Underground Parking vs Clifford Alarm?

bettywatts

I wonder if anyone can help with my dilemma.

I'm moving into a new apartment which doesn't come with parking. It is in the IFSC area. I feel sick at the thought of spending 1200 a year on an underground space on top of my rent, but the street parking around the docklands would not be the world's safest. My car is an 04 Yaris so it's not as if it's a prime target for professional car thieves, but I don't want it nicked or broken into.

So... I could spend 650 on a Clifford 650 alarm system with lifetime guarantee instead and hope for the best parking on the local streets. But I'm just wondering if this is likely to actually prevent the car from harm (I had my previous car, an old banger, broken into in town about a year ago so I'm a bit nervous).

Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks

07Lapierre

bettywatts wrote: »

I wonder if anyone can help with my dilemma.

I'm moving into a new apartment which doesn't come with parking. It is in the IFSC area. I feel sick at the thought of spending 1200 a year on an underground space on top of my rent, but the street parking around the docklands would not be the world's safest. My car is an 04 Yaris so it's not as if it's a prime target for professional car thieves, but I don't want it nicked or broken into.

So... I could spend 650 on a Clifford 650 alarm system with lifetime guarantee instead and hope for the best parking on the local streets. But I'm just wondering if this is likely to actually prevent the car from harm (I had my previous car, an old banger, broken into in town about a year ago so I'm a bit nervous).

Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks

Sell your Car! ..Luas,Buses, Trains, Taxi's all on your doorstep!

Tipsy Mac

Just dont leave theftables on view, car cant be driven away without key.

ION08

Youre right, a yaris wouldnt really be a prime target but to answer your question, if it were me i'd opt for the underground parking.

Primarily out of convenience but also because I reckon your car would be more likely to be the target or vandalsim as opposed to actual theft

+ your car will be covered (will be warm enough in the morning and no frosty or foggy windows during winter)

+ you wont have to hunt around for a good parking spot or get lashed on when its rainin

+ wont have to worry so much about vandals as in your car gettin its mirrors kicked off, windows smashed or getting keyed etc

bettywatts

Thanks for the advice. I'd be inclined to agree that underground parking is the way to go, but not at that price... Also considered selling but I don't know if I could do without. I've only had her for 5 months and she's a brilliant little car with practically no mileage!

Vandalism definitely the biggest threat isn't it... Anything else I could do to stop it?!

07Lapierre

bettywatts wrote: »

Thanks for the advice. I'd be inclined to agree that underground parking is the way to go, but not at that price... Also considered selling but I don't know if I could do without. I've only had her for 5 months and she's a brilliant little car with practically no mileage!

Vandalism definitely the biggest threat isn't it... Anything else I could do to stop it?!

If you work in the city centre, why do you need a car? If your not from Dublin and travel home frequently..hireing a car is good value at the moment. 1200yoyo's will buy a lot of car hire per year. There are FREE bikes now available courtesy of Dublinbikes.ie. I mean really..think about it. Don't get me wrong, I love my car too, but I am very lucky in that i have a driveway and free parking at work. I think paying €1200 PER YEAR to park your car is madness. If you do park it on the street, do not leave anything in the car that migh tattract attention (valuables etc.) Park it in a well lit street wher anyone tampering with it will be noticed. Best of luck.

markpb

There have been threads here and on AAM from people living in the IFSC not being able to get residents parking permits from DCC because they live in an apartment block and have private parking available to them.

Gary ITR

Vandalism is your biggest threat and no matter what alarm you have it's not going to stop it.

Plus if you park your car on street in that area between 7 and 7 you'll have to pay 2.80 per hour and have a max of 3 hours parking

Absurdum

bettywatts wrote: »

I'd be inclined to agree that underground parking is the way to go, but not at that price...

is that price negotiable? could be worth a try!

Bluefoam

I used to park a motorbike in an underground carpark until I came down one day to find it thrashed to very small unrecognisable pieces.

Del2005

Don't forget that underground car parks are only as secure as the laziest user. If someone leaves the doors open then all cars inside can be got at and since they are usually quite then the scum have all the time they want.

Easiest thing is to never leave anything inside the car, then leave the glove box and all other storage places open so they can see there's nothing in the car. All an alarm will do is make noise after they break the window and if it's in an underground garage or on the street they'll have been and gone by the time you react.

Is there Street Car or similar in Dublin yet? Would be idle for the OP

Savman

bettywatts wrote: »

I wonder if anyone can help with my dilemma.

I'm moving into a new apartment which doesn't come with parking. It is in the IFSC area. I feel sick at the thought of spending 1200 a year on an underground space on top of my rent, but the street parking around the docklands would not be the world's safest. My car is an 04 Yaris so it's not as if it's a prime target for professional car thieves, but I don't want it nicked or broken into.

So... I could spend 650 on a Clifford 650 alarm system with lifetime guarantee instead and hope for the best parking on the local streets. But I'm just wondering if this is likely to actually prevent the car from harm (I had my previous car, an old banger, broken into in town about a year ago so I'm a bit nervous).

Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks

Assuming you're insured, you would be insane to pay €1.2k a year for a measly parking space. If you drove a top dollar machine, maybe, but a Yaris? A little bit of old school wisdom applies here:
-don't leave anything in it worth a damn
-if you have a satnav, take it with you (glovebox is too obvious)
-dont leave the suction mount in view either
-dont install a flashy CD gizmo
-get a thick padlock and chain from DIY store, biggest theft deterrent
-avoid badly lit streets, park where people are

Have as many obstacles in place as possible, no one trick pony will single handedly prevent any incidents but you can make your vehicle unappealing. Oh, and underground spaces are no safer, they give a false sense of security when in reality the world and its mother could gain access easily enough.

And what happens when you park away from home? Underground space is feck all use to you then.