Hi All,

I'm interested in purchasing a new alarm system. The Directed LE Responder features are appealing, so I am interested in chasing some info.

What are the differences between these alarm brands? Are they all just rebranded versions of the same product. The Directed website is crap, I have to say. Is there a premium brand amongst them with extra features??

They need an Australian website to boot.

Thanks in advance,

Gomez.

Digging a little deeper, it appears that these alarms don't include an immobiliser....they are purely alarm systems, right??

Cheers.

Gomez,

There is an Australian Directed website in the works I believe. I agree, the US based one is a tad confusing and branches off in too many different directions.

The Clifford, Python and Viper LE Responder are all exactly the same alarm, with different remotes (simply cosmetic).

The difference is the varying brands are sold through varying outlets.

The LE Responder is a single point immobiliser but your installer can use relays to add additional points of immobilisation.

I have this alarm myself and love it. The other added benefit is you can actually use the same remote for multiple cars.

The Viper LE Responder Special Edition (in PINK!) comes out shortly, so you can buy the missus one and each remote will work on both cars!

Thanks Marc.

I read your thread wrt Hectic. You obviously had extra features wired, could you give me and indication of the installed cost? It was a Viper?

I'd want an electronic tilt sensor installed too.

I have the Viper LE yes. I also have the digital tilt sensors, and window closure, as well as the additional outputs wired.
In terms of cost, you'd have to speak with your local dealer - it varies greatly depending on installation options.

Hi Gomez,
One important element in deciding about a car alarm is to check with your insurance company if they require an Australian Standards Approved immobiliser or alarm as part of the terms and conditions, some cars such as imports must have Australian Standards immobilisers in order to be insured comprehensively. This may also help to bring the overall premium down as well.
These viper alarms were predominately sold to the U.S market and still do, unfortunatly they offer very little security but lots of "bling" as they are more feature based alarms.

If the car alarm/immobilser breaks down or the remotes fail or lose their code this could leave you without a car until you get replacement parts, so try to buy an alarm from somewhere local or make sure they can do overnight delivery for replacement parts.

If you want to really protect your car this is not the alarm for you.

If you just want to show your friends all the neat tricks your car can do then this is the alarm for you.

BTW remote start alarms are illegal in Australia and not many installers would be interested in doing the job for you. I would do it but only for some rediculous price that you wont be able to afford..... I have seen far too many people buy car alarms at great prices with every feature imaginable from ebay which was shipped from another state or country and they cannot find anyone to install it for them...professionally at least.

If Directed can supply and fit your car alarm and back it with a product and installation warranty, then your laughing.

Good luck anyway....Leon

These Viper alarms as stated are "still" sold in the USA and actually hold majority market share. In fact, Directed Electronics alarms are sold to over 70 countries around the world, and are the largest security manufacturer in the world.

"They offer very little security" sounds like a bit of an uneducated statement considering the security features within the system.



Once again an uneducated statement, as with all alarms the customer can over ride the system no different to any other alarm system on the market.

With a manufacturer backed Australian distributor why would the retail customer have any issues with obtaining replacement parts, in fact, we have excellent customer service and turnaround time on repairs and warranty issues.



Obviously not a Directed Dealer?



The legality issue again?
To clarify: It is not illegal to fit or have a remote start in your vehicle and this has been confirmed with each states authorities. It is however illegal to have your vehicle running and unattended while in a public place. Your driveway is not a public place!

Therefore on your assumption turbo timers are also illegal.



Directed have a strong dealer base Australia wide that can sell and install the product with warranty. Lifetime warranty on Viper modules!!!!!!!!!

Directed Aust, Marc stated that your alarms are a single point immobiliser alarm.

What circuit do they disable? Ign, fuel injection, starter?? I saw a glossy brochure in Autobarn stating that the LE Responder is an installers dream with only nine wires to terminate. This seems to be very few in number when you consider the number of sensors/inputs required.

Could you please expand on how the system can be installed with so few wires??

The car I'm looking to protect is a manual turbo. I live close to a freeway so I'd like to use the remote start to warm the car up prior to entering the on-ramp. The turbo timer aspect is handy too.

Cheers.



Are the Viper and Python warranties the same? Do these alarms retail at similar prices??

Bump.

most of directed range do the starter. exceptions are the 460xv and 480xv. those do 3 points and are partial black wire. they are not listed on the US site.

if you are driving a import then I would SERIOUSLY look at your insurance policy as well to see what they require.

leon,

parts are available for them. not cheap but available.

Thanks Sonny.

I'll need to do some research on the 460xv and 480xv then, as I'd like maximum security (obviously).

The car is an import, BTW. The insurer hasn't specified a requirement for an alarm/immobiliser.

Maybe Directed Aust would like to comment on these two alarms (and why they aren't on the website).

The 460 and 480 are not available in the USA hence not on the US website. They were devolped by the Directed UK office to comply with Thatcham Standards (similar but exceeding Aust Standards). The USA do not use any three point black wiring systems at all.

Thanks (this is a little like pulling teeth).....

Directed Aust, Marc stated that your alarms are a single point immobiliser alarm.

What circuit do they disable? Ign, fuel injection, starter?? I saw a glossy brochure in Autobarn stating that the LE Responder is an installers dream with only nine wires to terminate. This seems to be very few in number when you consider the number of sensors/inputs required.

Could you please expand on how the system can be installed with so few wires??

Are the Viper and Python warranties the same? Do these alarms retail at similar prices??

Are the 460 and 480 alarms available in Australia, and do they use the LE responder??

Finally, when will a local website be developed??

Thanks in anticipation,

(Potential Customer) Gomez.

Hi Gomez,

Marc was correct, they are single point immobilisation which would be starter disable. But as also previously mentioned, your installer at your request can wire in additional immobilisation points.

In terms of the marketing material that makes reference to the reduced number of wires for installation, this is referring to CANBUS vehicles. If your vehicle is quite recent (2006+) and uses CANBUS then this can be taken advantage of. Otherwise, all the traditional wires for input and output are still available during installation.

There is a lifetime warranty (module) on all branded versions (Python, Viper and Clifford) Responder LE. The RRP is exactly the same.

The 460 and 480 alarms do not use the LE Responder remotes or technology, as they have been developed for different applications and markets.

A local website is already in development but unsure as to it's completion date as yet. There shouldn't be anything you need you cannot find on the US based website however.

I hope this helps you in your decision Gomez

Excellent, thank you very much.

Can I recommend that you make one thing clear on the Oz website (when it gets up)? Please spell out the fact that these alarms are branded versions. Mug punters like myself waste time trying to figure out what's what and who's up who.

If the product, pricing and warranty is the same....why all the labels?? Vipers and Pythons are both snakes!!!!

I don't have that much experience with remote start and manual cars, but i'm assuming you'd need to make sure you left it in neutral everytime you got out of the car and planned to use the remote start next time you go to use the car right??

I was just thinking that.
Although if you left it in 1st and hid somewhere an started it when you had it parked in a busy area, it could lead to some very funny times .

Yes in a manual car the car would have to be in neutral for the car to start. Remote start kits are meant to have a feature that does not start the car if the car is in gear. However i know someone that installed it himself and did not do this and he was showing off and started the car from where we were sitting and his car crashed into the car parked in front of him. lol

AHAHAAHAHahHAHAHAAHAHAH!

Do it to a cop car and then they can't fault you?


That made my day

yeh they can..

according to Direct Aust in one of his earlier posts: "It is not illegal to fit or have a remote start in your vehicle and this has been confirmed with each states authorities. It is however illegal to have your vehicle running and unattended while in a public place."

Pure sarcasm my friend

I'm hard to read =D

My car is also fitted with a clutch pedal switch (clutch must be depressed prior to start). It'll be a no brainer to work around it, though.

Is there a RRP list available for the Directed products?

they are aimed at different segments in the US market hence the different branding.

DEI (gavin?),

still not a fan of hanging external relays everywhere. those units tend to get a bit unpredictable with 3 bosch 5pin relays hanging off one neg out not to mention the ease of finding them since 75% of the fitters out there cannot fit an alarm properly in the first place..

in regard to the CAN units - piece of cake in the right vehicle.

gomez,

480XV uses a responder transmitter with a screen. it has ultrasonics as standard 3pt kill with 39sec auto immobilisation abd 6 ch output to drive whatever you want via remote. the 460 is the same unt sans lcd remote. rrp fitted for them is well over $1k($1400 actually.) when done correctly and not tossed under the dash.

if you want wank - 791 or the like - security -> 460/480. what car is this?

stone,

I think I have an old list for it.

if you use it in your driveway - great. use it anywhere else and expect a defect notice.



most have nuetral safety switches that tell the car its out of gear. if they fail however and there is a 5 y/o girl in its path then you have BIG problems. yes I have seen one fail and the results WERE NOT nice.

Sonny, my car is a 2001 twin turbo RX-7.

No CAN bus, and (door locks aside), no factory anti theft features!!

I still dont get it.

They are the same dog, and have the same leg action.

The food and vet bills are the same, it's just that one has a different collar......ferchrisake

ok to clarify. autobarn sell viper. now if strathfield want to sell viper they cannot- territorial boundaries. BUT they can sell Python... yes its the same maker but the general public usually do not know that.

rattler is another one. same idea - cheaper version. automate - same idea again. cheaper again.

clifford is another one. though that was was gobbled up by DEI inthe late 90s.


there are heaps more that fall into the same umbrella by this company but I think you get the gist of it. (they even own two HOME audio companies as well..)

ok. series 8 FD3S. the car will need a few bits and pieces to make the locks work remotely but somewhat straightfoward to work on. would suggest finding someone in MLB (if thats where you are.) that is quite compentent on imports. IE a specialist and not a chain store.

if you read my previous comments you will see that the unit you are considering may not be the best choice.

btw - its does run a databus in the car but that is not anywhere near where you are going to be.

Thanks Sonny, I appreciate you spending the time to respond to my posts. Market forces...all makes sense now.

My car is a limited edition model that has factory remote central locking (indicators don't flash though). The remote fob encases a dumb ignition key.

Yes, I am in Melbourne.

no probs.

Care to expand on the central locking system?

Is it similar to the standard mazda single wire system?

*directed at sonny

it can be one of three systems, neg trigger,resistive or single wire depending on exact age.
Jon,

I need to com see you anyway.