[newjack]

Has anyone used Lojack or other vehicle recovery system?
What are the merits? Advantages/disadvantages?
I decided to go with the Forcetracker system which I learned
is better than Lojack since it covers the entire US.

 

[DMor]

I got LoJack. Had it in my other car and seemed simple enough. LoJack is supposed to come out with a unit...or addition to existing units (hopefully), that will alert you if your car leaves without you. New product is due in the fall.

 

[vip9]

I got a LoJack.
1. I think 50% cheaper for virtually the same thing.
2. Do more research - I believe LJ's coverage area is not much smaller (if at all) in comparison with FT.
3. LJ connects to police. FT states they have "their own" track and recovery team. Someone told me it's a bunch of local tow truck drivers.
4. Insurance-wise, both offer 20(?) % off comprehesive part of your insurance.

 

[newjack]

I got a LoJack.
1. I think 50% cheaper for virtually the same thing.
2. Do more research - I believe LJ's coverage area is not much smaller (if at all) in comparison with FT.
3. LJ connects to police. FT states they have "their own" track and recovery team. Someone told me it's a bunch of local tow truck drivers.
4. Insurance-wise, both offer 20(?) % off comprehesive part of your insurance.

I did the research. FT was about the same price as LJ, at least on the deal that I got.
LJ covers much of the northeast but not much else. Police have been very slow to respond in the past especially in larger metropolitan areas like NY where there are more pressing problems. My brother is a cop and he admits that vehicle recovery is very low on the list of priorities.
Far from just local tow truck drivers FT employs a full time recovery staff plus local police and more sophisticated recovery tech including the ability to track in shipping containers and buildings. It also offers a larger monetary return if not recovered in 24 hours.
FT offers up to 35% insurance discount.
Talk to someone who has had to use LJ in the past. I did.

 

[vip9]

Well, Plaza "pushed" me on FT pretty hard. In December 2000, LJ was $599 and FT was 1K. FT just came out then.
Good luck getting 35% off insurance. When I spoke to mine (again, in December), NY State allows a maximum of 20% (I think). That may have changed.

Oh. BTW, if you are SOOOOOOOOOO certain of FT superiority why the hell did you start this thread in the first place?

 

[newjack]

At the time I started the thread I wasn't sure which to choose. I was actually leaning towards LJ at the time. I had the FT installed today.

I'm not saying FT is superior just the reasons I chose it over LJ. Afterall,FT is still in its infancy and who knows what my experience will be if, heaven forbids, my
car gets stolen. Maybe then I may wish I went LJ.

 

[sgtglok]

my 1st car was stolen and had no LJ - gone; i have 2 friends who had LJ and their cars were stolen and found 2 days later - stripped (air bags, electronics, computer). in one case it was a total loss, in another - over $10k repair, after which the car had so many problems my friend had to sell it. this part may be not valid in some cases, but hey you gotta admit - you cannot fix 100% of a factory assembled car.

so go figure, if FT is what it claims it is - may be it is better and will give you a better chance for faster recovery, only time will tell (and those unfortunate souls who GOT KNOCKED DOWN...); as far as MDX goes, it being a new model without proven records, the crooks may not go for it just yet in terms of stealing the whole car and refurnishing it and sell it; there are still too few of these - or maybe it is quite the opposite of that, but again it's my opinion; the problem areas i can think of include the touring rims, navi/trip computer, VTM4 computer, THANK GOD THERE ARE NO HIDS in lamps

 

[Drakkar]

I just got (this morning as a matter of fact) a Boomerang installed (www.boomerangtracking.com). It is a mandatory install by my insurance company. They are using cell phone technology to track stolen vehicle. They claim 95%+ recovery usually within an hour of the call placed. If your car is stolen and not found, they reimburse the device cost, the installation and all monthly costs since install. I could not enter the install area to see where the device is installed. It is supposed to be different for all cars.

I am not related to this company.

Robert

 

[sgtglok]

I just got (this morning as a matter of fact) a Boomerang installed (www.boomerangtracking.com). It is a mandatory install by my insurance company. They are using cell phone technology to track stolen vehicle. They claim 95%+ recovery usually within an hour of the call placed. If your car is stolen and not found, they reimburse the device cost, the installation and all monthly costs since install. I could not enter the install area to see where the device is installed. It is supposed to be different for all cars.

I am not related to this company.

Robert

Robert are you Canadian or Dominican? Their site states that 'The Boomerang® is currently sold and distributed in Canada, in the provinces of Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia and in the Dominican Republic.' As such I dont see how will it be supported by the local police - does it come installed with a retrieve-it-yourself device and instructions?

 

[Drakkar]

I am from Montreal. In case of theft, I call them with my device identification number and they start the search. It is supposed to be good in in-ground parking, even in a steel container... I did not chose them, it was imposed by my insurance company. I remeber having seen a story about a year ago of a stolen boat that was discovered in a barn, 60 miles from the theft location, 5 hours (approx) after the theft and 35 minutes after the call to Boomerang.

It is worth giving them a call. Maybe they will start covering the US shortly. They can not ignore this market

Robert

 

[sgtglok]

as you might've gathered i am very skeptical of ANY recovery system as it only saves you from trouble if the vehicle is reported stolen within the hour; from http://www.lowjack.com OWN commentaries - http://www.lojack.com/foryou/atrisk.htm, It takes less than 30 minutes for most skilled chop shop operators to surgically strip a car.

you know, i may not be a great detective and i'm definetelly not affiliated with any crooks in any way other than stripping THEM for spare parts, but if you think about it - once they get your car by all-their-means-possible, wouldn't they busy themselves by searching the whole vehicle for a transmitter? Hey, there comes the point, again, they dont' want your car - they need the parts!

at this, i will stop my sharade fot i feel like i might start taking the beating for my negative remarks, sorry!

 

[Drakkar]

Totally agree with you but, for me, the risk is minimal:
- It gives me a "sizable" insurance cost reduction
- If the system does not find my car, they repay wahtever cost I have incurred for the device, its installation and the associated yearly maintenance costs.

Seems to me like a win situation.

Robert

 

[MDXtra]

Thank God it's not a PT...

I guess the doors on PT Cruisers are a hot theft item right now, and they don't even have to steal the car. They jsut get into it and remove them. I have heard that a good team can get all four doors off one in about two minutes and be gone. I'm not sure even a pager alarm would help them!

 

[edhryb]

Lojack price and yearly maintenance?

Is there any "play" in the price of Lojack or will the dealer want full price? What's everyone paying for it and what about the annual maintenance costs? I'm waiting for MDX delivery in July.

 

[sgtglok]

Re: Lojack price and yearly maintenance?

Is there any "play" in the price of Lojack or will the dealer want full price? What's everyone paying for it and what about the annual maintenance costs? I'm waiting for MDX delivery in July.

yes, send me $20 check monthly and i'll tell you all about it...
dealers charge msrp $599 i think, and insurance takes about $200 off yearly premiums, so go figure

 

[DMor]

LoJack is installed at your home or office by LoJack mobile units (outside of dealership) or dealer installed by the same mobile units and have set prices at $595 plus tax. Your dealer will probably be charged approximately $100 less for the install. I believe the fleet price is somewhere around $470? (don't quote me). Your price will likely be $595 from the dealer. A few years ago, LoJack was avail from misc. alarm places. They have returned to using their own mobile installers. As posted above, they are coming out with an add'l system in the fall. This system is designed to alert you when your car is 'on the move' and/or tampered with: http://www.lojack.com

You can be sure that people are special ordering MDX's from places other than dealers. My understand of LoJack, as installed in new vehicles, is they are often parked for a cool down period lasting two days, to test for such devices. The battery on the LoJack itself will last approx. 2-3 days after being disconnected from the automobile battery. After speaking with a few cops, I've learned that many of them are picked up unscathed in residential neighborhoods during this cool down period.

 

[sgtglok]

You can be sure that people are special ordering MDX's from places other than dealers. My understand of LoJack, as installed in new vehicles, is they are often parked for a cool down period lasting two days, to test for such devices. The battery on the LoJack itself will last approx. 2-3 days after being disconnected from the automobile battery. After speaking with a few cops, I've learned that many of them are picked up unscathed in residential neighborhoods during this cool down period. [/B]

Hm... let's see - you meant to say that the crooks, once they steal your car, will give it a 2-3 days cool down period? Did I get this right, DMor?

 

[DMor]

Whoops...Yep...CAR THIEVES disconnect the battery and park it.

Hey...years before this wizardry...we actually 'found' a friends stolen 'rattle trap' in the 70's while cruz'n the 'not so neighborly' Detroit neighborhoods. Found it in a grocery store parking lot. Heh. Imagine having your stolen car reclaimed while searching for it with a cart full of groceries? Heh... He just hopped in and drove it away! Gee..."thanks for the full tank of gas!" Music was better and Life was simpler then

 

[sgtglok]

Music was better and Life was simpler then [/B]

then did not include MDX in it... music - purely subjective!

 

[MDXtra]

Music was better and Life was simpler then

Methinks it should be:

Life was better and Music was simpler then...

But then, most all music today seems to be sampled from then!