I'm #2 !!! Most stolen car

It might be old news, but the most stolen car in 2006 (US) is the 1995
Civic. Number 2 is a 1991 Accord. That's the one I have. Oh joy.

http://www.newsday.com/services/newspaper/printedition/wednesday/longisland/ny-licars125496908dec12,0,7892563.story

 

You have to wonder about the talent and intelligence of thieves that are
stealing 13 and 17 year old cars. I suppose this has more to do with the
difficulty of stealing newer cars than the "goodness" of old Hondas. What
does one do with a stolen 1991 Accord? I know Honda parts are outrageously
expensive, but surely the demand for used 17 year old Honda parts must be
pretty low.

Ed

 

That's because they've run out of Integra GS-Rs to steal....

the older cars motors are more easily modified.

they take the motors,transaxles,ECU,seats,doors,front fenders,and other
misc parts,then torch the rest in some field.

These are usually street drag racers who burn up motors trying to get lots
of HP from them,and then steal to get 'new' motors to build up and burn up.

 

I heard through the grapevine that much of the motivation
for car thefts in some cities is simply sport. Thieves steal
the car, drive it around for fun, then dump it. No profits
to be made, other than the exhilaration of the theft and
obviously short-term drive.

 

But that wouldn't target a 1991 Accord. It's solid, but with the
springs sort of shot, not the kind of car that's too much fun to drive
anymore.

I've never bothered to have comprehensive coverage because the car is
not exactly worth too much, but clearly someone wants it.

 

I think the ease of theft may outweigh the suspension
quality, hp under the hood, etc. These guys often have just
a few minutes to get the wheels moving, right? If I were a
car thief out for thrills, I would not be so choosy.

Indeed. One of the advantages of an older car.

 

Well, since the demographic interested in those cars is the under 20 lot
then the intelligence of the thieves can explain itself - ever see a kid
with the oversized baseball cap, moon boot running shoes, puffy jacket
and size 50 pants look like anything other than a moron? So stealing a
17 year old car would seem like a good idea.

 

you got it!

 

Personal experience;
I USED to own an Integra GS-R. stolen June 29th of this year.

I'd like Florida laws like Texas has concerning shooting people stealing
your property.

 

just because the car is old doesn't mean it's parts are not worth
stealing,to the dishonest.

Thieves went to the trouble of stealing the plastic "Acura" and "GS-R"
badges from my 94 GS-R. $60 bucks at the dealers.I didn't replace them.
Personally,I would rather cars not have such badges;they are a PITA to wax
around.I like the "no chrome" look,too.

Then they took the ECU;$800 and 6 weeks wait.
Then they took the whole car. 3 weeks to get paid for the total loss.

 

The Hell it's not worth comprehensive coverage...the cost to replace broken
windows,radio,stolen ECU,or like one girl's GS-R;stolen seats,cold air
intake,wheels and tires....
Then there's the major nuisance of your car not working until the missing
parts are replaced.

I paid less than $100 a year for $100 deductible.WELL worth it.

 

One has to admire those that continue to run their old cars.

No longer trapped in the "trade 'n pay" morass, they maximize value and
focus on spending money elsewhere rather than feed the monetary squirrel
cage.

I only owned one new car in my life, a 1961 VW beetle. That car held its
value better than any other vehicle of its time but still, it rusted
away long ago.

Besides, tinkering with your old heap of iron helps to keep you from
getting into other trouble... (Hear that Teg?)

JT

 

Bang, bang, bang, <plop>... Bang, bang!

<G>

JT

Austin, TX

 

I maintain comprehensive on all my old cars. Hit a deer, you get paid. I
pay about $30 each per year for the coverage..

JT

 

I think I am getting away from the thinking that, if driven
into the ground, a new car is as economical as an old one. I
have owned three cars. The last two were purchased spanking
new. But now having done a great deal of work on my current
wheels (1991 Civic) over the last several years and saving a
pile of money, I wonder whether buying used and driving it
into the ground is way more savings.

True here.

 

Waiving the right to remain silent, "Elle"

The week you need it the most will be the week it fails to run and needs
$2,500 in repairs, and you've got no warranty. The repairs will probably
cost more than the value of the car, so you'll need to purchase another
immediately.

What kind of "savings" is that..?

 

I neglected to mention I am retired.

$2500 in repairs for a 91 Civic translates to either major
body work or something like a new engine. Car is worth about
$600 right now, per Kelly Blue Book.

I take the bus, bicycle, worst case taxi. Come on, give
people some credit.

I do my own effin' repairs. I'd buy a new engine for under
$1000, install locally for about $500, and be good to go. Or
I'd buy a new car.

 

It is interesting that you'd only have gotten in trouble for performing the
above action if you had done it within the last 40 years.

Prior to that they'd have disregarded the excess roundage and pinned a
medal on you for improving the country's gene pool and helping to lower the
crime rate. This was true even in the now Communist republic of Kanada,
where I am unfortunately forced to reside.

 

"Driving it into the ground" actually does work if you limit the
"ground" to ten years and no more.

If you intend on keeping it longer than that, maintain it properly and
forget the "into the ground" thing.

"Into the ground" implies "neglect". And we all know where that goes...

Keeps me out of the bingo hall, anyway...

And hey, I just went over 297,000 today. I celebrated with an oil
change, tightening the hose clamps that keep the (rusted) exhaust heat
shields from rattling, and replacing all the rubber exhaust hangers.

I'm such a wild and crazy guy!

 

Well, you can pay for that out of the money you saved not making payments
for five months.

And if you take care of the heap, that $2,500 repair will be a decided
rarity. Most repairs will be far, far less than that.

Maintenance, my friend, maintenance. Neglect is /very/ expensive. Neglect
leads to those $2,500 repairs.