I've owned a Scooby now for nearly 8 weeks and seen a few threads on stolen scoobies and replies relating to previously stolen ones. Its starting to make me feel slighty worried, as to the point that one day I'm expecting to come home from work or get up in the morning and find that my pride and joy has gone.

Would be grateful if some folks on here could enlighten on their experiences as in, who on here has had their Scooby stolen? Did the thieves come into the house to get the keys? Did they overcome the security devices on the car? How effective are the security devices? Was the car returned? Are trackers worth the money? blah blah blah etc etc

Should I really be that worried about it all?

I suppose people have asked these threads before, but your views and experience would be much appreciated.

 

I'll try and shed a little light, I'm waiting on my STi8 coming getting the insurance was a nightmare even through so called specialists, Greenlight and LV didn't want they say they are not taking on any new policies on Subarus, many other insurers are saying the same, it's all down to the rising theft rate of these cars unfortunately, many of the insurers are also saying they are not too bothered about trackers, coz they end up having to foot large repair bills when the cars are recovered, the only way to help keep your car is be sensible, use a good alarm immobolizer system, locked garage, keep your keys hidden in the house and keep an eye out for anybody following you home or hanging about your house/street.

 

Some of it depends on where you live really, having this type of car in a less than nice area and its going to be targeted by all the idiots, even having a car like this in a nice area and you still get targeted....
Visible deterrents and the likes are the best thing that you can do to deter a thief (locking gate post in the path, disclok etc) and anti hijack units (even though they invalidate your insurance, so id speak to your insurance co first) are effective.
Ive owned my scoob for 3 years, only once has someone tried to boot down the front door (unsuccessfully i dare say) and it hasnt happened again since (possably after burgling the house rather than taking the car) and no one has touched the car in the 3 years of ownership.... the area i live in is average/higher than average crime (even next door had their car broken into, mine was left totally untouched!!).
Deter the thief, thats your only real goal (they will try for something easier as hard work for most of them is out of the question).

Tony

 

I agree with New 2 Scoob,

These days if someone is targeting your car there are numerous ways for a thief to do it. A friend even had his Elise lifted from outside his house by a truck with lifting gear.

I tend to be as careful as possible near home, don't draw attention to yourself near your own house for obviuos reasons

The more deterrents you make obvious the better, I have a garaged car, tracker, cat1 and a stop lock, the garage has also got a security light outside.

As for the stealing of the keys its up to you what you do, if I had a family in the house with me, I would rather thieves find the car keys than search through the house whilst my family sleeps but that's just me.

Bottom line, thieves like an easy target, make it as much hassle as possible to steal your car.

James

 

How common is it for scoobies to be stolen?

I'd say no more common than any other desirable brand of car. The reason why you may feel that it is a more common problem than most is that this forum is full of dedicated and enthusiastic supporters of the brand who know that if their pride and joy is stolen, they can come on here and get some sympathy, and to alert other people in their area that their car may be targeted.

When I first got my impreza 6 months ago I was very worried about it getting stolen, so decided to do what I could to ensure it safety - full on steering lock, parked behind other vehicles on the drive, always parked in bright open areas, under cctv etc. At the end of the day, if it gets nicked it gets nicked, but to be honest I'd feel the same amount of worry if I was driving an Evo, top end BMW, Mercedes, etc etc etc.

Your best bet is to follow some common sense guide lines and just enjoy the ownership of the car.

 

i must admit im a about concernd about mine being nicked, but i thought of this the other day

all my cars so far have been bodykitted up and running alloys and stuff, and none of them have been touched

theres even my vectra sitting outside with brand new 18" alloys and mk2 gsi bodykit, which not being big headed, is a dam nice looking car, and thats never been touched either
spo maybe im just paranoid
but paranoid is probs why none of them have ever been touched
im dead picky where i park, when i visit my girlfriends flat, i will leave the car parked in a hospital car park right outside the security building (£1/hour parking :s) as i wont leave it out on the streets etc etc
ive had 5 novas, and u can nick them so easy, i can get in them with no damage what so ever, yet none have been touched, so maybe im ok, *touches wood* lol

 

Thats a shock! I only just insured mine 4 weeks ago for £550! Has so much changed in that time? Or perhaps its where you live... Im glad I got mine in when I did then.

I guess the best you can do is make it as hard as possible in the beginning before they can drive it away. A very loud alarm, steering wheel lock and if your in a high theft area, get yourself a wheelclamp.

[Edited by Soulgirl - 3/31/2003 7:13:55 PM]

 

lv wouldnt quote me on mine a month or so back as apaerntly im to youngf to have a import??
24 years old lol
25 next month
a good few companys said u had to be 25 for a import scooby
wierd

 

StickyMicky.. your just a baby

 

you need to be over 30 to get LV insurance on a scoob....

 

****.. showing my age then LOL

 

Needed to be 30, plus 9yrs NCB

Somtimes age helps

 

28 with LV, I guess the area you live in helps.......

 

Scoobys are one of, if not most stolen cars in the UK.

 

27 with LV.

 

The most stolen cars are old vauxalls and fords from before the time when immobilisers were fitted as standard!!

 

26 with LV & i was 25 when this policy started.
Si (the winner of lowest so far wot do i win? )

 

I'm 28 and LV wouldn't quote me for my WRX, even though we have a rural post code; said they weren't interested in under 30's for scoobs.

John

 

I'm with LV, am 30, park my car in a 'secure' hospital car park (in which I work)just like sticky micky. And it's just been nicked from there tonight!
Thinking about it, I pay £1400, my excess is gonna be £500 (I think), and the market value of Scoob's has nosedived somewhat since I bought it last year. I've spent over a grand on maintenance alone as well.
Looks like I'm well out of pocket & insurance on another scoob will be prohibitive now.
Great cars, but that's me out!

 

3 Classic Turbos and 1 WRX since April '94 and not even a scratch. Whilst I live in a nice area, the cars have been parked in less than salubrious parts, each and every day for work, and during the Football Season, spend a fair bit of time parked in Newcastle.

I had more trouble when I owned 205GTIs.

 

Scoobs only appear to be nicked a lot cos this is a Scoob board. If you visit any other board, the number of "my car's been nicked" threads are just the same IMHO. Even on the GTi boards, i.e. older cas which you would think dont get nicked anymore, 205, R5 GT etc.

There are 2 things to do really, 1. ignore the thefts, and just risk owning a sort after car, or 2. sell it and buy a crapbox to run around in.

I did 2 (though for other reasons), which is hard work, but I dont have to worry now.

 

Hi,

I like to think I have pretty good security for mine, I keep it in a locked garage, which is all wired up to the house alarm (which is set everynight upon bedtime!!), Disklok, Imobilizer, I never just leave my keys lying around, they are either in my pocket when I'm awake or hidden in my room! Imob fob and disklok key separate from the car keys! Security lights around the garage! custom switch that cuts all power to ingition system.

I am looking to upgrade with either clifford 400, 500 or 600, Which is best value for money and how much should expect to pay?


Evil

 

In the last 14 years I have had:
MkII RS Turbo.
Volvo 440
Supra TT
Celica GT4
RX7
STi4

Guess which one got nicked ?.
You got it the Volvo
And I live in a reasonably high car crime area.
So as far as I can see it's a bit of a lottery on the car crime stakes. You just secure them as best you possibly can.
And as for getting Insurance it pays to be and old fart of 40.

 

I always feel very sorry for all the folk who have had their cars nicked here by someone breaking in and taking their keys...

BUT why don't they have their house alarms switched on and if they don't have one get one!

There's no point in having Cliffords, Discloks etc if the scum can just break a window, sneak in a take the car keys off the hall table and you sleep all the way through it.

Maybe its different in the UK but over here in Ireland if your house doesn't have an alarm the house insurance people screw you for premiums.

 

Insurance is a farce. They want you to be over 30 before they will insure your Scoobies, and the area you live in determines also if they will bother.

Since when does your age determine if your car will be nicked?

I drive a Cavalier Turbo, I'm 29, 6 years PNCB, and I cannot get decent insurance in Bristol, because its a Vauxhall nicking nightmare!

Its insured as if I still live in Salisbury, which I pay £550 for the privilige, in Bristol they wanted over a grand!

My car, like some of your Scoobies is protected upto the eyeballs to stop it getting pinched, but you can't count on the mindless idiots. Before the Cav Turbo I had a Cav GSi 2ooo, nice looking motor, again protected upto the eyeballs.... they couldn't pinch it, so they bent all the door frames out!

Bad at the time, but I suppose im 'lucky' in that of 10 years motoring, thats all the grief I've had. Some luck eh?

 

Buy a Wagon and keep it parked nose in!!!!

Wagons are faster and less likely to get nicked

Pete

 

I had my Sti nicked off the driveway- after the grotbags broke into the house to get the keys and helped themselves to wallet/ purse and an old mobile phone, in the early hours of Mon 11th June. Didn't realise it was gone until 07:00- got in touch with Trackstar- haven't heard a thing since!
Any info on the average time for cars being recovered (if at all)?!
In a way I'm glad we were asleep- 4 kids in the house and having read some of the other threads- we got off quite likely. Why should I 'pay' for someone else to take my pride and joy- a silver 2003 (53 plate_but with private plates) WRX STi Type UK?
Hadn't put the car in the garage- usually is garaged and insurance policy states it should be garaged- so the little gits have opted out- so any tips on getting them to pay out would be gratefully received.
My poor hubby has had a rough time as I've been as mad as h*ll.

 

Bad news. I wouldn't own my scoob if I couldn't garage it every night.

 

I park mine on the drive in front of the missus' Micra behind a padlocked 6ft gate, take the keys with me whenever I leave the house without the car and sleep with them next to the bed.

I have a nice large baseball bat under the bed if anyone fancies trying to break in!

 

As above really; it's no worse than any other 4 door performance car. If you live in an area of high car crime, then, regrettably, you're a potential target. It's just a case of taking reasonable and very visible precautions. Then you have to hope for the best....Blair's legacy: soft on crime,soft on the causes of crime......unless you're a speeding motorist!

Ns04