Alarm popularity?

[HGB]

I regret not checking off the alarm feature, because a factory alarm is generally less prone to false alarming.
What all the smart people in this column have already stated, it is better to have than to have not. Tipping, any type of theft issues, getting touched by another vehicle, etc. will bring attention.
What freaks me out though is that a) we all have the little blinking red light that should strike fear in any potential thief's heart b) then there is the panic button on the key fob that sounds the horn intermittently when pressed c) usually all cables are run regardless of what is ordered. We can not however get the same factory alarm from the dealership EVER....?
On another note when I lock the car... there are blinking lights to confirm this.
A little confirmation beep would be most welcome. My A6 has this in a subtle way and my wife's CR-V will wake the dead.

[SmartCard]

two main reasons we got the alarm:
cabrio and only $160!

but after reading this thread, I gotta go with the full switch bay!
(pretty darn observant, dude!)

[Smartdavis]

$160 buys you one decent seat at an NBA game, or a nice dinner out with a couple of friends. The alarm lets you enjoy them.

[Smartfor2guy]

If i woulda saw it, I woulda bought it

[BeSmart]

Originally Posted by Smartfor2guy

If i woulda saw it, I woulda bought it

Definitely a missed opportunity

[JRyan]

The alarms did save one of my cars once. Back in the old days, I had a Buick Grand National. I ordered the car with a factory alarm, and later added an Alpine alarm with battery back up, hood lock, glass breakage sensor, tilt sensor, shock sensor, the whole works when I installed the sound system.

I parked my car in a self-park hotel parking garage once, but I forgot to arm the Alpine alarm. When I walked back to my car, I noticed from the passenger side the door was unlocked. I thought, odd, I thought I had locked it. Upon inspection, I found someone had popped out the lock cyliner on the driver side and unlocked the door.

The thief might have noticed my Alpine alarm LED was not blinking, and decided the alarm was not armed. He (and I) had both forgotten that the factory alarm always arms when I lock the door with the power lock button.

I had a $1K+ head unit and an equalizer in the car. But despite the fact they opened the door, the alarm scared them away as it would have taken only 3-4 minutes to steal the stereo. And probably not much longer to pop the steering column to hot-wire the car (which would not have done much good as the factory alarm disables the fuel pump, and shorting the ignition wire to crank it will never get it to start).

Long story short, the car was saved. I filed the police report, but of course nothing came of it. I always armed both alarms in the car from then on.

It is true that most people ignore the car alarm these days, but for the thief, he probably will not want to take the chance just in case someone does look in his direction.

[2009Aveo5]

Originally Posted by mtndrew1

I ordered the alarm for one reason only: to fill the stupid switch blank on the dash. It's the same reason I got heated seats and fog lights, and I would gladly pay for whatever goes in that damned seventh blank spot (apparently an overseas option only).

I really don't like blank switches in a car because the first thing that pops in my mind when I see them is "what was this person too cheap to buy?"


-Drew

LMAO, Drew that's just too funny!

My main vehicle has a bunch of switch blanks with options that were for European models only and not US models, so now I know there is another person with the same pet peeve.

[Westfield 11]

Just remember to turn off the motion sensor when you are in Whole Foods otherwise you will be running outside every 5 minutes to reset and talk to the looky-loos. Mine is covered with hand prints and, I kid you not, nose and face prints. There is no way to run a quick errand with this car! I can't wait until more show up on the street.

Can you believe that people get annoyed when you just want to get in your car and drive away? They must think I am paid by smart to be a demonstrator and salesman. It's fun at first, but gets old pretty fast.

[JRyan]

My guess for the missing blank is the rear fog light, common in Europe but not here.

[mtnbyked]

Can the "factory" alarm be installed easy enough even though I did not order it as a factory installed option. Is it available from the dealers parts dept.?