Any opinions as to what the best one is? What are you guys using?

 

Any Directed alarms are vey good, they make brands like {Viper,Clifford,Avital,Python,Hornet,Valet and Designtech}

 

Don't do consider the DesignTech brand, it was just purchased by Directed. They still haven't had time to work their quality and reliability into it.

 

There are other decent ones out there. DEI is not the only good alarm manufacurer.

This is kind of funny since my last experience with DEI Viper has been real bad.

2 Failure of the brain in 3 months left me hanging in the middle of no where.

The car would not start and the alarm would not even recognize the remote and even the valet switch disable as instructed by the Authorized installer failed to stop the alarm.

On one occasion, I had to get the vehicle towed 20 miles to get the brain replaced. The second time, since I knew then where the brain was, I just pull the main wire harness connector off of the brain and was able to start my van.

Other thing also, wathever brand you decided to get, it is only going to be as good as the installers job. Mine was really loosy even if they were reccommended by DEI as an authorized installer. I spend over 2 hours tying a mess of wires under my dash after the install. THis is not was I was paying for when you pay over $1000 for a remote start alarm with pager and they take a full day to install.

The brain of the alarm got replaced twice by the installer but I was told that DEI would not even replace defective units under warranty for their dealers.

These days, I will install my own alarm and I can tell you that it will not be a Viper brand (Or DEI brand for that matter) since they will not give any kind of warranty if you dont have it installed by their authorized dealers.

Shop around for a quality installation and do ask for referral from their customers and do check those referrals. If they mess up the installation, you could be in for big surprised with your warranty should anything failed that is connected directly to the alarm. I had a faulty EGR Valve on a 2000 Odyssey and the dealer was trying to blame the remote start alarm that was connected to the TACH Signal line. I had to disconnected and wait for the problem to re-appear to prove to them that it was not the alarm acting up.

Have fun

frenchnew

 

I have a Hornet 700t installed in my TL (this alarm is made by DEI) which integrates with the factory keyless system. I can keep the factory remotes and retain all the memory functions and window roll down. The alarm comes with a siren, glass breakage, shock sensor and I have the horn hooked up to the alarm so it is loud when it rings! The alarm is great and I had no major problems with it so far. The only problem i encountered is that you have to adjust the keyless entry settings to work properly with the alarm. I really recommend this alarm. I paid about $250 to a reputable shop here in CA.

 

The Compustar line (I have the 2WSS-AS) is very good. Excellent range. Lots of features.

 

I have the Viper system with all the bells including remote start. the system will roll up the windows and close the sunroof when armed. Awesome system.

 

i would say the best alarm out der is the CLIFFORD MATRIX RSX 3.5...if i was you i would get that or you cna get the VIPER 791XV which is pretty good also..but yeah clifford matrix was voted the best so far....

 

Does an aftermarket alarm work in conjunction with the stock, ahem, "alarm" or does installing one disable the stock alarm?