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What the hell is it with Clarion? Eclipse?
They make nice, high end, SQ decks...
Such as this one "Clarion Drz9255 Review"

I just finished reading the review... no detachable faceplate?!?

Thats great, ya know? Exactly what I want, a billboard in my dash blinking the message: "This is worth at least fifteen crack rocks!!!"

I don't care about any security code nonsense, because all that ends up being, is a potential PITA for me. Won't stop anyone from stealing the HU, while hacking up my dash in the process. At least with the face being gone, you can't tell if thats a KOSS worth $20 or an Alpine worth $300.

Then you've got motorized faces... another incredibly stupid idea, IMO. I'd expect that to be the very first thing to die, and I've heard of enough issues with Pioneer's motors, that I'd never buy something like that.

Just makes me wonder what these companies are thinking. Car (and/or car audio) theft is probably the most rampant type of crime in the country... why is it that the highest price stuff, is designed to be ripe for the picking?

That is why they make nice alarms.

I hate to say it, but alarms are pretty much completely worthless. IF your 2-way has the range to reach you, you just might get to the car in time. Nobody else pays any attention, or would do anything besides watch.

Most systems, just cut the main battery cable and it's all over. And if you have something worth stealing, they'll gladly just tow the whole thing away.

insurance?

Insurance... first of all, you don't get what you paid. Thats called devaluation. It would'nt cover your man hours laboring over an install, that could cost $2K if a shop did it... that some douchebag destroyed in the course of five minutes.

Unfortunately, it seems alot of policies won't cover you at all, only stock equipment that came with the car. Even if they cover, it's only aftermarket securely mounted into stock locations... that leaves out amps and subs.

Then to top it all off...


Lets say you really cover your bases. Get your passive arming alarm system. Get your audio professionally installed, complete with full documentation of every single purchase and expense. Serial numbers, photos, everything.

You get a rider attached to your insurance policy, and also get this stuff added to a homeowners/renters insurance policy...

What will those policies cost you extra, yearly?
If after five years you have not yet become another crime statistic, you've spent quite a bit of money playing that lottery, haven't you? Murphy's law states that, as soon as you drop the coverage, you'd become a victim.

I guess my cumulative point, the sum of all posts I've made in this thread...

I'm a firm believer in Low Profile. No tints, no rims, stealth audio install, and faceplate outta the car. Decent enough alarm system, and saying a prayer every time the car gets parked.

I don't want to give anyone a reason, a hint, even a glimmer of hope... that he has anything to gain by busting into my shit. I believe thats the best overall deterrent.

Un-detachable faced headunits, seem to fly opposite of logic.

i always considered tint low profile...but i do understand that it could mean you have something to be stolen. so your saying get yourself like a 70's volvo with shot paint and 4 different 14" steelies without hubcaps with 4 different tires of multiple sizes? :P

Nah, I know someone with a total piece of shit old Ford Escort wagon that got jacked, and the stuff he had that was semi-stealth (the amps) was'nt even found.

I say just leave the car stock. Try to look like an old person.
Old people don't do tints.
Old people don't do rims.
Old people don't do audio.

Thats what I hope a pending thief is going to think.
I mean, you can do a light tint, and some real low profile rims, and get away looking still somewhat stock.

Its the guys with 12% tint, 3" drop, and 20" bright chrome wheels that really oughta be thinking twice. Bling catches the eye of thieves and vandals.

I did not make this discovery until after making my purchase. I had assumed that of course the unit (my Eclipse) would have a detachable face.

Anyhow, I went ahead and got a Premier, no regrets

I have spanner screws securing everything down. The access to my trunk is through the key only, everything else is locked down. The only way to open my trunk is to break the lock and in all honesty, they really need to do it fast and be able to outrun the bullet from my glock to get away with the theft. Plus it is comforting in that I don't have a bunch of "steal me stickers" so that will keep the lookie loo's from checking out my car. Life is good...I also have the 3 car garage so my car, my wifes, and my son's is fine and free from theft overnight.

I hate thiefs!!! I caught a guy one time in bar parking lot breaking a window of a car, I got a 2x4 out of the back of my truck and hollered at him. lol