it properly after all the money and man hours i have spent on it, i currently have a cat 1 meta alarm fitted but the siren seems to only work when it feels like it, so it looks like the only decent thing to do is replace it for a new system...it goes without saying i don't want to spend a small fortune so can any one recommend a decent alarm for a decent price, it will have to be fitted so preferably i would like to buy the alarm from a company and then have them fit it, i don't mind travelling so long as i get a decent job and product so any
recommendations would be good. The car is kept in wiltshire. Thanks Steve.

 

[DavidL]

Steve,
Jon Mitchell in bournemouth are Toad dealers/fitters, mine has a Cat 1 Toad alarm and apart from beeping alot it seems fine! Might be worth a call. It isn't too far from me , also in wilts. I imagine there must be someone more local but I haven't come across anyone. Where are you?

 

[zcacogp]

Satisfaction with an alarm install more a function of the quality of the installtion than of the alarm system. A cheap alarm whcih is well fitted will see much more reliable life than an expensive alarm badly fitted.

So, ask around, find an installer local to you who is highly recommended and take it there for the work. Don't be duped by 'good' brand names of alarm, it stands for very little.

(If you are feeling gung-ho then install it yourself. I've done two, and the first one was fine 4 years on, when I sold the car, and the second one is still doing sterling service 2 years down the road on my S2.)


Oli.

 

[stevespic]

ORIGINAL: DavidL

Steve,
Jon Mitchell in bournemouth are Toad dealers/fitters, mine has a Cat 1 Toad alarm and apart from beeping alot it seems fine! Might be worth a call. It isn't too far from me , also in wilts. I imagine there must be someone more local but I haven't come across anyone. Where are you?

Can you remember what you payed, how come it bleeps alot.. ?

 

[stevespic]

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

Satisfaction with an alarm install more a function of the quality of the installtion than of the alarm system. A cheap alarm whcih is well fitted will see much more reliable life than an expensive alarm badly fitted.

So, ask around, find an installer local to you who is highly recommended and take it there for the work. Don't be duped by 'good' brand names of alarm, it stands for very little.

(If you are feeling gung-ho then install it yourself. I've done two, and the first one was fine 4 years on, when I sold the car, and the second one is still doing sterling service 2 years down the road on my S2.)


Oli.

No good with electrics on cars , any brand of alarm you can recommend ?

 

[DavidL]

ORIGINAL: spic01

ORIGINAL: DavidL

Steve,
Jon Mitchell in bournemouth are Toad dealers/fitters, mine has a Cat 1 Toad alarm and apart from beeping alot it seems fine! Might be worth a call. It isn't too far from me , also in wilts. I imagine there must be someone more local but I haven't come across anyone. Where are you?

Can you remember what you payed, how come it bleeps alot.. ?

It came with the car, It beeps as each open/close action sets the alarm to a known position. Once set up properly it is reassuring to hear the beeps but it sounds/seems odd to begin with.
It seems reasonable to pay 300 or so for a Cat 1 system.

 

[Dico]

I have just had a cat 1 alarm/imobliser fitted as my insurance company required the car to have one (Driveway).
I went for this one http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260210727126&mpt=1203848038464&tGUID=1d53e1881170a0b5837240e2ffc6b155 But I used a local company and paid £350 + £30 to have the old one removed []
Its not been on long but seems ok so far.
Also, some insurance companies want to see documentation that the alarm has been installed by an aproved person

 

[homesea]

A mate has just had one fitted to his car it is a hornet and cost £169 with fitting and remove of old one. Only been in 2 weeks but seems ok. I was going to get one fitted in mine.

 

[hartge bob]

ORIGINAL: DavidL
It beeps as each open/close action sets the alarm to a known position. Once set up properly it is reassuring to hear the beeps but it sounds/seems odd to begin with.

There are a lot of customisable options on the Toad.

I got sick of the blips on locking and unlocking the car, so have turned them off.

You can change such things as doors locking automatically as you're driving along , auto relocking the doors (which has locked the keys inside on occasion []), self arming of the alarm / immobiliser etc

 

[zcacogp]

Spic - read my post! The point is that recommending a brand of alarm is pointless, as the quality of the fitting is far more important than the brand of the alarm!

ORIGINAL: Dico
Also, some insurance companies want to see documentation that the alarm has been installed by an aproved person

A Thatcham Cat1 (or 2) device is only approved when it is fitted by a trained installer, who will then issue a certificate saying that it has been done according to Thatcham requirements. If you fit it yourself, you need to have the fitting inspected by an approved installer, who will then do the certificate for you. Most installers are happy to inspect alarms, for a small fee.


Oli.