Best Buy Remote Starts- Are they Reliable?

[DaedalCipher]

Hello everyone. Just looking for some help here from the most knowledgeable group on the net.

I want to get a remote start system put in my girlfriends car for our two-year anniversary. I called Best Buy, and the one that fits best with my budget is the Avital 400xl system. $180 for parts, $150 for install, wich includes a reprogramming of her current keyless entry to fit with the system and a 1 year parts and labor warranty.

Has anyone bought this system? Or any other system from Best Buy? How do they work? Are they reliable, or will I have to bring the car back six times before it works?

Any and all help is greatly appreciated, so's I don't look like a dufus.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

<--- Lives in Alaska - Works at an electronics store


LOL @ Avitol! :laugh:

Buy Astro or buy nothing. Seriously. They have the best product out there BY FAR. We see cars with Avitols, DEI (Python, Viper, Stinger), Clifford and Bulldog et al all the time. They seem to hvbe about a two year lifespan.

Go to a pro. I don't know where you live but if you're in the north somewhere there are shops that specialize in this kind of install. Stay away from Best Buy.

 

[richardycc]

its all about the install, go with a company that will give you life time install warranty and will take it out for free when you sell your car.

 

[DaedalCipher]

Really. I didn't know that.

ok. So I just got of off the phone with an outfit up here ( i live in central MN) called Signature Audio. They have a Compustar CM1000 that, installed (with the passlock bypass and parts and labor and everything else), costs $249.99. Doesn't include keyless entry, but she already has that, so I assume it either wouldn't interfere with the remote start or they would include a reprogram either with the package or for an extra fee. No big deal.

They have a lifetime warranty on everything they do, excluding the transmitter unit. He said they usually don't go out often, but they are 60 bucks if i have to replace one. Otherwise, lifetime warranty on everything. I think this guy sounds like he knows more about what he's peddlin' me than anyone else i've talked to on the phone. Can you see any major problems with this? Thanks

 

[richardycc]

if your gf's car has keyless entry, they should be able to easily tap it in,unless its a factory alarm system that they just dont want to mess with. you should pay the extra $15-30 so your gf doesnt have to carry 2 remotes for one car. you want to go with a company that is estabished and not run by bunch of kids, lifetime warranty is meaningless if they go out of business down the road soon. good luck!

 

[DaedalCipher]

Thank you for all the help. I really appreciate it.