Alarm/immobiliser Recommendations.

[Bobbafett 49 2 Cars]

I need to get an alarm/immobiliser fitted as i'm worried about my 1.9 getting nicked and have a few questions:

 

1) What's the best alarm/immob system? I did a search and Toad Ai606 seems to come up a lot. Is that still the one to go for?

 

2) Would the remote central locking be doable? Mine is a 1989, Ph.1.5 I think. I think the PH2 had remote locking capabilities built in.

 

3) Is fitting the system difficult? I don't want to cause issues. Any recommendations on a top-drawer fitter in the South-West/Bristol?

 

Cheers!

 

 

[stumpyjag 6]

Hi,

 

I went for a Hawk as for the money I don't think you can beat them £54 with microwave interior sensor, auto window closers and if you are really keen auto engine start ( I didn't bother with that bit). I have fitted two now and use them every day, no false alarms and work everytime.

 

The central locking is easy, all you need is a slave actuator (from hawk £7) to wire into the alarm and then you connect this to the drivers door central locking sensor so that it moves it up and down and that operates the other motors in the passenger door and boot.

 

I know there will be people who point out that its not a Thatcham approved alarm but unless you get a certificate from the installer the insurance wont accept it anyway and to be honest it doesn't make much difference to your premium in my experience.

 

My personal view is that the alarms are not much of a deterent but the remote locking, window closers and side lights coming on so you can see where you are going at night make a 205 a bit more modern.

 

I went a bit further and fitted a cheap tracker £22 of amazon and found a way of wiring it into the alarm so that when the alarm goes off it sends me a text. If something is going on then you can track the car and even immobilise it by send a text and turning the fuel pump off. Still not failsafe I know but it would slow them down for a bit and at least you can try and get back to it before it goes anywhere.

 

Hope that helps

[johniban 59 1 Cars]

Id recommend fitting one yourself and making up your own wiring diagram, maybe even some pictures for safe keeping, ive had too many cars ive bought with alarms on them that have one day decided to just stop working.. have great fun ripping the car apart to remove it all.

 

can buy toad imobolizers on ebay

[rubyna 4 1 Cars]

I have a Toad alarm/immobilizer with proximity sensor etc. Can't fault it ????

[DAN@ADRIAN FLUX 1]

Hi,

We recommend the below if it helps.

http://gapsecuritydirect.co.uk/

Regards,

Dan.

Edited October 12, 2015 by DAN@ADRIAN FLUX

[GLPoomobile 958]

Hi,

We recommend the below if it helps.

http://gapsecuritydirect.co.uk/

Regards,

Dan.

 

I had them fit the Toad Ai606 to my very first GTI many years ago, because of the fact you guys recommend them (that was my first policy with you too). OK< times change and it's been many years since, but they (GAP) were crap and I wouldn't recommend them from my experience. Guy turned up in a battered old Sierra, with some spotty teenage girl in tow (no idea if she was his daughter, girlfriend or some sort of apprentice), and it was a crap install too.

 

Like many others on here, I endorse the DIY method if you are reasonably competent. Most will do no worse a job than most so called professionals, and many of us could/would do it far better. These cars are our pride and joy, but to an alarm fitter they are just another job to get done as quickly as possible.

[johniban 59 1 Cars]

A battery cut of switch and a small switch for the live of the fuel pump relay, both hidden will be a good deterrent for most thieves and better than an expensive immobilizer in my opinion

[Anthony 1,003]

A battery cut of switch and a small switch for the live of the fuel pump relay, both hidden will be a good deterrent for most thieves and better than an expensive immobilizer in my opinion

I'm not sure about that.

 

Yes such a setup could prove to be effective in stopping someone driving off with the car, but the one thing it definitely doesn't have is any deterrent value. By its very nature a hidden switch along with a battery cut-off that's liable to not be spotted means that it has no value at all in doing what you ideally want... namely putting any would-be thieves off before they break in and attempt to steal the car.

 

To be honest, all you're doing anyway is putting off an opportunist or joyrider - anyone that truly wants the car will take it regardless, be that on a flatbed truck or by obtaining the keys by breaking-in or violence.

 

205's don't seem to have received much attention, but I do wonder at what point with prices rising and spares availability dropping we're going to start seeing 205's stolen to order as is already happening with other classics. Seems to be a worrying number of Mini's vanishing in the past couple of years for example, and the thefts of classic fast Ford's (eg Mk1/2 Escorts) are well known.

 

Anyway, back to the original question - Toad Ai606 is still my preferred choice in terms of alarms despite it being a bit long in the tooth as it does exactly what it says on the tin and keeps working. Immobilisers I like the Toad Powerkey (Sterling Excel) as it works off a transponder like any vaguely modern car.

 

As GLP hinted at though, remember that the any installation is only as good as the person that installed it, which unfortunately is typically to a dreadful standard and I don't think I've ever seen one that's complied with the Thatcham standards required for certification despite having been done by so-called "professionals". If you have a reasonable knowledge of 205 electrics, it is truly scary how easy and quickly most are bypassed...

[Stu 18]

I second what Anthony says. I've got a Ai606 on the 205 and a Clifford Concept 300 on the 306, the Toad has never had a failure or been temperamental, whereas the Clifford has been a right pain in the arse. Needed a replacement fob after 2 years, the microwave sensor went on the fritz causing false alarms in the middle of the night etc etc...

 

Get a Toad, fit it yourself (assuming you can ) and you'll be reet. No bells and whistles like the Cliffords and such but good reliability and a 'fit and forget' deal which i'll take over gadgets and such every day of the week.

[johniban 59 1 Cars]

I'm not sure about that.

 

Yes such a setup could prove to be effective in stopping someone driving off with the car, but the one thing it definitely doesn't have is any deterrent value. By its very nature a hidden switch along with a battery cut-off that's liable to not be spotted means that it has no value at all in doing what you ideally want... namely putting any would-be thieves off before they break in and attempt to steal the car.

 

To be honest, all you're doing anyway is putting off an opportunist or joyrider - anyone that truly wants the car will take it regardless, be that on a flatbed truck or by obtaining the keys by breaking-in or violence.

 

205's don't seem to have received much attention, but I do wonder at what point with prices rising and spares availability dropping we're going to start seeing 205's stolen to order as is already happening with other classics. Seems to be a worrying number of Mini's vanishing in the past couple of years for example, and the thefts of classic fast Ford's (eg Mk1/2 Escorts) are well known.

 

Anyway, back to the original question - Toad Ai606 is still my preferred choice in terms of alarms despite it being a bit long in the tooth as it does exactly what it says on the tin and keeps working. Immobilisers I like the Toad Powerkey (Sterling Excel) as it works off a transponder like any vaguely modern car.

 

As GLP hinted at though, remember that the any installation is only as good as the person that installed it, which unfortunately is typically to a dreadful standard and I don't think I've ever seen one that's complied with the Thatcham standards required for certification despite having been done by so-called "professionals". If you have a reasonable knowledge of 205 electrics, it is truly scary how easy and quickly most are bypassed...

 

I understand what you are saying and don't want to start a debate, but generally i don't think many thieves are deterred by car alarms, think about it, whens the last time you ever took any notice of a house alarm going off..

[stumpyjag 6]

That's why I added a cheap Tracker to mine which is triggered by the alarm, as you say if someone wants it they will take it you just need to be able to find it quick.

[GLPoomobile 958]

 

I understand what you are saying and don't want to start a debate, but generally i don't think many thieves are deterred by car alarms, think about it, whens the last time you ever took any notice of a house alarm going off..

 

True, but it will still be a deterrent to some, so some degree of effectiveness is preferable to none at all. I know some people don't agree with me on this but I believe one of the best deterrents is a removable steering wheel. Yes, it has practicality issues, but that's not a problem if you are only removing it when the car is parked outside your house. I can't imagine many thieves go out equipped with a spare steering wheel and suitable bosses, nor are they likely to source them specifically to steal your car at a later date. They might do of course, but it's pretty unlikely unless your 205 is highly desirable.

[Ams 23 1 Cars]

I've also found the Toad i606 alarm to be very reliable, had it installed on a two cars in the past. It saved my Evo from being stolen twice. The Cliffords are just not reliable, left my 205 GTI stranded a couple of times and kept going off in the rain on a previous import car. Silly things. I also tend to fit a removable steering wheel as an added deterrent. Also a good tip is to leave the glovebox open to show there's no valuables contained within, saves you getting a smashed window from an opportunistic junkie.

[allye 530 3 Cars]

fixed bucket seat for a slim 6'6' does the job pretty well

[AlexRS2782 136 1 Cars]

 

...one of the best deterrents is a removable steering wheel. Yes, it has practicality issues, but that's not a problem if you are only removing it when the car is parked outside your house.

 

Agree on the steering wheel. It certainly stopped the anus that tried stealing the Renault 5 GT Turbo I owned back in 2000.

 

On a side note, the Lotus Exige S I used to own a few years ago had one fitted as a factory option (before airbag equipped wheels became mandatory on their road cars) and I remember getting some pretty weird looks whenever I walked into work carrying my steering wheel

[johniban 59 1 Cars]

maybe someone should design one of them pedal covers like they do for defenders!

[scbond 15 1 Cars]

Always preferred Cobra alarms (now Vodafone automotive). Did have issues fotting a G193 to a 205 but eventually got it working fine (one iverloaded and burnt out, the replacement somehow got stuck in a mode where double disarm was set on). Installed one in a Fiesta once and was a breeze.

 

Not the most popular anymore but, to me, they do the job perfectly and, although meaningless to others, fob is nice unlike with Toad

[Bobbafett 49 2 Cars]

Seems that the Toad is the one to go for. I'll pick one up then if i'm confident enough i'll have a go. Still open to recs for a decent local fitter though!