Si Stocks Posted June 20, 2002 Posted June 20, 2002 After a few hours spent ringing round insurers, I've finally found a compeitive company, Sureterm, that will give agreed value cover at a decent rate...the only problem is that they require Cat 1 alarm/immobiliser combo and I only have a Cat2 immobiliser...now, the issue is, whilst the insurance is £100 cheaper than the next one, the alarm is going to cost an minimum of £300. So, my question is, do you think I need a Cat 1 alarm anyway and should therefore go for it, or is it an unnecessary extra and so I should just stump up for the more expensive insurance...the car is kept in London, off the road, but not in a garage, so I guess an alarm would be good, but then again, as the car isn't used daily, I'm also guessing will lead to a few flat batteries...hmmmm.... Any thoughts??? ta Simon Quote
Edo Posted June 21, 2002 Posted June 21, 2002 Personally don't even have an immobiliser on mine - rekon you are going to get a lot of false alarms anyhow. Rather spend the money on a quick release steering wheel... Quote
Boyband_Pete Posted June 21, 2002 Posted June 21, 2002 Mine are fine with a quick release stearing wheel & and electric cut off switch. But then whats the point in a cat 1, when you can remove the ecu, and take that with you:D I went to a track day with a R200, and there cat 1 system shut down the car for the hole day The less electrical stuff you have on the car the better, I think. That is unless it has flashing lights or makes beeping noise's. Quote
Si Stocks Posted June 24, 2002 Author Posted June 24, 2002 Cheers for the comments...however I have now gone with that policy and whilst the car is fine outside of London, if and when I do want to bring it up to London, I'll have to sort out the alarm etc. With that in mind I need to some advice on which Cat 1 alarm system to go for. All the systems I've seen are around the £300-400 mark...does that sound about right? In terms of manufacturers, is there any real difference between the Cliffords, Toads, Scorpions etc etc of this world. Price is obviously a consideration, but having read about other unfortunate owner's experiences (which I'm obviously very sorry to hear about Peter - hope you get it back OK) I'm obviously keen to get something that does the job. Does anyone have any suggestions/recommendations? What features should I be looking for? In terms of practical theft prevention though I agree with everything that has been said about removable steering wheels... so, more questions as ... am I right in saying that you can use your existing wheel with a quick release adaptor (I've got a Momo wheel in case that's relevant)? Is there a particular type/make that is the one to go for? Am I right in saying that the splined type is better than the hex type? Racetech have been recommended before so guessing they could be the ones to go for. As I'm thinking that some welding is required, can anyone recommend any London based outfits who could do this? Sorry for all the questions and thanks in advance Simon Quote
rkenyon Posted June 24, 2002 Posted June 24, 2002 am I right in saying that you can use your existing wheel with a quick release adaptor (I've got a Momo wheel in case that's relevant)? Normally no. You want a wheel without a hole in the middle of the boss. Am I right in saying that the splined type is better than the hex type? Yes, the splined type is less prone to 'wobble' (movement in the boss before it is transfered to the steering column. Racetech have been recommended before so guessing they could be the ones to go for. That's what I use, and what is supplied by the factory As I'm thinking that some welding is required, can anyone recommend any London based outfits who could do this? If you buy the boss from Westfield (decent price, too), then you might be able to cut a deal with them to modify your column. I got mine fitted and extended for £30-£40 Quote
Mike H Posted June 24, 2002 Posted June 24, 2002 I fitted my own thatcham immobiliser that I got from a 'contact' in the trade. If you have a recent Westfield loom there may already be a socket to accept an immobiliser. The one I bought operated on 3 electrical circuits and using the correct plug (and earthing it) went straight into the loom under the dash. My immobiliser was a 'touch key' type but you can get those nice proximity ones also. In case it ever went wrong I made a keyring with a the same plug and 3 loops of wire so I could simply unplug the immobiliser and plug in my keyring to get going. Of course fitting it myself meant I didn't have my certificate completed by an approved installer which may be a problem for insurance. It wasn't exactly difficult even thought the instructions were a dodgy translation from Italian. Whether it was any good/worth it I'm not sure but everyone thought it was quite neat. Mike Quote
Si Stocks Posted June 24, 2002 Author Posted June 24, 2002 If you buy the boss from Westfield (decent price, too), then you might be able to cut a deal with them to modify your column. I got mine fitted and extended for £30-£40 This is a really stupid question but does that involve taking the car along to the factory or sending them the column for modification??? Cheers Simon Quote
HarvSurrey Posted June 24, 2002 Posted June 24, 2002 never been asked about alarms for insuranc and i live in London and pay less than 230 with 5000 mile limit. if you have put alot of time and effort into your car a tracker to get it back if it is taken is worth far more than an alarm.Look at how many tintops with alarms still go missing? Quote
Barry Ashcroft Posted June 24, 2002 Posted June 24, 2002 I am an accredited alarm installer & my opionon is that you can not put a Cat1 Alarm on a westie as you need point of entry protection ie door pin switches boot & bonnet also. Thatcham also states volumetric protection ie ultransonic sensors( No good on a westie )Some firms replace the ultrasonics with a microwave sensor but be sure that the make of alarm went through thatcham with a microwave or the insurance firm will use these regularties as a way of not paying out in the event of a claim.My advice would be to fit a good quality Cat2 Immob.A Cat1 system is only a Cat2 Immob incorparating an alarm which only you will respond to as people ignore alarms. Regards Barry Quote
Si Stocks Posted June 25, 2002 Author Posted June 25, 2002 Barry - cheers for your comments...I have to say I did wonder about all that, as the Thatcham 1 alarms that I have seen all make reference to automatic closure funtions, point of entry protection etc etc...not a huge amount of use on a Westfield!!!! I have got a Cat2 immobiliser already, but apparently that's not good enough...the rationale is that an alarm helps to prevent malicious damage whilst parked... Quote
rkenyon Posted June 25, 2002 Posted June 25, 2002 This is a really stupid question but does that involve taking the car along to the factory or sending them the column for modification??? Post the inner part of your steering column to them. Quote
rkenyon Posted June 25, 2002 Posted June 25, 2002 Barry, Do you know of any websites where I can find installation instructions for a Sigma M800? I bought the immobiliser from a place in Bristol for £60 and now they won't give me the bl**** instructions claiming that it needs to be installed by a professional fitter.... and they'll hapilly do it for another £100 (yeah, right! I don't care about the thatcham approved rubbish, I just want to stop theiving scumbags from nicking my car! Quote
steppenwolf Posted June 25, 2002 Posted June 25, 2002 A Cat1 system is only a Cat2 Immob incorparating an alarm which only you will respond to as people ignore alarms. This last sentence is the cruncher isn't it? Although I sysmpathise with the requirement to have one to keep the insurance company happy this should not be the criteria for purchasing protection. Theft insurance is the last line of defence, much better to avoid an incident in the first place. Alarms have their place but only to warn YOU. I would go for a microwave sensor coupled to a pager as a minimum. This tells YOU that something nasty is going on and YOU know that YOU will respond to it. Although it would be foolish for me to go into any detail on this, my car is protected by numerous deterrents which although a pain in the neck at times to disable to drive the car, do make it a real pain to steal as well! Some of my deterrents are electronic, some are 'mechanical' but no matter where I am (even abroad! I know if my car is being compromised. Whatever you fit (ignoring the insurance aspect for now), make sure that it is aimed at you and not Joe Public because he will ignore it as it is 'not his problem' - sad but true. Hmmmm ....... must remember to charge up the Taser this evening ...... Quote
Barry Ashcroft Posted June 25, 2002 Posted June 25, 2002 Will get you instructions for system no problem.Only snag is I am going to the states thursday for 2 weeks (Hols).Email me your contact details and I will be in touch.Lucky for you is I live in W-S-M so can even help you fit unit no fee.Will no doubt need your help as my seight is only half built.Going to vegas to try and win some money to finish it. Regards Barry Quote
westfield102 Posted June 26, 2002 Posted June 26, 2002 Barry is right about the the cat1 bit on a Westfield, if you tried to claim on your insurance they could say the alarm is not fiited right, no door switchs etc stick with a cat 2 and go with an insurance that knows what a westfiled is. Quote
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