Info on Trackers?
Discussion
I believe there are 4 different types from tracker.... If not already, go to www.tracker.co.uk
I had one fitted to one of my previous 996's at an OPC - they charged me workshop rates at £100+ p/h. Complete waste of time, get it fitted by specific Tracker people, it's much cheaper. The Monitor seems to be the best way to go - they tell you if your car has been moved, where as with the retrieve, you have to tell them..... The other more expensive ones seem to be guilding the lilly slightly, but it's your choice.....The only Cons are the subscriptions, but if your keeping the car for a while, you can get 'lifetime' subs.... Pro's are a lot of ins. companies offer cheaper rates. I'm not so sure that I'd want a car back that's been nicked, but I guess the subsequent insurance claim will be a lot cheaper than a complete 'stolen car' payout...
I once sold a car that was half way thru' it's years subscription, the replacement car also had a Tracker fitted, and Tracker allowed me to transfer the sub. over to the new car...Goodo....
>> Edited by mbutchers on Tuesday 21st February 10:15
I had one fitted to one of my previous 996's at an OPC - they charged me workshop rates at £100+ p/h. Complete waste of time, get it fitted by specific Tracker people, it's much cheaper. The Monitor seems to be the best way to go - they tell you if your car has been moved, where as with the retrieve, you have to tell them..... The other more expensive ones seem to be guilding the lilly slightly, but it's your choice.....The only Cons are the subscriptions, but if your keeping the car for a while, you can get 'lifetime' subs.... Pro's are a lot of ins. companies offer cheaper rates. I'm not so sure that I'd want a car back that's been nicked, but I guess the subsequent insurance claim will be a lot cheaper than a complete 'stolen car' payout...
I once sold a car that was half way thru' it's years subscription, the replacement car also had a Tracker fitted, and Tracker allowed me to transfer the sub. over to the new car...Goodo....
>> Edited by mbutchers on Tuesday 21st February 10:15
I've had Tracker Monitors fitted to my last 3 Porsches, and like Mark, they allowed me to transfer my subscription from car to car. All were fitted by independent fitters before collecting the car, so I suppose I will have paid some sort of dealer mark-up. All in cost was around £500 if I rememember correctly.
Not sure of discounts offered by insurance companies, although most I spoke to wouldn't insure the 911s without one.
But most importantly, as mentioned in my post below, they work.
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=243163&r=3029360&hm=50087#3029360
Not sure of discounts offered by insurance companies, although most I spoke to wouldn't insure the 911s without one.
But most importantly, as mentioned in my post below, they work.
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=243163&r=3029360&hm=50087#3029360
I went for the Tracker Horizon system. It has both GPS and radio wave tracking. It is the second most expensive one they do. The Monitor is cheaper.
The top spec Tracker is the Echo. It is the same as mine, but better in that it helps if someone has stolen your keys and driven off with the car. Mine won't help in this event unless I alert Tracker and the Police myself. But if someone nicks my keys when I am out, the thieves have a good headstart. With the Echo though, the owner carries a key card in his wallet. You need to have the key card on your person before you move the car, otherwise Tracker think the car is being stolen by someone who has nicked your keys or perhaps is loading your Porsche onto a truck without your keys.
The Echo was dearer than the Horizon, and I had just paid for a Cat 2 alarm and immobiliser plus fitting of my Horizon plus lifelong membership of Tracker.....so the Echo was just a little too much on top of that to justify really. Plus the Horizon is fine with my unsurance company. Monitor may not be, so do check.
The top spec Tracker is the Echo. It is the same as mine, but better in that it helps if someone has stolen your keys and driven off with the car. Mine won't help in this event unless I alert Tracker and the Police myself. But if someone nicks my keys when I am out, the thieves have a good headstart. With the Echo though, the owner carries a key card in his wallet. You need to have the key card on your person before you move the car, otherwise Tracker think the car is being stolen by someone who has nicked your keys or perhaps is loading your Porsche onto a truck without your keys.
The Echo was dearer than the Horizon, and I had just paid for a Cat 2 alarm and immobiliser plus fitting of my Horizon plus lifelong membership of Tracker.....so the Echo was just a little too much on top of that to justify really. Plus the Horizon is fine with my unsurance company. Monitor may not be, so do check.
There is three main companys who make aftermarket tracking devices, Tracker, RAC Trackstar and Cobra.
Tracker make 4 products, all of which are very popular but pretty basic. Retrive is circa £300 fitted, Monitor is circa £500 and Horizon is circa £700. Echo is a new Cat5 system which is probably overkill on your car.
RAC Trackstar make one product which is the same price as the mid range Tracker and does much the same job.
Cobra make one tracking only device which is about £400 fitted, but this has the added bonus of you being able to track your car online - you can also add a Cat 1 alarm to this system which then allows you to immoblise your car, set off the horn, switch on the headlights etc, all from your mobile phone! You can also set a speed limit and geofence around your car, useful for when it is in for a service and you want to know if they take it for a thrash!!
Subscriptions on all of the above is between £120 and £160 a year, and IMHO, the Cobra is the best value of the lot.
One point to consider on all of these devices is that if your keys are stolen, which is the most commone method of theft these days, none of the monitored systems will be triggered, so you still need to call them and tell them the car has been stolen. Navtrack requires the little card to be in the car at the same time so is useful, but a pain in the arse if you lose the card or forget to pick it up! Some customers fix the card to their keys so they can't forget it, which makes it rather useless after keytheft!
HTH!
Cheers
Chris
>> Edited by hughjayteens on Tuesday 21st February 11:00
>> Edited by hughjayteens on Tuesday 21st February 11:03
Tracker make 4 products, all of which are very popular but pretty basic. Retrive is circa £300 fitted, Monitor is circa £500 and Horizon is circa £700. Echo is a new Cat5 system which is probably overkill on your car.
RAC Trackstar make one product which is the same price as the mid range Tracker and does much the same job.
Cobra make one tracking only device which is about £400 fitted, but this has the added bonus of you being able to track your car online - you can also add a Cat 1 alarm to this system which then allows you to immoblise your car, set off the horn, switch on the headlights etc, all from your mobile phone! You can also set a speed limit and geofence around your car, useful for when it is in for a service and you want to know if they take it for a thrash!!
Subscriptions on all of the above is between £120 and £160 a year, and IMHO, the Cobra is the best value of the lot.
One point to consider on all of these devices is that if your keys are stolen, which is the most commone method of theft these days, none of the monitored systems will be triggered, so you still need to call them and tell them the car has been stolen. Navtrack requires the little card to be in the car at the same time so is useful, but a pain in the arse if you lose the card or forget to pick it up! Some customers fix the card to their keys so they can't forget it, which makes it rather useless after keytheft!
HTH!
Cheers
Chris
>> Edited by hughjayteens on Tuesday 21st February 11:00
>> Edited by hughjayteens on Tuesday 21st February 11:03
I'm trying to decide on fitting one of these too. There are a few points that perhaps someone can clear up.
1) I heard that the Police are linked in with Tracker, so can begin tracking immediately, but its not so straightforward with other systems. True or not?
2) I've heard a lot of stories about car electrics being upset my tracking devices, causing malfunctioning OEM immobilisers and problems with other circuits. For this I reason I was steering towards using the dealer for installation. Is this just the result of a poor installer?
3) If fitted to a car that only gets used every few months, it surely must draw a current. Will this flatten the battery? It's not really convenient to buy another trickle charger.
4) I understand RAC's Trackstar is moveable between vehicles. Is this a worthwhile feature, or would you never really go to the trouble of tranferring the device? If Trackstar is transferrable, then why isn't Tracker?
I'm basically looking for the cheapest tracking device (to satisfy the insurers), that won't mess up the electrics and that would ideally be transferrable to another car, since I may only keep my present car for another few months.
Answers on a postcard, please.
>> Edited by DoctorD on Tuesday 21st February 11:39
1) I heard that the Police are linked in with Tracker, so can begin tracking immediately, but its not so straightforward with other systems. True or not?
2) I've heard a lot of stories about car electrics being upset my tracking devices, causing malfunctioning OEM immobilisers and problems with other circuits. For this I reason I was steering towards using the dealer for installation. Is this just the result of a poor installer?
3) If fitted to a car that only gets used every few months, it surely must draw a current. Will this flatten the battery? It's not really convenient to buy another trickle charger.
4) I understand RAC's Trackstar is moveable between vehicles. Is this a worthwhile feature, or would you never really go to the trouble of tranferring the device? If Trackstar is transferrable, then why isn't Tracker?
I'm basically looking for the cheapest tracking device (to satisfy the insurers), that won't mess up the electrics and that would ideally be transferrable to another car, since I may only keep my present car for another few months.
Answers on a postcard, please.
>> Edited by DoctorD on Tuesday 21st February 11:39
I have a Tracker fitted to my 996, and I've chosen not to activate it for a few reasons:
1. My insurer doesn't acknowledge it to reduce my premium
2. A number of people on PH have said if their car was stolen, they wouldn't want it back, especially if it were damaged.
3. £100+ on top of everything else I'd paid out at purchase time was just too much
1. My insurer doesn't acknowledge it to reduce my premium
2. A number of people on PH have said if their car was stolen, they wouldn't want it back, especially if it were damaged.
3. £100+ on top of everything else I'd paid out at purchase time was just too much
My latest car had Tracker retrieve fitted when I got it..... the cheapest version. I normally hover between Admiral, and Privilege insurance, but only one of the companies requires Tracker (cant remember who I'm with), so this year I activated the Tracker unit. I'm much the same as above, in that I don't think I'd want the car back anyway, but so long as the ins. premium is cheaper by at least 1 yrs subs, then it's worth doing. If you want it for your own piece of mind, then Retrieve is no good - minimum requirement would be Monitor IMO......
DoctorD
1) I heard that the Police are linked in with Tracker, so can begin tracking immediately, but its not so straightforward with other systems. True or not? Yes they are, but are more often than not too busy to react that quickly, so I wouldn't really add any value to this feature.
2) I've heard a lot of stories about car electrics being upset my tracking devices, causing malfunctioning OEM immobilisers and problems with other circuits. For this I reason I was steering towards using the dealer for installation. Is this just the result of a poor installer? Poor installation will cause this. We had a hypercar in last week with a tracker fitted so poorly that it simply wouldn't have worked. I'd trust a decent specialist over a dealer anyday (but then I would say that!)
3) If fitted to a car that only gets used every few months, it surely must draw a current. Will this flatten the battery? It's not really convenient to buy another trickle charger. Any car fitted with an alarm would be flat after a few months. All alarms and trackers draw a small amount of current (circa 3mA) which is very little, but will always flatten a battery after that period of time. The trackers have battery backups so they will still work if the car goes flat.
4) I understand RAC's Trackstar is moveable between vehicles. Is this a worthwhile feature, or would you never really go to the trouble of tranferring the device? If Trackstar is transferrable, then why isn't Tracker? Not really TBH, the cost of de-installing and reinstalling probably wouldn't justify the hassle.
I'm basically looking for the cheapest tracking device (to satisfy the insurers), that won't mess up the electrics and that would ideally be transferrable to another car, since I may only keep my present car for another few months. Any of the listed systems would do the job. Tracker Retrieve is the cheapest at about £300 fitted.
HTH
1) I heard that the Police are linked in with Tracker, so can begin tracking immediately, but its not so straightforward with other systems. True or not? Yes they are, but are more often than not too busy to react that quickly, so I wouldn't really add any value to this feature.
2) I've heard a lot of stories about car electrics being upset my tracking devices, causing malfunctioning OEM immobilisers and problems with other circuits. For this I reason I was steering towards using the dealer for installation. Is this just the result of a poor installer? Poor installation will cause this. We had a hypercar in last week with a tracker fitted so poorly that it simply wouldn't have worked. I'd trust a decent specialist over a dealer anyday (but then I would say that!)
3) If fitted to a car that only gets used every few months, it surely must draw a current. Will this flatten the battery? It's not really convenient to buy another trickle charger. Any car fitted with an alarm would be flat after a few months. All alarms and trackers draw a small amount of current (circa 3mA) which is very little, but will always flatten a battery after that period of time. The trackers have battery backups so they will still work if the car goes flat.
4) I understand RAC's Trackstar is moveable between vehicles. Is this a worthwhile feature, or would you never really go to the trouble of tranferring the device? If Trackstar is transferrable, then why isn't Tracker? Not really TBH, the cost of de-installing and reinstalling probably wouldn't justify the hassle.
I'm basically looking for the cheapest tracking device (to satisfy the insurers), that won't mess up the electrics and that would ideally be transferrable to another car, since I may only keep my present car for another few months. Any of the listed systems would do the job. Tracker Retrieve is the cheapest at about £300 fitted.
HTH
I have noticed that since fitting my Tracker Horizon my battery goes flat fairly quickly. I also have a Cobra Cat 1 immobiliser and alarm plus the Porsche Drveblock immobiliser that came with my 993 RS as standard. I need to keep an eye on my battery to stop it going flat. When I eventually get a garage, I will get a trickle charger.
The "keys being stolen" problems CAN be overcome despite what someone said below if you get a Tracker Echo. But don't forget to carry your key card with you in your wallet.
I have to have a Tracker in my car for insurance reasons but if I didn't have to, then I'm not sure I would have one fitted. Stolen recovered vehicles are worth less come resale. Who wants one of those?
The "keys being stolen" problems CAN be overcome despite what someone said below if you get a Tracker Echo. But don't forget to carry your key card with you in your wallet.
I have to have a Tracker in my car for insurance reasons but if I didn't have to, then I'm not sure I would have one fitted. Stolen recovered vehicles are worth less come resale. Who wants one of those?
As part of the Cat 5 standard a healthcheck has to be carried out on the unit at periodic levels. This would identify if there was a problem with battery power (will even tell if there is a problem with the battery on the keycard device) and you should then be contacted by the SOC or customer services. I'm involved at the moment in writing the admin systems for a new Cat 5 unit, due to be launched this year, which is small enough and is power efficient enough to be installed on a motorbike.
Jim
Jim
johnny senna said:
Stolen recovered vehicles are worth less come resale. Who wants one of those?
i agree but having a total loss on your insurance claims record knackers you for 5 years. i claimed for a 5k stolen car 5 years ago, my premium has been loaded so much over the past 5 years they have got their money back! fortunately dont have to disclose it anymore and premiums have halved.
paultje said:
Thanks to you all...as I feared there is more to it than meets the eye!! I will do some research on the net. 
Regards Paultje.
ive been looking at the same thing. im going with the middle ranked tracker monitor, you dont have to call them to register missing. i dont see the point of any gps based system as the gps eye is so easy to block. at least the radio signal works in both a garage or gypo camp.
paultje said:
Has anyone had experience of having 'Trackers' fitted? There is a firm near me in Uxbridge who sell them....any advice on costs, pros and cons etc...?
( beginningtopanickafterrecentthreadaboutthieves!)
Have a look at this:
www.i-mob.co.uk
I have their TT4 device installed and it is superb.
If you decide you want one - let me refer them to you and I'll share the 6 bottles of champagne
Steve
Merritt said:
Has anyone had experience of having 'Trackers' fitted? There is a firm near me in Uxbridge who sell them....any advice on costs, pros and cons etc...?
( beginningtopanickafterrecentthreadaboutthieves!)
Have a look at this:
www.i-mob.co.uk
I have their TT4 device installed and it is superb.
If you decide you want one - let me refer them to you and I'll share the 6 bottles of champagne
Steve
but again it is gps based. if they so much as put a car cover over it, it won't work as a tracker.
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