Conference terri::cars_uk

Re: .0

>    My Car (Astra 16v) has just been stolen from DEC Park carpark.  I'm

Lets hope it doesn't end up like the car in the "Happy Vomiter" Car Park!!
(smashed up and burnt out).

Seriously, I really feel for you! Some b******d tried to steal my week old
Rover 218 SLD in Bristol last week. Luckily they botched it only managing to
jam the door lock. Even more upsetting since I just ditched the lease scheme so
its my hard cash that's invested in it!

	Ian
		(Sickened and outraged of Bristol).

    Re Stolen Astra
    
    Wasn't this listed as the favourite car in this delighftul category ?
    
    With RS Turbos, Cosworths and Integrales following, according to a
    report in the Independent - quoted from a CAR article (from memory).
    
    It surprised me to see the Lancia in the list, since one of its
    benefits is that most people haven't got a clue what it is.
    
    
    Re Stolen Fiesta RS Turdos
    
    Besides the fact that it is a car I probably wouldn't choose, the
    number of thefts/breakins on this car means that I would most
    definitely not even consider it - even if it were a company car.
    
    I am surprised that anyone wants to bother driving a car with the
    serious doubt that it will be there, in one piece, when they need it.
    
    J.R.

    
    Surely there aren't enough Integrales in the UK to justify it's
    inclusion in this list?
    
    Mark

�    Surely there aren't enough Integrales in the UK to justify it's
    
    I was surprised to see it in the list.
    
    It was mentioned in the CAR write-up on the latest integrale.
    It was also mis-spelt (in the Independent).
    
    I've no idea where the figures came from.
    Perhaps it was listing the 'odds' of having that particular
    car stolen, rather than the amount of them actually going missing ?
    
    J.R.

    The car was found yesterday in a wood near Maidenhead.  Its been
    recovered to one of Digitals recommended repairers.  Apparently, it
    isnt "too badly damaged" - we'll see what this means when I get to see
    it later today.
    
    Is it coincidence that several "travellers" caravans have appeared near
    Dec Park, that were until recently (according to the Police) to be found 
    in a wood near Maidenhead ?
    
    The Policeman I spoke to reckoned that:
    
    . Digital have a pretty poor attitude to Car Park security
    
    . You cant stop people getting into your car, no matter what you do
    
    . Alarms, even the best ones, wont stop anyone nowadays, even casual
      joyriders know how to overcome them
    
    . The best deterrant to theft is "A Pit Bull who's cross about having
      just had his b*lls cut off"
    
    . Failing that, fit one of those devices that goes over the handbrake
      and locks the gearlever in place
    
    I'm impressed that they found it so quickly, it took them a week last
    time.  Further report once I've seen the car.
    
    
    John
    
    

>>    . Failing that, fit one of those devices that goes over the handbrake
>>      and locks the gearlever in place
    
    Not even this is fool proof.  My freinds wife had her car stolen, even
    with one of these locks in place.  The car was later recovered as if it
    was on the production line (no interior, no gearbox, only part of an
    engine, body panels missing !).
    
    Shaun.
    

    
>>    . Failing that, fit one of those devices that goes over the handbrake
>>      and locks the gearlever in place

>       Not even this is fool proof.  My freinds wife had her car stolen, even
>       with one of these locks in place.  The car was later recovered as if it
>       was on the production line (no interior, no gearbox, only part of an
>       engine, body panels missing !).

    ... or like mine, recovered with accident damage but unusually nothing
        missing ...

    ... except the little device that went over the handbrake and
        locked the gearlever in place !!!

        Graham

    I saw the car this afternoon....  And wish I hadnt.
    
    Every panel except the roof is dented and/or badly scratched.  Both
    bumbers are hanging off the car.  The Engine is seized, the Gearbox is
    jammed in 1st.  The front suspension is collapsed, and the steering
    rack is apparently broken.  Both front wheels and tyres are wrecked.
    
    Apparently the recovery vehicle had a hell of a job getting anywhere
    near the car in the wood where it had been abandoned.  It was so deeply
    embedded in mud they had to drag t out with a winch.
    
    The guy at Bromleys reckons that a lot of the damage was done by
    kicking in the panels, after the car became immobile.  The repair bill
    is going to be at least 2-3K for the bodywork, plus whatever mechanical
    bits need replacing.
    
    I'm sure the car will never be the same again (neither would the
    culprits, if I had the opportunity to conduct a private interview with
    them).
    
    It looks like I'm condemned to driving a 1.6XL Montego for the
    forseeable future...
    
    
    John the violently inclined

    Where exactly was your car in the car park?
    
    Lisa.

           <<< Note 1594.5 by STRIKR::LINDLEY "Strewth mate....." >>>
                                  -< Update >-

    [ ... ]
        
    The Policeman I spoke to reckoned that:
    
    [ ... ]
          
    . Alarms, even the best ones, wont stop anyone nowadays, even casual
      joyriders know how to overcome them

I'm a bit suprised to hear that. I understood that alarms aren't perfect,
but they tended to put off casual theft. What about alarms which immobilise
the engine?

Dougie

    Re: .8
    
    John,
    
    Did the Astra have a VSL alarm fitted ?
    
    Roy 

    
    
    I 've Had my GTE nicked once and broken into about 7 times.
    The last attempt to nick it was two weeks ago , when thieves ripped off
    the front grill to try to get to the alarm, but the alarm went off and 
    the thieves fled. I just got my car back from being repaired last week,
    and bought one of those hand brake/gear lever crook locks.
    I came out to my car first thing this morning to discover the car has
    been kicked in down one side and the drivers side wing caved in.
    So it seems that if you beat the thieves by having an alarm and a crook
    lock then the thieves will get frustrated and damage your car.
    
    What can you do ? 

Would you like to borrow my 12 bore, 3 shot, semi-automatic Winchester shotgun.
For better effect, remove the screw in choke. Take one shotgun cartridge. 
At the mid-way point of the spreader, cut the plastic case, leaving just a 
couple of very small bits of plastic conected. Place modified cartridge in
chamber. Aim at <censored description> and fire.

This has the effect of creating a solid shot cartridge. Very efective, but 
highly illegal. 














Disclaimer:

I do not suggest you actually do this. I do not claim that I have done this.
In fact this really is a silly thing to do. This note is entered in jest and
should not be taken in any other way.
Simon

:-)

    Where were security when your car was nicked, was it not captured on a
    single camera - there are enough of them covering the carpark !
    Dont security keep the tapes from the camera's for a couple of days ?
    If not they should do, we've had enough cars nicked from Decpark
    carpark in recent times to warrant splashing out on a couple more
    E180's.
    
    As for the idea with the shotgun cartridge, if you find them, let all
    the driver's who have had their cars nicked/vandalised meet them first.
    There might not be anything left in the <censored description> region that 
    you could shoot with a gun.........
    
    My comiserations to you, you are right, it probably will never be the
    same - just make sure you are 100% happy with the job the garage have
    done, and if not, tell them and the insurance department.
    
    Andy(who can't afford one of these desirable motors)

    Andy, don't you mean "One day we'll catch them by the little scrotes"
    
    A much more effective deterent :-)
    
    Gary.

    re. 16
    I was in the Car Park yesterday and watched one of the security
    cameras, it did'nt move an inch. Unless there are more hidden
    cameras, or its an **extremely** wide angle lens, not much is
    on film.
    
    Ps. Ive had my GTi for 3 years, live in London, its been left
    in all sorts of places...why dosent anyone want to steal it or
    bash it in?  ( its not a Swift Gti ;-) ) 

    re: .10,
    
    According to the police, it appears that London Met area is to out law
    alarms soon any way because of false-alarm noise nuisance. How does
    that affect us ? Rumour has it that this could be future legislation
    for the country. After my howls of horror, the police did say that the
    way forward is intelligent immobilization systems, they cost more,
    (about #600), but one company in particular (I believe) guarantees that
    the car cannot be removed under its own power. That should eliminate
    "travellers", joyriders(=car thieves), & A to B theft. No audible
    alarm, just stickers. Car mobilization experts report that "it would
    take hours to overcome the system".
    
    	Tony.

    � Car mobilization experts report that "it would take hours to overcome 
    � the system".
    
    Isn't this what Ford claimed about their Chubb locks? It'll take the
    determined thief about a week to sus out how to defeat these systems
    and then we'll be back where we are now.
    
    Mark

>>    (about #600), but one company in particular (I believe) guarantees that
>>    the car cannot be removed under its own power. That should eliminate
    
    Even with a key ?
    
    I don't fancy having to push my car to work (but at least it could be
    envisaged as envirmontely friendly !)
    
    Shaun.
    

    I'll ask this again as it seems to have got lost ...
    
    Where exactly was the car parked when it was stolen? Is there an area
    of the car park that is worth avoiding?
    
    Lisa.
    

One of our collegues here has just had an attempt made on her Fiesta RS Turbo.
It was parked in the carpark. Security saw the person in the car and chased
them. Due to the fact that the person produced a crowbar, security stopped
chasing. The person got away.

Seconds away from another (company) car being stolen.


Simon

The car was parked in BAY A, the end nearest to DECpark.

Simon

    Re .12
    
    	Does anyone else agree with me that the reason for the current
    spate of car thefts/joyriding is smug complacency by the car
    manufacturers? After all, the more cars that are damaged or written off
    etc. the greater the increase in their profits "in these hard times",
    from insurance pay outs for repairs and replacement cars!
    	I had my radio stolen from my MK2 Cavalier about 6 years ago, the
    police said that the 'tealeaf' had jammed a big scewdriver in the lock
    twisted it and broke in. These locks are still fitted to Vauxhall cars
    eg Novas and Astras.
    	I now drive a new Rover 216 GTI which was subjected to a break in
    attempt a few months ago. All three locks had a white creamy substance
    on them which I had not noticed before, was this some kind of lubricant
    to pick the lock? That method obviously failed as I found that the
    passenger door handle and lock had been wrenched out of position in an
    attempt to smash the lock. The door panel was dented and the handle 
    damaged. The cost was 450 pounds and a hire car for a week!
    	I think that the alarm must have gone off and scared off the thief.
    Are the Rover locks more secure (they are recessed), as Rovers are not 
    included in Doug Arnolds Top Ten?
    
    				GRAHAM
                                                                        
     

    My confidence in the DEC security has been re-vitalised after yesterday
    
    If you read the WANTED notes you'll know that I have just bought a
    spitfire and I was merrilly playing with the locks (sorting out keys
    etc) yesterday when out jumps the scouser security guard with two
    policemen in a cop car. As I was only there for about 2 minutes, I was
    very impressed with their response time etc.
    
    Perhaps I was just lucky ??
    
    Barry.
    

    
    Hardly call you lucky for getting nicked for nicking your own car! :^)
    
    Trouble is, while they were hassling you, someone else's car was
    probably being nicked 20 yards away....
    
    Mark

    For those who were asking, my car was parked near the front of Bay I. 
    Sorry its taken me a while to answer, I've been out of the office.
    
    Why cant we have a permanently manned gate at the entrance to the
    Carpark, or failing that, some sort of Cardkey operated devive.  It
    wouldn't need to stop many thefts to recover the cost.
    
    I'm currently driving an Escort Ghia - its not my sort of a car, but
    its better than picking your nose with a shovel.
    
    
    John

    True, they were hassling me when they could have been elsewhere but at
    least it shows they were trying !!
    
    It seems to me that they cannot win whatever they do in your eyes Mark
    
    Barry.
    

    
    I was only jesting, Barry. 
    
    You are right. It seems as if they are making an effort to stop,
    what seems to be, a spate of thefts from the DEC Park car park.
    
    Mark

           <<< Note 1594.28 by STRIKR::LINDLEY "Strewth mate....." >>>
                            -< Glom and more Gloom >-

    [ ... ]
    
    I'm currently driving an Escort Ghia - its not my sort of a car, but
    its better than picking your nose with a shovel.

Oh I don't know ... 
    
    John

Dougie

    Re.25 
    
    The "new" 200/400 Rovers aren't in my top ten yet, but I suspect they
    will start to appear as they become more common and the thieves realise
    that these are suitably equipped and fast enough for nicking.
    
    I also have a theory about the colour of the cars that get stolen - I
    know red is the most popular car colour but even allowing for that, red
    seems to be the most popular for disappearing too.
    
    Doug

    Does anyone know the exact top ten for theft then ???
    
    Barry.
    

    I know this is *totally* unrelated, but I think I saw our Traveller
    neighbours on the move this lunchtime.
    
    JK

    re 35
    
    Were you viewing this departure from the heatproof vizor of your
    tracked flame thrower John ??
    
    Doug

    Nah.........
    
    Now I've got a Rover 414 I fear no one!
    
    Actually, I saw them using one of their 4wd vehicles to tow caravans
    out onto the A33. Don't know if they were all going though!
    
    JK

    I got the Astra back at lunchtime.  It looks good (it ought to, nearly
    all the panels are new) and drives OK, though I havent had the
    opportunity to give it any wellie yet.  It's certainly better than the
    Escort Ghia that AVIS gave me (I thought the Ghia was supposed to have
    lots of goodies, this one seemed basic by modern standards).
    
    Being something of a novice when it comes to hi-tech car alarms, I
    managed to activate the new VSL system whilst inside the car - I had a
    few nervous seconds before I was able to deactivate it again...
    
    We'll see how long I manage to keep it this time.

    It looks like my original gloomy prediction about the car not being the
    same as it was before it was stolen is coming true.  Major problems have 
    now emerged:
    
    One of the diagnostic warning lights keeps lighting up. (other Astra
    GTE owners, its the Orange one with the outline of an Engine)
     
    There is blue smoke when starting the engine from cold.
    
    There are intermittent noises from the gearbox when cold.
    
    The steering geometry is out of alignment.
    
    The Drivers seat is misaligned - either the mounts have twisted, or the
    floorpan is distorted. I didnt notice this when taking it for a quick
    spin, it became apparent on the first long trip.
    
    
    John
    
    I'm taking it to Wadham Kenning today for an estimate for the work.

    
    re <<< Note 1594.38 by STRIKR::LINDLEY "Strewth mate....." >>>
    
    >>There is blue smoke when starting the engine from cold.
    
    >>There are intermittent noises from the gearbox when cold.
    
    >>The steering geometry is out of alignment.
    
    My car (Metro Turbo) was stolen in January in Oxford (or even in Oxford
    in January).  I had the same three problems when I got it back from 
    Bromleys.
    
    In August the car finally packed up and I had a new engine,
    turbocharger and gearbox fitted.  (They said it was easier to do all
    three at once, and they were all knackered anyway).  They also fixed 
    the steering at the same time; some wit at the garage had previously
    suggested I may have to go round roundabouts twice because it was so
    stiff.
    
    To fill you in on the theft:- 
    
    The car was stolen close to the Blackbird Leys estate (so I got them to
    check the handbrake afterwards as well).  Why they should pick on a
    Metro I do not know, perhaps the area was short of 205/R5GTTs that
    evening?
    
    The thieves liked R&B but not Classical music according to the tapes
    they took.
    
    It cost insurance ~.5->1k for the initial
    bodywork/tape_theft_as_standard repairs and upwards of 2.5k for the
    engine etc.  Had the engine problems been fully diagnosed/diagnosable
    at the time of recovery, I may have had a new car.
    
    It has never been the same since, partly because I do not thing that
    Ruskins (on Wokingham Rd) are that good.  
    
    Any ideas why my turbo now whistles a different tune?  It still buzzes
    when it cuts in, nut in addition to that it makes a breathy sound like
    an owl learning to hoot.
    
    Paul C

    Does the turbo make a sort of whining noise ?.
    
    Mine does this since the boost was turned up from 6psi to 15psi.
    Perhaps some kind sole has endowed you with some extra BHP.
    
    I take it you haven't experienced any increase in performance though ?
    :-(
    
    Check the tightness of the turbo housing/exhaust manifold nuts for
    tightness, as these tend to loosen off. Perhaps even more so with the
    new replacment engine/turbo/gearbox.
    
    Gary.
    

    The chap at Wadham Kenning sucked his breath in between his teeth,
    shook his head, whistled to himself etc, and indicated that "a few bob"
    would be required.
    
    They want the car back ASAP, and urged me to drive it gently until then. 
    It's going in tonight, they think they will need several days to sort
    things out.
    
    So, I'll be back in a hire car again...
    
    Oh, I forgot to say in my last note that the handbrake cable is
    stretched.  Guess what the little tinkers were up to in it ??
    
    John
    
    
    PS - The Risk Management (=Insurance?) people here at DEC park have
         been extremely helpful throughout, making the whole experience 
         somewhat less painful than it would otherwise have been.

    < .40
    
    ITs driving Turbos? Where _do_ they get the money ...

Re: .39
    
>    It has never been the same since, partly because I do not thing that
>    Ruskins (on Wokingham Rd) are that good.  
    
If you don't mind travelling a bit to get excellent service/knowledge/outcome 
the Austin Rover garage in Sherfield-on-Loddon (just off the A33 towards 
Basingstoke) is excellent.  Small garage, but v.good mechanics.

    
    re .40
    >>Does the turbo make a sort of whining noise ?. ------->Yes
    
    >>I take it you haven't experienced any increase in performance though?
        :-(
    No, still as bad as before ;-)
    
    I will try your recommendations re exhaust/turbo at the next service. 
    It now only goes in if anything important falls off.
    
    re .43  Thanks, I'll give them a try.
    
    On the last visit to Ruskins they forgot to reconnnect the horn (after
    fitting the new engine).  It's a good job that I tried it at Dover a
    few days later....driving in France without one!!?*&^*&%$!@@ :-)
    
    The time before that none of the lights worked afterwards.  To be fair
    they were probably anticipating the break-in to my car that night.  The
    thief must have thought that it was not worth the effort of trying to
    fix the lights, and so left the car.
    
    cheers
    PaulC

    
>    On the last visit to Ruskins they forgot to reconnnect the horn (after
>    fitting the new engine).  It's a good job that I tried it at Dover a
>    few days later....driving in France without one!!?*&^*&%$!@@ :-)
 

	Just hope they don't loose your car keys......I have a whole string here
	about a wonderful escapade when they had my car in for repair of a
	back bumper!!!!!!!!!!!

	I think its entiltled something like "has anyone got a shotgun" it
	started about November last year, and continues.

	Heather

To which I replied...

    Had my car done again last night.   (ASTRA GTE)
    
    Both locks have been ripped out but the alarm must have gone off, and
    no theft took place.
    
    I think my personal total on this car is now something like.
    
    8 break ins
    
    1 attack by Vandals
    
    1 Theft.
    
    Unfortunately it's just becoming a way of life for me now..
    
    :^(   

    Well done, Security! Fed up with code, I was taking a constitutional
    stroll around the car-park, and stopping to gaze at some nice machinery
    e.g. Porsche 911 with (old) F Reg. Within minutes I was asked for ID by
    a Security control. Keep it up!
    DaveT

    That's my car, thanks Security control, It's nice to know someones
    keeping an eye on the cars out there.
    
    If you would like a closer look, like sit inside and go for a spin,
    just ask, I sit in bay B6 on the corner by the smoking room with the 
    picture of a Ferrari.
    
    Cheers Nick