I have seen quite a few threads lately where guys have gotten their rides stolen and it makes me wonder what is about these cars that makes them easy targets? A lot of these cars we are discussing in this thread are almost 20 years old. Almost makes me want to leave mine in the basement for out of fear for it being stolen. I just bought the thing for the gas mileage and it was cheap not because it was a killer car that everyone wants.

 

Basically easy to steal and the parts are very easy to sell because they are always in demand and there are a lot of valuable parts sometimes that make it even more worthwhile. Its a shame but as a community we need to make them hard to steal in general that way they are no longer an easy target/worthwhile.

 

Theres a huge demand for parts and supply is becoming limited. Also because so many parts are stolen it creates a market for them as people are trying to replace their stolen parts. It also doesn't hurt they the cars themselves are very easy to steal and the parts are pretty interchangeable.

 

If your car is stock and isn't an Si/GSR/Type-R, you don't have much to worry about.

The thing about these Honda's is that they are cheap and trendy. Cheap enough that the bottom dwellers can afford them and trendy enough that they want to modify them with all the fancy parts. At least that's how I see it.

 

Someone tried to pry my window, my car is only lowerd and is a auto. A theif will steal anything.

Car's that have clean body's and interior are targets becuase someone whats to replace their beat up parts with your clean parts. Im sure this is why they wanted mine.

It really sucks we cant leave our cars any where without always checking, being parinoid, or just so scared they sit in the garage.
Damn theives ****ing everything up for everyone.

When I am at work I go and check my car 10+ times a day. This is just a 9 hour day.

 

My EX coupe got stolen when it was almost stock. You don't need to only be wary if you own an Si or an GSR or Type R. Your DX or LS could just as easily be taken. Not everyone steals cars for engines.

Why they're stolen:

- Easy to steal.
- Lots of them, so they're easy to find to steal.
- Lots of their parts interchange to other models.
- Lots of them and the cars the parts will fit on so the parts are easy to sell off.
- Reliable so more stay on the road, so there's more potential buyers out there (and more potential cars to acquire).

Not to mention they're really easy to work on, so it's easy to grab a couple parts quickly or even strip the car.

Sometimes I see people say things along the line of, "Why do they steal cheap Civics?!?! They should steal Mercedes instead! Those are more expensive cars!"

Often I see people who think these cars are stolen primarily to just get sold as whole cars. That's not usually the case. Remember, these cars cost very very little to steal to begin with (basically cost of tools and gas to get there), so a set of OE alloy wheels that can go for $400, well, that more than covers the cash already invested. I mean, come on, people sell '99-'00 coupe taillights for $100 all day and only a few 8mm nuts and electrical connectors hold them on the car.

When they took my car they took the following parts off of it.

- GSR blades (wheels)
- Passenger '99-'00 coupe taillight (they'd pulled away the liner on the driver one too)
- AEM cold air intake
- Sony Xplod CD player

I personally got tired of so much paranoia, so I got a daily driver. Much less stressed about it now.

 

The import community as a whole sucks. There's so many shady and uneducated people you can't trust anyone. See signature, this guy bought a crank and then blatantly lied to my face. Compare this to the Jeep or classic car communities where they help eachother and it makes sense why we're so hated.

 

Its really sad. They steal any car dosent have to be a si,gsr, type it could be stock if they want if for something they take it. Reason why because people can't afford what the retail price of something is or wants that civic integra that ran 12.8 na motor they follow the car to its home and steal sell the parts or keep the parts.

What I feel is the police dont car so much about Hondas being stole.

Its crappy feeling your hard earn money is gone and with your car. Thats why my civic is rusted and dented. I plan or feel to mod it. Its really sad.

 

It's true. There's not many people on this site or other Honda sites I'm friendly with. And by that I mean people I might call a "friend" (yeah, yeah, internet, blah blah blah, whatever).

I explain my position on Hondas to people into other types of cars as this:

"I love Hondas but I hate Honda people."

I normally get a chuckle or a nod of agreement.

It's not that I hate everyone with a Honda ever. No, of course not. But I don't normally seek out other people in Hondas. When I'm in traffic I've learned not to make eye contact with other Honda drivers if I can help it. It's like some sort of "I'm faster than you" threat. If I give a thumbs up to them, just a general visual display that I like their car, I won't get a big grin and a thumbs up back. No, I get the cool-boy-racer attitude back.

Understandably though, the other Honda drivers don't give me eye contact either. I would imagine for some of the same reasons.

I feel like a lot of the guys in the Honda scene are out for themselves. It's not like how I'll hear from other guys into classics, muscle cars or VW or something about how they might have stories about how they helped out a guy with the same make car who had broken down on the side of the road or a story where they themselves had run out of gas.

Meanwhile I'm hesitant to stop and help anyone with a Honda (well, anyone really - just not a good idea being female) and I'm terrified of the idea of leaving my car on the side of the road for even a short amount of time.

In the VW scene you might expect to find friends in other modified VWs, but in the Honda scene you expect to find thieves in other modified Hondas.

 

Unfortunately, what should they do?

When my car was stolen it was treated as a matching game for the police. Match the stolen car report to the abandoned vehicle report.

While I was infuriated about the theft, I don't expect the cops to go to local high schools and match the fingerprints or the hair found on my car to the thieves. Random kids steal random Hondas. It's not always a theft ring, Gone in 60 Seconds style.

 

"In the VW scene you might expect to find friends in other modified VWs, but in the Honda scene you expect to find thieves in other modified Hondas."

Thats sig worthy right there lol.

 

You cant really expect the police to go around looking for stolen cars, there are som many other things that take priority. IE, killers, rapests, or just general people who do not belong free.

I know how it feels, you want your car back now, as did I, but it is life.
Yes, it sucks, but it is just a car. A car that can replaced.

 

Speak for yourself. Mine can't be replaced. No, really, it's one of a kind to me. It's all about THAT car.

If you're worried about theft, do the following:

- Buy an inexpensive daily driver. A $300 beater could keep your car safe at home.

- Invest in theft prevention for the "nice car" (alarm, GPS, kill switches, park it in a garage, etc.).

- Make sure your cars are both insured properly.

 

That is very true I remember a few years ago we would have 50 cars every friday as a mini meet, well that didnt last long, sooner or later your car would start to go missing. Its insane.

 

Just reading the replies here makes me give second thought to driving my car back to the apartment and just leave it at home where I know it will be safe and just drive my newer truck which is a much nicer, plusher ride. May not be as economical but apparently it is not nearly as popular for theft.


What about these little cars makes them easy to steal?

 

They have no security on them, at least here in North America anyway

I know oversea's in Europe, the 96-00 civic's have factory immobilizer systems.....it's too bad we never got such a great option

 

I have an immoblizer lol I rewired my car with all the factory wiring out of a 2000 gsr into m 95 coupe when I did my GSR swap, But I had the whole parts cars so the Chipped keys, computer,and ignition ect all matched up. I did that so my daily driver wouldn't get boosted. People go along way to protect their investment. I have GPS tracking alarm, clutch lock and a kill switch just to protect my 4 door... its sad really.

 

Going to have to agree here.

I also drive a Volkswagen and have met and made so many lasting friendships through the car alone.

On the other hand, I don't even think about nor want to attend any meet that is Honda related.

I hate when I even see a shady looking character in a Honda looking my way when I am driving my Honda.

 

Also, as for why they're easy to steal;

- Most of the keys are interchangeable, and if not can be filed down to fit any door.

- Pop the ignition column off, use a pry bar on the ignition, and wah-lah. The car is started.

 

that is so true. my civic hatch key was so warn out and i was able to jiggle it in my buddies integra and start it. its really scary..
but thank god i have a Gun and a Garage and GPS tracking got to have the 3 G's man lol Yeah owning a honda makes ya paranoid I set my alarm when it is in the garage.. and if I catch a shady honda guy checking out my ride I take the long way home just so i know he' is not following me.

 

I started my friends del sol, with a eg key. And I got into a S2000 usinng a warn eg key.
No I am not a jacker, it my friends older brothers car, and we were all curious to see if it would work.

There is a problem is this is possible. Reminds me of older 4 runners, my aunts was stolen 4 times, they never damaged the locks.

 

Yeah, I could use the key for my civic to unlock and start up my buddys accord. Had some fun moving his car around on him though

 

lol that is funny I would be so pissed. The best way to keep your honda from getting stolen is just not to own one plain and simple. because if someone wants it they will get it.. I guess you could swap on some Kia badges. How wants to steal a kia? you can get 2 for a $1.99 lol

 

Look in 6G Civic front driver door jambs. Most of the cars I've seen that have been stolen have obvious scratches in the jamb toward the front end of the window. That would be where they pry their way into the car.

This isn't all about worn out cylinder locks. They have weak window frames too.

Those ignition assemblies are super easy to break too.

 

Yeah I agree with that! 5th gens are way to easy with the window.. Im not gonna explain how. but thoes of you that already know, you know how easy they are...