Tracking devices.

[Clarence]

Hope this is the right place!

Has anybody had a tracking device fitted? I had one on a previous car (Impreza - for my sins!) which was very comforting. (and gave a good discount on the insurance)
I've looked at TrackStar but just wondered if anyone had any thoughts?

[TTDegs]

All

please bear in mind that this is an open forum, which anyone can read, before replying with the security devices which you either haven't got, or would rather remain unpublished

[Clarence]

Would this have been better posted elsewhere?

[jayt43]

You'll see that my footer mentions "other theft counter measures installed".

Well, without going into too many specifics about actual equipment, I think Eurowatch are well-worth looking at (in particular their Auto package). They basically offer a service that's compatible - I think - with Trackstar. Many other current systems are also described as being "Eurowatch enabled".

The advantage of using a tracker with this service is, should your car be stolen, you simply ring a central dispatcher (available round-the-clock) who can then:

send tracking data is to the police in real-time;
sound the horn, flash vehicle lights while on the move;
cut power to the engine.

Some systems also have a panic button which, for example, in the event of an attempted car jacking, you silently press three times to alert the dispatcher (who immediately contacts the police).

Aside from the installation of the system (about £600) there's a monthly fee and SMS call charges to pay (as you can dial your car to check if the status is okay. It will then send an SMS containing alarm staus, speed, GPS coordinates, doors locked etc).

Naturally, if you do get a system installed, a 20% reduction in your insurance premium is widely available. So that helps lessen the initial outlay for the system, whilst also giving you additional peace of mind.

For me, the big advantage to using Eurowatch, is that it's pan-European. Particularly useful if you live in mainland Europe and someone tries to nip across the border with your vehicle!

Anyway, hope this helps!

[TTDegs]

bit of a first on this subject Clarence, so here is as good as anywhere

We might move it to Electronics section, depending on how the answers go

[Essexboy]

Originally Posted by TTDegs

All

please bear in mind that this is an open forum, which anyone can read, before replying with the security devices which you either haven't got, or would rather remain unpublished

So any would be thief should note that I have a tracker, an alarm and a big, hungry dog in the back!

[CE_CIV_sport07]

Already had a "scumbag" ....... "admiring the car"............ ...just looked out the window and she is still there for now

[lobey dosser]

Originally Posted by Essexboy

So any would be thief should note that I have a tracker, an alarm and a big, hungry dog in the back!

But as some of our lovely locals in Glasgow might say - "can yer big, hungry dug fix slashed tyres?"

[HappyMan]

It's an interesting discussion on tracking devices because over here any car over a value of 150,000pln (over £25,000) has to have a tracking device or you won't get insurance cover.

However, whilst in the process of buying my car we had a discussion with the dealer about tracking devices as I was interested in having one fitted. It is a little expensive over here even with a substantial discount as I have friends in high places in a security company. However, the dealer said that he thought it an unnecessary expense and not worth it in comparison to the value of the car. The car is a lot cheaper over here than in the UK.

At present I am not sure what I will do as I quite like the idea of having the added security.

[Kremmen]

I would like to have a tracking device that I could monitor on my PC.

I could get her to monitor my progress home and have dinner on the table as I arrived

[HappyMan]

I have a friend who has the tracking device connected to their PDA and knows exactly where the car is at any time. ONly thing is that sometimes the GPS tells the PDA that the car is in another street when it is actually parked in the garage

[angie4m]

I looked at having Tracker fitted to my car. I had this on my last car, but the diff to the insurance was £4!!! Not a worthwhile investment for me really.

On another point, if your car was stolen would you really want it back after they had been upto god knows what in it?

[jayt43]

With the best systems, the thief is less likely to get very far, especially if you remotely cut the power or sound the horn/flash lights etc.

Of course, there's always a chance that they'll crash it, torch it etc. But equally, if the police can do something about it quickly (which is the whole point of a tracker) then hopefully you'll get it back in one piece with little damage.

And for me, the 20% insurance discount will essentially pay for the unit by the end of year two.

[Unknownsoldier]

I want a Unit that can remotely detonate the car, but I think the police might have something to say about it (not least the damage it would do to the road).

Knowing my luck I'd get sent a speeding ticket as my number plate wizzes past a camera at the speed of sound and another for each bit of the car...........

Tom

[jayt43]

I want a Unit that can remotely detonate the car

Now that sounds like a plan!

[angie4m]

Originally Posted by jayt43

With the best systems, the thief is less likely to get very far, especially if you remotely cut the power or sound the horn/flash lights etc.

Of course, there's always a chance that they'll crash it, torch it etc. But equally, if the police can do something about it quickly (which is the whole point of a tracker) then hopefully you'll get it back in one piece with little damage.

How many people actually check to see whats going on when they hear someones horn and the lights are flashing? It usually gets moans of can someone not shut that up.

Anyone who has ever watched these traffic cop programs where they go looking for a car with a tracking device know, as previously mentioned that it can only give them a rough idea of where the car is. It cannot be pin pointed to an exact location and the police can take hours, even days to finally find the car and god knows who or what has been in it by then.

It made a diff to my Cooper S, but on the Type R it don't otherwise I would have it fitted when I get the car

[Unknownsoldier]

Honest h'officer it must have been a freak accident that the fuel tank just went up like that......... hehehehehehehe

Tom

[Greedy]

Originally Posted by angie4m

How many people actually check to see whats going on when they hear someones horn and the lights are flashing? It usually gets moans of can someone not shut that up.

Anyone who has ever watched these traffic cop programs where they go looking for a car with a tracking device know, as previously mentioned that it can only give them a rough idea of where the car is. It cannot be pin pointed to an exact location and the police can take hours, even days to finally find the car and god knows who or what has been in it by then.

It made a diff to my Cooper S, but on the Type R it don't otherwise I would have it fitted when I get the car

I think if the horn is going and the lights are flashing as it driving through the town centre then some one is going to notice. Especially if the cut out works mid journey too.

Also the TV reality shows I've seen the boys in blue seem to find the cars quite quickly and my local traffic boy said he would hav one on his car except the car's worth less than the tracker

I think the insurance saving is just a bonus, the peace of mind and the reduced problems compared to a long insurance claim and loss of value in the payout are enough to make it worth while alone. Thankfully theft is not a big problem in my area (and the company own my car).

[angie4m]

Originally Posted by Greedy

I think if the horn is going and the lights are flashing as it driving through the town centre then some one is going to notice. Especially if the cut out works mid journey too.

Also the TV reality shows I've seen the boys in blue seem to find the cars quite quickly and my local traffic boy said he would hav one on his car except the car's worth less than the tracker

I think the insurance saving is just a bonus, the peace of mind and the reduced problems compared to a long insurance claim and loss of value in the payout are enough to make it worth while alone. Thankfully theft is not a big problem in my area (and the company own my car).

Hmmm, let me see I doubt they would even get to starting it if the immobiliser is working correctly wouldn't you agree?

The traffic cops program on BBC the guys just seem to go round and round the same estates all day hearing the beep coming from the tracking device but have one hell of a job finding it.

Suppose it is peace of mind, but if someone wants your car it don't really matter what you have on it. They will try there damdest to get it away and if they are going to sell the car on, chances are they will be looking for the tracking device in order to override it.

But on the upside, when I had tracker they sent you a mailing a few times a year and one story was about how they found 1 car with tracker on it in a container heading for Africa, when they got inside they found hundereds of thousand of pounds worth of cars mostly BMs and Mercs. Great find all thanks to one car

[Greedy]

As to the TV then we've been watching different programs

I guess there is a down and an up side to everyones view point on the benefit of trackers.

As to imobilisers, yeah if it worked correctly then they wouldn't get it started but seeing as almost all modern cars have them - if they worked properly why are so many cars nicked and why is there a market for trackers!

At the end of the day a tracker may not be the ultimate deterant but bar locking the car away they about the best option available to those of us who want/ need to try and deter scumbags from knicking our cars.

If the pro's want to steal you car to sell abroad then as you say they are going to get it. It the opportunist, joy rider types etc which account for a goodly proportion of the thefts and they are the ones we can all help prevent. And with a CTR then they are the ones most likley to go after your car.


But I have to agree with the unknown soldier, I prefer the bang bang approach even if it means bye bye to the motor.