Standard alarm - any good?

[bampotman]

Hi i've just joined the forum - great site!

I have a mk3 gti Colour Concept and the remote for the standard alarm is not working. I checked it out and its a meta alarm and a replacement remote will cost 90 bucks. Does anyone know how good these alarms are or if it is better to just get a new one fitted.

I'm also think of sticking a stainless steel exhaust on the car something like a Magnex one. Whats the advantages of a full system over a back box and does the back box make any difference apart from making the car look better?

Cheers. Any help would be great!

[jv]

The standard one is nothing special and it's not cat1 or 2 insurance approved. That sounds a lot for a new remote but then again it's 250 upwards for a decent new cat1 system...

A full system might find you a tiny extra amount of power, the back box will just look and sound better 

[Dizzie]

you're better off spending a little more on a proper alarm like a ai606 from toad or a concept 550 from clifford. those are both cat 1 alarms and might lower your insurance premium a little.

get a decent 4 brand manifold to unlock more horses than just a good exhaust system. a backbox on it's own does practically nothing, but looks better.

[bampotman]

Thanks it sounds like a new alarm might be better. Looks like i'll have to save some money.

I found a place that does a custom stainlesss steel exhaust systems but they look like they are unbranded. They are cheaper than the usual makes. Has anyone come accross these? Are they just rubblish or good? How much extra power will i get from a new manifold?

[mowgli]

Go for a decent CAT 1 replacement to be honest, but you won't save that much on the insurance though.  Piece of mind however is priceless.

AFAIK no one manufactures tubular manifolds for the MK3, you could probably get one made though (£Â£Ã‚£'s).  As far as exhausts are concerned there is a good post on the ClubGTi forum, there was quite a discussion on this.  Basically, STD or very close to std bore size etc works the best.  Been tested in magazines and only 1 in 10 showed a slight improvement.  Show or go??  Thats the choice.