First my apologies for posting this earlier under the wrong subject header. You'd think I was a real newbie at this stuff. Sigh. Anyway, I figure that the club is hard enough to keep straight even with reasonable subjects, so I'm posting again with a good subject. Moderator, feel free to delete my 5935.<br><br>Anyway, another "options" question. The glass breakage sensor. Does anyone actually have one? Toyotaguys.com say that you must have a "Factory VIP Security System". The Prius brochure (the one with the extra colors!) says something similar. Is this VIP thing the standard security built into the Prius? What does the GBS do that is useful if the glass is broken? I read something about locking all the doors, but the doors have to be locked for the alarm to be on anyway. Or does it just provide another input that honks the horn? (Useless, IMHO, given the number of honking horns with people ignoring them that you see every day!)<br><br>The New Features Manual is not completely silent, but it also does not really help much in saying what is required and what good it is.<br><br>Burns

I tried to order the GBS (Glass Breakage Sensor) through the parts dept. at my dealer. I was informed that none of the cars that had been delivered to date had the full "Factory Alarm System" installed, and therefore the GBS would not benefit/function. From this I speculate that none of the 2001 models will be able to use this feature. Comments? <br>I guess that I will just stick with the cargo net (that is available) and wait for the new paint codes to be updated so that I can get some touch-up paint for my "Super White" Prius.<br><br>-Nats (singing Paul Simon's "Cars are cars, all over the world.")

I had Toyota's GBS installed in my Prius #1, and will likely get it for Prius #2, also. The GBS triggers the Prius' built-in alarm system if a window is broken, or (depending on the sensitivity setting you instruct your dealer to set) even if the windows are tapped/banged-on with a sharp object. IMHO, the GBS is relatively inexpensive, and offers an additional layer of "warn-off"-style protection for the car.<br><br>- Peter

I changed the subject back to GBS.<br><br>So toyobri, at the risk of sounding argumentative when I really am just trying to understand: Kicking in the immobilizer is only useful if the thief has the key, right? If he does not have the key with the built-in chippy, the computer will not let him hot-wire the car anyway, true?<br><br>So if that is right, the GBS is good because it blows the horn if someone breaks (or taps hard on) the glass, whereas the standard security system only blows the horn if someone manages to jimmy the door (or remove/replace the battery cable etc etc).<br><br>Is it a breach of security to ask how many of these sensors there are and are they visible? Is it more sensitive on some glass than others?<br><br>Thanks, <br><br>Burns

Your second paragraph is correct sir-The immobilizer wont allow the vehicle to operate at all until the alarm is disarmed. Mo mpg is correct when he says its another layer of protection, as were you when you said its another way to set off the alarm. My point is the alarm is a noisemaker and yes, I suppose people do ignore it but usually they'll look to see where its coming from but when this alarm is making noise it's also preventing operation of the car at all, key or no key, until the alarm is properly dectivated. If a thief set off the alarm and had your key (yikes) he would still have to use one of the aforementioned methods to deactivate it before he could drive off with it. sorry if im rambling - im writing on the run...