Tracker
- Thread starter Guest
- Start date
Michael Downing
New member
Hi there.
A tracker installation is effectively invisible. I have no idea where it is on any of our cars.
Horizon is just Monitor but with a GPS unit as well. I hear that it's a marketing tool introduced because some insurance companies want a GPS system.
A tracker installation is effectively invisible. I have no idea where it is on any of our cars.
Horizon is just Monitor but with a GPS unit as well. I hear that it's a marketing tool introduced because some insurance companies want a GPS system.
Guest
New member
If your car has not been delivered yet, and you use Tracker (rather than another company), it can be fitted at Reading before PDI and delivery to the OPC that you will pick the car up from. Just tell the OPC and they do it for you (at a reasonable price too!) and invoice you when you collect the car.
If already delivered then you need to negotiate with Tracker themselves to pick a suitable time/place.
I don't know where the unit is hidden - there are a number of places they can choose. There should be no marks to the interior at all though, so you don't need to worry.
Whether you want the GPS function depends on whether you want the peace of mind of knowing when it moves, i.e. having a pro-active system that calls for help when it moves, what the insurance company stipulate and how you use it. I had no choice from the ins. company and I leave mine outside a lot, including at airports when travelling abroad, so I wanted a pro-active system.
I wouldn't say it is just a marketing tool since the GPS position passed to Tracker and then the Police, helps the Police find it a lot more easily, and significantly increases the chance of them finding the car quickly and in one piece (and apprehending the low lifes).
If already delivered then you need to negotiate with Tracker themselves to pick a suitable time/place.
I don't know where the unit is hidden - there are a number of places they can choose. There should be no marks to the interior at all though, so you don't need to worry.
Whether you want the GPS function depends on whether you want the peace of mind of knowing when it moves, i.e. having a pro-active system that calls for help when it moves, what the insurance company stipulate and how you use it. I had no choice from the ins. company and I leave mine outside a lot, including at airports when travelling abroad, so I wanted a pro-active system.
I wouldn't say it is just a marketing tool since the GPS position passed to Tracker and then the Police, helps the Police find it a lot more easily, and significantly increases the chance of them finding the car quickly and in one piece (and apprehending the low lifes).
Michael Downing
New member
Stuart,
Both the Monitor and Horizon systems call for help if the car moves. It's only the base system (Retrieve) that doesn't. I'd regard that as essential. I can confirm that it works!
In the end, I did go for Horizon on the C4S - I looked at the price difference, compared that to the price of the car, and somewhat lost the will to argue. I reckoned that a 174 mph car it might have moved a bit by the time everyone got their act in gear. But sometimes I wonder if just Monitor would have been ok.
Note that you can also pay about three times the annual subscription and get cover for as long as you own the car. This is worthwhile even if you only plan to keep it for three years, as I found out last year when my replacement daily driver arrived 3 years 2 months after buying the previous car, so I ended up paying 4 years worth of subscriptions overall.
The other alternative is the RAC Trackstar, which is a GPS based system. It does work out cheaper than the Tracker unit plus has the added advantage of the Speed Safe system that beeps to warn you of 'accident blackspots' - and cameras!
Also you are able to check, for free, if the system is working - a phone call to them asking "Where is my car" and they should be able to pinpoint it then and there. On the 4S I had the Tracker and was never too sure if it was actually working? Tracker wanted to charge £80 to confirm - even though they were happy to take the annual subscription.
The installations (i've had three done now) have always been exceptionally neat - well I think so - as I've never actually found the box of bits!
Graham
Also you are able to check, for free, if the system is working - a phone call to them asking "Where is my car" and they should be able to pinpoint it then and there. On the 4S I had the Tracker and was never too sure if it was actually working? Tracker wanted to charge £80 to confirm - even though they were happy to take the annual subscription.
The installations (i've had three done now) have always been exceptionally neat - well I think so - as I've never actually found the box of bits!
Graham
I got Tracker with GPS as it was a condition of insurance. Its hidden very well (there are a few places they fit them but usually under the carpet area in the back under the window). OPC Reading charge more for installation than Tracker do directly (nearly £100 more on the horizon unit) so I arranged it directly with Tracker on their website.
Whichever system you get watch out for charges.
Tracstar plus quote £359 including VAT and fitting if you buy on line.
My new 997 cab collected from the dealer on 9 April had Tracstar fitted by the dealer - I got charged £599 plus VAT !!! . I have asked for an explanation at the double cost but as yet have not heard from them. Both prices do not include the annual subscriptions.
When I get back from my running in trip to the Isle of Wight I will take it up with the dealer principle.
Ihave had in the past Tracker and Tracstar. Both are good but Tesco only seem to approve of Tracstar.
Has anybody else had a bad pricing experience?
Jonathan
Tracstar plus quote £359 including VAT and fitting if you buy on line.
My new 997 cab collected from the dealer on 9 April had Tracstar fitted by the dealer - I got charged £599 plus VAT !!! . I have asked for an explanation at the double cost but as yet have not heard from them. Both prices do not include the annual subscriptions.
When I get back from my running in trip to the Isle of Wight I will take it up with the dealer principle.
Ihave had in the past Tracker and Tracstar. Both are good but Tesco only seem to approve of Tracstar.
Has anybody else had a bad pricing experience?
Jonathan
A lot of insurance companys are now insisting on the Horizon version. Which no doubt will change to some other gizmo in a few years time, such is progress!
For those of you out there who know where their Tracker modules are, I suggest you keep that information to yourselves. Otherwise some scroat will tear the interior of your toy to bits in an attempt to remove it. A little knowledge can be a very dangerous thing indeed.
For those of you out there who know where their Tracker modules are, I suggest you keep that information to yourselves. Otherwise some scroat will tear the interior of your toy to bits in an attempt to remove it. A little knowledge can be a very dangerous thing indeed.
Guest
New member
Tesco and Direct Line both accept Tracker Monitor and Horizon. One thing to watch is that they specify accepted models when you call for a quote. I frequently recieve calls from people who have fitted Tracker Retrieve units only to find out that they are not accepted. I always make sure that my customers double check but most of the time they opt for Tracker Monitor just to be on the safe side.
Regards
Gavin
Evolution Security
pvernham
New member
My choice was Tracker Horizon as certain insurance companies that I got quotes from all required it.
Got OPC to fit as it cost about £100 more than organising myself - the hassle factor of getting Tracker out separately didn't seem worth the saving (in the scheme of the overall bill)
Got OPC to fit as it cost about £100 more than organising myself - the hassle factor of getting Tracker out separately didn't seem worth the saving (in the scheme of the overall bill)
PGAdamopoulos
New member
James
I am using both of them and I think the TrackStar is a better option overall, although not RAC anymore... it is now TrafficMaster and the Customer Support has suffered.
Before and After installation inspect thoroughly your car for any visible traces of installation... I had to call them back to reposition the unit because it was blatantly obvious.
Bear in mind that insurers have generated a market for themselves, all these devices deter/stop the very "amateur" thieves/joyriders, the pros will either disconnect them or put it in a van or a garage close by.
Furthermore, now that they have changed their procedures and the Tracking Centre notifies you, to notify the Police, before any action is taken, it could easily be up to an hour before anything is done and by that time your car is history.
It is important to realise that YOURSELF is the middle/critical parameter in the equation.
The other day I had a false alarm and Horizon centre notified me 45 min. later.
Plus I have heard that the wireless/card system is not very reliable.
Cheers
[:-]
I am using both of them and I think the TrackStar is a better option overall, although not RAC anymore... it is now TrafficMaster and the Customer Support has suffered.
Before and After installation inspect thoroughly your car for any visible traces of installation... I had to call them back to reposition the unit because it was blatantly obvious.
Bear in mind that insurers have generated a market for themselves, all these devices deter/stop the very "amateur" thieves/joyriders, the pros will either disconnect them or put it in a van or a garage close by.
Furthermore, now that they have changed their procedures and the Tracking Centre notifies you, to notify the Police, before any action is taken, it could easily be up to an hour before anything is done and by that time your car is history.
It is important to realise that YOURSELF is the middle/critical parameter in the equation.
The other day I had a false alarm and Horizon centre notified me 45 min. later.
Plus I have heard that the wireless/card system is not very reliable.
Cheers
[:-]
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