What’s the Best Remote Starter for Cold Climates?

This winter has been cold and it’s only getting colder. To beat the cold, you might want to get your vehicle hooked up with a remote starter. If you plan to purchase remote starter, don’t settle for a mid-level system that will wear out in a year or two, get yourself the industry’s best remote starter! 

You might be wondering, “What is the best remote starter?” The answer to this question is pretty simple: the best remote starter is the one that fits your needs. Let’s figure out what you want and need from your Compustar system by answering three questions.

1. What Kind Of Car Do You Drive?

This is the most important question to answer when shopping for a remote starter, which is why it’s at the top of our list! Here at Compustar, we pride ourselves on making some of the most versatile hardware in the automotive industry. Combine our hardware with one of our expertly trained Authorized Compustar Installers, and you’ve purchased yourself a system built to last. 

On our website, we have a tool to help you begin the remote starter shopping process. This tool is the Compustar System Builder. You can find this by selecting “Build a System” on our website. From there, you’ll be able to input the make, model, and year of your car to receive a narrowed down list of products compatible with your vehicle. At the end of that process, you can fill out a form to get connected with your local Authorized Compustar Retailer. 

As we mentioned before, we always have hardware coming out that makes our systems compatible with more vehicles. Even if the System Builder determines your vehicle is not currently compatible, you should still talk with your local dealer about your options. Our installers are masters of their industry. Nine times out of ten can get you set up with the best vehicle specific remote starter for you. 

2. How Much Range Do You Need?

You might think a factory remote starter is all you need. However, if you opt for a factory remote starter, you’re missing out on one of the best features of a good remote starter: maximum range. Those of you who live and work in cold climates probably know why the remote’s range is important.

Picture this: you’re working and living in Minneapolis, and you’d like to defrost your car each day before you leave work. A warm car waiting on you each day sounds great, right? However, if your remote doesn’t have enough range to reach all the way to the parking lot, then you’re out of luck. And the truth is, most factory remote starters can only reach up to a hundred feet. The range of a Compustar remote is far superior to that of a factory remote starter. Check out the chart above to see just how much range you can get with Compustar. 

3. Do You Need 2-Way?

Remember the scenario we mentioned earlier? The one where we talked about how great it would be to come out to a warm car each day? Well, the range is just one piece to that puzzle. Most remote starters can be paired with a 1-way or a 2-way remote. 1-way remotes are awesome for people who can see their vehicles from their office or home window, but if you have to park far away, or your office is at that back of your building, then a 2-way remote is for you. 

You might be wondering, “What’s the difference between 1-way and 2-way remotes?” Well, let me break it down for you: 1-way remotes send commands to your vehicle, much like your regular car remote. You press the button, it beeps or flickers to show the command has been sent, and that’s it. Now you have to trust the vehicle received the command successfully. 

On the other hand, with a 2-way remote, you press the button to send the command, and you will receive a confirmation once that command has been received by the vehicle. For example, I use the PRO R3 remote to control my Compustar remote starter. When I send my remote start command each morning to warm up my car, I hold down the button for two seconds, my remote beeps to let me know the command was sent, and then a second later it gives me a series of three beeps to let me know the vehicle has successfully remote started. 

This function is awesome because you always know your vehicle will be warm by the time you’re ready to head out to your car. However, 1-way remotes have their place too. If you want a specific package for your car or you don’t think 2-way functionality is necessary for your use case, then maybe the 1-way remote is best. 

At the beginning of this post, I said the best remote starter is the one that fits your needs, wants, and budget. If you’ve read and answered all of the questions above, you’re likely well on your way to finding your dream Compustar system.

Our Best Remote Starter

If you’d like a bit more guidance, the best remote starter we sell today is the Compustar PRO T12 with Remote Start + Security. This system is truly top of the line. The T12 (pictured above) is a waterproof remote with interactive LCD capable of up to 3-miles of range. On top of all of those great features, this system is backed by industry-leading 3-year PRO warranty.

Again, if you’re looking to get a Compustar system installed in your vehicle, check out the Compustar System Builder to narrow down your options, and then give your local Authorized Dealer a call today!