Car Alarms
Posted: Wed, 13 Feb 2008 5:21 +0000Has anyone bought a car alarm of Ebay, and If so are they any good.
Got quoted €300 to buy and install an alarm on the five today.
Got quoted €300 to buy and install an alarm on the five today.
Stephen,
I bought one before - paid £30 (plus shipping) - it was a Sparkrite model, with "panic function", doors, boot and bonnet sensors as well as interior sensors.
I fitted it myself, following the instructions tha came with it, to a Golf. It was relatively hassle free except for getting the wires from the engine bay (from the relays, I think) into the fuse box in the cabin. It worked fine, considering the price. I think anyone with a bit of know-how about these things could by-pass it easily. I have no doubt that a more expensive model would be harder to disable, but personally, I think alarms are a limited detterrant - how often have you heard one going off and done nothing about it apart from thinking "I wish that would fecking well shut up"! As a safety feature I think an immobiliser is a better bet and more worth the money (maybe as an addition to a cheaper alarm). At least if your car is broken into there is less of a chance of it being taken as well (I had a "FoxGuard" one fitted to the MK1).
If you decide to get something from Ebay, the seller's feedback should give you some indication of how good their gear is.
mrges
