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Posted

Hello all!

I'm new to forums and probably shouldn't even be contacting you as I haven't yet taken delivery of my Iron Grey VTR+ deisel hatch (hopefully in a couple of weeks or so)

I am keen to hear any suggestions about in car security - steering wheel locks etc. I am coming from a Megane which had a factory fitted alarm, so I am feeling a little vulnerable about my C4 with no alarm.

 

Is it worth getting an alarm fitted?

 

Anyone any suggestions to the best steering wheel lock? I am thinking of a Stoplock Pro or Stoplock Ultima.

 

Does the C4 steering wheel design cause any problems when using these types of lock?

 

Any comments would be welcome. And quick - I live in Liverpool! (A joke - just in case any fellow scousers are offended)

Posted

Welcome to the forums mate hope your happy with your C4 cracking cars. And you may not have the car yet your still welcome I was here a couple months before I took delivery of mine.

 

To be honest its probably not worth getting an alarm.

 

Unless they decide to smash your windows and crawl through it there gonna have a hard job getting into the car in the first place. Once its deadlocked the door isnt coming open plus only keyhole on passenger side boot doesnt have a lock at all can only be opened when rest of the car is opened from the fob.

 

Mine was parked in the centre of manchester for the last 8 months no one tried anything not likely anyone will. And not sure but the steering wheel may cause difficulties with the locks but i doubt it would just the spokes on the wheel go back a fair bit to give it clearance around the hub.

Posted

An alarm just tells you that either someone has broken into your car, or it was a false alarm.

 

The immobiliser will stop anyone driving the car, unless of course they steal your keys, which is more common these days.

 

Steering wheel locks are a waste of money on a modern car with immobiliser, but good on an old car pre 1997, which was when immobilisers had to be fitted to all new cars.

 

If you must have an alarm it will cost you about £350 including fitting for a good one. Thatcham CAT1 Alarms are the only type worth considering, as you will get a discount on your car insurance.

 

A tracker system will also get you a discount on your car insurance, but you need to pay an annual subscription. A tracker will allow the police to find your car if it is stolen by tracking the location of a hidden transmitter in the car.

 

If you get the C4 'Security Pack' the side windows are laminated which prevents them being smashed, and also you get an alarm fitted. This feature is standard on the VTS and Exclusive.

Posted

Thanks for those points. I'll probably forget about the alarm. I would have gone for the security pack given the opportunity but I am buying the car through DC Cook Direct as a pre registered and wasn't able to specify any options other than the colour of the metallic paint. Thats unfortunate, but the deal was so much better than I was ever going to get from local dealers despite all my best efforts!

 

I may still look at a steering wheel lock just for some extra peace of mind.

 

By the way, with reference to the ongoing debate about the rarity or otherwise of C4's on the road, here in Liverpool they seem to be scarecer than hens teeth, particularly 3 door. Now I have mine on order I seem to spend a lot of time looking out for them on the road, but apart from the occasional (usually silver) hatch, I've seen very few.

Posted
If you must have an alarm it will cost you about £350 including fitting for a good one. Thatcham CAT1 Alarms are the only type worth considering, as you will get a discount on your car insurance.

 

A tracker system will also get you a discount on your car insurance, but you need to pay an annual subscription. A tracker will allow the police to find your car if it is stolen by tracking the location of a hidden transmitter in the car.

Don't bank on it getting you an Insurance discount - I have a Cat 5 system on my C4 (i.e. a tracker that can be remotely imobilised from the control room) - its a great system, top spec, thatcham approved.

 

My Insurance company told me that they don't do discount on alarms & trackers for 'vehicles as cheap as a C4'. When I asked them what they meant, they said they don't do this sort of discount on a vehicle worth less that £30k.

Posted
Sounds a bit stupid i know a few insurance companies that refuse to insure certain cars if they dont have a tracker fitted and you can pick those cars up for less than £10,000.
Posted

*Climbs on to Soapbox* <_<

 

Going with the experiences of Insuring my VTS this wouldnt suprise me. My insurance was renewed last week and have had the most bizzare experience.

 

Naming no names (you frequently see the yellow vans driven by a very nice man...a very very nice man) they advised me to change the vehicle description type of the car! :blink: :ph34r: :o

 

So although the the car as detailed on the DVLA V5 is Citroen C4 VTS Coupe they advised me to change it to read Saloon or 3 Door as "this would bring down the cost of your premium"

 

Brief Transcription

 

Me "Its called a Coupe"

 

Insurance Co " Yes but it has three doors so must be a 3 door"

 

Me "Its called a Coupe"

 

Insurance Co "So is it a 3-door hatchback?"

 

Me "Its called a Coupe, what do the DVLA have it recorded as your end?"

 

Insurance Co "Coupe"

 

Me "So its called a Coupe then"

 

Insurance Co "But if you select 3-door this will bring down your premium"

 

Me "So you will validate my insurance if I call it a 3door even though it clearly says on the V5 Coupe?"

 

Insurance Co "Yes"

 

Me "Even though it is different to the DVLA Description?! No thanks! Call it a Coupe, as that is what DVLA have it registered as"

 

When we got round to security devices questions...I was asked to "specifically specify" what exactly was factory fitted...."factory fitted parametric alarm and immobiliser" - basically read out from the manual.

 

I then had 20 questions as to what factory fitted meant...

 

I couldn't help at this point reply "I dont know, I'm not a Citroen engineer, although if I knew one, I'd ask one, which I dont. I know the alarm was fitted in the car when it was built by a Citroen employee in a Citroen factory and that it goes off if I leave my girlfriend in the car with the doors locked"

 

This amongst a number of other bizzare questions relating to the renewal made me wondered if they actually knew what the hell they are doing...scary really.

 

Even though they made it quite clear that the information they have is linked to the DVLA they still advise you to change your details! :angry:

 

Citroen cars are exported around the world in large numbers so wouldnt exactly call the C4 low in terms of production units so they must know what they come out with as standard, the onus is on the policy holder to declare any mods away from standard.

 

Not exactly like I was trying to Insure a flipping Bristol Blenheim or Dacia Duster (not that I'd want one of course)

 

*Climbs off Soapboax* :lol:

 

PS Apologies for going slightly off topic...! I just hate Insurance Comps....!

Posted
When I took out my insurance I got a proper wheeler dealer Essex bloke. He desperatly wanted me to sign up there and then I assume they work on commision he gave me a direct line to him...the deal he offered was really good so I did sign up. See if he can do a better deal this year.
Posted

I also asked why as a returning customer of 8 years my premium was £516 but for a new customer smae company using the same details and particulars it was only £322 plus 10% discount. :lol: :angry: :blink:

 

the answer I got was................................." insert white noise sound here - nothing " :ph34r: :o <_<

 

I have real "issues" with insurance companies especially the ones that give you the hard sell of a policy costing in excess of £194 more than that of a new customer....i feel sorry for those who just retun the renewal with an enclosed cheque.

 

I have asked them to clarify what extra/over I get if I was to pat the extra £194 so be interesting to see what their response is.

Posted
I also asked why as a returning customer of 8 years my premium was £516 but for a new customer smae company using the same details and particulars it was only £322 plus 10% discount. :lol:  :ph34r:  :angry:

 

When I changed car a couple of weeks ago, I was charged an extra £120, but a new policy would have only cost another £50 <_<

 

I was told the only way around this was to terminate my existing policy and wait for a refund, and then take out the new policy online. I decided it was too much trouble, but could have saved a few pounds.

 

I would guess that new policies are all commission based, and the commission can only be paid for a new policy, which is why you always lose out by staying with same company. :blink:

 

Same principle applies to mobile phone contracts.

Posted

Yeah but all I have done is continued my insurance as if I was a new customer, i.e. ignored the renewal letters and started a fresh policy, at the cheaper price.

 

When I asked on the phone if I can have my renewal policy at the same price of the new one they declined, and wouldnt give a reason. If it was commision based, surely the new customer price would be higher?

 

What I dont understand is why the same product can cost a substantial ammount more e.g. its the same as buying a Double Decker, one is for sale at 0.40p the other at £4.40. I know which one I'd buy, but they are the same product.

 

When I changed from the Focus I think it was only a 40quid increase, dont have a problem with that as for a start its a higher insurance group...if that has any relevance any more.

Posted

You are all trying to apply coomon sense to an industry which is basically all about gambling.

 

The insurance company is saying to you I bet you x amount of dosh that your car will not be stolen or in an accident for the next 12 months.

 

They are also selling based on targets so all the girlie insurers will want to sign up so many women and and the OAP insurers want the over 60's.

 

If it is close to the end of the month and the target for new policies is 100 and they have sold 50 they will be pushing new policies like crazy. If they have sold 100 they will not be wanting to increase their risk so give stupid premiums so no one else signs up.

 

Ian

Black 55 VTR+

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

 

I may still look at a steering wheel lock just for some extra peace of mind.

 

I found my old Metro Stoplok Pro (higher spec version with a decent key) the other day and wondered whether to add it to my C4's security - mind you I'm not sure why I was bothering what with my Thatcham alarm, deadlocks and laminated side windows. Because it was there, presumably? Despite being the deeply cranked version of the Stoplok for bulky steering wheel bosses, I could not put it on without setting the horn off several times.

Posted

cars are getting more difficult to break into and the c4 has some good sercurity fittings but if some one wants it bad enough they will tend to pinch the car keys from the house first.

Read a report some time ago that approx 70% of people leave their car keys in the house door lock over night,easiest way forr the crooks to get hold of a damaged free motor with a key.

Posted
I found my old Metro Stoplok Pro (higher spec version with a decent key) the other day and wondered whether to add it to my C4's security - mind you I'm not sure why I was bothering what with my Thatcham alarm, deadlocks and laminated side windows. Because it was there, presumably? Despite being the deeply cranked version of the Stoplok for bulky steering wheel bosses, I could not put it on without setting the horn off several times

 

You've got to put it on upside down (with lock at the bottom). Otherwise it just does'nt fit over the bose. I use mine (i do live in a very dodgy area) but its mainly as a visual deterant to stop people even having a go at the car.

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