Car protection- meaning theft prevention...

[Spilchy]

The Club is a total joke and is no deterent.

You break in, take a small sharp saw and cut the steering wheel, pull it and the club drops out. It takes a thief roughly 10 seconds to do that and another one minute to hot wire.

I use the lock that grips on to your break peddle. I use it on my 96 Civic DX grocery getter. No problems leaving it anywhere (but then again, who wants a stripped, zero options, no power anything Civic!)

[Quickstrike]

The club will do just fine in most scenarios.. Think about the many people that have no means of security in their car... Undoubtedly if a car thief had a choice of stealing a car with no security (like most cars out there) and a car with a club, he would go with the car with no security features..

BMW, Audi, MB, Lexus and the like often come with top-of-the-line security features right on the get-go. These will work fine in most cases, just remember to keep your keys in a safe place, as the immobilzer is often the cars best defense.

Originally posted by Spilchy
The Club is a total joke and is no deterent.

You break in, take a small sharp saw and cut the steering wheel, pull it and the club drops out. It takes a thief roughly 10 seconds to do that and another one minute to hot wire.

I use the lock that grips on to your break peddle. I use it on my 96 Civic DX grocery getter. No problems leaving it anywhere (but then again, who wants a stripped, zero options, no power anything Civic!)

[Scottwax]

They may get a key, but my alarm has a battery back-up and I also have a starter disable that is automatic. My car isn't theft proof, but I am sure someone looking to steal your VIN and get a key also checks to see if you have an alarm and if so, will move on to the next car like yours that doesn't have an alarm.

[drrac2]

I have to agree with some of the others, the Club is a total joke. I have seen thieves in NY and NJ easily cut the steering wheel with a hack saw, steal the car, and leave the Club in the parking space.

A custom ignition kill switch, or fuel pump kill switch is the way to go. You can make a custom kit for under $100 that will deter most thieves as they dont know where to look. Unless they flatbed your car away, which happens often in NYC, they probably wont get it.

For guys with older cars that dont have air-bags you can use the Grant removable steering wheel system. You can get a nice upgraded steering wheel Sparco/Momo/Grant that you take with you when you park your car. It definitely becomes a conversation piece when you are strolling through the mall with a steering wheel in your hand.

[pico]

Originally posted by drrac2

A custom ignition kill switch, or fuel pump kill switch is the way to go.

Hidden kill switch is what I have always been told as well.

Also, it never hurts to implement more than one security method.

[Scottwax]

Originally posted by pico
Hidden kill switch is what I have always been told as well.

Also, it never hurts to implement more than one security method.

That is what I like about my alarm system. Battery back-up, starter kill and lots of noise. Hopefully it is enough for them to move on...but more likely, the hail dents will discourage them first. Nothing like some North Texas Acne on the top of your car to make it less desirable to thieves!

[IanO]

The immobilizer systems do serve to stop the joy riding kids but the more advanced get around it by carrying around a spare ECU with a key that is chipped to it... doesn't take long to unplug the old one and connect a new one if you know what you're doing. If they really want your car then they'll use a tow truck

Alarms only really serve to stop the same joy riding kids. My Integra was stolen from my driveway with a Clifford alam on it (both fuel and starter kills also). The alarm was properly installed and enabled at the time. There is a group operating around here taking Integras and they just know their stuff. There was no club on the car as I stopped using them once I helped a friend break his after he lost the key... took us about 5 minutes and we didn't know what we were doing.

That being said, it is still useful to make your car the biggest PITA to steal so that they move onto the next car. That should definitely help unless your car is specifically targeted for its modifications or factory parts.

[drrac2]

Some cars have fuel pump relays situated under the seats (Fords), an interrupt can be intstalled for under $50 in these circumstances. Best of all its totally custom.

My biggest fear with stock high end alarms, is once the thief familiarizes himself with the system he knows exactly where to strike. I would spend less on a stock system, and devote the extra money for labor to install some custom additions.

I saw a guy who had an ignition kill installed under a panel on his dash. The only way to activate/deactivate was to pass an industrial magnet over the panel. NICE!!!!

[4DSC]

Well this is ONE area where I'm glad that I own an older car that isn't "hot" on anyone's list, except maybe joyriders...

If you're really worried, I think a layered defense is a good idea. Use the Club AND that Auto Lock thing that slips underneath your brake or clutch pedal. Both are not meant at all to stop a car thief, they're just deterrents.

On top of that, add whatever kill switches and inconveniences you want as well. It's true that if they really want your car, they'll take it, but you can at least slow them down, and you HAVE to at least try your best otherwise you'll be wondering what else you could have done to prevent it...

Some very interesting ideas in this thread BTW (especially that magnetic switch one that drrac2 mentioned!).

[GreyFixer]

When I was in highschool, I installed a kill switch on the wires to my fuel pump. The car would start, but would only run for about a minute before it cut off. If anyone ever did try to steal it, they would only make it a little ways down the road before they would just have to leave it.

[Totoland Mach]

Here's my car alarm...works well in most cases.

[Brad B.]

Originally posted by Totoland Mach
Here's my car alarm...works well in most cases.

That would work for me! Be sure to keep the alarm fed!