Trackstar versus Tracker Horizon...
 

I intend fitting one or the other.
The RAC Trackstar system has the advantage of dealer fitting (so your car is protected from day 1) and portability between cars.
The Tracker Horizon system has ground RF as well as the GPS system (so the car is still trackable within buildings etc) but isn't portable.
Both are identically priced including car lifetime subscriptions.

I'm leaning towards the Trackstar because of the sheer convenience of accepting my car with it already fitted and also it coming under the general dealer guarantee but I'd appreciate other thoughts please.

MY Mazda dealer offered a basic passive tracker system fitted for £299, where I had to report the car missing, plus a separate insurance cover of £299 that gave me 3 years full cover if the car was nicked and never found.(ie ALL of the money back I paid at start, not just the current value.)

Even without a tracker, the latter option is interesting, as I'd get my money back for a new RX8 if it got nicked permanently, not that I want it nicked! And it's a cheaper option than the £1000 for Trackstar etc.

This doesn't help Lensman of course, but I'd say the dealer fitted option would be my preffered if i was going that route.

Stu C

Lens,

I have RAC Trackstar in my current Impreza (dealer fitted). In my last one I had Navtrak.

I preferred the Navtrak out of the two as it required the use of a seperate tag to disable it.

With Trackstar, if someone nicks your keys (which is common nowadays) and drives off, the system is NOT activated.

Just my 2p worth.

Cheers
Mark

Re: Trackstar versus Tracker Horizon...
 

A tracker that is RF only or a tracker that is gps only both have disadvantages, combining both gives you the best product, and the best chance of car recovery.

When I had to get the motion sensor changed on my Tracker the fitter told me that they were still taking orders for the Tracker Horizon but they simply didnt have any to fit at that time due to technical issues with the supplier of certain components. There simply wasnt one to be had in the country.
That was one year ago.

I have seen all types of tracker working and I can tell you the best is either the base version or the Monitor is more than adequate.

With the Horizon they have to fit a GPS sensor from the hidden location to an area in the car that I will not divulge. Due to DIY instal of various items I now know where my unit is in my car and it wouldnt be prudent to divulge this here for any of our sakes.

SO bottom line the RF system is plenty enough for us.

The secret to Tracker success is not totally the level of equipment fitted BUT the speed in which the theft is noticed.
Organised criminals can have a car stripped down in under 12 hours and they WILL FIND THE UNIT in this time.
SO you need the system that alerts you to the theft or your being very observant when parked at home.

I am a habitual Tracker purchaser.......................

Thanks for all the useful feedback (and all of it was).

Specman: As far as you know, does potentially a Tracker installation involve much disassembly of the vehicle interior or exterior? I'm not overly keen to have a 3rd party company pulling my RX-8 dash out for example.

Smartnav uses GPS - and this, if I do get a tracker is probably what I will get. I am getting more and more inpressed with smartnav

for £1000 I get

Sat Nav for lifetime use, fitted etc

for £100 more I get a tracker (plus £100/yr for service)

for £72/yr I get updated camera information, plus beeps when I am close an a constant beep when I go through one over the limit, until I drop below that limit.

Cool

The instal will take approx 2 hours.
Buy the system direct from Tracker not from your garage.
You get an excellent guarantee from Tracker.
My man has done several installs for me and he is a top bloke. He visits all the local dealers too sort out their problems and get data on taking cars apart. Dont hesitate buying direct from Tracker.

THank you Tracker I would prefer cash please.............;)

Mazda Tracker for £1000 incuding lifetime membership sounds good to me!

rael

top tip.
Buy from Tracker direct.
http://www.thankstotracker.com/svt/carpricing.html
GO for the annual subscription.
See how you feel for the 11 months with the car. If it is going to be a keeper ie longer than a total of three years, then ring Tracker back up and pay the balance of the lifetime subscription. This must be done before the first year is up for it to work.
This means you have not chucked out tonnes of money if you dump the car quicker than originally thought.
Ohh and it would still cost you the same as the Mazda one which by the way IS THE SAME UNIT.

Same unit? RAC Trackstar is GPS only whereas Tracker Horizon is GPS and ground RF so how can they be the same unit?

Okay okay okay calm down.
Rael said Mazda Tracker. He didnt say Mazda Trackstar.
From experience you buy a BMW Tracker and it is the one quoted by me. I have been offered a Mazda tracker by salesmen and it has been the one quoted by me.

Lets not be to aggressive here....

One intersting point to be observed out of this is .....
Amazing coincidence that RAC Trackstar with lifetime subs is exaclty the same as Tracker Horizon with lifetime subs!!!!!!!

Apologies if I inadvertently came across as aggressive: I can assure you it wasn't meant that way. It was more me being very surprised that the Trackstar (as I thought you meant) and Tracker units were the same kit. You seem so knowledgeable about all of this that I saw no reason to doubt you. For aggression substitute amazement and read my words again. ;)

No worries lensman. No offence taken.

Interesting "life" point here.
If a seller offers you something that they are not known for then chances are it is a licensing agreement for the product from the source supplier and they are just sticking their name in front.
So get them to confirm if they actually:
a) make it
or
b) simply collect the money for it.

If it is b) then go straight to the supplier so that there is no argument of who, what, when, why or where.
When I ordered my first Tracker it was through the AA Travel Shop. What a big mistake. Discovered that the AA shop didnt know how to tell Tracker that they had a customer and wondered why I was grumpy when after ONE MONTH nothing had been done even though it was money up front.

I think that Mazda will not be fitting any tracker units whatsoever.
THey will be simply collecting the money and getting the maker to fit it. Place your bets now on this one !!!!!!!

Anyone taking words of advice on thsi thread should listen to MarkW. Most car thefts these days involve theft of keys to steal the vehicle.

Only last week my Mums VW Bora was nicked, by someone leaning in through the letterbox and nabbing the keys.

Navtrak is the only way to go for me.

How to stop key theft in one easy lesson:

http://www.keysafe.co.uk/catalog/pro...products_id=38

I may well buy one of these (indoor fitting or outdoor).

Shame it doesn't prevent people waiting near you car and jumping out, smacking you in the nose and taking your keys off you. Apparantly this is becoming quite common :mad:

I read an example on the tracker site of A scooby owner who was violently car-jacked (broke his jaw with a knuckle duster). Tracker found the car within 45 minutes after the attacker while the owner was recovering in hospital

Does any of the tracking systems have a fail safe for this scenario?
A special smell sensor or something to detect whether the correct person is in possession of the car keys??
LOL

Trackers will get your car back but is that really what you want after a theft and the car being trashed. Finding the car after 45 minutes may not be that bad but if not recovered for 24/ 48 hours then it may be in a really sorry state. I will get it if it makes the insurance cheaper otherwise probabaly not.

Remember a tracker is not a theft deterent as it cannot be advertised on the car.

rael