Favorite Taiwanese National Anthem? (car alarm content): Off-topic discussion forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Dec. 30, 2010 7:13 a.m. Matt B HalfDork

I know this isn't something usually discussed around here, but I want to know if you guys have a preference between car alarms. I've had a couple of alarms installed in some of my cars in the past and they've both acted buggy within 2-3 years. I had to pull the fuse on my old Viper alarm one summer because the brain was fried (that's the technical explanation btw). Maybe something to do with black cars with black interiors and Georgia summers. Dunno.

I haven't given them much thought in a few years, but some bob costas went through my aw11 last night for the spare change... in my carport. Luckily, I'm still rocking the tape deck from 1986.
Dec. 30, 2010 8:24 a.m. Streetwiseguy HalfDork

Best car alarm system is a 1986 tape deck and an open door. Let them look, and have nothing of value in the car. When I buy a car with some sort of aftermarket stereo system, I remove it and find a factory radio at the wrecker. Saves a lot of aggravation.
Dec. 30, 2010 9:28 a.m. SkinnyG Reader

I always used aesthetics as my theft deterrent - just park next to a better looking car. Which, for my dailys, was usually pretty easy.

The Lethal Locost has the cheapest alarm I could get. No point having a horde of pin switches on a car with no doors, top or trunk. Added a motion detector to trigger it.
Dec. 30, 2010 9:35 a.m. Matt B HalfDork

Actually, that's a big part of why I kept the old deck. The door was also open, so no broken glass thank god.

However, they did not mess with our integra, which looks much nicer, has an aftermarket stereo, tinted windows, but was locked and obviously has an alarm (one of those annoying blinking lights).

The perp left his/her jacket lying on top our mailbox as well, so we're not talking about master thieves here. I get the impression it was probably vagrant/crackhead just looking for easy pickins. We live far outside the Atlanta city limits in a lower-middle class suburban area, so I think it's likely this shiny happy person will be back to see if my car's unlocked. Maybe not, maybe so - but I'm taking a few more precautions now and not just surrounding the car.

That said, any advice on reliable heat-resistant alarms with decent shock sensors is appreciated.
Dec. 30, 2010 9:39 a.m. carguy123 SuperDork

Favorite Taiwanese National Anthem?
Dec. 30, 2010 9:44 a.m. Luke SuperDork

Matt B wrote:

The perp left his/her jacket lying on top our mailbox as well, so we're not talking about master thieves here..

Sounds like you came out on top in this deal! Check the pockets for valuable drugs or forgotten wads of cash.

The previous owner had installed a 'Viper' alarm in my BMW. Not sure it works, but it does have a flashy light and a sticker, which probably serves as a deterrent, if nothing else.
Dec. 30, 2010 9:52 a.m. Matt B HalfDork

carguy123 wrote:

Favorite Taiwanese National Anthem?

jalopnik said: Where does the name come from? Well, let's get all hypothetical here: Let's say your Taiwanese-American buddy is all upset because some neighbor kids egged his parents' house while shouting out anti-Asian epithets. Further, let's say that research has revealed to a certain future automotive writer that a junkyard-obtained Six Tone Car Alarm Siren will operate for many, many hours- at full volume- via the power of a single 9-volt battery. And, just for the sake of argument, imagine rigging up several Six Tone Car Alarm Sirens with packs of double parallel 9-volt batteries and numerous treble fishhooks on sturdy twine… and there's a tall maple tree right in front of the offending racist egg-throwers' house. Of course, we don't recommend hurling said hook-enabled, battery-powered Six Tone Car Alarm Sirens high into said tree at 3:00 AM on a quiet suburban-Orange-County Monday night, and we especially don't recommend that you and your scurviest hairball cronies stand in the street brandishing tire irons and screaming "SALUTE THE TAIWANESE NATIONAL ANTHEM, MOTHERberkeleyERS!" Yes, a bit of Taiwanese pride, from the sons of Chiang Kai-Shek who gave the world the never-ending gift of the Six Tone Car Alarm Siren (though current versions are manufactured by the Reds, the six iconic tones have remained unchanged since the 1980s Made In Taiwan models). We can safely assume that neptunium-fueled sand buggies on the Mars Base, circa 2109, will be equipped with these sirens; sadly, the lack of atmosphere on the Moon will preclude their use on vehicles there.

Full story here: Potential LeMons South Miscreants Beware: The Taiwanese National Anthem Penalty!
Dec. 30, 2010 9:57 a.m. Matt B HalfDork

Luke wrote:

Sounds like you came out on top in this deal! Check the pockets for valuable drugs or forgotten wads of cash.

I was hoping so, but no dice. Upon the light of dawn I also discovered some disturbing stains on said jacket, so it was tossed.
Dec. 30, 2010 10:09 a.m. carguy123 SuperDork

Well the Taiwanese National Anthem thing is completely understandable, that is if we were devotees of Jalopnik.

Sounds almost like fun tho.
Dec. 30, 2010 12:01 p.m. rob_lewis Dork

Since they didn't touch the Integra, what about just having a blinking red light that sits on the dash or on the door? If it's easy to open, chances are they will, but if it looks alarmed, they might just move on.

-Rob
Dec. 30, 2010 12:38 p.m. Matt B HalfDork

Blinking light alone is not a bad idea in the short term (cheap too). However, I want something that's going to wake me up if it's triggered.
Dec. 30, 2010 1:09 p.m. mndsm Dork

1- Buy pitbull

2- Leave pitbull in unlocked car at night.

3-???

4-Profit!
Dec. 30, 2010 6:08 p.m. wlkelley3 Dork

mndsm wrote:

1- Buy pitbull

2- Leave pitbull in unlocked car at night.

3-Contact Margie on how much concrete a patio needs

4-Start building patios

Fixed that for ya.
Dec. 30, 2010 7:29 p.m. aircooled SuperDork

Matt B wrote:

... but I want to know if you guys have a preference between car alarms....

No, not really, I pretty much ignore them all.

It would be an interesting social experiment (hello "what would you do") to have someone openly steal an alarmed car and see if anyone cares... I suspect not. The thief could probably even get people to help him turn off the alarm if he played it right.