Lock & Load

BEING A HIGHLY DESIRABLE CAR THE RX8 WILL BE A PRIME TARGET FOR THEFT OR EVEN WORSE CAR JACKINGS . I KNOW IT HAS GOT AN IMMOBOLISER BUT WHAT OTHER STEPS ARE YOU GUYS TAKING TO TRY AND SECURE THE CAR .I WOULD HATE TO LOOSE THE CAR TO SOME MONGRELS .THE ENGINE AND 6 SPEED MANUAL COULD EASILY BE IMPLANTED IN TO OTHER CARS INCLU DING OTHER ROTARIES .HERE ON THE GOLD COAST CAR THEFT IS SECOND ONLY TO DRUGS TOURISM ETC;ETC . INTERESTED IN HEARING YOUR VIEWS

cueball

The sad fact is that there is little that can be done to stop someone who wants your car that badly. There have been reports of people taking cranes and puting cars on flat beds. Not to much you can do about that. One very easy way to advert the common thief is the club. Very easy for a experience thief to circumvent that, but it may stop the street level thug.

SinGin

I suppose you could have Lo Jack installed if you wanted the car recovered by the police. But other than that, there probably isn't much you can do. Hopefully, you won't have to worry too much since the RX-8 looks nice but it's not like a Ferrari or something. I can see what you're saying though. It doesn't take much reason nowadays for car jackings.

In the end, I'm sure you'd agree that your life is more important than the car.

rossy

You can try having your car "micro dotted" (my dealer offered this for free when I pre ordered).

That won't prevent car jackings, but if bits of your car are found in another car, they can trace those bits back to you.

I'm not sure what benefit I'd get by having the police retreive and deliver back part of my gearbox - but the system was free and who am I to turn down a freebie

babylou

The RX-8 will not have a high theft rate in the USA. It is not "highly desirable" like a Ferrari, Porsche, etc. It also is a low production vehicle, unlike a Honda Accord or Chevy truck that attract thieves because they can part the car and sell the components to a large market.

Lock & Load

yeah micro dotting seems a good means of retrieving but only after the car has been stolen .ihave read that you can get a remote control lock that switches off the petrol supply once the car has been taken and driven a safe distance from the owner. does anyone else know anithing about this system ??

SinGin

Agreed. But unfortunately, it doesn't rule out the car jacking or joyriders. I have heard a statistic that manuals tend to be less of target since the perp isn't as skilled with a MT. (Another reason for me to get a manual tranny. )

rael

Get a decent alarm and a steering wheel lock. That is all you can do really but as a new car it will attract attention (especially in red Oilman). If you are going to worry everytime you park it somewhere do not bother to buy.

rael

evel333

It's a catch-22...where if the 8 sells like hotcakes, it will inevitably become attractive to theives for it's parts' resale value; but if it sells poorly, we may never see another 7...

I also worry about the 8's relatively common lock placement; compared to the 7's unique placement, both inside and outside, which made using a slim jim or other door-opening tools more difficult, if not impossible, to use.

notb

I agree with some of the statements above. It's usually the really popular cars that get stolen for parts or the exotic ones sold complete.

If you really want to make sure it's not stolen, develop b.o. like that Seinfeld episode where even the thief wouldn't get in a car that smelled like that

Wing

So then..... what makes the hyundai tiburon the most stolen car in canada????


It's not very popular, there are some but it certainly isn't a hot selling machine (2000-2002 models not the new 2003). It's CERTAINLY not exotic!

Makes you wonder, maybe they are just too damn easy to steal!

Midnight Flyer

If I remember correctly the Tib did not come with theft deterent features such as the encrypted key.

Since security systems have become more sophisticated car jacking is on the increase since it is harder to steal the car without a tow truck.

In addition to the factory key I had a second cut off switch installed in my Miata that is activated by the alarm.

I also heard about a system that is connected to the door so that every time the driver's door is opened, the system will cut out after 5 min if the proper code is not entered. In this way the car jacker will get in, throw you out and after a block the car dies, sirens wail and lights flash.

Wing

True the tib has nothing, my insurance installed an ignition kill.

Midnight, your in Ottawa too, did you order an 8???

said7

Although i dont see the rx8 being a big target because rotary parts arent really desireable or easily sold.

The best thing to do is install a starter kill switch and hide it in the car somewhere. Or a series of toggle switches that have to be flipped in a certian postition.

Clubs suck. The better alternative is that one that locks around the clutch or brake petal.

Another thing is shaved door handles. Cant pick a lock without the lock being there

retrodog

Take a 9mm along with you when you drive. If you see someone trying to break into a car then just shoot them in the head. If someone tries to carjack you then just shoot them in the head. If you shoot enough of these guys (or gals) in the head then pretty soon, problem solved.

Just an idea.

jonalan

Lock & Load -- must you ALWAYS yell?!?

kwolfman

When I bought my brand new 1981 RX7 I installed a small momentary contact microswitch under the carpet near the center console. The switch controlled power going to a small 12V relay which in turn, connected power to the electric fuel pump and itself.

So, to start the car, I had to turn the key to ON , but before I turned it one more click to start the car I would press the microswitch through the carpet. You really had to know where the switch was, it was too small to see. The electric fuel pump would start and I could start the car. You could hear the pump start, so you had audible feedback that you found the switch.

Later, when I turned off the ignition, power was removed from the relay and it would automatically disengage the fuel pump and itself for the next time.

Someone could briefly start the car without pressing the switch but once the gas emptied from the carborator (fuel injection what is that?) the car would sputter to a stop.

Luckily, no one ever tried to steal the car so this system never got a work out. Although once or twice I forgot to press the switch and the car started chugging and coughing which quickly reminded me to press the damn switch.

This was a cheap anti theft device. Cost about $10. I think the RX8 comes with a far more sophisticated system built in.

RotorGeek

Yeah I had a similar fuel cut-off under my seat. It was push button. I would press it in to start and out to stop the pump from working. Since it was attached to the seat underneath. You could not see it, but very easy to press when exiting.

babylou

Retrodog,

If you payed attention during your concealed handgun/urban warfare class you would have remembered that you never shoot for the head. Always shoot for the chest. It is a much larger and more stationary target. Also, a shotgun works better.

SinGin

Perhaps retrodog has been playing a lot of Unreal Tournament lately. :p

Midnight Flyer

Not yet.

I am currently up to 4 cars. Once the 01 Miata is paid off next sept. I will need a new company car. The plan is to give the Miata to my wife to replace her YJ, trade the Intrepid for the 8, maybe sell the wife's jeep (TBD) and my son is expecting to get the 91 Miata. That will bring us down to 2 cars.

Although I have always loved the 7, but never bought one, I will need to test drive the 8 before I put my money down. The wife is also set on having a convertable, but maybe the sunroof will do, since she will have the Miata.

merovign

Excuse me? A shotgun from a seated position in an RX-8? "Excuse me mr. carjacker while I spend 30 seconds trying to maneuver this telephone pole around to point at the window?" :D

And especially if you're aiming for the thoracic cavity, a larger caliber handgun is in order, .45, .357, 10mm, something like that. In an enclosed space, the .45 is least likely to cause permanent hearing damage.

As to never aiming for the head, didn't your class cover hostage scenarios? As they said to me at Front Sight, "That was an exceptionally fast shot, but I hope your mother wasn't wearing big earrings."

A few tips for people who unreasonably fear guns (and for everyone else, of course):

1. Try to leave plenty of room in front of you at stoplights so, if neccessary, you can turn around the car in front of you. 15' is usually plenty, 10' usually sufficient.

2. Try not to stop in the middle lane. Some people say you don't want to be on the outside because that's where the crook will come from, but if you're in the middle you can't run away.

3. Always pay attention to the world around you. Check your mirrors, look at the sidewalk, keep an eye on the cars around you. If you make this a habit, you will find that not only do you detect danger sooner, but you see more of life in general, i.e. see more to smile at as well as frown.

4. Put a fuel cutoff switch, possibly with a short delay, on the door or near your seatbelt latch. Trigger it as you get out and run like hell. Remember that carjackers sometimes kill/injure the driver for fun, and sometimes take passengers as hostages, esepecially children.

As another option, never drive less than 100mph, and never stop. :D

FBI/DOJ studies of carjackings and sudden, violent criminal attacks in general, plus fairly extensive training seem to indicate your "best options" to survive carjacking are, in decreasing order of effectiveness:

#1: See them coming and run away before they get to you. (ALWAYS the best option for survival - don't be there when the fight happens)
#2: Fight effectively and disable the attacker (shoot them).
#3: Run like hell.
#4: Give them what they want and run like hell.
#5: Fight ineffectively (i.e. try to punch someone who has a gun).
#6: Cry like a baby and wet yourself.
#7: Beg for your life.
#8: Blow yourself and you car up with the bomb you put under your seat.

#1 is by a wide margin.