Car Security - Trackers - Talk to me about what to look for t

MWHCVT

MWHCVT

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Okay so I've just got a new to me car, and it's by far the best car that I've ever owned and I'm giving serious consideration to fitting a tracker onto it, but honestly don't know where to start

Not sure if it makes a difference but it's a Land Rover Discovery 4
 
I've got a Tracker Monitor in mine. Have to admit I have no idea if it still works, but I sometimes used to get phone calls when it was in for service talking about "unauthorised lifts", which meant the garage had put it up on the four post without the keys in the ignition.
 
Loads of LR forums around in case there are specific brand requirements. Maybe ask your insurers which devices they recommend (or possibly even give discounts for.)
 
onomatopoeia said:
I've got a Tracker Monitor in mine. Have to admit I have no idea if it still works, but I sometimes used to get phone calls when it was in for service talking about "unauthorised lifts", which meant the garage had put it up on the four post without the keys in the ignition.
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Fair enough, I like that it's monitored in that fashion
 
Nod said:
Loads of LR forums around in case there are specific brand requirements. Maybe ask your insurers which devices they recommend (or possibly even give discounts for.)
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This maybe a route I'll taken, only driven it for the first time today and it occurred to me that it might be worth looking into
 
Can't help with Trackers, but get yourself a Disklok, if you can get it in bright yellow, even better. It fully covers the steering wheel.
 
nilagin said:
Can't help with Trackers, but get yourself a Disklok, if you can get it in bright yellow, even better. It fully covers the steering wheel.
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I shall see what I can get on that front :thumbs:
 
Had a tracker on my M3 but the subscription costs were substantially higher than what my insurance was reduces by, cancelled it in the end.

To be honest if my car got stolen I wouldn't want it back, it'd feel violated if that makes any sense, and if a thief really wants a car they'll get it regardless...
 
nilagin said:
Can't help with Trackers, but get yourself a Disklok, if you can get it in bright yellow, even better. It fully covers the steering wheel.
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1990 called and asked for their vehicle security device back.

Blimey they are a blast from the past. I remember them being very clunky, always in the way when they were not in use. Bloody effective though!
 
Neilc28 said:
Had a tracker on my M3 but the subscription costs were substantially higher than what my insurance was reduces by, cancelled it in the end.

To be honest if my car got stolen I wouldn't want it back, it'd feel violated if that makes any sense, and if a thief really wants a car they'll get it regardless...
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If you don't mind me asking roughly what were the subscription charges? I do get where your coming from on the not wanting it back front
 
nilagin said:
Can't help with Trackers, but get yourself a Disklok, if you can get it in bright yellow, even better. It fully covers the steering wheel.
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i was talking to a guy a couple of months back that had bought a ferrari, he had a new job and was given a £600 car allowance as part of the deal and instead of getting finance for a car had gotten a 30 grand loan out (with repayments of £600 a month) and bought this ex racing ferrari converted for road use...he lived in hereford which im sure is a nice area of the country but i was gobsmacked when he told me that his insurance was only £400 a year fully comp ..the only downside is he had to take the steering wheel out of the car when ever he wasnt in it :D
 
MWHCVT said:
If you don't mind me asking roughly what were the subscription charges? I do get where your coming from on the not wanting it back front
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No worries, It was £150 per year subscription, it would've lowered my insurance by £20 but my insurance was only £220 fully comp anyway.

Just couldn't justify it..
 
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Byker28i said:
Diy options?
TK102 or TK104 device with a pay as you go Sim. You activate the sim by dialign it and it responds with the location.

Or how about an old iphone?
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gps-location-tracker-for-iphone/id640133448?ls=1&mt=8

I looked into the proper ones but there was little reduction in the insurance, so looked into others
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I wouldn't go DIY as frankly I wouldn't know where to start on fitting, not sure about an old iPhone, I'd want something fitted and integrated into the car if I was to do it

Neilc28 said:
No worries, It was £150 per year subscription, it would've lowered my insurance by £20 but my insurance was only £220 fully comp anyway.

Just couldn't justify it..
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yeah I can see why you would cancel that
 
gremlin16 said:
Blimey they are a blast from the past. I remember them being very clunky, always in the way when they were not in use. Bloody effective though!
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Many years ago I had one of those Stop-lock bar types. While driving it just fit down the side of my seat on the floor. It came in handy once when someone pulled out of a side road & I only just avoided a collision. After blasting the horn & waving to him, he decided to stop his car in the middle of the main Rd, got out & made his way towards me. I also got out with stop-lock in hand ............... he did a U-turn & drove off. :D `Clunky` can be good sometimes. ;) Mind you the circular full cover types are better for their intended use. (unless used as a discus of course :LOL: )
 
I've got to ask why? Would you get a significant discount from your insurer?

It is a lovely lovely vehicle but not that special nor that expensive. I've only once had a request from an insurance company to fit one and that was on a Saab 93 T18 and didn't get that. So I switched insurers.

I have no such demands for the Golf R. Nor did I have any for my owned since new Mercedes GL. Nor for the new to be delivered next week Mercedes GLC43 AMG.

As I said it is a lovely Disco but if not requested by the insurance companies why would you bother? Just let them take it and hope you'll never see it again and get another one from the insurance payout. Get some GAP insurance to make up for the difference if you really think the car is high risk.
 
Byker28i said:
Golf R seems to be the theft vehicle of choice currently
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Land Rovers have been over the past few years as well, predominantly in London, with insurance companies refusing to cover them.
 
Yeah, wiltshire seems to be Defenders mostly now they've stopped making them and they are easy to strip?
 
dejongj said:
I've got to ask why? Would you get a significant discount from your insurer?

It is a lovely lovely vehicle but not that special nor that expensive. I've only once had a request from an insurance company to fit one and that was on a Saab 93 T18 and didn't get that. So I switched insurers.

I have no such demands for the Golf R. Nor did I have any for my owned since new Mercedes GL. Nor for the new to be delivered next week Mercedes GLC43 AMG.

As I said it is a lovely Disco but if not requested by the insurance companies why would you bother? Just let them take it and hope you'll never see it again and get another one from the insurance payout. Get some GAP insurance to make up for the difference if you really think the car is high risk.
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The reason I'm considering it is because it's by far the most expensive car I've ever owned, so I'd be pretty gutted to have it nicked and land rovers of all types are target vehicles when it comes to getting nicked
 
MWHCVT said:
The reason I'm considering it is because it's by far the most expensive car I've ever owned, so I'd be pretty gutted to have it nicked and land rovers of all types are target vehicles when it comes to getting nicked
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But isn't that what insurance is for? Sorry I just don't get it. Why would you want to pay extra for something you don't even get an insurance discount for?
 
Byker28i said:
Golf R seems to be the theft vehicle of choice currently
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Yes it is the cheapest vehicle to insure I've ever had. Including quidco cashback it was only £136 for the year fully comprehensive with Sheila's Wheels. No need for a tracker or anything.

My Mercedes GLC43 AMG, which will be delivered next week, is only £289 fully comprehensive. Again no requirements for for a tracker. I honestly can't see the point paying extra for it.
 
dejongj said:
But isn't that what insurance is for? Sorry I just don't get it. Why would you want to pay extra for something you don't even get an insurance discount for?
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Yes of course that is what insurance for but at the same time I'd like the opportunity to get my car back and or tossers who stole it caught...yes it's probably an illogical thought process
 
MWHCVT said:
Yes of course that is what insurance for but at the same time I'd like the opportunity to get my car back and or tossers who stole it caught...yes it's probably an illogical thought process
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Fair enough if that is the objective.

Having seen the state of it after a theft once, I really wouldn't want to see my pride and joy ever again after such an event. If it was something rare and irreplaceable then yes, but not for me for main stream vehicles where you can just get another one.
 
MWHCVT said:
Yes of course that is what insurance for but at the same time I'd like the opportunity to get my car back and or tossers who stole it caught...yes it's probably an illogical thought process
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Do the trackers work through shipping containers? From what I can gather, nicked cars get shoved into the container and are allowed to sound their alarms etc until the alarm power backup runs out then the container gets shipped out to the final market (unless the vehicle's been stripped for parts in a soundproofed workshop.)
 
Shipping containers are only steel, and many dry vans aren't in that good nick, and even those that are aren't soundproof.
 
Faraday cage?
 
Nod said:
Do the trackers work through shipping containers? From what I can gather, nicked cars get shoved into the container and are allowed to sound their alarms etc until the alarm power backup runs out then the container gets shipped out to the final market (unless the vehicle's been stripped for parts in a soundproofed workshop.)
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I get where your coming from there and I know that was at least with the early generation an issue that radio signal couldn't get through, I'm not sure if that is still an issue with current tech
 
Personally I would go for a steering or handbrake/ gearstick lock ,it's enough to put off General arsewipes ,any pros that really wants the car will get it whatever you use .
Make sure you don't let the battery go flat at any time as it then has to have the radio recoded by Land Rover .i used to love my old disco e.s but 27mpg killed the love affair
 
dejongj said:
I've got to ask why?
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In my case, it was already fitted to the car and I needed it to get insurance quotes from the majority of insurers.

Subscription was something like £100pa or £300 lifetime of ownership. I bought the car in 2004 and still have it, so I think my £300 works out to about £2/month, which I can live with.
 
onomatopoeia said:
In my case, it was already fitted to the car and I needed it to get insurance quotes from the majority of insurers.

Subscription was something like £100pa or £300 lifetime of ownership. I bought the car in 2004 and still have it, so I think my £300 works out to about £2/month, which I can live with.
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It was to the OP :)

Out of interest what do you drive that warranted a tracker to obtain insurance? And would it still be required today? As I highlighted in the past I was required to get a tracker for a Saab 93 t18 but that was a long time ago. My more current vehicle and much much much more valuable like the Mercedes GL AMG never had any such demands.
 
dejongj said:
It was to the OP :)

Out of interest what do you drive that warranted a tracker to obtain insurance? And would it still be required today? As I highlighted in the past I was required to get a tracker for a Saab 93 t18 but that was a long time ago. My more current vehicle and much much much more valuable like the Mercedes GL AMG never had any such demands.
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Probably due to advances in standard car security insurers no longer feel trackers are necessary. I assume your Merc has a Thatcham Category 1 system, for the majority of insurance companies, that will suffice.
 
nilagin said:
Probably due to advances in standard car security insurers no longer feel trackers are necessary. I assume your Merc has a Thatcham Category 1 system, for the majority of insurance companies, that will suffice.
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Exactly - although my Saab had at the time as well. In my experience you need to have something seriously exotic these day, or live in a seriously s***ty area (I'd move first before spending money on a nice motor) to warrant a tracker.

But as the OP has clarified already - he is happy with an illogical thought process and wants to protect his pride an joy and get it back and the scumbags caught. Fair enough I'd say. Personally I'm not interested, just like to spend as little money as possible and if they take it I'd never like to see it again.
 
dejongj said:
Exactly - although my Saab had at the time as well. In my experience you need to have something seriously exotic these day, or live in a seriously s***ty area (I'd move first before spending money on a nice motor) to warrant a tracker.
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It doesn't matter where you live, car thieves will travel.
 
dejongj said:
I
Out of interest what do you drive that warranted a tracker to obtain insurance? And would it still be required today?
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Boxster S, back when even the earliest ones couldn't be had second hand for much under 30K. Perhaps it was the soft top, or the value, or combination thereof (though I got told the same when I asked about a 911 or 355, both of which have solid roofs). Wouldn't be required to day, the car is 16 years old and worth less than many a three year old dull front wheel drive eurohatch repmobile due to age and mileage, and the fact that Porsche sold a lot of them and they don't seem to rust or break down, so there are loads still around.
 
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