clifford concept 650mk2 V Toad ai606

Tue Jul 01, 2014 6:26 am

i need an alarm fitted to a car and need to choose between these 2 models...the guy fitting it has fitted alarms for me before and is very experienced so his skill is not really an issue. he is confident either system will be reliable...

i have had cliffords before (that stupid one with 8 different sounds!) which have been reasonable but have been a bit temperamental and i know they have a reputation as such. have things got better with the new model? how does it compare to the toad? can people who have actually owned the alarms please let me know their honest opinions of the system, its drawbacks and benefits?

cheers ;)

Tue Jul 01, 2014 8:36 am

As a mechanic , PLEASE fit a Toad ! Cliffords are for attention whore sad types who like lots of racket and blue flashing LEDs, not nice respectable gentlemen like your good self

Tue Jul 01, 2014 9:10 am

As above, I've yet to experience a Clifford that's any good. However, I have fitted Toad Alarms before with no issues.

Go for something with simplicity and no gimmicks or shite options. If a scuzzer wants the car, he'll have the car....end of! The last thing that will deter him is some funky sound / auto start b0ll0cks.

Tue Jul 01, 2014 9:56 am

I been looking at these 2 alarm systems as well!

Went to a German meet last week and nearly every single car there had the Clifford with that annoying prox senors going off!

I've had a Toad fitted previously and had no issues at all with it!

Have you looked into the Viper system on the market? Fob is like a pager, if the car is broken into the fob alerts you if you not close by to hear it go off.

Tue Jul 01, 2014 10:16 am

Toad. They just work.

Tue Jul 01, 2014 10:22 am

who are you getting to do the install? are you local to west london as i was interested in a toad alarm too

Tue Jul 01, 2014 10:34 am

Does it have its own battery? Any alarm/immobiliser that doesn't have its own power source is close to useless, however many whistles and bellsit has.

Tue Jul 01, 2014 10:36 am

This dude is based in West London £250 for the toad:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toad-Ai606-Al ... 2c8537605a

He also does the Clifford and Viper

Tue Jul 01, 2014 11:58 am

thanks for that - much cheaper then previous quotes ive had

Tue Jul 01, 2014 1:34 pm

I've got a Ai606 brand new unit sitting here I forgot about hmm really need to get that fitted or sell the alarm

Tue Jul 01, 2014 8:10 pm

Toad Ai606 gets my vote, Also i think you can get the phone text alert for the toad too if that ir required.

Wed Jul 02, 2014 5:31 am

decided! i tough as much....thanks for the help ;)

Wed Jul 02, 2014 9:47 am

As long as you realise that fitting this will delay a potential thief that know's what he's doing by no more than several seconds.
I've just looked at the installation instructions for this, and, if installed as per these instructions, I could completely defeat this unit in thirty seconds maximum, with the alarm sounding for no more than five.
A simple switch that short circuits the fuel pump supply would be many times more effective.

Wed Jul 02, 2014 6:05 pm

Brian

I think a lot of us install the toad for insurance purposes more than anything as the Toad is Thatcham 1 for insurance although no alarm will stop your car being stolen.Like you said a hidden switch is the best deterrent for a non start.

Leigh

Wed Jul 02, 2014 8:18 pm

^^^^ This. We all know Alarms are shite in general but insurance companies don't unfortunately

Wed Jul 02, 2014 10:50 pm

bigbird76 wrote: I think a lot of us install the toad for insurance purposes more than anything as the Toad is Thatcham 1 for insurance although no alarm will stop your car being stolen

That's a reason to install the cheapest one available that your insurance company will accept, but there was no mention of insurance company requirements by the OP, or anywhere else in the thread up unto now.

B7 wrote: We all know Alarms are shite in general but insurance companies don't unfortunately

Definitely don't agree with "We all know". Some of us know for sure, but I'm certain that the majority of E30 owners think that an alarm/immobiliser, wired in the usual manner, provides a significant deterrent to a knowledgeable potential thief.
The E30 under bonnet layout couldn't be better for bypassing an immobiliser, with the battery + (or phantom+) and ignition coil conveniently being placed near each other on the RH upper side of the engine bay, plus a diagnostic socket to operate the starter.

Fri Jul 04, 2014 5:51 pm

It's toad for me too iv had them from way back in 1997 on my first e30 very reliable

Thu Jul 02, 2015 10:41 am

Stuck in the same predicament.

Many authorized/certified alarm fitters etc are suggesting Clifford systems. Saying that folk bad mouth them because they don't understand the system and it's all down to he fitter etc.

It seems like the Toad is easier to install, Clifford a bit more of pain. But is of better quality, so installed "correctly" there shouldn't be any issues?!

I've got a cabby so will be interested in microwave sensor too. The car isn't a daily, is garaged most of the year and only brought out in summers etc. So I guess I'm not after all the fancy add-ons (remote start, txt alerts etc)

A month has gone by and I still can't settle on a system!

Thu Jul 02, 2015 10:56 am

Clifford have a nasty habit of false alarms and then lock you out of your own car.

Thu Jul 02, 2015 12:14 pm

Toad EVERY time ! Cliffords are for attention whores / saddoes. A walk around the ace car park on Monday will confirm that !

Thu Jul 02, 2015 2:26 pm

Toad

Toad

Toad

Cliffords are shite, end of story cut 100's out over the years > binned where the belong

Ai606 FTW , spare channels, robust, reliable and not a fortune

Fri Jul 03, 2015 8:24 pm

I have a Toad Ai606 which I will be fitting soon with the microwave sensor..

I started a thread before and there was some VERY helpful suggestions in there man, especially the gps tracking for pennies suggestion

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ght=alarms

Sat Jul 04, 2015 12:38 am

I have a clifford fitted on my cabby with all the extras window closure,engine start microwave sensors all i have had is constant probs car battery drain, engine start packed up,had to be removed as was leaving the lights on window module packed up the only thing still working is the microwave and central locking its just a pain in the ass so many probs. Im getting it ripped out and getting Toad ai606 fitted tomorrow had toad b4 on my previous e30 and cant fault it .