[scottwkurth]

My insurance company wants a description of the anti-theft features of the car in order to give me a discount. I have a LoJack in the car, but the form that they sent me to fill out didn't really apply. What they asked me to do instead is to write a list of the anti-theft features (both theft-recovery and theft-deterrent) of the car (e.g. LoJack, double-locking doors, etc.). I wasn't able to find a list of this sort on miniusa.com.

Can anybody help out?

Scott

P.S. - I attached part of the form that they sent me to give people an idea.

[sjbartnik]

The main type of anti-theft system a MINI comes with from the factory is the engine immobilizer, which is most definitely a PASSIVE anti-theft system.

When you turn the engine off it is automatically activated and it will not allow the engine to start unless a proper key (with built-in microchip) is used to start it.

I would count LoJack as a passive system too since you don't really have to do anything special to activate it when you leave the car. You might want to ask your insurance company if they provide any additional discount for a theft tracking system like LoJack.

[Andy@Ross-Tech.com]

Oddly, an alarm is not standard equipment on MINI's, unlike my previous VW's (even my '97 GTI with manual crank windows!). The MINI does have the aforementioned Immobilizer though. After some pondering, it's a bad idea to leave valuables in a car, even with an alarm system. My neighbors somehow manage to set off the alarms on their Pontiac Grand Am and Plymouth Voyager about 2 hours before I need to wake up in the morning. In light of this, I don't miss the alarm too much.

[MINImalist]

Why spend the $$$ on Lojack, if the immobilizer makes it impossible to steal in the first place?
As for the alarm, it's a dealer-installed deal, and I had ordered it on mine. Now my dealer is telling me it might not be available in the states for months, and he will likely just take that much ($450 I think) off the price. Just as well I suppose, since the immobilizer should protect it.

[Andy@Ross-Tech.com]

Remember that Immobilizer is a deterrent, not a guarantee of invincibility. The lowest-tech way to steal an Immobilizer-equipped car is with a tow truck. Thieves in Europe (probably in the US by now) have devised electronic means to bypass the Immobilizer as well. Finally, strange as it may sound, there have been cases where a nice car is followed back to the owner's home, then the home broken into and the keys stolen.

[scottwkurth]

Quote:

Originally posted by MINImalist
Why spend the $$$ on Lojack, if the immobilizer makes it impossible to steal in the first place?

True, in theory....

There are many cars with immobilizers, but they still get stolen. I got the LoJack as an additional level of security - my car is fully loaded with everything but Sunroof and Parking Distance Control (if you can't park a car this small, you shouldn't be driving). Plus, I am an admitted gadget-geek-freak...

[sjbartnik]

Quote:

Originally posted by MINImalist
Why spend the $$$ on Lojack, if the immobilizer makes it impossible to steal in the first place?

The immobilizer does NOT make a car impossible to steal, just harder. Nothing makes a car impossible to steal. If someone wants it bad enough, they will take it regardless of what anti-theft devices are installed. Best you can do is make it as difficult and time-consuming as possible so they will move on to easier pickings.

At least with LoJack if it does get stolen (say via tow-truck) you can find out where it is.

[littlefloweryme]

There is also the electronic shock on the car handle that will stun any would be theives and mother in laws

[Yeagy]

How much is LoJack?