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Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 1:23 pm
by Muzorewa
The stupid thing is that the Immob won't be any benefit in a carjacking situation
Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 1:27 pm
by mobilecat
Muzorewa wrote:The stupid thing is that the Immob won't be any benefit in a carjacking situation
I know that and you know that but clearly the insurers aren't s sure. I think the finaicaly prudent thing to do is to go with Lifesure and no security and get a nice old fashioned steering lock of sometype. I always used to use a krooklock - cant remember why I stopped using it
Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:05 pm
by karena
to be fair we are in a privaliged position on this one- anyone brave enough to get past the staffie would then have to deal with the farmer neighbours shotgun (loaded with peppercorns not fatal but teaches them a lesson so i,m told)
Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 6:23 pm
by trevd01
Just a reminder that there is a fact sheet on security in the members area, which I wrote earlier this year.
To summarise: you can't stop anyone breaking into any car as long as it has glass in the windows, but you can:
a) make it less inviting to do so
b) make it a bit more difficult
c) make it much more difficult to drive away
Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 6:50 pm
by mobilecat
Muzorewa wrote:....because it was last seen embedded in the skull of the retard who tried stealing your last car?
So far I personally have never had a car broken into or stolen or my houyse either. Statisitcs show that it will happen one day I am sure but hopefuly I will be nowhere near and no one will be hurt.
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 11:15 am
by mobilecat
trevd01 wrote:Just a reminder that there is a fact sheet on security in the members area, which I wrote earlier this year.
To summarise: you can't stop anyone breaking into any car as long as it has glass in the windows, but you can:
a) make it less inviting to do so
b) make it a bit more difficult
c) make it much more difficult to drive away
THanks for reminding me - I will have another look. I am not keen on spending all pof my money o n massive security measures because invariably if someone wants to break in and do damage they will and sometimes it just costs you more in the long run. I think its about being sensible and careful and making your vehicle as unappealling as possible for vandals and theifs. SOmetimes expense isnt the most important thing.
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 11:35 am
by mobilecat
smartmonkey wrote:I hate all after market alarms because I have yet to find one that hasn't butchered perfectly good wiring and added enormously to the potential for a breakdown. After running out of fuel you always have faulty alarms/immobs as one of the biggest reasons for breakdowns. They also don't stop someone pinching or attempting to pinch your vehicle at all. I have removed immobs from all of my cars and it only takes a quiet minute to bypass them. It then takes a further three hours to try and get the wiring back to a safe and reliable condition. I only like big visible mechanical locks because they are obvious and take more time/noise to overcome.
However if you need an immob for you insurance that can't be helped. A basic thatcham approved immob should be about £90 fitted and certificated. The £300 people are talking about is for a full alarm system and I would be surprised if you needed that for the insurance. Try local car audio specialist - they are often approved fitters.
THis was the problem - even Lifesure wanted a cat1 at first - but they changed their minds after talking to NIG.
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 3:42 pm
by karena
corection on the peppercorns salt is better as the evidence dissolves very quickly.
I agree with mike work on the theory that the more you show off the big expensive alarm you bought the more it looks as though you,ve got something worth protecting i rarely lock my old car i reckon the obvious target the-the radio is way too outdated for anyone to re-sell. and it would cost more to mend the locks than to eplace it. I don,t keep anything valuable in it (the sat nav in the bongo is portable so it goes with us) and our outdoor clothes (popular target in these parts) would probably get turned down at a charity shop.
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 3:56 pm
by smartmonkey
I find that 90% of the problems now are malicious vandalism and the best alarm isn't going to stop that. I don't like any crime but I particularly hate the pointless destruction for amusement that is so common now. Crime for amusement should carry the highest penalty but is actually trivialised by the system. At least I can understand crime for profit.
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 3:58 pm
by haydn callow
Lifesure took me on with no alarm/imobiliser at all. All I have done for a total cost of £9 is fit a battery terminal isolater to each earth post. Now if I leave Bongo in a dodgey area I just remove the two contact screws (takes about 10 secs ) and I think most yobs would not have the brains to work out why it won't go. A bonus of this system is if I'm camping I can isolate one battery so I always have a good one for starting.
You could fit 5 x coolant alarms for less than the cost of a cat 1 alarm.
I know,, whats that got to do with anything.??
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 4:27 pm
by bongolow
Doesn't stop them breaking in first though. How about putting a couple of warning stickers on the windows, such as these....
http://tinyurl.com/27o25y
immobiliser
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 4:41 pm
by helen&tony
As an ex VW Type 2 owner, I recall buying a pedal lock from the club, which was a very large box- section metal contraption which locked in place with a high security padlock...I reckon you'd need a disc- cutter to get through it!!! The other point is only park the vehicle in an area which is relatively secure wherever possible, and if you have a neighbour problem...security cameras.
Personally, just as an aside, I like the South African answer to car- jacking...drive with the doors locked, and if anyone tries your doorhandle, press the button on the dash.......
There are nozzles all along the doorsills, discretely hidden...a touch on said button sends an 8 foot jet of fire out of each nozzle, nicely roasting the attackers legs and lower body.....Anyone for a barbecue??????
Cheers,
Helen
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 11:07 pm
by bigdaddycain
I'm glad the insurance issue is sorted now mobilecat.... I'm with lifesure, and i had a Cat 2 alarm /immobiliser fitted the day i bought my bongo...but, they said it was unnecessary for insurance purposes,in fact, i think they said that i'm ok without any alarm at all
This was a few years back mind, perhaps the criteria for cover has changed since then....