I know this topic has been discussed before, but anyone have any comments/ feedback on the stock alarm for the 2005 Escalade? Also, if I should be considering an aftermarket system, can somone please make a recommendation as to what types, brands, and dealers (in NYC) I should be looking into? I've always just used the stock alarm (this may have cost me 3k worth of xenons and bodywork in my last ride), but I've never driven anything that was so popular with thieves! I've done a search on this topic and got a lot of info, but I guess I'm looking for more of a primer since I'm totally new to this stuff. Thanks! Everyone has been EXTREMELY helpful so far in making me comfortable with my purchase!!!

If you invest in upgrades, go for something more than a dealer upgraded alarm. Viper alarms have always been popular, and a competent shop should install it fine with no problems. I'm in NYC as well, but I have no shops to recommend.

Viper, Clifford and Ungo are all made by DEI which are all good. Just make sure they "hide" the valet switch, which disables the alarm when a thief hot wires it. They can makw your valet switch so that you have to push something (ie:cruise control) twice to disable your alarm without the remote. That is the most important thing when installing an aftermarket alarm.