Porsche Trackers

[anonymous-user]

Hi All

I found out when renewing my tracker subscription on CobraTrak that Vodafone have now taken over.

Vodafone are a joke based on my experiences with corporate mobile and I don't want to give them a red cent of my money.

My R is out of warranty now so I'll change the tracker but I have a GT4 arriving and the OPC says that I'll invalidate the warranty going with anyone but Vodafone.

Person I spoke to at the OPC didn't sound the most clued up so thought I'd see what everyone else has been told. Memory from the R was that I only had a choice of one model of the Cobra products as well - I couldn't get any of the more advanced features like web based tracking as they were not 'approved by the factory'.

Can anyone recommend an alternative provider of a tracker/model they'd recommend?

Anyone bought a new car recently and can talk of their experience with trackers at their OPC?

Thanks in advance.


Alex

[STiG911]

This is odd. Admittedly it was a long time ago, but the original owner of my C2S had a 'Tracker' tracker fitted at Sutton Coldfield OPC before it was handed over to him.
I've heard some spurious stories before about OPCs trying to pull the wool over customers eyes, but this is a new one.
Insofar as I'm aware, a tracker just has to be professionally fitted to ensure there's no effect on the warranty.

[sidicks]

STiG911 said:

This is odd. Admittedly it was a long time ago, but the original owner of my C2S had a 'Tracker' tracker fitted at Sutton Coldfield OPC before it was handed over to him.
I've heard some spurious stories before about OPCs trying to pull the wool over customers eyes, but this is a new one.
Insofar as I'm aware, a tracker just has to be professionally fitted to ensure there's no effect on the warranty.

Surely, given that the Tracker has to be connected to the car's electrical systems, it is not unreasonable that Porsche insist on installing an approved system to maintain that warranty.

The Porsche VTS tracker does the job and has the appropriate Thatcham approvals.

Not sure it is really worth getting too obsessed about - the new cars come with the option of 'Porsche Car Connect' (http://www.porsche.com/uk/carconnect/) which includes options like remote monitoring and geofencing etc.

[Tony 1234]

Aren't tracker's redundant now that anyone can buy a small device off e-bay that plugs into the car's old cig socket that block's the signal?

[sidicks]

Tony 1234 said:

Aren't tracker's redundant now that anyone can buy a small device off e-bay that plugs into the car's old cig socket that block's the signal?

Is that really true?

[Magic919]

They remain a requirement for some Insurers.

[Far Cough]

sidicks said:

Tony 1234 said:

Aren't tracker's redundant now that anyone can buy a small device off e-bay that plugs into the car's old cig socket that block's the signal?

Is that really true?

Yes it is and its common knowledge now, been on the television etc etc so not secret by a long chalk. As with all technology this weeks great invention is superseded next week. Trackers have been around for years and how they work is simple.... ergo , simple to counteract if that is your particular line of business.

Magic919 said:

They remain a requirement for some Insurers.

Also true and usually depends on the value placed upon said car. Some require over £50k some are £60k. All underwriters have their own views.

Are they worth it ? Depends on your point of view. Some will not want their car back once stolen especially if they have a gap policy running and they are near the end of term. Some people will want their car back but having a tracker fitted is not a guaranteed solution.

[Magic919]

My Insurer doesn't care about the value. They just require it on that model of car.

[alfa phil]

Magic919 said:

My Insurer doesn't care about the value. They just require it on that model of car.

+1

[Tony 1234]

sidicks said:

Tony 1234 said:

Aren't tracker's redundant now that anyone can buy a small device off e-bay that plugs into the car's old cig socket that block's the signal?

Is that really true?

Given that the tracker companies/car manufacturers also know about these products isn't that 'demanding money through false pretenses' ie they they know the product doesn't work any longer but still insist on it fitted?

[sidicks]

Tony 1234 said:

Given that the tracker companies/car manufacturers also know about these products isn't that 'demanding money through false pretenses' ie they they know the product doesn't work any longer but still insist on it fitted?

The insurers are the ones who insist on them being fitted.

I'm still sceptical that what you say is true!

[anonymous-user]

Reason I mentioned the models is that some cars/insurers insist on higher grade trackers based on value and I wondered if there was consistency or whether the OPC was feeding me BS.

Totally understand the need for a qualified fitter but an approved installer should be adequate.

It's a pain as my insurer won't insure the car without a tracker. The underwriters are black and white on the issue.

Presenting evidence that the 'security' device is easily beaten may encourage them to respond with an offer of a stupid premium due to the 'increased risk' and desirability of the car. I can hear them now.

[GC8]

sidicks said:

I'm still sceptical that what you say is true!

I have one here in front of me. What exactly would it take to convince you of the bleeding obvious?

[sidicks]

GC8 said:

I have one here in front of me. What exactly would it take to convince you of the bleeding obvious?

'bleeding obvious' ?

[GC8]

Get a grip man! $20 GPS jammers have been available for ten years. Theyre slightly harder to buy now that PayPal has refused to facilitate their purchase, but it still isn't difficult.

[bigmowley]

Mutema said:

Hi All

I found out when renewing my tracker subscription on CobraTrak that Vodafone have now taken over.

Vodafone are a joke based on my experiences with corporate mobile and I don't want to give them a red cent of my money.

My R is out of warranty now so I'll change the tracker but I have a GT4 arriving and the OPC says that I'll invalidate the warranty going with anyone but Vodafone.

Person I spoke to at the OPC didn't sound the most clued up so thought I'd see what everyone else has been told. Memory from the R was that I only had a choice of one model of the Cobra products as well - I couldn't get any of the more advanced features like web based tracking as they were not 'approved by the factory'.

Can anyone recommend an alternative provider of a tracker/model they'd recommend?

Anyone bought a new car recently and can talk of their experience with trackers at their OPC?

Thanks in advance.


Alex

May not be an issue with the GT4. I have a September build car and my dealer says that it doesn't come with a tracker, (unlike the 911). To which I say hooray, I hate giving the toss pots at Cobra a few hundred quid every year for a substandard product and poor service. Free to fit whatever you want IMHO.

[Bieldside]

bigmowley said:

May not be an issue with the GT4. I have a September build car and my dealer says that it doesn't come with a tracker, (unlike the 911). To which I say hooray, I hate giving the toss pots at Cobra a few hundred quid every year for a substandard product and poor service. Free to fit whatever you want IMHO.

Oddly enough my GT3 came with the tracker but I assumed that it was all part of the £120,000 purchase price
I had an issue with the battery in the fob and found out that my car was not being monitored as I had not paid a subscription
Thankfully the car had never been stolen !!! But I was not advised that I had to pay any subscription ......
Whew!!

[sidicks]

Bieldside said:

Oddly enough my GT3 came with the tracker but I assumed that it was all part of the £120,000 purchase price
I had an issue with the battery in the fob and found out that my car was not being monitored as I had not paid a subscription
Thankfully the car had never been stolen !!! But I was not advised that I had to pay any subscription ......
Whew!!

Tracker price is included in standard UK specification for the 911 range (but apparently not for the Cayman range). When I collected my car, the Salesman had printed all of the tracker paperwork so it was just a matter of filling in my contact details, passwords etc and then providing the credit card details!

[Bieldside]

I had to pay £205 for the subscription on Friday and was told that the price of the car excluded the tracker
God knows what would have happened if the car had been stolen ! Who would be at fault ?

[sidicks]

Bieldside said:

I had to pay £205 for the subscription on Friday and was told that the price of the car excluded the tracker
God knows what would have happened if the car had been stolen ! Who would be at fault ?

The price include the system itself and the fitment of the tracker but not the annual subscription.

Incidentally, I had a similar issue to you, but although I'd actually completed all of the paperwork at the dealership when I collected my car (and provided credit card details etc), last week I (accidentally) found that my subscription had not been activated - it appears that Cobra / Vodafone had lost my paperwork, and I'd never noticed that the card had not been charged and neither had I received any paperwork.

Like you, I've no idea what would have happened if my car had been stolen in the intervening period...