New alarm needed...any recommendations?

[4Lmike]

Well my alarm has gone kaput! Spoke to Carl Baker, who is a very nice and helpful chap, and he basically said I need a completely new alarm system put in. He quoted me £450 plus VAT for one of his! I can't help but think this is quite pricey. I realise he is THE tvr alarm guru and I'm sure it would be a top of the range one with lifetime guarantee etc but I'm not sure I want to spend that much.

Can anyone recommend a cheaper alternative?

[M@H]

I had an Avital Maxx1 with a full closure module fitted to mine for about £280 a few years back, its fine as far as my insurers are concerned and does what it is supposed to

[4Lmike]

M@H said:

I had an Avital Maxx1 with a full closure module fitted to mine for about £280 a few years back, its fine as far as my insurers are concerned and does what it is supposed to

Where did you have that done?

[M@H]

..mobile alarm fitter in Dorset. http://www.pjd-carsecurity.co.uk/ IIRC

[MPoxon]

Personally speaking I would save up the extra and go for one of Carl Baker's Meta systems. I know a couple of people that have had aftermarket systems fitted and they have since had them removed and had a Meta fitted by Carl.

I have one fitted on mine and I must say I am impressed, no more intermittent starting issues, the boot release is a fantastic addition as is the ability to lock and immobilise the car but disable the internal sensors at car shows.

[M@H]

MPoxon said:

Personally speaking I would save up the extra and go for one of Carl Baker's Meta systems. I know a couple of people that have had aftermarket systems fitted and they have since had them removed and had a Meta fitted by Carl.

Surely Mr Bakers Meta system is just another "aftermarket" system or is he re-fitting original M99's.? What makes his fitment better than the likes of Toad, Clifford et al (most of whom you can add extra bits to such as remote closure, remote start, glass tamper, boot operation, tilt detect etc etc)

I agree a £100 bodge on aftermarket system will doubtless be crap, but the Concept 950 from clifford for example is a very very good alarm.

Cheers,
Matt.

[Timja]

M@H said:

Surely Mr Bakers Meta system is just another "aftermarket" system or is he re-fitting original M99's.? What makes his fitment better than the likes of Toad, Clifford et al (most of whom you can add extra bits to such as remote closure, remote start, glass tamper, boot operation, tilt detect etc etc)

I agree a £100 bodge on aftermarket system will doubtless be crap, but the Concept 950 from clifford for example is a very very good alarm.

Cheers,
Matt.

One of my friends fitted a Clifford with remote start to his Chimaera - It was great fun firing the car up from accross the road and confusing people and making them jump!

[JonyTVR]

I have a friend who is an auto electrician and is going to rip out my original meta alarm which has been by passed already and the toad one that has been fitted and fit one (as I don't have central locking early 430) one that will pop each door open separately + the boot and no faffing around having to press the immobiliser fob once I have turned the ignition on etc. I shall try and find out what he recommends!

[FlipFlopGriff]

Which bit is kaput and how do you know? Probably immobiliser which won't be £450. Personally I wouldn't touch anyone other than Carl to mess with the alatrm system as he's done over 1,000 Tivs so know his onions. The meta system is pretty robust with part availability good. Carl can do anything with the system - change fobs, reprogramme so maybe in the long run a better option.
You could end up with more problems than you think you're solving.
FFG

[Simon says]

Don't get a Clifford whatever you do POS have seen more trouble with these than any other brand Toad,Cobra,Autowatch etc I favour Cobra myself

[450Nick]

I got an autowatch alarm on mine from Abacus alarms. They are a Meta dealer and the guy there recommended me the Autowatch over the new generation Meta. Had it 3 years and it's been faultless. Includes a boot popper on the remote as well Easy to fit yourself too if you aren't scared of a couple of wires...

[4Lmike]

Cheers fellas.

450Nick how much was that? would there be instructions on how to fit it?

[.Mark]

There is only one person that will ever touch the electrics on my TVR's. The man is a genius.

[Simon says]

4Lmike said:

Cheers fellas.

450Nick how much was that? would there be instructions on how to fit it?

Trouble is for CAT1 approval you have to go via an authorized installer and on the better alarm systems i.e CAT1 if you decide to fit yourself they come with no wiring diagrams(not all but some)as they presume you are a registered installer who would already have that info things mat be different now though as I have not installed any for years

[450Nick]

Simon says said:

rouble is for CAT1 approval you have to go via an authorized installer and on the better alarm systems i.e CAT1 if you decide to fit yourself they come with no wiring diagrams(not all but some)as they presume you are a registered installer who would already have that info things mat be different now though as I have not installed any for years

http://abacuscaralarms.co.uk/alarmshop/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=49

This is a link to the alarm. There are good fitting instructions, and it only involves a few simple wires. Most of it is just transferring the wires across from the meta. To get your Cat 1 status, you simply take the car down to an alarm fitting shop qualified to certify Thatcham and they will test the functions of the alarm and give you a certificate to give to your insurer. When I did mine they charged about £15 and just checked that the alarm went off when it should, the various functions worked correctly and that I hadn't bodged the installation.

[Simon says]

450Nick said:

Simon says said:

rouble is for CAT1 approval you have to go via an authorized installer and on the better alarm systems i.e CAT1 if you decide to fit yourself they come with no wiring diagrams(not all but some)as they presume you are a registered installer who would already have that info things mat be different now though as I have not installed any for years

http://abacuscaralarms.co.uk/alarmshop/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=49

This is a link to the alarm. There are good fitting instructions, and it only involves a few simple wires. Most of it is just transferring the wires across from the meta. To get your Cat 1 status, you simply take the car down to an alarm fitting shop qualified to certify Thatcham and they will test the functions of the alarm and give you a certificate to give to your insurer. When I did mine they charged about £15 and just checked that the alarm went off when it should, the various functions worked correctly and that I hadn't bodged the installation.

Good headsup Nick,I installed the Cat1 myself to replace the ageing Foxguard(cat2) so I know its done properly came in handy with the Megasquirt install as I knew where the break were made too and could retain them

[Ribol]

Simon says said:

.............I installed the Cat1 myself to replace the ageing Foxguard(cat2)

(Foxguard) Possibly the most reliable alarm ever made, whereas Cobra were the worst company I ever had the misfortune to deal with.

............. and I thought you knew about cars

[BIGMIKE1]

Ive seen quite a few "cat1 and cat2" systems and I think it's all down to the guy fitting, ive seen so called approved ones that would take seconds to bypass. Problem is like everything it's all about the time that can be spent on the job and most places just dont want to spend the time to fit them as good as they could do. When ive fitted them in the past(never TVR) ive spent hours hiding everything and making sure you cut out a large section of wire so its harder to re-attatch if anyone found them. I'd always say if your confident with car elecs you will nearly always do a better job because you'll spend whatever time it takes, only problem is obviously getting somebody to sign it off as insurance approved.
Oh and yes I was stumped first time I decided to buy a cat 2 immobiliser and be a smart arse and fit it myself, opened the box just to find a black steel box with loads of black wires!

[Simon says]

Ribol said:

Simon says said:

.............I installed the Cat1 myself to replace the ageing Foxguard(cat2)

(Foxguard) Possibly the most reliable alarm ever made, whereas Cobra were the worst company I ever had the misfortune to deal with.

............. and I thought you knew about cars

Bloody cheek go pick on someone else