Do you need a car alarm when you have Onstar? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

2Muchmark · 06-04-2009, 07:54 AM

Quick question for Onstar users:
Do you need a car alarm when you have Onstar?

JPAYORK · 06-04-2009, 07:56 AM

I just talked to a friend of mine who has a Tahoe with ONstar and he says ONstar knows when you're car is broken into. I was wondering the same thing actually. Do they call you if someone busts out a window? Or steals your wheels?

bossbunny · 06-04-2009, 08:45 AM

Ha i dont think so.
Onstar is only good if you have been in a wreck or if someone steals your car they can find it by gps.
One thing that sucks about Onstar is that alot of people are aware of how to disarm it.

Camaro509 · 06-04-2009, 10:50 AM

As mentioned above, OnStar is really only good for after-the-fact situations.
After you get into an accident, after the car is stolen etc.

Car alarms are generally worthless as well IMHO, most people ignore them
so unless your vehicle is somewhere where YOU can hear the alarm and respond to it, not worth the extra money and aggravation that comes with it.

As a side note, I enjoy driving past parked cars and setting off their alarms from the exhaust note

Yes, I am part of the problem, rather than the solution....

PQ · 06-04-2009, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPAYORK

Or steals your wheels?

Ask number 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camaro509

As a side note, I enjoy driving past parked cars and setting off their alarms from the exhaust note

Yes, I am part of the problem, rather than the solution....

So your one of those.

Camaro509 · 06-04-2009, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irpq11

Ask number 3

So your one of those.

Yep

I can't depend on anyone else providing entertainment for me, so I drum it up where I can

SRFnSNO · 06-04-2009, 11:24 AM

I am keeping onstar activated. Have had it on past 3 vehicles
Keeping 2

And will be installing a pager style alarm with gps tracking on top of the onstar.
These also have a battery back up to continue broad casting for about 24hrs.

RickyTheStorm · 06-04-2009, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SRFnSNO

I am keeping onstar activated. Have had it on past 3 vehicles
Keeping 2

And will be installing a pager style alarm with gps tracking on top of the onstar.
These also have a battery back up to continue broad casting for about 24hrs.

More info please - I would like to install one of those - so you can track your own car????

electlatino · 06-04-2009, 12:15 PM

[QUOTE=Camaro509;551121]
Car alarms are generally worthless as well IMHO, most people ignore them
so unless your vehicle is somewhere where YOU can hear the alarm and respond to it, not worth the extra money and aggravation that comes with it.[QUOTE]

somewhat true. but all thefts are a matter of convenience. they may know how to get around the system, but most don't want the attention or to deal with it. so when they hear the alarm, it's just easier to move on to another car. most theives are not professionals like in Gone in 60 Seconds.

so i'll play the odds and keep the alarm, knowing the great majority of theives will just move on to another car that's easier.

Fogey · 06-04-2009, 12:24 PM

Wouldn't leave home without it, but only for the phone system not the theft detterant. I wander around the boonies a lot and OnStar will let you make a call from places even God can't find.

CamaroFan1 · 06-04-2009, 12:38 PM

I'm not going to install an alarm for the following reasons:

1.) The car has Onstar and can be tracked.
2.) The car stero is locked once removed, and has to be reactivated. It won't be usefull to most people anyway, unless they have a camaro
3.) The car has an electronically coded key that needs to be programmed in the control unit to start the car. There are ways around this, but to steal the car, the person is going to be a pro that has pre-planned the event and knows what they are doing. In that case, an alarm isn't going to slow them down.
4.) I live and work in nice areas.
5.) Most people ignore alarms.
6.) This is why I pay for insurance

Now, if I lived in a bad area, or I was going to put in a large amount of money in aftermarket performance parts or stereo equipment, then I would get an alarm. Most people break into cars nowdays for quick smash and grabs, when drivers leave bags and other valuables in plain sight.

rolnslo · 06-04-2009, 12:48 PM

About the only kind of alarm addition over OnStar that I'd want is a tilt sensor to monitor if the car is being towed or jacked for the wheels. Other than that, I'm good with paying $10/mo for OnStar so I can have the vehicle tracked if it is stolen.

Some people have had good luck just wiring in a DEI shock sensor to an existing factory alarm trigger point, like the hood sensor. If the shock sensor is triggered, it sets off the factory alarm the same way it would if you opened the hood. I may give that a try, as it seems like a cheap alternative to going with a complete aftermarket system since the sensor is just $30.

https://www.directedstore.com/cgi-bi...archResult.asp

GothamCamaro · 06-04-2009, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rolnslo

About the only kind of alarm addition over OnStar that I'd want is a tilt sensor to monitor if the car is being towed or jacked for the wheels. Other than that, I'm good with paying $10/mo for OnStar so I can have the vehicle tracked if it is stolen.

Ditto, hence I'm looking into the Viper as Rabbit mentioned in another thread.
Onstar for after the fact and Viper for "as it's happening" then I'm good to go.

Nova65 · 06-04-2009, 02:27 PM

no matter what, if someone wants your car bad enough they'll get it. Be it a car jacking, or coming up with a tow truck. The Camaro has laser cut keys and onstar, that might be enough to discourage the average thief but the pros will still get it.

06-04-2009, 07:54 AM	#1
2Muchmark Drives: 2013 2SS RS 1LE Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Montreal Posts: 857	Do you need a car alarm when you have Onstar? Quick question for Onstar users: Do you need a car alarm when you have Onstar?

06-04-2009, 10:50 AM	#4
Camaro509 Drives: 2010 2SS/RS Black Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,085	As mentioned above, OnStar is really only good for after-the-fact situations. After you get into an accident, after the car is stolen etc. Car alarms are generally worthless as well IMHO, most people ignore them so unless your vehicle is somewhere where YOU can hear the alarm and respond to it, not worth the extra money and aggravation that comes with it. As a side note, I enjoy driving past parked cars and setting off their alarms from the exhaust note Yes, I am part of the problem, rather than the solution.... __________________ Understeer, Oversteer, Wheel Alignment (Camber etc), Torque, Horsepower, Camaro Fold for team 11108 to help find a cure! Folding@home Stanford's Research DC Program.

06-04-2009, 12:24 PM	#10
Fogey Drives: 2011 2SS/RS A6, IOM Join Date: May 2009 Location: West Los Angeles Posts: 1,236	My 07 Envoy has Onstar Wouldn't leave home without it, but only for the phone system not the theft detterant. I wander around the boonies a lot and OnStar will let you make a call from places even God can't find.

06-04-2009, 12:48 PM	#12
rolnslo Rolling along... Drives: 2011 2SS/RS SGM Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,380 View My Garage	About the only kind of alarm addition over OnStar that I'd want is a tilt sensor to monitor if the car is being towed or jacked for the wheels. Other than that, I'm good with paying $10/mo for OnStar so I can have the vehicle tracked if it is stolen. Some people have had good luck just wiring in a DEI shock sensor to an existing factory alarm trigger point, like the hood sensor. If the shock sensor is triggered, it sets off the factory alarm the same way it would if you opened the hood. I may give that a try, as it seems like a cheap alternative to going with a complete aftermarket system since the sensor is just $30. https://www.directedstore.com/cgi-bi...archResult.asp __________________ 2011 2SS/RS Synergy Green A6 Last edited by rolnslo; 06-04-2009 at 12:59 PM.

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06-04-2009, 07:56 AM	#2
JPAYORK Drives: 2007 Toyota FJ Join Date: May 2009 Location: Altus, OK Posts: 73	I just talked to a friend of mine who has a Tahoe with ONstar and he says ONstar knows when you're car is broken into. I was wondering the same thing actually. Do they call you if someone busts out a window? Or steals your wheels?

06-04-2009, 08:45 AM	#3
bossbunny Mrs. Bunny to you Drives: Not a Camaro Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cut 'N Shoot Texas Posts: 24,336	Ha i dont think so. Onstar is only good if you have been in a wreck or if someone steals your car they can find it by gps. One thing that sucks about Onstar is that alot of people are aware of how to disarm it.

06-04-2009, 11:24 AM	#7
SRFnSNO Drives: Blown & Flamed Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Jerzy Posts: 654 View My Garage	I am keeping onstar activated. Have had it on past 3 vehicles Keeping 2 And will be installing a pager style alarm with gps tracking on top of the onstar. These also have a battery back up to continue broad casting for about 24hrs.

06-04-2009, 12:15 PM	#9
electlatino Drives: 2SS with RS and Ground Effects Join Date: May 2009 Location: Orange County, California Posts: 273	[QUOTE=Camaro509;551121] Car alarms are generally worthless as well IMHO, most people ignore them so unless your vehicle is somewhere where YOU can hear the alarm and respond to it, not worth the extra money and aggravation that comes with it.[QUOTE] somewhat true. but all thefts are a matter of convenience. they may know how to get around the system, but most don't want the attention or to deal with it. so when they hear the alarm, it's just easier to move on to another car. most theives are not professionals like in Gone in 60 Seconds. so i'll play the odds and keep the alarm, knowing the great majority of theives will just move on to another car that's easier.

06-04-2009, 12:38 PM	#11
CamaroFan1 Drives: Camaro Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 114	I'm not going to install an alarm for the following reasons: 1.) The car has Onstar and can be tracked. 2.) The car stero is locked once removed, and has to be reactivated. It won't be usefull to most people anyway, unless they have a camaro 3.) The car has an electronically coded key that needs to be programmed in the control unit to start the car. There are ways around this, but to steal the car, the person is going to be a pro that has pre-planned the event and knows what they are doing. In that case, an alarm isn't going to slow them down. 4.) I live and work in nice areas. 5.) Most people ignore alarms. 6.) This is why I pay for insurance Now, if I lived in a bad area, or I was going to put in a large amount of money in aftermarket performance parts or stereo equipment, then I would get an alarm. Most people break into cars nowdays for quick smash and grabs, when drivers leave bags and other valuables in plain sight.

06-04-2009, 02:27 PM	#14
Nova65 Drives: 2010 2LT RS Auto IBM Black Int Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Azusa, CA Posts: 400	no matter what, if someone wants your car bad enough they'll get it. Be it a car jacking, or coming up with a tow truck. The Camaro has laser cut keys and onstar, that might be enough to discourage the average thief but the pros will still get it.