Karr Alarm

[devo1255]

Just purchased my 2014 CX5 GT yesterday and can't wait to take delivery.

During the visit to the finance office, they indicated that for $500 they can keep the car alarm activated. I was puzzled that if an alarm is already in the car why would I have to pay to activate it?

After talking to the salesperson (very honest guy actually) and searching the forums, I found out that our 2014 CX5s don't come with a factory installed alarm. This particular dealership installs a "Karr Alarm" branded system on all their cars and offers to activate it for the customers when doing the paperwork. If one declines to activate it, then they don't take the components out as it is alredy hardwired into the car. Sounds a bit strange to me, but was wondering if anyone has heard about this brand and if its possible to activate it myself for less then the $500 they are asking for?

 

[sr12345]

I think they are feeding you a line of B.S. Did you try Googling Karr alarms? http://www.city-data.com/forum/automotive/1552821-pros-cons-negligible-difference-having-car.html

The only thing car alarms do is annoy your neighbors. There are so many false alarms that nobody takes these seriously anymore.

 

[erhayes]

An engine Immobilizer security system is STANDARD equipment on ALL models. Why would you need anything else? You can read this on the Mazda site or in the brochure. Ed

 

[devo1255]

I understand the immobilizer is standard and I was not actively looking to install an alarm on the car.

I'm only asking because apparently all the components are installed on the car, it just needs to be activated. I wanted to know if anyone knows what is required to activate this component if I do plan on having this extra deterent (most insurance companies also give discounts if an alarm is installed).

 

[tibimakai]

My wife's CRV has this, but we have never activated it either. There is a plug by the left knee. I always wondered how could I activate it. I'm pretty sure it has to be very easy. I have just went with an aftermarket
add on box and we are using the original remote with it.
I don't know if it's available for our cars also.
$500 for an alarm? I wouldn't pay more then $250 for one.
Once, somebody was purchasing a car and at the financing department came with the same thing...$500 alarm. Our sales person said to not fall for that. He will take care of us much cheaper.
Across the street it was a shop who installed the alarms in the new cars the customers wee purchasing.
We paid $175 this way and not $500.
Look around the dealership's neighbors, maybe you will see a shop and don't be afraid of them, go talk to them.

 

[Rhino_66]

There's a pic of a Karr "alarm" in this thread on a prius forum:

http://priuschat.com/threads/removing-karr-alarm.58304/

If a dealership hacked up the harness on my brand new car to install that piece of crap and then "deactivated" it, I would refuse delivery of the vehicle.

Did they already have this installed on a vehicle you're buying off the lot or are you waiting for a car they ordered? If they did this to a car you ordered, I would demand that they replace any part of the harness that has cut wires and any drilled trim panels at their cost. If you're buying off the lot you're probably stuck with it, but I'd still push to have them remove it and replace the hacked up harness.


.

 

[tibimakai]

We purchased the car in 2009. They said that they ave to install on all of there car for insurance purposes. Not sure if it's true or not though.
This is what we have at our left knee.
http://www.crvownersclub.com/forums...303611470-factory-alarm-enabling-cimg0026.jpg

 

[Seminole]

There's a pic of a Karr "alarm" in this thread on a prius forum:

http://priuschat.com/threads/removing-karr-alarm.58304/

If a dealership hacked up the harness on my brand new car to install that piece of crap and then "deactivated" it, I would refuse delivery of the vehicle.

I'm with you. A few cars ago I refused to buy from a particular dealer because they installed front plates with the dealers logo on every car, even though FL is a no front plate state. I wouldn't even think of buying a car where they've been messing with the wiring and sloppily installing things. In tibimakai's picture they didn't even install it straight and one screw is still sticking out, lol.

 

[pinkertonfloyd]

KARR alarms are basically $10 Alarms poorly installed... It's a scam... they will charge like $500 for it at first, tell you they'll guarantee it if you car is stolen (but really... all they'll do is pay your deductible... dealers love to then act like they're making a "deal" when they knock it down to $250 or even $100... yet they're making quite a bit off of it.

KARR (Which is Southwestern Dealer Services) is a custom-made system by Audiovox (basically done to make it so you have to pay 4-5 times for a replacement remote, and SDS makes out like a bandit), it's basically the cheapest of the cheap, the installers hack the cars up as they basically hit a lot and get paid like $10 a car to install them. Even if you have them "removed" all the dealer does is unplug the brain and stuff the harness under the carpet... if you are lucky they pull the fuses, but I just worked on a car that they forgot to do that... and there was a nice burn mark on the carpet. KARR is so cheap, you don't even get a siren, they plug it into the horn.

Basically if you *REALLY* want an alarm, you can get a FAR superior alarm system from viper (or any of the DEI brands) installed by a competent installer for under $200.

Basically if they try to sell it say "no" if they say it's already installed... ask for a car that hasn't been molested by one of their installers...