Help with Alarm/Tracker system

[jwyke]

I am new to Porsche and am enjoying my 2004 911 / 996 Turbo - why did it take me so long??

When I got the car the (non-porsche) dealer gave me a small (5.5cm x 4cm x .5cm) black fob that has a button with a flashing (3 seconds apart) red light and a small (black) window.

When I asked what it was for, he said to ask Porsche. I am looking to move insurance companies and see that most of them require a tracker system. As the car has a factory fit alarm, I am guessing that this is a tracker system. The only problem is that I don't know what brand, so can not restart a subscription. Porsche were helpful, but no records, I tried Cobra, but again no record of the car.

Does anyone recognise the Fob and can help with what it is?

Thanks
John

[sneakybear]

That's a standard Porsche tracker fob... VTS system.

If activated, you need it in the car when you drive off, or someone calls you and you hopefully realise you just forgot to leave the fob with the valet/OPC etc.

Cobra do manage these but if it's not 'activated' at their end it doesn't matter as they don't call you.

IMHO the benefit of these is two fold: 1) a reduction in insurance premium (of all of about 20 GBP for a 2005 car) 2) your peace of mind.

Previously there used to be an unlimited subscription that was worth it if you want to keep the car for ages but these days it's just annual, costs upwards of a hundred quid and isn't hence financially worth it.

Pressing the fob button for 8 seconds turns it off.

[anonymous-user]

That's a Cobra Porsche VTS fob.

AFAIK the VTS wasn't fitted as standard until 06 so your car may well not have one. You can buy the fobs at any dealer, wouldn't surprise me if your seller got it all wrong.

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 2nd July 13:29

[jwyke]

Porsche said that the car was fitted with the pre-wiring option, but couldn't confirm that there was anything fitted (security reasons). The local dealer was not interested at all :-(

Thanks for the fast response.

I am told that Admiral don't require a tracker, so I will try them.

Edited by jwyke on Tuesday 2nd July 13:34

[anonymous-user]

jwyke said:

Porsche said that the car was fitted with the option, but couldn't confirm that there was anything fitted (security reasons). The local dealer was not interested at all :-(

Thanks for the fast response.

I am told that Admiral don't require a tracker, so I will try them.

I think they mean that the preparation was in the car but no tracker fitted. I believe there was a period when the wiring was in place but the tracker itself was a £1200 option.

That is when there was a lifetime subscription. Once the tracker became standard, the annual subscription started. (I wonder why? )

[colnagoglyn]

In my experience many Insurance companies don't care if you have a tracker fitted or not, particularly on older cards. Even if you have a tracker the level of discount on a policy is minimal.
Having said that my car came fitted with a very basic Cobra Tracker and I renewed the subscription for £399 for as long as I own the car. As I intend to keep it for five years plus I thought that was reasonable value.

[AndrewMontgomery]

Be aware that if the battery runs low on that fob your car may not start. This happened to me. Car wouldn't start and it turned out to be that the fob battery was low so nothing from the ignition.

New battery and voila! Easy for anyone not in the know to overlook. I did!

[ATM]

I think that's what I have. I got 2 with my car. I have only had it for a few weeks and not registered these with anyone. Who do I need to speak to - an OPC?

[Get2Jaime]

Cobra, now owned by Vodafone Automotive manage the service. Its a standard £215 per annum subscription, has been for some years.

http://automotive.vodafone.co.uk/

[ATM]

woollyjoe said:

Any way to get a discount?

On my other car, I have the lifetime version which is great.

When I discussed trackers with my friends I was led to believe the monitoring is what costs more. So with the Porsche system if the vehicle is seen to be moving without the fob present they call you. Although I never did check this.

To me a simple solution would be just to alert you via sms or what not if they see the vehicle moving without the fob. This should surely cost peanuts relative to a contact centre phoning you.

Or better still a cheap as chips option not alert you at all. They could just wait for the owner to notice the car has gone missing and then 'activate' tracking.