Advice on car alarms?
 

Before I get started, would like to thank Robert_Nash for helping me get a base 6 speed silver Z at VPP pricing. Couldn't have gotten it at such a great price without you Rob!

So I was thinking about getting an alarm installed. The guy brought it to my attention that the factory immobilizer would be bypassed and that the alarm I chose would take over that function. Anybody with any thoughts as to the advantages/disadvantages of this? Also, would this do anything to void the warranty on the car?

Immobilizers are almost impossible to get around (unless you have a flatbed!)

I'd suspect any future electical issues you may suffer could be blamed on the install. (No warranty)

A little off topic:

Put your car keys beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get into your house, just push the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the battery dies. This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: it's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. "Test it". It will go off from most everywhere in your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or your garage. If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break in your house, odds are the burglar or rapist won't sti ck around....after a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that. And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there. This tip may save a life or a sexual abuse crime.
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i plan on installing lojack (boomerang here in canada) when my Z arrives. you receive a key fob which stays on your key chain, and if your car moves from its position and the key fob is not in the car, lojack will automatically notify the police and track you car's location; this means the the police will know your car has been stolen even if you don't!

Thanks for all the advice guys. I'll probably look into the lojack or just leave it as is.

matt 2112, did you get any pricing on the boomerang?

I got LoJack on my car from the dealer. I think it was $600 or 700 or something

You and I bought ours from the same dealer and it was listed as $995. They gave it to me with the deal. Although I don't have that fancy key option that lets the police know as soon as your car is stolen. Living in Baltimore City I figure the police aren't going to do anything even if I call them, much less the car.

My advice on car alarms is that they are worthless noise makers. If you truly want your car back after it's been stolen then get the Lojack.

Maybe it was 995. To be honest, I'd have to look at my slip again. Either way, it sounds like we made out alright compared to others who paid a lot more...

LoJack has always seemed like a really good option.

no price on installation yet (my Z won't be here for another 4-5 weeks), but here are the service fees:

Boomerang device including installation: Price varies by authorized dealer -- Service Fees (paid in advance upon purchase): $149.40 plus applicable taxes for 1 year (equivalent to $12.45 per month); $286.80 plus applicable taxes for 2 years (equivalent to $11.95 per month); $412.20 plus applicable taxes for 3 years (equivalent to $11.45 per month); $501.60 plus applicable taxes for 4 years (equivalent to $10.45 per month); $567.00 plus applicable taxes for 5 years (equivalent to $9.45 per month); -- Recovery Fees: Starting at $250. In most cases paid by the insurer.

u should get those ones back in the early 90's that said: warning, step back, protected by viper...

the Viper system is installed on my G...but's it's an AT...so that's why.
the immobilizer still works fine.