Tracker or no-tracker??

[mgoliver(aka Beermeister) 0]

I know many of you rather not share if you have tracker or not, but just give me a bit of advice as to what would you recommend a friend to do.

Some people believe trackers are good, and some other rather see their car go as opposed to being recovered after being mistreated by someone else...

So, is it tracker yes or tracker No??

[Mook 1,166]

I had a tracker on my R32 and my S4, but only for insurance purposes.

Can they be worked around? Yes

Would I do it again? No

If they become compulsory on new cars in 'x' years time, will I ever buy a new car again? No

[DanG 104]

I have a tracker in mine at the moment but the annual subscription costs more than the insurance benefit so I haven't bothered having it extended beyond the first year.

Was the same case on my 997, which really does defeat the object...

(997 was second hand so maybe for the first owner it made sense).

[Andy_Bangle 3,142]

Waste of time & money. Had one on my first Porsche because I was in my 20's and the insurance demanded it, but never again. Pick a company that doesn't require one, the cost of install and subs is money down the drain

There are so many workarounds, from a 50 quid jammer to parking the car in a lock up with the battery disconnected.

Edited August 8, 2012 by Andy_Bangle
fecking auto-correct

[mgoliver(aka Beermeister) 0]

What I have also noticed is that for the equivalent of a couple of years subscription of a tracker you can get GAP Insurance....

[NewNiceMrMe 3,155]

Waste of time & money.

I think you're thinking about the theft element alone - and that's not what everyone buying a tracker thinks of in isolation.

I know a car that has a function that can be triggered by the driver. Without going into detail, the driver had cause to use it and it was a very good job they did.

Different trackers provide different functions and some can save lives or prevent major incidents

Furthermore, why does everyone have to look at the pure 'stolen/recovered' and cost element. A tracker and a recovered car can save a hell of a lot of hassle and inconvenience that you might not view as important, but others do.

Edited August 8, 2012 by MrMe

[patently 4,674]

a function that can be triggered by the driver.

:confused: Do tell...?

[NewNiceMrMe 3,155]

Basically it's a panic function that alerts the tracking centre. They contact the police. The police attend the car, wherever it is.

They have a facility in the car to trigger it, and another 'trigger' that looks like a standard keyring.

[Tipex 1,738]

Subaru has a tracker, and I paid for it on the first year I owned it, didn't bother after that as the insurance saving vanished after the first year.

Also, the insurers didn't ask if it was active, just if it was fitted, when I asked him why they didn't ask that, he said they don't care?

[patently 4,674]

That decides it, then, I'm not having any more Trackers. If I didn't set it off myself by accident, one of the children would set it off just after saying "So what does this button do, then...?" Cue nee-naw-nee-naw and a massive heart attack.

On second thoughts, could you reprogram it to tell the tracking centre "Please call Caterham service and ask them to send a trailer"?

[Andy_Bangle 3,142]

My M5 had an SOS function included in the BMW Assist comms package, never used it

[NewNiceMrMe 3,155]

My M5 had an SOS function included in the BMW Assist comms package, never used it

That's very different. The true panic systems are not dependent on the vehicles being at hand. You just have to have a device that you carry on your person.

[Andy_Bangle 3,142]

My Gran had one of those in case she fell.

[NewNiceMrMe 3,155]

Are you sure it wasn't a device that helped her avoid you?

[Andrew 760]

Subaru has a tracker, and I paid for it on the first year I owned it, didn't bother after that as the insurance saving vanished after the first year.

Also, the insurers didn't ask if it was active, just if it was fitted, when I asked him why they didn't ask that, he said they don't care?

Both of mine have one and my understanding was that you could get Tracker to turn it on if you had not subscribed but for a fee so maybe that is why the insurance don't care.

[cruiser647 1,493]

I know many of you rather not share if you have tracker or not, but just give me a bit of advice as to what would you recommend a friend to do.

Some people believe trackers are good, and some other rather see their car go as opposed to being recovered after being mistreated by someone else...

So, is it tracker yes or tracker No??

What's it going on?

[Sponge 14]

Instead of a tracker would something like one of these be any good? Hard wire it and you could 'ping' it if the car went missing? Cheaper alternative?

Garmin GTU10

PS Please Google the above so I don't have to fart about with urls on my phone.

Edited August 14, 2012 by Sponge

[Turrican 0]

You could also try one of these trackers TK102b or TK103b. Basically a GPS with a payg sim that you install yourself and only cost £30. You can set various alerts where you car will text you (excessive speed, car moved etc...) or you text the car asking for its location. The 103 version you can connect to fuel pump so.it can be disabled by sms.

I've not got one yet but am seriously considering because of how cheap they are.

[aj84 10]

I rang up the insurance company last week in regards to this

The guy was pretty honest about it all and said in terms of insurance premium, it makes no difference at all. Some companies may reduce by £30-40 give or take. Mine in this case makes no difference at all.

He then went onto say it is purely down personal preference...while it makes no difference to the insurance, it may make a difference to you if you want the car back/track it. And that is pretty much it.

[garcon magnifique 4,603]

I don't think he heard you, Mook.

[Mook 1,166]

He sodding well has now