The Gerry Ryan show...

[Justin]

....apparently had an item this morning about the Subaru Impreza and how desirable it is to the lowlife and how the Gardai don't even chase them anymore. Did anyone hear it? Anything interesting said?

[Phil]

Here is the link for the gerry ryan show Justin.

FTP: http://www.rte.ie/audio/ryanshow.ra

Realaudio stream: http://www.rte.ie/rams/radio/ryanshow.ram

Hope this is some help.

[WhipLash]

I didn't hear the show myself. However, this puts a totally different perspective on owning a WRX. First of all, with such a reputation proceeding it, I'm sure that the insurance companies will even further load the insurance premiums on the car. If owners are paying exorbitant insurance fees and being specifically targeted by the car thieves, then possibly a lot of owners will be trying to rid themselves of the car altogether. The previously reported story of a brick being thrown through the back window of a Scooby owner’s house sums it all up. It’s certainly not a pretty picture if you are currently a Scooby owner.

And the knock on effect of all this? Possibly relatively cheap second hand Scooby’s? Would you dare?

[Anders]

Personally I think this is a disgrace. Given the huge sums of taxation that is extracted from car owners, surely enough of that could be spent on a decent level of law enforcement. I appreciate that world wide car theft has a low priority in the scheme of things, but many of these cars are stolen to be used in robberies so you would think that perhaps extending the helicopter fleet beyond its present pathetic one could be a good start. I also heard something about the guards not getting proper training to use the one helicopter they have so they can't use it outside of Dublin in darkness or some such rubbish.

[BeCos]

Yes I heard the show that morning. It was unreal! Every second caller had a pretty horific story to tell and most invloved some violence or threatened violence.

We've all heard about the guy hanging on to the rear spoiler, but one woman was dragged from her 2 week old Blue WRX and it hasn't been seen since !

Another guy's alarm went off in the night and he looked out and saw 2 guys inside his car. He opened the window and shouted at them, which of course they ignored. He then, stupidly went out to them, and a third guy put a shotgun to his head and told him to go away or else ! So his car went and he was so shaken he bought a Volvo !!

Another guy got into his car with his girlfriend and a guy approached and asked for his keys, then told him to get out. The driver refused and another bloke went around to the passenger side, opened the door, pulled out his girlfriend and proceeded to kick seven shade of sh1te out of her !! The driver jumped out and ran to help her and the two guys drove off in his car !!

I'm sorry but NO CAR is worth that sh1t !!

I was considering buying one at one point, and I'm gld I didn't. I would never consider one again.

Subaru should put in a Tracker system as standard, as the built in immobiliser's aren't worth a dam if someone has the keys. The fact that the thieves HAVE the keys also throws a bit of a slant on the whole Insurance issue as far as coverage goes !!

[Justin]

Isn't it sad that such an excellent product may be inaccessible because of the personal risk associated with owning one?

I enjoyed my Scoob tremendously aided perhaps by behind gates/garage parking at night and off street parking during the day, and I wouldn't, based on the trouble I had with my previous 325i, have bought it without this. But what a shame that lowlife scum make lifestyle choices for you.

There should be a flexibility to shoot people who try and steal your car. Certainly those guys who tried to steal my car while I was cleaning my shotgun once (you know who you are) didn't come back - even though they didn't know that I had no cartridges handy

[Junior]

This is getting to the point of where scum bags are trying to rob 'Prezas from Garages. Although I've been related a story of an attempted Robbery of a 156 in Belfast.

Seemingly a guy who has a V6 156 was working in Belfast (it was on Irish Plates) when he was coming back from the site to the digs he was stopped by two guys in a Transit with a shotgun .. and told in no uncertain terms "Get out of the car ya Fenian *******" ... Indeed he did get out of the car with a Hurley and leathered seven shades of shyte outta the guy without the Gun .. both beat a hasty retreat.

It seems that the only thing these guys regonise is violence, *******s should be sentence to death if you ask me.

[WhipLash]

With high profile fast cars the likes of the Scooby and 325's etc attracting so much unwanted and frustrating attention from car thieves, what's the alternative? What can be done to stop them, if anything? Sounds like one of those satellite tracker devices are the best bet, although I'm sure there's a way around that too if someone wants a car bad enough and there's an ‘expert’ on the job.

The only other thing would be to buy an anonymous plain looking but powerful car that has no reputation for being a fast getaway vehicle, but what would qualify? Does such a car exist?

[Anders]

I noticed in English car magazines that some cars come with the RAC Tracker system as standard, Subarus I think. Doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose of the system, because if you know it's there and I presume RAC installs the system the same way in all cars, then it shouldn't be all that hard to snip a couple of wires and that's the end of it.

[BeCos]

I think you'd actually have to remove the entire device before it's stop transmitting the signal. In the UK they'd surely have traced the car by that stage.

Over here.................they'd probably have time to attach it to the persuing Garda car without being detected !!

Remember the Escort Cossie had a similar problem altough at least Ford fitted a decent immobiliser which started the craze for these seemingly useless devices.

Dunno what the answer to this one is really. How much more plain/mundane than a Subaru can you get ?

Quick release steering wheel anyone ........quick release engine and transmission........4 wheel clamps??

[Phil]

All I can say is thank GOD it's a Subaru. These cars may be fun to drive, but I would'nt be caught dead in one.

All the money you pay for one of these cars and at the end of it what do you have? A glorified toyota corolla look alike.

The new car is even worse to look at then the old one. I'm glad I am not a fan and never will be, so that I'll never have to worry every time I stop at traffic lights, that someone is going to try and pull me out of my car.

Ahwell......

[Junior]

Car jacking [to give it it's yank term] is getting more common in Ireland, the scummers are getting lazier and can't be bothered to defeat the alarms anymore so they get a warmed up one.

I have a gut feeling someone is going to get seriously maimed [more so than the guy hanging on the boot spoiler of the Impreza] or killed over this sorta thing.

I agree with Phil though I can hardly see one person hauling him out of the car .. they'd need a few people to get his large ass outta the car [Ben he makes you look as thin as Toad :D ]

[Phil]

I always wondered why you licked your eyebrows when you looked at me. Now I know..... :eek:

From the way you describe me, maybe I should put a wideload sign on my back. :rolleyes:

15 all, Junior to serve.

[Junior]

Theres also the Car factor as well .. who wants a battered BMW, it can't even corner properly, mounts the kerb with an erratic will and can't avoid shopping trolleys ... Hmmm maybe they might stop Phil and give him a few bob to keep the car going ...

30-15 ...

[Phil]

I thought you were the one with the OLD battered BMW. Their's not a mark on my one.

Maybe I'll drive down to get a few pointers from you.

Junior's school of motoring....

Lesson 1: How to drive safely on the "road" ( or up in Dublin we call them fields )

Lesson 2: What to do when meeting a aproaching motorist ( someone else rallying around the same field as you )

Lesson 3: etc, etc

30-30....

[Junior]

I thought you were the one with the OLD battered BMW. Their's not a mark on my one.

You forgot to add the word anymore at the end of that sentence ..

Traffic in a field get outta that ...

Phils Driving School

Lesson 1] How to bump Start car out of the flats
Lesson 2] How not to knock down the Piebald(s)
Lesson 3] How to run when the car is on Fire

40-30

[BrianS]

This topic reminds me of when I was a kid and I got the sh1t kicked out of me when a bunch of scumbags wanted my runners. I nearly lost the hearing in my left ear as a result (still hurts when I swim).

Car thieves should have their thumbs chopped off with a rusty axe. Its hard to steer without them and they would have trouble with their second favourite hobby (being complete w*nkers).

I deal with a South African office a lot and over in Johannesburg, car-jacking is a huge, everyday problem. But I saw a TV program last year with an invention that a S.African came up with. Basically, flame throwers are installed under the car and if someone comes up to the driver or passenger door with a harmful intent, just press a button and they get barbecued. It looked cool but completely illegal, no doubt. But over there, car-jacking can easily mean you're going to be shot. Life is cheap to them.

Take Care Out There,

Brian.