Is Tracker worth it?

I agree with bboy on the insurance issue. Without the tracker insurance will pay out in any case.

When it comes to thieves, especially syndicates,the tracking device will help you squat. Most of these companies install the device under the dashboard and that is the first place the thief looks for the box, rips it out and of he goes. These entry level devices only have two wires, one earth the other ignition. However, the thief need to get the box out because it will still transmit...

Some companies like Mix Telematics will hide the device on a code system somewhere in the vehicle (eg. A3 = Inside left front panel)
 
Also, when you do shop around for a tracker, make sure it's a reputable company and don't take their word if they say insurance approved. It might not be, or if it is maybe not with your insurance company. The trackers and Netstar products are the most common, but also the easiest to steal.
 
Oh yes forgot to mention this. Had my new car for two weeks before getting tracker installed, immediately after driving out of the fitment centre I notice a rattle coming from my door. Take a wild guess where they fitted it...
 
Well screw that idea then. Rather buy an unsightly gearlock.

As a side note, I find it strange that you guys won't want your recovered car back. I'd have no problem with it.
 
tco21 said:
As a side note, I find it strange that you guys won't want your recovered car back. I'd have no problem with it.
Click to expand...

tco21, I look after my car as if it were a child... I clean her, I dont push her unnecessarily, I am careful on the road... I highly doubt that the car would be the same after having been ramped over a couple of pavements, redlined for the heck of it, and generally abused... that is also excluding the whole coding issue...
 
there's also that emotional side, i know a girl who was hijacked and when they gave her the golf back she couldn't get in it cause of the memories it bought back
 
@bboy @mic_y I don't for a second doubt that girls would have emotional issues with it, and of course they have every right to. As for having your car stolen after treating it amazingly, of course it'll be difficult. I don't think everyone is as diligent as you mic_y, so I'm just thinking of the average shmo - but maybe I'm just too weird/disconnected.
 
I think its worth it, even though I am insured. I'm pretty sure I want my car back, seeing that it's the only way I can get to work and that insurance can take a long time to pay out/replace. It depends on the person getting it, is your car model easy to replace or is it something 'exotic', say a new 650i?
 
In 2008 when I bought my car for just over R330K I had to fit one. So decided to fit the top of the range Netstar. I've twice driven and then realized that I push the emergency button. First time didn’t even get a phone call and the second one someone phoned about 4 hours later. What is the use if you press the button but they don’t respond to it? (And don’t believe they will send out flying helicopters to look for you)

The 200 rand I spend on this per month comes off the insurance premium, so it will go up again with about the same amount, if I don’t have one. I think that this trackers are just giving people false security in any case. If you have a car that they would steal like the Toyotas VW etc., get one, but what I’ve heard is that if the car is not locally produced it’s much harder to get spares and therefor much less likely to get stolen, for instance Kia, Hyundai, GMW etc.

Long and short, let the insurance quote you on with and without, and see what the difference is, don’t believe the BS that the tracking companies feed you
 
my vote would be for you to go with CARTRACK.

Having over 30 vehicles with them, they provide the best service of all the big corporations.
 
tco21 said:
@bboy @mic_y I don't for a second doubt that girls would have emotional issues with it, and of course they have every right to. As for having your car stolen after treating it amazingly, of course it'll be difficult. I don't think everyone is as diligent as you mic_y, so I'm just thinking of the average shmo - but maybe I'm just too weird/disconnected.
Click to expand...

@tco21, it is not only about diligence... one of my dad's cars was stolen a while back (1994 or thereabout). When they eventually found it (luckily after the claim had gone through) we saw the thing. Half the dash had been ripped out, the car was filthy (inside and out), the ignition lock was FUBAR.
 
bboy said:
I'd say NO.

Payments.
I haven't seen a case where paying for a tracker+insurance is less than just paying full insurance, generally seems to even out.
Insurance brokers you can work your payments down after time, tracker payments will inevitably go up.

Liability.
When I read the insurance contract it stated that I had to do tracker tests, had to make sure it was working etc etc etc. If the car got stolen and the tracker wasn't working then the insurance wouldn't pay this and that.
No tracker, no checks, no ways out for insurance.

Real case scenario.
Car get stolen with tracker, car gets recovered next day, I'm stuck with it and who knows what they did with it, how it was driven. Because it was stolen, it gets a CODE 3 status, you try sell or insure a CODE 3 vehicle and lots of people are going to laugh at you.
Cars get stolen without tracker, insurance pays or replaces with new car.
Click to expand...

interesting point.
 
Been hijacked.....trust me from experience.....you don't want your car back after hijackers have taken it for a spin. The crap I found in the car....well let's just say I didn't want it back after that, hence why I don't have a tracker on my new vehicle....they can keep it quite frankly.
 
Just had a run in with Tracker. I have had it for 3 months pay R219 it never worked correctly and now that I want to transfer it to a new vehicle it will only cost me R1100 and if I don't like it I can cancel my contract for R1600. How is it that these things aren't mentioned when they phone you and convenience you its such a great deal. I feel robbed of my hard earned money. Hope this findes its way to the consumer council.
 
I worked for a tracking company was an engineer designing these gadgets, have the companies best system in my vehicle. Besides what everyone has mentioned already (insurance, SARS stuff).

What other features does it offer? Can you view your vehicle on a clean web interface or app? Playback trips? Set Geo Location perimeters?

A special feature of this device is that it also includes in it a different immobiliser solution, which is quite nice. All for R70, now that is value.

I find myself always comparing any other service that other tracking companies provide to the one that I have had a hand in creating! You will find they always charge more for these extras.
 
My friend's Harley was stolen and the tracker was found next to the road in Wadeville. I think the only good thing is the emrgency responce. I can order various tracking units some combined with alarm and imobilizer. You have access to your vehicle's location from your cellphone. No extra charges just one purchase and you need to get your own simcard for your [email protected]
If you are interested. If SA can have community watches why don't we start a tracker watch. Would love to get my hands on some hijacker.
 
I will only install this shyte if it's a necessity for cover on insurance. (Luckily you still get insurers who don't require these devices) and I will gladly pay more not to have one installed. I don't want my car back if stolen. So whether or not they recover the vehicle or if the device is even working is their problem. I can't be arsed.
 
Pitbull said:
I will only install this shyte if it's a necessity for cover on insurance. (Luckily you still get insurers who don't require these devices) and I will gladly pay more not to have one installed. I don't want my car back if stolen. So whether or not they recover the vehicle or if the device is even working is their problem. I can't be arsed.
Click to expand...

Same. My insurance luckily did not ask for a tracker to be installed. I would not want the car back if stolen. One of my customers showed me pics of her car the other day once they recovered it. The inside of the car was ripped to shreds. That car once repaired just wont be the same I think.
 
My insurance gave me a quote on a new vehicle last week. The premium was R150 less with a tracker. That is pretty much what they cost per month with 1/24th installation cost added. No penalty for not installing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X