I’ve just gone through the Thatcham site and it says that my Clifford 50x is now Cat 2 but it fails to say why?

All the alarms have been downgraded or removed because they have been replaced by newer models, if you read the text on the page it says they will still be classified as Cat 1 as they were at the time of fitting, but say a 50X fitted now will not be,it will be CAT2, if that makes sense http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/smile.gif So it shouldnt cause problems. Thats how i see it anyway http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Ian Cook (edited 20-02-2000).]

It lists all the new Clifford Concept range as Cat 2 now though, and that hasn't been superceded yet, has it?
Still, my insurance company recognised it as a Cat 1 so I guess that's OK. http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/smile.gif

Stef.

Yeah, that’s what I meant.

All the latest Cliffords right up to the 600 are rated Cat2 and not Cat 1.

How can this be as Clifford are selling tham as Cat 1s?

I think Thatcham have just re-evaluated their test methids and made them harder, so they have probably moved everything down a group, although if the alarm was listed as Cat 1 when fitted it will still be recognised as such ?

Clifford historically bring out new models which as a result downgrade all previous alarms. Perhaps they have new ones coming to market ?

(This is another thing that put me off cliffords).

Bugger, even the scorpion i had fitted last month as a cat 1 is now cat 2 !!

I shouldnt fret too much tho, when insuring previous cars that had ex cat 1 alarms, as long as you have certificate showing that it was a cat 1 my insurance co were ok.

ru sure you are reading the tables correctly? - seems that the title of the no4 table is cat1 alarm + immobilisers - includes all the current cliffords etc. - don't think the tc1 or tc2 in last column is what matters.

Paul W (could be wrong though)

Hmm, just had a look myself, you may be right, it does say Cat 1, but the cert number is TC2 which would imply its not ???

Really confused ?

"cat 1" vs "cat 2" does not denote the relative strength of a system. "Cat 1" denotes alarm & immobiliser, whereas "Cat 2" denotes immobiliser only.

I had to hunt hard but eventually found the Sigma M30 (MY99 standard kit) in the Cat 1 currently compliant list, and also the Clifford Concept 300 I'm planning to put in the Sport.

I’m still confused.

Firstly, I know that my 50x has been superceded by technology or whatever but does anyone know what exactly has happened to make it drop back to Cat 2?

But then why are all the latest Cliffords (they’re only nine months old) slotted in as Cat 2s as well?

Does Thatcham publish details about how they do their tests?

[Groan] My head hurts!

This is really confusing! I take delivery of my Subaru in the next few weeks. I had decided on what I thought was the best alarm system available, which is now listed as a cat 1 system!!!!
Can anyone explain what is going on??????

Thatcham is an oraganisation run by some an association of insurance companies to accredit alarms. It has criteria that the alram must meet in oredr to be given certification. The alarm compaines seeking approval have to pay 20,000 just to put a model through the testing process.

Cat 1 means the alarm is approved by thatcham

Cat 2 means the electronic immobiliser is thatcham approved.

Cat 3 refers to a mechanical immobiliser such as a disclock etc.

Each year companies update their alarms by changing features and using different component grades and manufacturing methods in order to improve profit or increase performance etc. When this happens the new revisions have to be retested. If it now fails then the new version of the alarm is no longer approved. This does NOT mean that an alarm model that had previously passed the test is no longer thatcham approved. If a certificate was issued for the product when it was purchased then it still holds as long as it refers to the alarm that you have installed.

Hope this clears things up.

P.S. stick to sigma, clifford is *&^%

Adam,

Werent you trying to flog Cliffords a while back?