Sorry I know this is an old question. My 99 civic recently was stolen and I lost a lot of stereo equipment. So I am suddenly in the market for an alarm system to keep it from happening again.

I have it narrowed down to

the Clifford Matrix 3.5 installed for $550

or

the Autopage 720 LCD installed for $499


I know a lot of you are recomending the compustart but the cheapest quote I got installed was $600 and that was without auto start. Please I would appreciatte any and all opinions I truely know nothing about car alarms. What I know is I want it to be 2 way, and auto start is just an nice bonus. I have heard they both have a half mile renge, then found on other websites they both actually only have quarter mile range.


Modified by smooth_bourbon at 7:37 PM 12/3/2005

 

Go with the Clifford.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B18C_EJ8 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Go with the Clifford. </TD></TR></TABLE> I agree, of the two, I would go with the DEI, [Clifford] However, if your car is a 5 speed, and you want remote start, you really need a unit for manual transmissions, and DEI does not make one and there is no indication that the AutoPage is ether.
Yes, Compustars are not cheap, but they can be installed on 5 speeds, and car can never be started in gear, and the do have to longest range of anything I have installed, and you do get what you pay for. 94

 

you both say Clifford for sure. May I ask why? I was really thinking CLifford since they are the company that also makes viper which is known for being a great alarm, but upon researching it a lot I found the Clifford does not have a very long range.

I really respect and appreciate your opinions, was just wondering the reasoning behind it.

Thank You tons for all replys

Dawn

 

Clifford does not make Viper, both are made/owned by DEI, http://www.dei.com, if you are looking for range, go with a Compustar, http://www.compustar.com . 94

 

ok yes I know I get what I pay for. I want to pay for either the Clifford, or the Autopage. I appreciate that you think of the two the Clifford is the better choice. But I want to know why is it a better choice. Is it the range, the warranty, the brand name, the look. I am sorry I am a stubborn woman and need advise, but I need to know why your are advising me towards the Clifford.

I do not have the money to put into a Compustar so it is just not an option at this time.





Modified by smooth_bourbon at 7:01 PM 12/4/2005

 

ok another choice has been added and I dont want to hear any I told you so

Compustar 2w900fm installed for $600


only with all these installs they are not hooking up the trunk button shouldnt that be included since the alarm is set up specifically for it? This one is not a remote start for about the same price as the remote start of the other brands. The range is up to another 1000 feet tho. Is this the way to go? I am going to hunt around and see if I can find someone local that does the 2wssa which has an amazing range. probably hella exspencive.

 

That's crazy pricing I'm reading......the clifford matrix 3.5 only cost $350 installed with parts over where I live and also the compustar alarm cost $475. I myself is debating between the matrix and compustar but then I'm leaning towards compustar since it has a built in turbo timer.

 

$475 for a compustar is a good price. Is that installed or just the alarm?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by smooth_bourbon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ok another choice has been added and I dont want to hear any I told you so

Compustar 2w900fm installed for $600


only with all these installs they are not hooking up the trunk button shouldnt that be included since the alarm is set up specifically for it? This one is not a remote start for about the same price as the remote start of the other brands. The range is up to another 1000 feet tho. Is this the way to go? I am going to hunt around and see if I can find someone local that does the 2wssa which has an amazing range. probably hella exspencive.

</TD></TR></TABLE>I recommend the Clifford over the AutoPage because IMO it is a better unit, they will both have the same features, give or take, both will have life time warranty if purchased and installed at an authorized dealer, range on both is about the same.

I told you so...

You haven't said if your car is an auto or 5 speed

As I mentioned, if your car is a 5 speed I do not recommend the Clifford or the AutoPage, I recommend a Compustar because they have the necessary fail safe to keep you from starting your car in gear.

Installation charges will vary from shop to shop, here's a hint, make wiring the trunk/hatch trigger a condition of buying, it is almost stupid easy to do on a Honda, as the switch is already there.

We charge $200, [5 hrs @ $40 per hr] plus 5 shop mats, [$25] for a basic install of an alarm/remote start combo unit in most cars, [manual trans. $20 extra] that includes hood pin on all cars, and trunk/hatch on Honda/Acuras, [because I am a fan, and the shop supervisor ] normally we do not include it, we also do not include key less entry, trunk release, starter disable or power window control although all 3 of the above units are capable of of doing so, [relays or modules may be needed].

Go here for the http://www.compustars.com available, and description, not doing a remote start, [if it's something you can live with out] is a good way to save some money. 94

 

Thank you for your detailed answer. I really appreciate it.


I have been told now by everyone that a motor would need to be added to my trunk for the trunk pop feature. Since it is a lever rather then a button. I have gone from disliking car alarms, too hating car alarms. But not as much as car thiefs so alarm it has gotta be.

My new question is I am a 26 year old female living alone. When the alarm goes off at 3am what am I supposed to do? lol am I gonna need to invest in a baseball bat?

 

That's installed

 

My friend that's a female has a tazer if that helps.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by smooth_bourbon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">My new question is I am a 26 year old female living alone. When the alarm goes off at 3am what am I supposed to do? lol am I gonna need to invest in a baseball bat?</TD></TR></TABLE> Your car is not worth getting hurt over, [no matter how much you like it] I would do nothing more then yell that you have already called the cops, [a baseball bat or a mace spray is not a bad idea anyway]

The alarm itself is a deterrent, the alarm going off and the park lights flashing is even more of a deterrent, if the alarm is installed properly and a well hidden "kill" switch is installed on the trigger wire for the fuel pump or injector relays, the cars not going anyplace unless it's towed.

The proper installation of the alarm is very important, if a car thief can't defeat it. [turn off the siren and flashing lights] within a few sec. they will not hang around, they don't know, if the alarm is going to alert a 26 year old girl with maybe a baseball bat or her 250lb linebacker B/F or maybe somebody with a gun.

Take my advice, do not leave anything in the car that is worth anything, don't lock the doors, [if you are in a high risk area] locked doors only keep honest people out of your car, a crook is just going to bust the window, [open the door the alarm goes off, bust the glass the alarm goes off] I have an "EXT" output on my alarm wired so after I arm the alarm, [locking the doors] I can press the "EXT" button on the remote to unlock the doors, I have come back to my car 3 times, [parked in high risk area, down town Vancouver] to find a door has been left open or has been opened and closed and the alarm has gone off and reset itself, I have only lost an ash try and parking meter change, never have had to drive the 600 km back to Kelowna with a busted window.

 

I talked to my local Kendall Honda worker. Very nice hotty. He sent me back to the Autopage dealer. The owner/manager answered my 100 question, in great humor and even complimented me on having done so much research. So he has offered to sell and install the Autopage 720 LCD for $375. Which I feel is super cheap. My original quote form the same shop was $499 for the same alarm. Amazing how dropping a name helps out. So my favorite Honda guy is totally getting a gift box this christmas

I know it is not the best alarm on the market but it gets better range then the clifford matrix, and the shop has my full confidense

 

$125 off, not bad, you must be the hotty

There is nothing wrong with the AutoPage, [as long as your car is a auto trans.] AutoPage has been around a long time, even Alpine used, [made for Alpine] AutoPage pagers, in the early days.

As the "owner/manager" has, you should be complimented of you research, you are getting, [at a great price] what you are comfortable with, and did it with a total of 6 posts.

Have you seen how some "I need an alarm" treads just never end.

Let us know how it turns out 94

 

There's a difference between trunk trigger and trunk pop. If you meant trunk trigger, that should be free cuz it's one ******* wire. Hood trigger justifies an extra charge on most cars because they don't have OEM hood pins. Some Nissans have it OEM and it's a one wire connection. If you have power door locks, on most cars this is a very simple hookup so I don't see how an additional charge is justified. But I'm not a business owner struggling to keep afloat so...

I realize this thread is over but I just found it so I thought I'd throw my two cents in. People get all caught up in the convenience features of the alarm and prioritize that over the security. They claim that $50 or $100 difference is a deciding factor between one alarm and another, but remote start alarms cost a good deal more than those without, and you have the labor installing it on top of that. If money is an issue with your alarm, then don't even bring up remote start. And if you just want remote start and could care less about the alarm, get yourself a remote start module.

I charge less than half of the going rate for security installations. But if it's purely a convenience feature and takes some extra time/effort to hook up, ie trunk pop, remote start, window modules, I ask at least 90% of the going rate because I just don't have any sympathy for people want convenience but can't afford it. I certainly can't afford it.

 

yes my car is an automatic. Was very hard to get used to since I drove a manual civic for eight years. Got what I felt was a very good deal tho, so I forgive the car for shifting for me.

I just talked to the body shop again today and they have pushed back when I am getting my car again. Apparently it takes a long time to ship a carpet kit. I have officially gone over my rental car allowance, but since the insurance adjuster picked the body shop he is going to extend it for me. He is also giving me a $200 appearance allowance for a scratch being left on my fender, and $200 for stolen luggage, and he is going to pay me the price it would cost him to have it towed the 130 miles back to me if I will pick the car up. So I have lost prescious time with my Honda, a amp, two subs, a mag light, cd's and miscilanious other stuff. But am not out of pocket at all for my deductable or rental car. So Peg me as a happy Farmers customer.

 

I got a quote from Farmers and they were more than double of what other places were quoting me. 26 male, perfect record.

 

I have been with farmers since I was seventeen, and on my parents account. So I have checked around but since I have such good history with with, and they offer lots of discounts for me. I couldnt beat it.

 

dam fcm, you had me craken up on your last post- You must be a hottie-. lol, My I can't beleive you leave your doors unlocked. wow. I get were you are coming from. keeping honest people out. but man I don't that work out here in california. that out here I dont think is going to work. lol but who knows.

 

Yeah that must be a Canada only thing. You do that in so Cal and some crack heads are going to steal your ash tray and other unbelievably stupid ****.

I'd rather get a glass breakage sensor and maybe theft insurance if broken windows are a problem. Or some highly visible deterrents and a motion sensor so they don't even bother smashing the window in the first place.

 

Sorry, if anybody thinks anything will stop a crackhead from busting your window to grab anything of value, [we call it "smash and grab" here in Canada] you are out of touch.

As I said locked doors only keep honest people out of your car, [they wouldn't smash your window] but any crook that wants into your car, [for whatever reason] will smash the window, or punch out the lock or slim jim the door to get in, and they don't give a **** how much damage they do, [BTW I can bust and remove the glass out of your door without making enough sound to trigger a glass sen.]

As for insurance, there is always a deductible to pay

It comes down to this, smash a window and trigger the alarm or open the door and trigger the alarm either way the crook gets into the car, either way the alarm goes off.

What do you think goes through the mind of that crackhead or crook as he/see is eyeballing your car? Oh no the doors are locked I can't get into that car, I would have to damage it, I can't do that. Sure, and I have the winning numbers for next weeks lottery 94

 

The whole locked door thing is something my brother has practiced for a while now. He keeps nothing of value in his car, and has no car alarm. He regularly goes out and finds his glove box has been shuffled thru, but my old 89 civic parked next to his car was broken into, and all they took was burnt cds. Leaving me with a broken window and a chunk of plastic broken off my door.

By the way I talked to the body shop again lol and its going to be a couple more days before my car will be done again. More damage was done then they thought to my steering column, so they need to replace the whole thing. I am just sooo glad my insurance is handling the body shop, cause I would have gotten physical by now if it was coming out of my pocket.

 

LOL, sorry I shouldn't be LOL but somebody said "it must be a Canada only thing", maybe not? 94