Is there any particular brand people can recommend, or is it not worth it? I haven't needed one on a car for years but I feel in this day and age it may be worth it. Or should I just bump up the insurance (show some receipts for money I've spent on her)..

The other option is this....

That works great for me, especially when youve got 17 of them surrounding the car

This works for me with the Moke-so alert....

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trunk monkey theft retrieval system maybe?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee3L9BQQ4Gs

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Chuck Norris is the only person alive who can kick you in the back of the face!!
mooo, I'm a pig!

I fitted a fusion system from repco. A friend in the automotive audio/visual area explained they were good value. He and i fitted the system ourselves and i am pretty happy with it.

It has sensors on doors, bonnet and boot, and motion/bump/shock sensors. And a heap of programming options. All for about $150 if i remember right.

The system is also connected in three places as an immobiliser, fuel and igntion.

I have had a few cars stolen over the years, 3 out of the 14 cars that i have had, and i have to say i wont own a car without one now, cars are to easy to steal!

Jason

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'66 BRG Morris Mini Deluxe 60HP ATW

There are heaps of options to choose form, your best to go into a place like autobarn with a good installer and have a chat.

There is literally hundreds of options from your standard loud noise maker, through to immobilisers, glass break sensors, proximity sensors, gps tracking, sms alerts, 1way or 2 way remotes.
At a bare minimum you want an immobilizer of some sort and battery back up.

You need to set yourself a goal and a budget.

Most systems are modular and you can add as many features as you are willing to buy.

I like viper alarms, they are fairly common and well known which makes support for things like lost remotes great.
Stay away from Chinese or no name brands, If an alarm fails its a damn pain to fix/remove.

As far as Alarms go, ask yourself, what do you do when you hear one and what do others do? Nothing, right? They are a waste of money (especially on a mini as they are easily by-passed).

Just get some 'accessories' that make it less desirable to steal (like a good quality crook lock) and use some brains about where you park it.

If someone really wants it, they'll take it no matter what you do.

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I agree with GT Mowog.

However, having an alarm is good for insurance, and its a good deterant to thieves.

I think a combination of alarm and other (cut off switches etc) are a good idea.

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Ryan Filippi
Minis In The Gong
[email protected]
www.minisinthegong.com.au

I think they are a waste of time if you ask me. If the thief knows anything about alarms he'll look for the large bunch of all black wiring and a box hidden somewhere around the car - think about it, there aren't alot of spots to hide stuff in a mini.

I much prefer hidden kill switches. I have a few in my car, the only person that knows how the wiring works is me (wiring diagram is in my head) and only people who drive my car know where the switches are. Every car will be different depending on what is cut off / immobilised if they have custom installed switches.

The only problem with kill switches is that it is up to the person to remember to flick them when they get out of the car - that's where most people fall down.

If an immobiliser helps you sleep at night then by all means get one fitted. Plus I agree with what GTM said.

My 2c.

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"In two years time your car will be like a lady's clothes, out of date, my car will still be in fashion when I am dead" - Sir Alec speaking to Pininfarina

I was thinking of running a wire from the ignition coil to the steering wheel with a killswitch...

But almost everything you touch is not metal, so this wouldn't really work. :(

Thanks for the replies lads. The vehicle is kept as secure as possible ie locked in a shed behond a locked gate and surrounded by cats, although only 5 and not 17 ..

I'm going to start wth a battery Isolator switch and keep the boot locked. I'd dearly like one of those GSM alarm/tracker systems so in case the worse happens I can get a few lads together and administer some re-education on the offending bastages. You know the sort of thing. Take them out to the forrest, tie them to a tree and then spend the next few hours firing paint balls at them, while having a quiet beer or two. Anyway.. Thanks again guys!

I flung my Rhino? alarm when it started arming itself on the freeway at 100KMH. Good riddance.
Hidden isolating switches and mechanical deterrents are better, IMO.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

If they wanted the car they could just lift it away!

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1965 Morris Mini Deluxe - 998cc SC12

that's how they do road bikes. two pieces of lumbar through wheels, four blokes, presto. bike is in thieves trailer....

my alarm is a jaycar cheapy (black wire) mostly for insurance purposes....

i agree hidden kill switches and club locks are the best, or you could go Mr Bean and get a removable steering wheel!

Dude ill get you a GSM tracker ( dunno how, but i will ) if youll please please take me out paint balling when you catch em