Are Honda's really a high theft risk?

I have a Civic, it is a 2002 EX. I was surprised that when I leased it, my
dealer asked if I wanted an option called Window Etching, which from what I
understand makes thieves not want to steal the car. I have the immobilizer,
always keep it locked, and use a Club on the steering wheel, so I told the
dealer no. I might have agreed, but for a price tag of about 600 dollars!!!?
Now I heard that the Camry is really the most stolen car among others, and
being that my car is a Sedan and not the Coupe that is even less likely. Any
thoughts on this?

Tom

 

Yes.

He sells you window etching for $600--but he pays $25 for it. His net
profit: $575.

You, too, can etch your own windows if you like. Simply buy a kit for
that--mail order, whatever. It's no big deal.

As for that making thieves not want to steal the car...well, I doubt it.
Only the thief that wants to sell the whole car as is will pass
something like that by (think Andy Kelp or Stan Murch in Donald
Westlake's Dortmunder series). Joyriders and chop shops won't care.

 

No, it makes it a bit harder to sell the windows after they steal the car.

If you're in the US, your major body parts have a VIN sticker on them,
supposedly partially as an inhibitor to theft.

You've taken care of 90% of the theft threat. You cannot defend yourself
against the real pros unless you sit next to the car with a shotgun 24
hours a day.

When we bought our Tercel, the windows came etched at no charge. The dealer
told me it only took them 5 minutes to do it, and in any case you can buy
etching kits cheap at auto parts stores.

$600 is a ripoff.

Go here:
www.google.com

and type in these search terms exactly as you see them here:
"most stolen car" america

The Camry's right up there, for some odd reason. It's just a Japanese
Buick, like the Accord. Have fun reading.

 

But there are lots of Camrys and Accords around to be stolen. Most
relevant from an owner (and insurance) point of view is the risk that
a car will get stolen -- i.e. number stolen compared to number in
existence.

 

The etching is a dealer rip-off, even at half the price your dealer
quoted. There are after-market shops and do-it-yourself kits but I
wouldn't bother. Did anyone steal the last one you had? How much is
your comprehensive/theft insurance? That gives you an idea of how
likely your insurance company thinks it is that your car will be
stolen. Ask them if they will reduce the premium if you get etching.

If you are still itching for an etching, call around. I bet someone
will do it for a lot less than $600.

 

Correct, this is not rate of theft but raw number and Accord and Camry
are the #2 and #1 selling cars.

In terms of theft rate, Chryslers are at the top of the list:

#1 Dodge intrepid
2 Chevy Metro
3 Acura iNtegra
4 Plymouth Neon
5 Dodge Neon
6 Dodge Strauts
7 Mirage
8 Esteem
8 Chrysler LHS
10 Firebird

Camry = #79
Accord = #142

In terms of actual $$$ loss per theft, the Integra is #1. again, Accord
and Camry are not even on the list. This is why your insurance rates are
so low.

The # of vehicles stolen statistic is just a way for Honda dealers to
sell lo-jacks

 

$600!!!!

Wow, to that I simply respond:

http://www.idsticker.com/vinetcher3.htm

Sounds simple, painless, and at $20, even if you don't think you absolutely
NEED it, you can still afford it....

 

Those cars on the most stolen lists are much older cars. It'll probably be
another 10 years before a 2002 makes the list.





How to turn off 'Maintenance Required" light:

1. Hold trip/reset button on dash
2. Turn key to "ON" or start engine
3. Hold button til light goes out

 

Free:

My mother-in-law's insurance company offered to etch her Civic windows free!
Course that was in Massachusetts.

 

window etching is a scam that dealers and salesmen use to pad the cost
of the car. you don't need it. it will go on the so-called 'washout
sheet' in your file, as an expense they got you to accept which inflates
the cost of the deal, pays them more, makes their year end profits look
bigger, and it all goes bye bye if you pop the windsheild in a crash.
be unmoved. you don't want it. you're not the least interested.

 

In terms of actual $$$ loss per theft, the Integra is #1.

A lot of those Integras are stolen for the engines. After a Civic's
engine is blown up by a hotrodder, the only thing they can do is steal
a (larger) Integra engine and blow it apart too.

JM

 

Etching just causes a "Seller" to sell a car door for $25 less, cuz it's
missing the window ;o)

 

That's good info to know, where did you get the source?

 

I can't remember, it was off some insurance company website and it had
ALL the cars and every model year, ranked in terms of raw #, theft rate,
and $$$loss per vehicle.

You would be surprised at the $$$ loss per vehicle, since most of them
are very expensive cars at the top, but the Acura Integra seems to
always be a total loss. Other cars are stolen a lot but usually
recovered. Wonder why. Anyway, if you look on google I am sure you
can find it it wasn't hard to find

 

Anyway, if you look on google I am sure you

Yeah, I found it:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/theft/2001TheftRatesFinal.htm
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/theft/

However, one detail worthy of mention is that the list you quoted was for
thefts of 2001 models in the year 2001. This could differ significantly for
thefts of *all* model years in the year 2001.

For example, in 2000, the 2000 Civic ranked #21, with a 5.3 theft rate per
1000 vehicles produced. In 2001, the 2001 Civic dropped down to #140, with a
1.8 theft rate. This is probably due to the fact the 2001 Civic was a new
generation, so there was little demand for used parts. I'm guessing that the
theft rate for 2000 Civics in the year 2001 was probably close to 5.3.

Anyways, just wanted to point out some subtleties that can make a big
difference. I wish I could find a list for *all* model years in a calendar
year.