Am I the only one bothered by lack of an alarm?

[notalk]

There's a few posts about the loss of the Grand Touring alarm in the U.S. 2014. I assume my insurance company knows and assume my insurance rate loses the alarm discount. (A few years' discount more than covers the cost of the alarm.) But, no one here seems particularly concerned about the lack of an alarm.

I know they're not the world's greatest if you're looking for absolute protection. And, I know the stereo is not worth protecting with all the usb/ipod issues. But, they do seem to deter people from messing with your car. Once the word gets out, what's to stop people from messing with CX-5s?

I must be missing something because almost all forum members don't seem to care that the car is missing something which is standard in virtually all competitors. What am I missing?

 

[Rafale]

I know, I miss it too. My 2013 Touring with tech had the alarm but when I traded it for my 2014, I was baffled to find out that they had dropped it. Still can't figure out why. ..

It also bothered me that it did not come with a shock and tilt sensor as with the BMW.

 

[njaremka]

what are you guys talking about?

the spec sheet says the car comes standard with an engine immobilizer anti-theft system-
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=modelsSpecs&vehicleCode=CX5

 

[garyd9]

comes standard with an engine immobilizer anti-theft system-

An engine immobilizer is not an alarm. One disables the car from starting. The other makes a lot of noise (and usually flashes lights) when car is broken into.

 

[NinjaNoises]

I had a Directed (Viper) alarm installed in previous car. It didn't stop anyone from breaking the window to get into the car. From then on, I didn't see the point of having an alarm.

 

[notalk]

.... I didn't see the point of having an alarm.

Not even to save 10% on your insurance?

 

[robertmazda]

I believe that noise-making alarms have fallen out of favor, and will continue to do so. They rarely prevent thefts and often false alarm in the middle of the night. Much better is the engine immobilizer or similar system that prevents theft of the car. Nothing will prevent a smash and grab of items from inside the car. Thieves just move too fast for the noise maker alarm to make any difference. Best to hide your stuff or not leave anything of value in the car. Oh, and lock your doors.

 

[craigo]

Alarms are godawful noise pollution that don't deter much.

 

[howlin4you]

I believe that noise-making alarms have fallen out of favor, and will continue to do so. They rarely prevent thefts and often false alarm in the middle of the night. Much better is the engine immobilizer or similar system that prevents theft of the car. Nothing will prevent a smash and grab of items from inside the car. Thieves just move too fast for the noise maker alarm to make any difference. Best to hide your stuff or not leave anything of value in the car. Oh, and lock your doors.

This.

Alarms have fallen into the "boy who cried wolf" scenario and nobody ever pays attention to them other than to think "another false alarm, I can't wait until the idiot with the car alarm turns it off." They don't deter a quick moving thief and everyone assumes any alarm is a false one. I'd prefer to have an immobilizer to prevent my car from being driven away and not an alarm that goes off in the middle of the night when the neighbors cat looks at it the wrong way.

 

[Felt_Rider]

Yeah before fled out of a certain apartment complex and on a particular street in the Atlanta area that went to mostly government homes there were about 10 car alarms going off several nights a week. You just get to where you ignore them, roll over and go back to sleep. At a different complex I walked out to my car early one morning to go to work and saw my driver side door slightly open. I never heard the alarm go off, but it did go off when I opened it. All of my aftermarket high end equipment was gone and neatly taken out as well. The only marks they left was an almost microscopic cut on the dash and marks of a slimjim on the side window.

I was pissed off, but at the same time very impressed at how well they did not damaging my car in the process.

But even now when alarms go off in my company parking lot I don't bother to look. Even when building alarms go off I don't bother to look. I guess when you live in a metro area it just becomes common city noise. The only time I care about an alarm is when I set off my company alarm like I did one morning and a few minutes later I see a cop in my office hallway with his hand on his holstered gun asking me who I was. Only then did I almost crap my pants mainly because I never heard him come in the front door.

 

[bluefan]

- Wheel club
- Always hide anything remotely interesting looking

Those 2 I've always followed and never have had a break in. And my city is notorious for having the countries worst car thieves.

 

[Rich 65]

My insurance company gave me the "alarm" discount, so it is fine with me.

 

[notalk]

Thank you. I can't argue with any of the comments, and I think I said they really didn't do much from a protection standpoint. But, I'd hate to think I'd have to pay $75/yr more insurance so Mazda could save $150 on not installing an alarm. But, if I still get the discount, that would help some.

I'd still hate to think that our cars might become better targets if people know we have no alarms. Just trying to reduce the odds of someone attempting to break in.