[martin_costello]

I'm mulling over installing a tracker on my forthcoming pure silver MINI Cooper. I've spent £17k+ on it, and it has spot lamps, aerokit, and bonnet stripes. I'm wondering if that would make it an attractive prospect for theft. Plus, I work in a pub and the car has to sit in the car park for hours on end, and very occasionally certain unwelcome 'elements' frequent the establishment, particularly the beer garden, which is right next to where I park (in view of our security cameras). Is the tracker system worth it, and if so which is the best value: retrieve, monitor or horizon? After waiting 4 months since order for it, and saving hard for 18+ months, I don't want some little get nicking it.

Cheers in advance,
Martin.

[Iwan]

I don't think it'd be much of a deterrant because as far as i know you aren't supposed to advertise the fact that there's a Tracker fitted.

I think someone at Tracker told me that when i asked about getting some stickers for my Subaru (which has one fitted). I was told that if the crims know it's there, then they'll often rip all of the trim out trying to find it. Apparently there's only a few places they can install them in most cars and the hardened crims know the favourite locations.

The idea with Tracker is that hopefully if they don't know it's fitted, then they won't bother looking for it and the police will find the car.

My Subaru has a CAT1 alarm/immob, tracker (couldn't get insurance without it) and also a big Thatcham approved steering wheel lock (i think it's called a Disklok?) which clamps round the whole steering wheel. It's bright yellow so it's a good visual deterrant, and is VERY solid - supposedly exremely hard to cut/pry off.

Personally i'd forget the Tracker unless the insurance company requires it, and buy an alarm/immobiliser and a Disklok. As well as the initial expense of buying the Tracker you also have to pay around £90 a year for subscription to their service. Halfords do the Diskloks for £60 - £80 in 3 different colours, silver or chrome looks nice but yellow stands out more.

When my Cooper S arrives in November i'll be using the fitted alarm/immobiliser and the Disklok, no Tracker.

[northandy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Iwan

I don't think it'd be much of a deterrant because as far as i know you aren't supposed to advertise the fact that there's a Tracker fitted.

I think someone at Tracker told me that when i asked about getting some stickers for my Subaru (which has one fitted). I was told that if the crims know it's there, then they'll often rip all of the trim out trying to find it. Apparently there's only a few places they can install them in most cars and the hardened crims know the favourite locations.

The idea with Tracker is that hopefully if they don't know it's fitted, then they won't bother looking for it and the police will find the car.

My Subaru has a CAT1 alarm/immob, tracker (couldn't get insurance without it) and also a big Thatcham approved steering wheel lock (i think it's called a Disklok?) which clamps round the whole steering wheel. It's bright yellow so it's a good visual deterrant, and is VERY solid - supposedly exremely hard to cut/pry off.

Personally i'd forget the Tracker unless the insurance company requires it, and buy an alarm/immobiliser and a Disklok. As well as the initial expense of buying the Tracker you also have to pay around £90 a year for subscription to their service. Halfords do the Diskloks for £60 - £80 in 3 different colours, silver or chrome looks nice but yellow stands out more.

When my Cooper S arrives in November i'll be using the fitted alarm/immobiliser and the Disklok, no Tracker.

I agree, tracker not a deterant as such, more a means of getting it back if it does go walkabouts.... but then if its been taken and thrashed around, would you want it back ?... better off getting visual deterents, disklock etc....

[wibbly]

Peace of mind I think

[abs0lutely]

Tracker Horizon is the only one you'd really ever get - if you're going to get a tracker there's no point getting a sub-standard one.

There doesn't have to be a yearly fee either - I paid a few hundred upfront for a lifetime subscription that is transferable when I sell the car.

I have Tracker Horizon on all three of my cars, and am glad to say it has never needed to be activated yet (touch wood). However, the point of a tracker is more that you can get the police to your cars location in a matter of minutes, BEFORE any damage or getting "thrashed around".

Most insurance companies will give you a reduced premium if you have Tracker Horizon installed. For my cars, it was also a requirement.

[mikeythemini]

With Trackers also consider the RAC Trackstar Plus
or my anti hook & cane device if you don't want them to get far

[Malin Dixon]

Quote: Originally Posted by martin_costello

I'm mulling over installing a tracker on my forthcoming pure silver MINI Cooper. I've spent £17k+ on it, and it has spot lamps, aerokit, and bonnet stripes. I'm wondering if that would make it an attractive prospect for theft. Plus, I work in a pub and the car has to sit in the car park for hours on end, and very occasionally certain unwelcome 'elements' frequent the establishment, particularly the beer garden, which is right next to where I park (in view of our security cameras). Is the tracker system worth it, and if so which is the best value: retrieve, monitor or horizon? After waiting 4 months since order for it, and saving hard for 18+ months, I don't want some little get nicking it.

Cheers in advance,
Martin.

A tracker cannot be a deterrent as it has to be hidden, but I would get one for peace of mind. It will even work if the car is towed onto a lorry.

For about 500 quid, you can get a GPS/mobile phone box that you can call up and it tells you where your car is by SMS. Use a pay-as-you-go SIM card, so no subscription. You can try it any time you want.

www.cpc.co.uk
www.gpsw.co.uk

My only doubt is what happens if the car get stolen and you call the police, telling them where it is. Will they actually do anything?

Malin

[martin_costello]

On your consul and on talking to my dealer I have decided not to have a tracker installed. Thanks for your opinions though, they helped me to decide.

Martin.

[DGC Hyper Blue]

Im thinking about one of the non-thatcham approved trackers like the one below (not BMW or RAC as for Thatcham approval an alarm/immobiliser/tracker cannot shut down a running engine even if it has been stolen)
http://www.gpsw.co.uk/details/prod1861.html - Cheers for the link Mallin, seen them a while ago but can't remember where.

If you read the spec list you'll see you can see you an shut the engine down by ringing / txtin the module.
So if you know your car is stolen you can stop it dead, it may cause a crash but i don't care if my car's been stolen (plus it's highly unlikely as you only normally shut the fuel pump off).

If like a post on here last week you see someone driving off with your car after robbing your keys you can shut the engine down before it goes out of sight (just do it from a safe place incase the criminals have any weapons).

[Rich C]

Got Tracker on the Porsche as required by the insurance company - but probably wouldn't bother on the Mini.

One of my friends came up with the best statement, personally he wouldn't want his car back if it had been nicked and thrashed, just get the insurance and buy a new one.

[mikeythemini]

Quote: Originally Posted by DGC Hyper Blue

Im thinking about one of the non-thatcham approved trackers like the one below (not BMW or RAC as for Thatcham approval an alarm/immobiliser/tracker cannot shut down a running engine even if it has been stolen)
http://www.gpsw.co.uk/details/prod1861.html - Cheers for the link Mallin, seen them a while ago but can't remember where.

If you read the spec list you'll see you can see you an shut the engine down by ringing / txtin the module.
So if you know your car is stolen you can stop it dead, it may cause a crash but i don't care if my car's been stolen (plus it's highly unlikely as you only normally shut the fuel pump off).

If like a post on here last week you see someone driving off with your car after robbing your keys you can shut the engine down before it goes out of sight (just do it from a safe place incase the criminals have any weapons).

Sad but true fact - if you stop the engine whilst the car is moving & they crash - You are liable - Despite the fact they nicked your car. Yes they could claim injuries from you.
world we live in

[johnlondonw3]

Best advice I was given was to remove the fuse for the fuel pump ,then the cars imobilised at zero cost,always keep a spare fuse in car ,just incase !