Guest

I understand that some high end cars now have GPS chips hidden in the car. In the event that the car was stolen it would be tracked.

How good is the alarm system in the TL-s? Can anyone explain to me its benefits. Is anyone doing anthing else to prevent the car from being stolen?

TypeSDragon

As of right now, I have the factory alarm, LoJack, the club and the Autolock. Hope these will stop thieves from stealing.

------------------
2002 Black on Black TL TypeS

Guest

Acura's alarm system is very poor. The
engine has the chip to exchange code with
your car key and only your genuine car key
can start the key.
There is no GPS tracking system.
Another<Strong> BIG </Strong> design fault
with the security system is the doors can not
automatically locked when you start engine
(I think most alarm system does that, it will
automatically lock and unlock the door when
you start /stop engine). If you forget
to push button lock the doors, criminals
may enter your car when you stop before the
red light (Heard at least twice from TV news).

tejenkins

I'm glad the doors don't automatically lock/unlock. Locking might be safe, but I want to control when the doors get unlocked (e.g., in an "unfriendly" area).

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

Keep in mind, this is not an ALARM, it's an imobilizer. What it prevents is someone from breaking into you car and trying to hotwire it. It does not have motion, glass breakage, shock sensors.....Again, it's simply an imobilizer.

I don't know of many OEM alarms that are as good as any of the aftermarket alarms. That's why so many auto manufacturers don't bother putting anything in. Not worth the investment. Spend a few bucks and get a Viper or a Clifford.


------------------
1999 Satin Silver Metallic 3.2 TL w/o Navigation

• 18x8 Racing Hart C2s with 225/40ZR18 Dunlop SP Sport 9000
• Comptech Springs, Sways, Exhaust, and Headers
• Red AEM CAI w/bypass valve
• A'PEXi Digital VTEC AFC
• Mugen Grill
• Inspire Tail Lights
• Factory Underbody Kit and Spoiler
• Clifford Intelliguard 9000 Alarm w/SmartWindows II
• Alpine 6 disk CD Changer
• BEL 945i Cordless Radar Detector
• Burlwood Shift Knob & Trunk Tray
• 20% tint

My Ride

AKRY

High end luxury cars seem to have MUCH better factory alarm than their US/Canadian counterpart. Which has bothered me alot as WHY car makers chose to do so??? For example, BMW/Mercedes/Range Rover has interior motion detector included, but US/Canadian spec models don't have such device?? BMW and Mercedes also have anti-lift sensor(s)(which can be switched off with a button in Mercedes) as part of the alarm to prevent some one flat-bed your investment.

Andy Kuo

------------------
'92 Mercedes-Benz 400SE
Pearl Grey/Black

'02 Acura TL-S
Satin Silver/Ebony

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Guest

I am ignorant about the lack of factory alarm. When I press the panic button on the remote, the horn blares. Is this not part of an integrated alarm system? Even if it is, should I get an after-market alarm? If so, what is the alarm of choice?

The F&I guy at the dealer tried to sell me LoJack for $695. What is the "street price" and is it worth it? Sorry about the multiple questions.

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">[This message has been edited by tlsdave on April 17, 2001 @ ]</font>

VolkRacing

I'm not sure about the street price of lojack...but my F&I person tried to sell it for $595

Guest

Can an after market alarm be controled with OEM remote? For example when I lock I would like the after market alarm to be armed and disarm when I open the door. Anyone looked into this before?

Guest

Lo-Jack's recommended price is $595.00 installed. Dealers should follow that price and not raise it. I'm in law enforcement and have not had a failed Lo-Jack unit yet. I had it installed immediately in my S type.
I highly recommend it.

Deckard

Guest

What is a LoJack?

Guest

It's a stolen vehicle recovery system that is operated only by law enforcement. If your vehicle is stolen, when you report it you give your VIN number to the appropriate LEA and your LO-Jack is activated. It then sends out a signal to the police vehicle that has the receiver for Lo-Jack.

when it is installed, you yourself are not even told where it is on your vehicle.

Deckard

Guest

Thanks, Bladerunner. Let me add Driver's question to my previously posted list. Any answers?

AcuraTLFan

Would LoJack and having a GPS protection system be almost redundant?

Guest

How do I go about getting this Lo Jack unit installed? Where is F&I? Do I buy the unit from them and have them installed it or bring the unit to a law enforcement agency to have it done? Can the dealer do it?

Thanks for the info.

twm01

bayacura,

your dealer or a lojack dealer can sell/install it for you. F&I is the 'Finance & Insurance' guy at the dealer, whose job is to screw you out of more money, either by selling you vastly overinflated products/services (extra rustproofing, extended warranties, marked-up lojacks, etc. etc.) or by charging higher interest rates than you qualify for (through what is called interest sharing with the bank).

Note that I am not saying these products themselves are bad (lojack, ext. warranties, etc., just that they usually mark them up obscene amounts at the dealerships.

Also, check out www.lojack.com to find more info, lojack dealers and coverage areas (note that it is not available in all states!).

Good luck!

Tom

------------------

Guest

Thank twm01 for the lojack site. It answers most of the lojack questions. I think the reason my dealer quoted $100 over list is the fact that next nearest dealer is nearly 100 miles away.

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">[This message has been edited by tlsdave on April 18, 2001 @ ]</font>

MCD

Hate to go off on a tangent here, but can you explain "interest sharing"? I wanna make sure my dealer didn't do it to me.



------------------
2002 Acura TL-S w/ Navi
Aegean Blue
Underbody kit
Spoiler

Former: 1997 Acura Integra GS-R
Pioneer Head Unit, CD-Changer, EQ, Boston Acoustics separates, 2 - JL 12W4s, Kicker & Pioneer Amps

mmski1

The new RL is going to have OnStar. I don't know why it is not on the TL.

Guest

MCD, "interest sharing" is a part of the "dealer reserve" inherent in indirect auto financing (where you finance thru the dealer as opposed to dealing directly with a financial institution).

You are not borrowing the dealer's money, rather a bank's. The dealer may quote you 8% but may be getting a 7.5% "buy rate" from the bank. The .5% differential goes into the dealer reserve from which loan losses to the bank are deducted in some cases. When the reserve reaches a certain level, the dealer is allowed to skim the excess for additional profit down the road.

-tlsdave (27 years in the banking business)

twm01

Thanks, TLS-Dave, that's a little better than the explanation I had, which was along the lines of:

When you apply for a loan with the dealership, the rate you get is based upon (among other things) your credit rating. Let's say you fill out the paperwork and the F&I guy punches it into the computer, which comes back with 7.5% on his screen. He tells you 8.5% with a sh!*-eating smile on his face... you go for it, and he and the bank split the extra 1% (in this example).

Just another reason car dealers are the lowest form of life... well, other than lawyers, of course.

------------------

MCD

Ahh I see. Excellent information, thanks tlsdave!

Guest

Actually, twm01, your scenario is precisely what happens in many cases. Credit underwriting certainly figures into the "buy rate" from the bank and the F&I person is paid to mark it up to fund the dealer reserve.

Back to topic, any insight as to alarms?

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">[This message has been edited by tlsdave on April 18, 2001 @ ]</font>

RichieRich

Can I ask you guys something. I think I got ripped off. My dealer said he would install a factory alarm for $395. I thought it was included but he said that the sirens and the relays weren't. So I paid for it.

Am I a sucker? Does anyone know if the sirens and relays are included? Did I pay too much as it is?

Rich
"Really stupid car buyer"

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

Before you go and spend the money on Lo-Jack, I would call the local police where your car plans to spend most of it's time and ask them how many of their vehicles have the Lo-Jack tracking system in their vehicles.

This is the device they use to track a Lo-Jack equipped vehicle.

I've heard that some jurisdictions have only one car with the unit in them, making Lo-Jack not very desirable.

You - "Um yes, I just went outside and noticed that my car is gone. I have Lo-Jack. Can you go and find it for me?"

Dispatcher - "Um, yeah I guess we could find it for you. But, um, a funny thing happened today. The car that has our Lo-Jack system in it, was involved in an accident. It's in the body shop for a few weeks getting fixed."

You - Oh holy #$%^%^#^ #%^&#%&%@&%@% #$&^%#%&@%&^% $&%#&%&%#^# $%#&%#&#%

Buyer Beware

------------------
1999 Satin Silver Metallic 3.2 TL w/o Navigation

• 18x8 Racing Hart C2s with 225/40ZR18 Dunlop SP Sport 9000
• Comptech Springs, Sways, Exhaust, and Headers
• Red AEM CAI w/bypass valve
• A'PEXi Digital VTEC AFC
• Mugen Grill
• Inspire Tail Lights
• Factory Underbody Kit and Spoiler
• Clifford Intelliguard 9000 Alarm w/SmartWindows II
• Alpine 6 disk CD Changer
• BEL 945i Cordless Radar Detector
• Burlwood Shift Knob & Trunk Tray
• 20% tint

My Ride

Denso Iridium Plugs on the way

Guest

Thanks for all the info. I will definitely go check it out.

MCD

For the factory alarm??

I think you got ripped off, unless you have anything more than the factory door lock/unlock, trunk pop, and panic.

I think you should complain.

------------------
2002 Acura TL-S w/ Navi
Aegean Blue
Underbody kit
Spoiler

Former: 1997 Acura Integra GS-R
Pioneer Head Unit, CD-Changer, EQ, Boston Acoustics separates, 2 - JL 12W4s, Kicker & Pioneer Amps

RichieRich

I was going to but I keep getting different answers from different Acura dealers...

I don't know who to believe???

------------------
2002 TL Type S
Nighthawk Black Pearl

FTM-1

I have not been on here in a few days let me get in on this topic. I disagree with (NSXNEXT) about the TL system only being an Imobilizer.It is an alarm but only works if you open the door. This is what Acura claims is an alarm. The system is poor for that reason. Now I agree 100% with (NSXNEXT) to get a Clifford or high end Viper alarm system.
Before I purchased my car over a year ago alot of the guys with the 99TL were having Clifford Alarms put in. I had a Clifford put in the day after I picked up my TL. I got all the info on the Clifford alarm systems months before I got my TL. Clifford has many models to choose from. Some of the best features on the system to me are the anticarjacking/self recovery. This built-in feature will work better than Lojack. It prevents someone from getting away with your car even if they have the key&alarm remote. Your car can only be driven about a block befor (Blackjax) anticajacking takes control.
Another good feature is you can adjust your alarm sensors yourself. there is no need to take it back to installer for this just use your master remote control.

------------------
2000 3.2TL Nighthawk Black/Ebony/Navigation/ Optional Factory Chrome Multi Spoke 16" Wheels/Factory Underbody Kit/Factory Spoiler/Moonroof Visor/Factory 6-CD Changer/Trunk Mat/Factory Black Wheel Well Trim/Clifford IG8000 Alarm System w/add-ons/51% Tint/Weathertech Floormats /Michelin Arcctic Alpin Winter Tires on Stock Wheels/Factory Car Cover/Factory Gold Emblems Grille & Exhaust Tips

oblio98

How does it work with the Acura remotes? What model Clifford did you get?
Do you lose any Acura features if you get the Clifford installed?

Thanks

:-jon

------------------
-------------------------------------------
2002 TL-S NAV Black/Black
w/Spoiler, Body Kit, Bowling Ball Wheel,
Bowling Ball Gauge & Vent Trim Kit
Comptech Springs
Comptech Exhaust
Pictures at:
<A HREF="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=1626677&f=0

" TARGET=_blank>http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=1626677&f=0

</A>

FTM-1

R Man

You might want to check out www.epinions.com. There are a few comments on older Clifford alarms. It seems that the Clifford's remote is a fairly confusing little piece of work, but the features and technology appear to be the best. Also check out www.clifford.com. They don't show any prices, but you can expect to pay in the neighborhood of $400 and up for a mid-level system, installed.

BTW Oblio, I just checked out the pix of your car (again) and really like the look of the CompTech exhaust. Why didn't you get headers also?

oblio98

In retrospect, I should have had it done all at once. Aside from the obvious answer of the extra $1200, I thought I'd give the car a chance to break in a little more before I got the headers. They are definately in the future, I was thinking of maybe doing it in the fall....

:-jon