Conference terri::cars_uk

    DIY piece of scaffy pole, large chain and a padlock.
    
    HTH,
    Dan$silly_mood_sorry

    Saw a morning TV program which was examining these.
    
    Stoplok did quite well, kept johnny bruiser off for all of 45 seconds!
    The police used to reccommend this too!
    
    The one they are currently reccommending is a complete circular cover
    over the wheel. It is locked by a substantial padlock. Basically it
    sits there just revolving when you try and pry it off.
    
    It depends what you intend the lock for, deterrent or denial. The
    Stoplok is a #23 deterrent, the other #120 denial.
    
    Stuart

    What about removeable steering wheels, which are coded ?
    
    I would have thought someone had thought of that.
    
    
    Chris

    I saw something like this at the motor show.... a steering wheel with a
    lock in it, when engaged the wheel just spins but doesn't steer! Unlock
    it, and you engage the wheel and can steer the car as usual...
    
    ...kind of got me thinking what damage you'd get done to your car when
    some thief goes to drive away, and can't steer when he comes to the
    first bend!!

The stoplock "theme"...bar across the wheel... is so easily overcome it's not
worth buying one. Why?.....the thieves cut through the lovely soft steering
wheel with a hacksaw in about 5 seconds flat! The expensive all enclosed device
is worth considering though.

Although I bought a stoplock in the early day's I now have a more secure PEDAL
BLOCK which basically clamps the foot pedals together. I always turn the wheels
into the kerb for the following reason........

Todays professionals now have converted furniture vans which have
winches fitted. They simply pull up and winch your car into the back, where
more often than not your car will be stripped and sold off in bits!

Even today's electronic alarm's are easily de-coded by experienced thieves as
are the immobilisers, using a device which locates the frequency and then sends
the signal to de-activate. When that's done they have a field day! 

John



. 

    I always like the 'rotor arm' or 'swap the HT leads' trick myself :-)
    
    I think the idea here is not what will 'stop' them (since very little
    will) but more what will 'slow them down' in the hope that they'll get
    caught.
    
    Hence I always put my steering lock on, I have a rather different
    little central locking system which you can't bypass like, say, a usual
    BL central locking system. I don't bother with handbrake/steering wheel
    clamps but, then again, I doubt they could drive my car more than 300
    yds before giving up :-)
    
    Cheers,
    Dan

Also, I think the point of these things is to put opportunist thieving kiddies.
If a sprog sees your car parked next to another one, and yours has got an 
autolock and a stoplock, then the kiddy will go for the other car.  Seeing as 
how loads of car thefts are done buy kids, and most of these are opportunist, 
you can reduce the risk of your car being pilfered by one of these brats, by 
sticking a brightly coloured stick on your steering wheel.  

Better still, to avoid a kiddy breaking into your car, strategically place, on 
your car seat,  something that is guaranteed to scare them off e.g. homework, 
photos of their gran, job information etc.

    Well, my friend asked at a few alarm garages and they recommended the
    Vauxhall lock. Halford do a similiar one, for 5 quid cheaper. Still
    costs 50 quid though, called the StrongArm.

    On the programme I saw, Johnny 'Muscles' Carthief, didn't saw through
    the steering wheel to remove the Stoplok. They of course didn't show
    you exactly what he did do. He did have a crowbar, so I guess he simply
    levered the lock.

>Better still, to avoid a kiddy breaking into your car, strategically place, on 
>your car seat,  something that is guaranteed to scare them off e.g. homework, 
>photos of their gran, job information etc.

or a set of jump-leads (has worked for me so far..)

Carol.

    
    One I liked made by Grants (US company I think) was a setup that makes
    your steering wheel removable (ie like some race cars)..A keyed lock
    allows you unlock and remove the steering wheel..you then lock a
    (steel??) cover back over the end of the steering column...Sounds
    fairly fool proof to me...
    
    I like this because in my car (MGB Roadster) it means the tonneau cover
    fits easier and they won't be tempted to pinch the steering wheel...
    
    It won't stop those furniture dudes however...
    
    For real piece of mind (and hassle) I'm going to buy one of those
    yellow wheel clamps the parking plod use...i reckon that would be a
    bitch to get off and ...the car wouldn't tow very well...
    
    Byron

re .2 and .11

I am interested in the complete cover for the sterring wheel , does 
anyone know the name of thr device or where it is sold. I am in 
Southern Ireland but would travel to Northern Ireland to purchase one 
of these. 

Also, can any one recomend a good alarm/imobiliser system ?

Thanks for any replies,

Kevin

    >>Also, can any one recomend a good alarm/imobiliser system ?
    
    For alarms, try Clifford or Philips, both very good systems.
    
    For immobiliser, the ultimate is the Vecta, but be prepared to pay a
    fair wad!
    
    Cheers,
    Dan

Depends what sort of immobiliser you want, IMO.  Those transmission tunnel ones 
are supposed to be pretty unbreakable, and the manufacturers offer a 
replacement car if yours is nicked (as with Vecta).  On the other hand, if 
(like me) you just want one that'll stop the majority of opportunist b*****d 
thieving kiddies, then you could do worse than getting an autojack or something 
(cuts <mumble> circuits off until the jack is inserted), which cost a helluva 
lot less.


Matt.

    <mumble> being ignition/fuel pump/starter motor/cooling fan/lights ?!
    
    Yes, it depends on what car you have. As Matt pointed out, most of the
    thefts are 'opportunist' and a Vecta immobiliser, while said to be
    'untouchable' by manufacturers, is a little bit of overkill on anything
    other than a Cosworth et al....
    
    Cheers,
    Dan

    RE .12
    
    There is a complete steering wheel cover type security device for Off
    Road vehicles called the Off Road Toad (available in Signal Green or
    Signal Yellow) at a cost of �89.90 + P&P. They possibly make such
    devices for your more conventional vehicle in a more conventional
    colour.
    
    Contact  TOAD Innovations Ltd
             Freepost CB5 03
             Cambridge
             CB5 8YS
    
    Tel      01223 214555
    
    
    Regards
    Chris 
    
    

    Thanks for the replies, I will check out the Toad lock. What is the
    Vecta system, what does it do, how much and where can I get one. The
    car it is to go IS a Cosworth !. I am currently looking at a Sierra
    Cosworth and if I buy it I would like to keep it for more than a few
    days!
    
    Thanks again, 
    
    Kevin.

    
    Kevin,
    
    Vecta is an electronic immobiliser. I'm sure someone else will give you 
    more detail info.
    
    Another thing you might want to consider is the Trakker. This is a
    device which allows your car to be traced (I guess it's a kind of
    transponder). I think the RAC are a point of contact for this device.
    The recovery figures for vehicles with this device are pretty high.
    
    One more thing, if you're looking for a used Cosworth, expect the car
    to already have a Vecta or something similar. A couple of years ago no
    insurer would touch such a car without one (that may still be true).
    
    Mark
        

Indeed.  Many Cosworths have Vecta fitted.  If not, might I suggest (as a 
possible quick option) that you pop into a local Ford dealer, and ask them 
about Vecta.  Ford used to endorse Vecta (maybe they still do), and they 
certainly fit them to some models.  Perhaps they could give you an all-in 
fitted quote...

    
    Didn't some insurance companies offer premium reductions on cars fitted
    with a certain spec. of Vecta?  I think it was the preferred
    immobiliser...
    
    Chris.

    re.Vecta & Insurance
    
    It used to be you couldn't insure a Cossie without a Vecta... don't
    know whether that still holds true, but it's a good idea anyhow. Vecta
    claim that, if fitted professionally, a Vecta-equipped car is
    impossible to take without picking the car up and dumping it on a
    trailer and, last I heard, their claim holds true.
    
    re.Vecta itself
    
    Is, yes, an electronic immobiliser NOT an alarm. It uses a coded
    computer key which 'slots' into the dash when you want to start the
    car. It immobilises everything from ignition to fuel pump to starter,
    and probably more on top of that too. The installation is also
    important - get it dealer fitted - because they hide the wires and put
    things in locations impossible for theives to reach. The computer is,
    supposedly, un-hackable.
    
    Cheers,
    Dan

    Thanks for for help again.
    
    I rang TOAD, they will send me a brochure. During the weekend I got
    this month's "What Car", it showed a steering wheel cover for #90. The
    device is called DISKLOK and is made by a company called PADLOCK! The
    number is 0500 655432 or 01257 791394.
    
    The car I am looking at does have some sort of electronic immobiliser
    fitted. I dont know what make it is but it has a small key that looks
    like an edge connector that is plugged into the dash before you start
    the motor. When the key is inserted the little box makes some very
    impressive sounds, makes you fell very secure (sic!). Could this be the
    Vecta? if I buy the car I will drop into a Ford dealer asd ask them.
    
    Once again tahnks for all the help,
    
    Kevin
    

Kevin;  that certainly sounds like the Vecta.