Question of the Day: Are Car Alarms More Trouble Then They're Worth?

Sean Fallon — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:50:00 EDT

As I write this post, a car alarm going off in my neighborhood. Yeah, it's annoying, but that's the price you pay for "security." They go off all the time for no good reason—inconveniencing owners and irritating everyone in the area (including writers trying to concentrate on their jobs). While I understand that it may be a necessary evil for someone with an expensive vehicle, there are still plenty of people out there pushing their beater down the street with the alarm blazing. Sometimes I think these car alarms are more trouble than they're worth. Do you agree? As a bonus question, let us know what gadgets you store in your car.

Bonus Question: What gadgets do you store in your car?

Poll results from "Do You Really Need a $1000 Laptop?"

Yes: 16%
Yes, but only because I am unwilling to sacrifice on the OS: 20%
Yes, but only because I like to have the best of everything: 21%
No: 41%
Other 2%

Jeep and Mitsubishi Sharing Alarm Codes?

Charlie White — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 14:11:27 EDT

Are Jeep and Mitsubishi using the same car alarm codes? Check out this video, where our beloved bloodbrother Ray Wert at Jalopnik wants to get into his Jeep, hits the unlock button on his remote key fob, and the alarm goes off in the Mitsubishi next to his Jeep. WTF? Ray tells us that Mitsubishi and Daimler Chrysler, Jeep's maker, once shared components, so maybe this is just a coincidence.

This happened to me one time, where a valet parker brought me the wrong car, an identical model to mine in which my keys actually worked. Could happen. Anyway, car alarms are a big pain in the ass; they make lots of unwelcome and unexpected noises when not needed, and any self-respecting car thief can defeat them, anyway. But at least they could all have unique codes. – Charlie White

Breaking Odds! Wert Encounters Strangeness In Detroit Parking Garage [Jalopnik]

Gizmodo: car alarms

Question of the Day: Are Car Alarms More Trouble Then They're Worth?

Jeep and Mitsubishi Sharing Alarm Codes?