Hey everyone

Ive been trolling HT for a couple of years now and this section these last couple of months. I am really considering purchasing a rebuilt ITR (front end dmg and ended up with a JDM front) as a DD but a part of me is scared of theft. I don't have a garage and moving or building one is way out of the question.

With that said, do you think theft is still a major issue with Hondas? Also, is parking outside, whether covered or not, a viable option? If it helps the car will be sandwiched between 2 other cars. I really value ITR's and consider it my "Eleanor" or the one that got away.

Any input and experience will be greatly appreciated.

 

No garage = don't buy the R

 

Not having a garage isn't a theft deterrent. When you park it at the mall or grocery store and just go inside for a few mins, your car can be stolen with a quickness.

You can do many things to deter theft like remove steering wheel, remove ecu, remove efi plug, etc. It's a hassle but gives you piece of mind.

 

Being an owner do you always have that uneasy feeling leaving your car outside, whether home or out and about? I've talked to and read about a lot of owners dreading that feeling and end up selling to regain their peace of mind/sanity.

I'm still at a crossroads and hoping to hear some insights from owners and maybe get some tips on how to prevent theft.

 

I guess it matters where you live I drive mine everywhere and leave it parked where ever...most people around here dont know what it is...

 

Same goes for any car with legitimate parts, itr or not there is always the risk. Just use common sense but more so you should ask yourself if owning an R would be a problem. There are plenty around my area that never have issues being DD'd or park outside. Don't let a challenge keep you from your dreams.

 

Thanks, guys. Area was also one of the reasons I considered an R. I was hoping, or maybe I was forcing myself to hope, that there will be less theft around here compared to other areas of VA.

Regardless, I think when there's a will there's a way and everyone's opinion are proving to be valuable to my decision making process.

Also, if anyone is curious here is the R I was considering: http://www.vadriven.com/forums/honda-101/2000-integra-type-r-hid-jdm-front-end-480574/

 

your first mistake is going on to vadriven for a car


theft deterrent is always your first responsibility for peace of mind. in the end, nothing stops a totally determined thief, so it's really up to you in the end. when i got mine from my buddy, and moved to where i am now; getting a place with a garage, alarmed and in a nice area was the priority.

yes. for. a. car.

if you dont have that chance, it's really up to you. even with a garage that's alarmed, (personal defense by my bed), i still have weird habits like removing my ecu if it's not driven for several days. i know a guy that loosens lugnuts on a tire, just in case.

it's all up to you and how dedicated you want to be to the car.

 

like other said,,keep in head that not every one know what a itr whort,, if you haven't chance to keep heR in a garage keep her behind at least one car,alarmed,

 

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. This is also one of the reasons I wanted an ITR cause a lot of the guys I've met online and offline have been great. With all the feedbacks it looks like I have a lot of thinking to do.

Oh yea, it was between that ITR or a JDM front GSR with an H2B swap (from HondaMarketplace). I don't think you can go wrong with either. Second option was an ITR from Florida but def way too far.

 

I've owned my R for four years or so, and it's been my daily. Only for the last year has it been garaged. I also live in car theft central.

I've had full coverage and a good 2-way paging alarm since I bought it.

I used to be allot more nervous about the car, but have since mellowed out. There's always that possibility of theft, but I haven't let it get in the way of enjoying driving it every day.

You could always go with something like the Compustar Drone, and know what's always going on with the car via smartphone. At the end of the day though, if someone wants it bad enough, they will take it.

 

You can remove your ecu/steering wheel , put a boot on it, loosen lugnuts, setup security cams, sleep with a gun, track it via smartphone....or you can purchase the proper insurance to cover the gray market value, accept that there is some risk in driving her all over, and enjoy the car, atleast thats what I do.

I wouldnt get an R without a garage, but for me it'd be to avoid constant exposure to the elements and having a real place to wrench on it.

 

Security in depth on mine and a big F'n gun. I DD mine too; but have a monitored parking garage at work, and live in a gated highly armed community. If armageddon or the zombie apocalypse comes my neighborhood is ready

 

I had mine for 8 years before thieves tried to steal it in broad daylight, in my work parking lot, several hundred feet from a police facility!

Had it not been for my silent alarm they would have got away with it, despite the (useless) auto lock that was obviously engaged on the clutch pedal.

It was my DD, and I'd still have heR today if it weren't for those bastards (had to sell it)...

 

Yes, theft can be a problem but you could just take the extra steps to ensure security and insure it properly. Don't left theft deter you from potential ownership as there are many ways to protect the car.

I saw a quote once that said something like "if you refuse to drive and park your ITR because you are scared of theft then the thieves have already won"

 

Hmmm...I think you might have my old R.

 

What do you daily drive now?

 

I daily my 2012 Civic and weekend a 2007 S2K. One of the factors that swayed me away from ITR's was cause of my job. I work nights and end up parking at the my hospital's garage which has security roaming the campus but we all know that's never a guarantee. It really has become a tough decision and even though reason says no, my passion says otherwise.

 

I think it depends where you live, I can't imagine not having a garage for any of my vehicles, not just my itr, I like to do maintenance on my vehicles etc. So a garage is always a must

There once was a time when these cars were really bad for theft everywhere, but at least in my neck of the woods the theft isn't so bad for Hondas anymore, allot of ppl h,ave moved on to different brands it seems.

 

+1 on where you live... I'll also include "what you do" to the equation as well. In order for someone to try and steal the car "they" have to know that "you" have the car. If you go to the mall, clubs, etc regularly and/or hang out with folks in the FnF crowd then there's a much higher chance of theft. If you're a middle aged guy who spends weekends with the wife/kids then your car isn't even on the radar for the thieves.

Christian, who broke all the rules with his (then) new 01 PY ITR... no alarm, no boot, no hood cable relocation, no garage, lived in a sketchy apartment complex, etc and had zero issues.

 

Stealth alarm install and smart parking.

 

Maybe I've been lucky, but I worked at a mall for five years and parked my R in the same space everyday for five years. I park the R outside my house and have very little security features. I worry very little about theft. My yellow R barely turns necks anymore. IMO this car only appeals to a select few of enthusiasts, and thieves, who can distinguish it from some 90's looking rice burner with a yellow paint job, which most people think it is. I worry more about vandalism or criminal mischief than I do about someone stealing it. I drive it everywhere, always lock it and park it where I can see it from where I'll be at best.

 

I leave the windows down with the keys inside on both my r's. Living in BFE has at least one advantage lol.

 

I am always worried about my GSR, but I club it and have 2 kills. But that does no good against a tow truck.

 

Get it if it's going to be your secondary car and it's garaged.