Why not a cheaper aftermarket alarm?

[Andrew Hess]

I was just quoted $400 from the dealer for a passive "Subaru" alarm.
(Okay, he quickly came down to $300, and Subaru says they don't sell a
passive alarm, but hey). I checked www.crutchfield.com and they have
an alarm for $100 (Crime Guard AL-100C) that is passive,
starter-disabling, and ties into the Subaru remote. Am I missing
something? Is there a reason I should go with a Subaru alarm? Is there
something better/cheaper out there?

I was told by Subaru, btw, that installing the alarm myself will not
void the warranty.

Advice?
Andrew

 

[Tony Hwang]

Hi,
After market ones are better/cheaper. Some like Omron made Subaru
ones any way.
Tony

 

[H. Whelply]

What's a "passive" alarm?

Thanks.

HW

 

[Brian Wasson]

I got my OEM Subaru alarm for around $130, I believe, online. Pretty
easy to install (search the archives for many posts on this topic,
including my post a month or so ago about installing it). I've been
pleased with it so far.

Brian

 

[Shamus in CO]

What's a "passive" alarm?

Thanks.

HW

"Passive" *used* to mean that the alarm would arm itself about a 30-60 sec
after you shut off the car. "Active" meant you *had* to use the remote to
arm it. FWIW, the OEM keyless (MY97) I found online for around $40 has all
the pinouts for a siren and starter kill. Pretty sure it's a Code-Alarm.

Shamus in CO

 

[David & Caroline]

Well - I don't know about all of the Subaru alarms, but the one for the
Impreza lists for $189, can be had online for $145 or less, and does indeed
have a passive arming mode (with a 1 minute delay) - even for an installed
price, $400 is highway robbery! $300 is even a tad unreasonable!

 

[foxmon]

well....

the oem alarm is actually made by alpine. At least it was for my 99 gt
sedan.
so you might be able to use an alpine alarm.

 

[Mike B.]

$400 - $300 for a dealer installed piece of crap.. no. For that you can get a
auto starter/alarm (be careful there are just auto starters).
The only thing about the factory alarm is that would be covered by the dealer
3-36K warranty but fobe batteries will not. My battery has to be replaced
every 3-4 months.

 

[Mike B.]

The alarm in my '01 is a little box that plugs right into a factory harness. No
big deal. Getting to it requires removing the stereo... a 1/2 hour challenge.