do you have lojack?

Is that what I need when I change a flat tire because of the low ground clearance?

 

Good job. :rockon:

 

I had LoJack once with the Early Warning System in a Lexus RX 330, and decided after that never to do it again. It took them several tries to get everything working properly, and after the install the kick panel and scuff plate on the right side never quite fit properly again.

 

The place I bought mine, also had it installed already and stated the same thing for $1,795. I told them that I would take the car only if they removed the lojack. They said it could not be done, so negotiated down to MSRP and $10 bucks for the lojack. You do get an insurance deduction, u have to fax in the certificate showing you have it installed.

 

My insurance company didn't give a rat's patootee.

 

It's a waste of money--particularly for a car like a Prius. Like most modern cars, it has an immobilizer, so you can't just break in and hot wire it. If a pro wants a car, they'll flatbed it, but there are more expensive fish in the sea so I can't see them bothering with a Prius.

 

It's like $20 off the premium (Farmers).

 

I worked three years for a major metro police department and took many stolen vehicle reports (I worked as a dispatcher). Our department was equipped with lojack equipment and the system works well. If I lived in a community with a high auto theft rate and owned a high-dollar car, I would get it. (Caveat: Like anything else, the ultra pros know how to deal with it.) However, I don't think it makes any sense with the Prius. Just my opinion.

 

AAA will knock of $7 if you have lojack or an alarm. Obviously not work it.

 

Know that I don't intend to change any one's opinion but maybe some can gain some insight into why lojack is a viable option for some . . .

As purely a return on investment transaction, lojack purchased to prevent your vehicle from being stolen is misguided since lojack was never intended to be an anti-theft device (that's what a car alarm / visible alarm warning sticker is for). As well, lojack purchased in a city where the police departments do not support lojack recovery is also certainly a waste. if you are compelled to invest your funds in other add-ons that provide more tangible benefits or immediate satisfactions then lojack may not measure up against these alternatives.

On the other hand, if you've experienced first hand (or empathized with someone you know who has gone through it) the utter shock and helpless sick-to-the-pit-of-your-stomach feeling of having your precious car stolen then there are other less tangible reasons to consider lojack (if you still have funds to spare).

Know that I am biased since I have experienced first hand and have had good friends who have had their cars stolen (with partial vehicle recovery and total lost / no recovery). Understand that once you've realized the car is totally gone, it is too late to do much of anything other than complete the police report. The sickening part of these experiences is the total lack of control or feelings of helplessness that comes upon you once you realize that you have no viable options to take action or pursue. Right or wrong, apart from feeling victimized, one also wonders what else could have been done to prevent the theft or feels a bit foolish for not taking more actions beforehand to try to avoid this event.

After these times, one welcomes the opportunity to take more proactive options to avoid this same scenario and experience in the future. Certainly, these assurances are not completely objective, rational or based completely on absolute worth based upon bottom line dollars & cents value.

This is where lojack offers up an option that one usually doesn't have once your car is stolen. So, next time, with a bit of luck, enabling the lojack recovery option with a police department that has lojack scanners provides an after theft option that one would otherwise not have.

Ultimately, lojack is simply an alternate form of vehicle insurance that doesn't pay out in cash (unless you purchase the additional lojack warranty options) but pays out with the potential to directly counter or strike back at the thieves who targeted the theft of your vehicle. Thinking hypothetically, if by chance, my vehicle were recovered or thieves apprehended by a supportive police department and working lojack system, I'd probably feel that lojack was well worth the investment, even at 2-3 times the cost.

So, all can afford to go without the expense of lojack. It is not worth any cost for many since it does not offer any guarantees as far as recovery or theft deterrence is concerned. It looks like a game of chance, it appears that good money is simply going down the drain, and at best the lojack investment returns little or no tangible cash benefits.

But just as all insurance that is never used is a total waste of the expense incurred, for some, lojack provides other benefits akin to the peace of mind or assurances of a term life insurance policy. Again, if one cannot afford the cost of this optional insurance then no one should convince you it is worth while for you / your situation. Likewise, for those that choose to invest in lojack, their personal and individual cost/benefit decisions should not be viewed as totally irrational, without any basis / value or dismissed out of hand.

William Barr

 

This is one of the best comments I have read about lojack. It touches the cost/benefit analysis aspect as well as the emotional aspect. Well put.

Tom

 

My new Gen3 has the SOS locator above by the overhead lights. I was wondering if that doesn't do the same thing as LoJack anyway?

 

Yes, it does. It is a subscription feature which you must activate and there will be a charge after the first year. It will also summon help automatically with air bag deployment or manually when the SOS button is pressed similar to On-Star. It uses the Verizon network. In addition, with police approval, apparently it has the ability to stop the car - very "big brother".

 

Having had the experience of my car being quickly "found" using the SOS feature after it was stolen, I can personally attest to the fact that SOS works, and works fast, assuming: 1) the car is equipped with the feature, and 2) the car is registered with SOS.

Currently, I don't think the SOS feature has the ability to stop the car, but this and other features will be coming in the future. (This is a feature available only on a few high-end vehicles equipped with OnStar.)

Personally, I think the SOS features are *fabulous* because I wouldn't have recovered my car so quickly, and thankfully damage-free, without the GPS locator. When I was signing the sales paperwork at the dealership, the finance guy asked me if I wanted to purchase LoJack and I said "I don't need it because my car is equipped with SOS and a GPS locator." The guy didn't know what I was talking about and had to read up on the feature. Little did I know it would be so helpful when I brought the car home.

 

Instead of a LoJack, I purchased a pager sized module called Zoombak. I have it plugged into +12 in the dash. All I have to do is log onto the Zoombak site, enter my log on and password and it will show me where my car is within about 50 ft or so!!!

Here is a URL to check it out...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0014J61GI/ref=ox_ya_oh_product

 

I have SOS which is Toyota's version of Lo-Jack.

 

I tested my yesterday after signing up and I like it. They know exactly where I was located when I was driving home from work.

 

I got the Prius III and I was glad mine didn't got either one of them. The SOS thing was the reason why I didn't get a Prius IV instead of getting a Prius III with leather installed. I had to pay $600 on something that I need to put even more money in for it to work? It doesn't make sense for me. Like what other people said, the car can't be hardwire so it can't really be stolen. Instead of the SOS system, I just invested like less than $200 and got the stock alarm system and installed it myself. I only want to be notify if someone broke my windows or something like that. A couple months ago, someone was dumb enough to leave their key in the car the first day after they bought it and acutally had to use the SOS system to get it back. At that case, the SOS sytem might actually worth to get. You would know if you left the key in the car, because your car will not lock and actually give you a TONE to let you know. SO I don't think that many people will leave their keys in it, so still not worth to get the SOS system.

 

I had Lojack on my retro T-Bird because it was just the kind of car that would attract car thieves. I got a slight discount on the list price for it, but they are really tough about holding to list price. I am glad I had it, but I don't feel the need with the SOS.