triode

Given that my 4.0 cannot be replaced new with my particular spec - and I'll likely keep it forever - I'm wondering about fitting the LoJack "theft recovery device". Can anyone weigh in on the +/- of these - I'm particularly wondering about battery drain issues.

Thanks in advance.

MaddMike

I had a buddy who had it on his high-performance car which was stolen. The car was used in a robbery and subsequent police chase. Car was totally trashed but he got it back.

Personally, if my car is stolen I really don't think I want it back.

jskup1

I have it in mine. I didn't really want it, but the dealer had already had it installed in the vehicle when I purchased it. My car is not a daily driver and I have not had any battery drain issues.

TXshaggy

Probably country and equipment specific; but my MY2021 Spyder OM lists a feature called Porsche Vehicle Tracking System Plus (PVTS Plus).

If your vehicle is similarly equipped you just need to activate. It’s specific to vehicle theft.

m3bs

My car had one in it when I bought it. I got it transfered to my contact info, so the company is still around. No issues with battery drain, although I don't let the car sit more than a week without being on a tender.

It was my understanding that Lojack no longer sold the device, as almost all cars have built-in GPS locators. Supposedly they still provide tracking support for existing units.

Spyder Bite

Throw in an airtag and call it a day.

shawfm

Ummm... My mother - on her 2000 Ford Focus wagon. She would leave the car with us when they traveled and it would sit months (6+) without being driven no battery issues.
We unloaded that car in 2018.
Why she spent that kind of money when she bought the car is a different subject.

EYEHAVEYOU

What I did at the end of euro delivery. Was actually kind of cool tracking it on its way to the port, and then again once it made it stateside.

OldJedi

I was a Lo-Jack tracker for over 10 years back in the day. It worked off radio frequency connected to the VIN. Once a police report is made for a stolen vehicle, the VIN is entered which triggers the transponder in the vehicle. The vehicle transmits a signal out. There are some drawbacks to tracking radio frequencies. A police tracking vehicle has to drive within the range of the transmitting stolen vehicle. The range can vary depending on where the transponder is mounted in the car, the higher the better. It also depends on where the stolen vehicle is located, again the higher it is located the better. Top floor of a parking garage is better than underground parking. Once a signal is received it is just a matter of tracking the signal to the stolen vehicle. Unfortunately the signal from the stolen vehicle has to wait for a tracking vehicle to come into it’s transmitting range, receive the signal and track the car. Also the more police tracking units, the sooner the vehicle is located. The lesser the units the harder to find it.

Satellite tracking devices have their drawbacks as well. They require line of sight overhead, nothing covering their view to the sky. So a stolen car parked in a garage or building cannot be seen by a satellite. The best scenario is something with both kinds of transmission.

I hope this helps to give you some information.

beez

The current Lojack uses both GPS and cellular technology to track down stolen cars. They also have a native app that you can use to monitor the device, and a lot of infrastructure in place. I had one that was already in a previous car, and felt it was pretty well protected... but I didn't have to pay for it, and not sure I would. It was transferred over to me for free when I bought the car. There's no noticeable battery drain.

triode

Thanks for all of the input. I like the Air Tag idea, but my mechanic says that anyone with an iPhone can detect it in the car - is this correct? I've never used them for luggage or anything.

Spyder Bite

Not true. You would only be alerted to someone else’s AirTag if you were traveling with it and you’d still have to find it. Otherwise you would be detecting air tags all the time.

tyrbo

If I recall, they added something so it emits a noise as well as notifying nearby iPhones (and soon Androids, I think?) if it hasn't been in range of the owner's iPhone in a while.