Looking to add an aftermarket alarm system to my car. Any suggestions on brands/models to look for/stay away from? Plus are there any special features i should be looking for?
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92 Red/Blk
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92 Red/Blk
Alarm Suggestions
- Thread starter NormRD
- Start date
- Joined
- 3 February 2000
- Messages
- 3,942
Clifford makes great alarms. Alpine is OK too. Make sure you get a good installer.
Options like remote trunk release are really handy. I personally don't have much use for having my alarm page me or any of those other more expensive options but some people like them.
Options like remote trunk release are really handy. I personally don't have much use for having my alarm page me or any of those other more expensive options but some people like them.
Have heard something about Clifford going out of business. Checking out a shop today, they sell both Clifford and Alpine. Is Clifford the best?
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92 Red/Blk
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92 Red/Blk
Clifford has not gone out of business, they were just purchased by someone bigger.
Clifford products are top-notch IMO. I have the Intelli-Gaurd 7000 and it's anice alarm with too many features to mention. It can also be upgraded to a whole bunch of things that you really don't need put are fun to play with. The remote for my alarm works at least a 500 feet from my car. The owners manual is 20 pages long with descriptions on how to do so many things. I think I paid $350 to have it installed.
Clifford has a nice tilt-sensor (optional)that can detect if your car is jacked-up like a 1/4 of a nano-inch. nice protection for the wheels.
James
Clifford products are top-notch IMO. I have the Intelli-Gaurd 7000 and it's anice alarm with too many features to mention. It can also be upgraded to a whole bunch of things that you really don't need put are fun to play with. The remote for my alarm works at least a 500 feet from my car. The owners manual is 20 pages long with descriptions on how to do so many things. I think I paid $350 to have it installed.
Clifford has a nice tilt-sensor (optional)that can detect if your car is jacked-up like a 1/4 of a nano-inch. nice protection for the wheels.
James
Try Alpine SEC8063. Clifford is very nice unit but I prefer the Alpine. You could get the dual sector radar sensor which senses the inside & outside motion. Nice if you have the T-top. Remote trunk opening is nice option or remote window opening, if you want to go that far.
Unlike other alarms(ICBW), Alpine has the digital motion/tilt sensor. You can park your at an hill and the sensor will adjust accordingly, so you don't have the bypass this sensor when arming the system. Very useful when you have expensive wheels.
Try to find a shop that has experience working on exotic cars. NSX is bitch to work on due to its compact interior and extra effort not to scratch or damage anything. So give them plenty of time to work on the car.
I used to install alarms long time ago and when I have time constraint on certain car, I just RUSH to get it done and in that process you are likely to: miss putting screw here & there, scratch, rip something, not making it neat, forget to plug something here & there, etc....... You don't want this to happend to your baby do you?
I don't mean to scare you, just wanted to share what could happen when you leave your car in the hands of part-time "just out of high school kid". So go out and do some shopping, inspect the shops look at some of the work they've done. And meet the installer who will be working on your car and give him the impression that you are anal about your car. But don't over do it. They tend to be little careful when owners show little emotion towards their car.
Damn! I forgot to call my client. Better stop typing and get back to work or I'll be jobless, homeless, and NSXless.
Unlike other alarms(ICBW), Alpine has the digital motion/tilt sensor. You can park your at an hill and the sensor will adjust accordingly, so you don't have the bypass this sensor when arming the system. Very useful when you have expensive wheels.
Try to find a shop that has experience working on exotic cars. NSX is bitch to work on due to its compact interior and extra effort not to scratch or damage anything. So give them plenty of time to work on the car.
I used to install alarms long time ago and when I have time constraint on certain car, I just RUSH to get it done and in that process you are likely to: miss putting screw here & there, scratch, rip something, not making it neat, forget to plug something here & there, etc....... You don't want this to happend to your baby do you?
I don't mean to scare you, just wanted to share what could happen when you leave your car in the hands of part-time "just out of high school kid". So go out and do some shopping, inspect the shops look at some of the work they've done. And meet the installer who will be working on your car and give him the impression that you are anal about your car. But don't over do it. They tend to be little careful when owners show little emotion towards their car.
Damn! I forgot to call my client. Better stop typing and get back to work or I'll be jobless, homeless, and NSXless.
Jay-
How much does that alarm run? How much is fair to pay for installation?
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92 Red/Blk
How much does that alarm run? How much is fair to pay for installation?
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92 Red/Blk
Where are some vendors and installers in the Atlanta area? I know I could probably go to HiFiBuys or Circuit City, but I dont want those HS kids installing anything on my car despite the fact that one may find a good deal on an alarm.. any ideas?? Thanks -E
In the Atlanta area, you have to be very careful who you get to install your car alarm. Remember dispite how good or how expensive the alarm is, it will only be as good as the installer. I shopped around for 3 weeks looking for an installer who sounded like he knew what he was doing. Once I found an installer, I requested to see his work...past and present. I was able to talk to previous customers and they were still pleased. I also waited till the installer had another exotic car to do and I wanted to see the before and after work he had done. I know it seems like alot but I am very protective over my car; especially after living in New York and Los Angeles! I finally decided on American Radio located on Roswell Road outside of the perimeter. The installers' name is Jason. I do not know if he is still there...that was over three years ago.
I ended up purchasing "Ungo" brand MS-9000. I love that alarm because of the features including Car-Jack protection. I have had Alpine 8080 and the Clifford but this Ungo seems bulletproof. Another reason I choose the Ungo was because of the complexity of the installion. Many people know the Alpine and Clifford...that also means how to get around them too! When they see or find out that I have "Ungo" they end up walking away. Good Luck.
Alex Farrington
I ended up purchasing "Ungo" brand MS-9000. I love that alarm because of the features including Car-Jack protection. I have had Alpine 8080 and the Clifford but this Ungo seems bulletproof. Another reason I choose the Ungo was because of the complexity of the installion. Many people know the Alpine and Clifford...that also means how to get around them too! When they see or find out that I have "Ungo" they end up walking away. Good Luck.
Alex Farrington
What do you mean by "complexity of installation"?
If a professional thief wants your car, he will get it no matter what alarm you have.
Check with local Alpine dealer: Custom Sounds
I believe $100-$150 for labor should be okay.
When I say the complexity of the installion I mean that most installers wire the system in and put the alarm brain under the dash. Most simple criminals know that, so I opted have my brain mounted somewhere else (hidden).
Also when my ///M5 was broken into, the first thing the criminal did was to pop the hood and cut the wire to the siren. In the NSX, the siren is mounted into the rear bumper. That meant a section of the bumper had to be removed to mount it there. This way the criminals will not know where to look inorder to cut the wires when the alarm goes off.
I also have a back-up battery so if the primary battery died or was disconnected, the alarm would still function.
You are correct, if someone really wants your car, they will get it. All I was trying to do was to prevent the simple thief.
The overall cost for my system was under $500 including two safety cut off switches and the car jack feature. I left my car with them for a couple of days to make sure he took his time and did it right.
-Alex
Also when my ///M5 was broken into, the first thing the criminal did was to pop the hood and cut the wire to the siren. In the NSX, the siren is mounted into the rear bumper. That meant a section of the bumper had to be removed to mount it there. This way the criminals will not know where to look inorder to cut the wires when the alarm goes off.
I also have a back-up battery so if the primary battery died or was disconnected, the alarm would still function.
You are correct, if someone really wants your car, they will get it. All I was trying to do was to prevent the simple thief.
The overall cost for my system was under $500 including two safety cut off switches and the car jack feature. I left my car with them for a couple of days to make sure he took his time and did it right.
-Alex
This can be done with any other alarm system. It's matter of installation.
Exactly, this process can be done with most alarms. As I said early, your alarm is only as good as the installer. I wanted to be different and I knew many people knew the Alpine and Clifford systems. I wanted something orginal so Ungo and Hofco were those types of alarms although nobody services Hofcos'anymore.
Arfnsx:
Two questions:
1)Am I correct that Ungo is actually Clarion? I found the MS8300 model online for $300.
2) Does the Ungo have remote door locks and trunk lock?
RSVP.
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NSXY
1995 NSX-T 5 speed, Red/Tan, Stock, except Dunlap SP9000s
Two questions:
1)Am I correct that Ungo is actually Clarion? I found the MS8300 model online for $300.
2) Does the Ungo have remote door locks and trunk lock?
RSVP.
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NSXY
1995 NSX-T 5 speed, Red/Tan, Stock, except Dunlap SP9000s
I found the Ungo 8300 and 8200 for $200 and $150 respec. Do you know any differences with between these and the 8000 you guys are talking about.
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92 Red/Blk
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92 Red/Blk
It is true that Clarion owns Ungo. I think this buy-out took place in 1995. Ungo which use to be call Ungo Box fell into financial difficulty because there units were too much money and the brains came with too many wires.
The MS 8000 and 8300 are very good models. Truthfully I do not remember what the differences were between the alarms. I ordered the MS 9000. I think $200 is a good base price for the alarm and then expect $150-200 for the installation.
I will be glad to show anyone my alarm and its features here in Atlanta. Email me at [email protected]
Alex
The MS 8000 and 8300 are very good models. Truthfully I do not remember what the differences were between the alarms. I ordered the MS 9000. I think $200 is a good base price for the alarm and then expect $150-200 for the installation.
I will be glad to show anyone my alarm and its features here in Atlanta. Email me at [email protected]
Alex
I forgot to mention that my alarm system has 7 channels which means it will do seven different things with the remote. I do have the window roll up, trunk release, door locks, and silent arming.
Most alarm can do the same thing up to 4 channels.
Most alarm can do the same thing up to 4 channels.
I guess what you're tryting to say is that you got the Ungo because it's unknown, not because of the complexity of the installation which can be done by any installer. Just wanted to clarify.
Clifford DID go out of bussiness, Chapter 7 to be exact. DEI, makers of Viper, Sidewinder, Hornet, ETC... Bought them. All Clifford product purchased by the DEALER before they went out will NOT HAVE A LIFETIME WARR! So be careful. Clifford is the best. Clifford/DEI will be debut a G5 line at the next CES.
WHOOAAAA!!! Clifford And DEI Together?!?!?! Holy crappy!!! I can't wait till their new generation alarms come out, I wonder if it'll be twice as good..hehe...time to dump my Python!
