2 ms·

I'd argue your 3rd point is more based in the reality of movies that involve unique cars (Gone in 60 Seconds, etc). Most unique rides are typically stolen due

I'd argue your 3rd point is more based in the reality of movies that involve unique cars (Gone in 60 Seconds, etc). Most unique rides are typically stolen due to owner laziness(leaving keys on top of a tire, keys in the visor, left running, etc.).

rootsudo 3y ago
I disagree - many cars are kept in parking lots - especially in HCOL. Access is basically whenever - if someone sees it there, and not moved often and such they know they can most likely attack it. Stripping an security system is also doable, via the can-bus attacks we see of late, but more personalized can just be to replace the ECU. In many cars this can be done in less than 15 minutes. Car shopping as presented in gone in 60 seconds is somewht common - ask people on any enthusiast forum and you'll see. Miatas in Bay area, stolen for the hard top/car itself. Skylines Honda Civics - just spare parts basically, though if it's a mint enough model I can see people vin swap because 2000's Honda S2000 - mint models reach 30K now, so it's own market. And that's just from what I've kept up* in. Now would someone pull up to someones garage, open that, and drive out? Probably not - but alot of people do drive cars to a parking space for work, or if they live in a condo - have shared/communal parking, and such. And to add an extra layer of paraonia, it is very inexpensive to attach a GPS/Air tag to a car and track it - within a week or two you can see a pattern of where it goes, for how long and what amount of time its standby. The VIN number is also viewable from the windshield, meaning if the thief has any sort of connection - they could even just order a replacement key thats preprogrammed with a base code and potentially just turn up to the car and drive away. But for opportunistic theft, yes - keys left within car/visible and then stolen but there are many different type of thieves for different markets. For unique/"antique" cars or any cars that were in the first three gran turismo - being targeted is a very big thing now in the community.
- incahoots 3y ago
  Thanks for reminding me of the Miata/Civic thefts, I nearly forgot how big that was in the mid 2010s. I recall so many articles of that happening. I was living in Miami during that time, a friend had his EK hatch stolen, beautiful example too, spent a fortune on that car and it showed. Of course the aftermath was the same ole story of it being stripped, and cut to a near nonexistent state. Now thinking on this "solution" the amount of social engineering that happens today will defeat this pretty quickly. Most of the thefts for cars like my friends were done by people who knew the owners.
  - rootsudo 3y ago
    Unfortunately it's happening more now, simply because the value of the 90's/first generation ones are through the roof (haha get it, because it's topless?). Hard tops are now worth $2500-4000 in Miata world. Used to be you couldn't sell one for $500 or so. Running cars are worth $5000, coupled with a hard top its worth around $7000 easily - mint/very nice ones exceed $10,000. For a 20-30yr old car, it's appreciating to exceed new cost (msrp for a 1990 miata was not even $14,000!) Over in honda land, same thing, you used to be able to pick up a basic ek no/manual/only option is AC for less than $3,000 now those are the ones in most demand and exceed $15,000-20,000!

rootsudo 3y ago

I disagree - many cars are kept in parking lots - especially in HCOL. Access is basically whenever - if someone sees it there, and not moved often and such they know they can most likely attack it. Stripping an security system is also doable, via the can-bus attacks we see of late, but more personalized can just be to replace the ECU. In many cars this can be done in less than 15 minutes. Car shopping as presented in gone in 60 seconds is somewht common - ask people on any enthusiast forum and you'll see. Miatas in Bay area, stolen for the hard top/car itself. Skylines Honda Civics - just spare parts basically, though if it's a mint enough model I can see people vin swap because 2000's Honda S2000 - mint models reach 30K now, so it's own market. And that's just from what I've kept up* in. Now would someone pull up to someones garage, open that, and drive out? Probably not - but alot of people do drive cars to a parking space for work, or if they live in a condo - have shared/communal parking, and such. And to add an extra layer of paraonia, it is very inexpensive to attach a GPS/Air tag to a car and track it - within a week or two you can see a pattern of where it goes, for how long and what amount of time its standby. The VIN number is also viewable from the windshield, meaning if the thief has any sort of connection - they could even just order a replacement key thats preprogrammed with a base code and potentially just turn up to the car and drive away. But for opportunistic theft, yes - keys left within car/visible and then stolen but there are many different type of thieves for different markets. For unique/"antique" cars or any cars that were in the first three gran turismo - being targeted is a very big thing now in the community.

incahoots 3y ago
Thanks for reminding me of the Miata/Civic thefts, I nearly forgot how big that was in the mid 2010s. I recall so many articles of that happening. I was living in Miami during that time, a friend had his EK hatch stolen, beautiful example too, spent a fortune on that car and it showed. Of course the aftermath was the same ole story of it being stripped, and cut to a near nonexistent state. Now thinking on this "solution" the amount of social engineering that happens today will defeat this pretty quickly. Most of the thefts for cars like my friends were done by people who knew the owners.
- rootsudo 3y ago
  Unfortunately it's happening more now, simply because the value of the 90's/first generation ones are through the roof (haha get it, because it's topless?). Hard tops are now worth $2500-4000 in Miata world. Used to be you couldn't sell one for $500 or so. Running cars are worth $5000, coupled with a hard top its worth around $7000 easily - mint/very nice ones exceed $10,000. For a 20-30yr old car, it's appreciating to exceed new cost (msrp for a 1990 miata was not even $14,000!) Over in honda land, same thing, you used to be able to pick up a basic ek no/manual/only option is AC for less than $3,000 now those are the ones in most demand and exceed $15,000-20,000!