Lojack
 

Does anyone on this forum have a Lojack system? I am considering getting one for my car. Has anyone here ever had their 8 stolen? :iwstupid:

I would also like to know too, I'm thinking of refinancing it into my payments. does anyone know about how much they saved on insurnace by adding lojack?

Depends on your insurance company, some companies do not provide an additinal discount for having it installed.

Lojack is kinda a scam. I work in the aftermarket electronics field and the shop i work for sells & installs them. 1st they cost upwards to $500.00 - $700.00 w/ a anual charge of course, depending on the model you choose. They only require 12 volts and ground and are usually "hidden", and I use the term loosely, under the carpet in the front passenger or driver foot well. And if by chance the insatller wants to take the extra time, @ $20.00 per install, to hide it better, a serious thief usually owns a "wand" which will detect a signal emitted by the lohack, i mean lojack, lol.

I have heard from various people that the lojack system is not a good one to have. That most professional theives know exactly where its located on the car and they can remove it quickly. There are other systems out there that are smaller and more difficult to find.

So, what are any other theft-deterrent systems out there that are better than Lojack?

I know that if your insurance company classifies it as anti theft, then it does nothing since the 8 already has an anti theft device...2 devices don't raise the discount.

I thought that all RX-8 had lojack.....my dealer said that all the 8's they sell already has lojack on it. Also, I don't have to pay any yearly charge. Lastly, I found my lojack system while dynamatting my car.

Yes, but I was doing a little research in theft devices, and the one that we have installed is usually not enough. And most people who have had their cars stolen usually do not get the car back, and if the do get them back, the car is usually totaled. Also, I hear that police officers(depending on where you live) do not put any priority in searching for a stolen car. I really would like to get some type of system so that I don't have to worry so much about my car. I'm 25 years old, and I worked really hard for that car. It would be a shame to loose it to some thief.

why pay so much money for a lojack. Just get one of those steering wheel locks like the club, except, get the one for your brakes or clutch pedals. I think that is a better idea. Cheaper too. If I had a little more money and more time I would make a kick ass anti theft system for the car.

Things like a box that opens up, when the car is forced opened, and a king cobra starts slithering out. Or maybe when the perp sits down a needle sticks them in the back and neuro toxins are injected. Or have an incomplete electrical current going from the battery to the steering wheel and to the stick (for manual tranny) and when the perp touches both the steering wheel and the stick he would get a shock of a lifetime. :shocking:

:FIREdevil :piss: :lol2:

Well anyways I'm just kidding, doing stuff like that would just get me the death penalty.

I don't remember the name of the system but the place where I was told about it is located at this link. http://homepage.mac.com/aemikeg/aeweb/index.html You'll have to contact them yourself.

Yea bro, you are funny. I wish I could do shit like that. Maybe I'll consider getting a club or something. I don't want to risk paying a thousand dollars for a theft deterrent system that doesn't work well.

Thanks a lot for the link. I will make sure to check it out. You've been a lot of help.

I didn't know Lojack was installed on RX-8s already. If so, where's mine?

The typical RX8 doesn't come equipped with a lojack. But at Galpin Mazda(for example) they had an special modded RX8(wildfire) which came equipped with a lojack but that was added to the price of the car.

eh.. mine was installed after... cost like 800 bucks...

its good deal cuz if they don't locate your car... they pay i think either bluebook or purchase price of your car... if they don't locate within few days.. but they do locate it... they give you some money or something.. i forgot...

i gotta go home and read the thing again

Okay. They didn't offer that where I purchased my car here in San Diego. I may have considered it if they offered it with the car.

The theft deterrent system works very well on the 8. You must have the chip-encoded key in order to start the car, otherwise no go. The idea is not to leave the keys in an unlocked car.

I recall only two 8s reported as stolen on this site. One disappeared from a long-term airport lot (probably towed out on a truck), the other was stolen at gunpoint on the street.

My advice is to carry adequate insurance and keep your doors locked. In the unlikely event someone steals your car, it can always be replaced.

Great advice "JonsToy". I'm glad to hear there hasn't been a lot of reports on stolen 8s here. I guess the good thing is I do have adequate insurance and I always lock my doors. I love to hear the horn on my car when I activate the alarm anyway.

Is there some type of yearly fee for the Lojack "Gerael", or is that the only payment?

If you want additional security to compliment the factory transponder key, i recomend getting a Clifford installed. It's made by D.E.I., the same company as Viper, Python, Hornet, etc., but it's designed better. The Clifford line is a bit pricey compared to the later, but it provides more security via internal starter, ignition, and optional wireless fuel delivery cut off. It also has a anti car-jack feature where if the motor's running and a door opens, the system will wait 20 seconds and will shut down the engine, unless you enter in your code, it's rpm based and will engage only under 3,000. You will have to punch in a personal code to unlock the system. The Clifford is also safley compatible with maual trans. if you opt for a remote start as well. The r/s has many features regular r/s's don't have.

yea after reading this I think I"ll just buy an autolock for my brakes.

hey, in the end it's what ever helps you sleep better a night, right?

That's a lot of extremely useful information "JuiceRx8". Would it be possible for you to send a link to their website? I'd like to learn more about it. Do you have that system installed in on your car?

No prob. it's http://www.clifford.com and yes I installed it right after i got my 8.

Thanks a lot. I'll check it out.

Now I don't know what I heard about lojack is true or its just in my area, but what I heard about lojack is that, if the car is outside the said coverage area, then you're pretty much screwed. For example: I live in orange county. If I got lojack, it would only cover me when I'm in the LA and orange county areas. And if my car got stolen, was taken out of that coverage area, lets say to riverside county, the lojack either wouldn't work in that area or there isn't anything in that area for lojack to work.

BTW does lojack shootout a signal to some towers like how a cellphone works or does it send a signal to a satellite? :Wconfused

Thanks in advance.

I was required to get a Boomerang system (same as lojack) for my car to qualify for cheap insurance. I think it's a big scam since professional theives know how to disable it. It is meant to deter casual theft. But hey, my insurance premiums are less than C$650 full coverage so I'm not complaining.
I saw a program once that was pitching those brake pedal locks. They seem to imply that it is easy to remove a steering wheel lock. A thief would not cut throught the lock, he would cut through the steering wheel!
I think that the 8 ignition cut-off is good enough. I try not to obsess about it.

I try not to obsess about it, but there are quite a few cars in San Diego that get stolen. I just don't want mine to be one of the cars stolen.

yah.. i went to UC san diego... its like car theft capital.. i would watch out where i leave my car down there... actually my old roommates car was stolen.. an older integra...

they stole that but didn't steal the g35 he just bought.. go figure...

maybe newer cars are too hard or... the demand for parts isn't as great on g35 and stuff..

but anyway... lojacks been around a while... and if their system fails.. thats better cuz then they pay me back purchase/or bluebook .. still at work have to check at home...

i don't mind having a new rx8 over old one... i'm sure with every system... a good car thief knows how to disable it.. hell i bet hes best friends with the installers...

and no.. i don't have to pay yearly fee.. i made sure of that

Again, a lot of good information. I live in Mission Valley. I wasn't worried too much about getting my car stolen. But one of my friends got his car stolen in the parking lot of Fashion Valley mall. It was also an older integra. Maybe it's the older cars thieves go after? Yet and still, I am sure people work to hard to get the cars they have only to have them stolen by some thief. That's what really got me looking into Lojack.

Totally agree with you Juice...

LoJack is a total, money-making scam for LoJack & the dealer. You pay almost $700 for a system that is not even full-proof. Not only do most insurance co.s in so cal not give u any discount for it, but it protects the interests of the insurance co.- not u, the owner of the car.

Think of this scenario:

You go to an Angels game and while you're in there your car is stolen. 3+ hours later you come out and discover your car is gone. You call the police, and if they're feeling nice they activate LoJack and find your car- but by then (3+ hours later) it's either banged up badly from a joy ride, or mostly stripped already for parts. Then, the insurance company gets to play god and decide if they want to fix it or not- based on if it's cheaper for them. Wouldn't u prefer to get the full residual value and buy a new 8 altogether- rather than deal w/ the BS of getting back a half-ass stripped, god-knows-what-they-did-to-it car?

My .02 anyways....

bump

Never really thought about that. So "Detrich", what do you suggest?

lol.. detrich doesn't sound very knowledgeable the system.. easy to bash it...

first of all... immediately after car is moved without my special little key fob... the system will call me/text msg me/email me/ pager if u have one/ call home... and contact you...
so you should know within 10 minutes... of the car moving that its stolen... it doesn't deactivate your car.. because that might cause person stealing it to lose control and crash.. which is lot worse than he just take it and take a few parts....

anyway when you get that msg.. you can tehn call in.. and say.. Get MY CAR BACK!@#

and they start tracking right away...

Anyone know anything good or bad about the Enterceptor? I've been looking at this system for awhile now but still haven't made a decision. I'm not to familiar with Lojack. Is it similar?

Enterceptor

Gerael,

I had LoJack on my 99 323i, and I was never aware of such a feature... If the "keyfob" is something new they give out nowadays, then I was unaware of it. Back in the day- based on my own experience- LoJack really did nothing...

Based on your description, it still requires your intervention, right? If you're away on vacation in some other country or whatever, it's not a full-proof system. I didn't mean to start an argument or mean any disrespect... I just didn't find it to be worth the money. And, my friends who had it felt the same way.

To me, if a career car thief wants to steal your car- they're going to get it. You can only really setup deterrants to make them choose an easier target.

It's called "early warning" and it costs extra.

I got my Lojack for $595 (from the dealer) because 1) it was a good price (it's usually around $800) 2) protection, 3) insurance discount. However, I was disappointed at the insurance discount with 21st insurance, saving me only $12 per 6 months. I thought it would be more??

Heres what they say in brochure... 90 % stolen vehicles equipped with lojack are recovered...

if stolen..and not retrieved within 24-hours.. they give you money back for the lojack installation...

if you get gp5000 warranty.. they will if not recovered in 30 days.. pay for up to 2500 in expenses while u don't have car... and 2500 off next purchase from the dealer...


theres a coverage list... for the early warning system that I got...

in california.. by counties: alameda, contra costa, fresno, imperial, kern, kings , los angeles, madera, marin, merced, napa, orange, placer, riverside, sacramento, san bernadino, san diego, san francisco, san joaquin, san mateo, santa barbara, santa clara, solano, sutter, stanislaus, tulare, venura, and yolo..

yolo is a funny name... hi i live in yolo!.. lol

so thats the deal...
i mean... if yer car get stolen... its stolen yah.. but at least they give yer money back if the system fails...

true...but i don't think insurance companies would pay you full purchase price...

and i don't wanan buy used rx-8.... i take care of my car too crazily.. and know most people aren't like that... 1250 miles and still barely went over 6k rpms... under 4k for the most part under 1k miles...

I remember reading somewhere something by a cop, saying that the whole thing was a waste of time (and money, of course). To be honest, I don't remember his exact reasons, but that's what convinced me not to get it on the 8. I figure if the *police* don't buy in, how good can it be?

Well, if my $35K car were stolen, a $700 refund from LoJack would hardly be worth getting excited over... But, if they pay for the cost of the car- then I'd say that'd be worth it... <lol> Though, most likely the red-tape in proving that the LoJack failed would most likely bury any chances of them ever paying out on that warranty- since they'll probably inevitably turn it around into some kind of owner error... <shrugs>

:bootyshak Did everyone miss the part where I stated that there is a divice that detect's a transmitting signal that is emitted by the lohack. The theif waves the wand around the car and locates it, rips it out, and thoughtfully leaves it for you to install it in your next car.:bootyshak

did you miss part where i said.. if it fails.. you get money back for it...

if you works.. it did what you paid it to do...

yeah, good luck with that.

it's been my experience that the "money back guarantee" always comes with a loop hole.

Money back guaranteed. Guaranteed to go back into the pockets of Lojack executives.

:ky:

I didn't miss that part. Where do they get this wand?

My father's family mini van got stolen over here at jersey city. He went to the cops to report it and told him the van has lojack. They just basically told him that most police departments don't carry the equipment for lojack to locate a stolen vehicle.