[commygun]

I'm seriously skeptical about this but at the most recent gunshow I was
talking to an aquaintance who said Seattle was seeing a spate of car
jackings/robberies directed at people driving newer Volvo station wagons.
I guess the idea is that people driving such a car are likely to be affluent
middle-class liberals and so unlikely to be armed or to put up much of
a fight in defense of their person and property. Now, I doubt most
criminals are sophisticated enough to make these kind of associations
but it raises a valid question. Does your car make you appear more
or less vulnerable to criminals? Should a 1975 Ford pickup with a rusty
tailgate be part of your self-defense gear?

[JamisJockey]

Wife's....maybe...2003 Suzuki XL7
Mine...doubt it....1995 Ford Aspire....

[jamz]

Hmm, Subaru Impreza WRX with guages, loud exhaust and motor, and a roll cage.... Probably not, I'd just be pegged as someone who can get away fast. ;)

-James

[Redlg155]

Same here...

Wife's maybe=2000 Toyota Sienna XLE mini van


Me....definitely not! = 1996 Chevy Cavalier with flaked paint job, dents and no hubcaps. Folks think I'm the "Po Po" if anything else. :D


Good Shooting
Red

[CB900F]

Fella's;

It may not be the perception of the occupant, it's probably the vehicle itself. In other words, the chop shop's got an order for a late model Volvo, etc. The shop puts the word on the street, and like they say in some furrin' frog-eatin' country, 'voiley-oiley', a Volvo gets carjacked.

900F

[Dionysusigma]

Gauges and a loud exhaust do nothing for speed. ;) Then again, you don't exactly have a riced Honda... :rolleyes:

That said, I'm not sure if my 1995 Crown Victoria makes me a target. However, some people seem to slow down rather quick if I come up behind them a tad too fast... :uhoh: :D

Other cars in my family? Yup. '02 Jag S-Type and an '04 F-150... both metallic red.

(btw, jamz, I meant nothing against your car. WRXs are pretty dang nice, from what I've heard.)

[tc300mag1]

me no
1998 ford e350 van (work van)
1992 buick lesaber

Old lady yeah 2001 olds alero

[DigMe]

Sounds like some kind of sensationalistic urban legend. Of course people are going to go after nicer cars but I find it hard to believe that they are targeting Volvo station wagons. It was probably started by the local Audi dealership or something. ;)

brad cook

[Autolite]

I'm always on guard and looking over my shoulder. Driving a twenty-four year old Ford Pinto is a dead give away that I'm loaded ...

[gggman]

Wow, I used to drive a Volvo wagon. I didn't know I was a target. Some BG would have gotten quite a surprise if he had attempted a carjacking with me. He would have gotten an ??? full of 125gr. JHP .357mag. Picked the wrong Volvo, Bucko.:D

[keyhole]

Hmmmmm, '92 Ford F-150 black extended cab, but have electric shotgun lock in back seat. Now work car fer sure, 2001 Crown Vic. Nice ride though, company car with neat lights and such:D

Unmarked to boot!

[jamz]

dionysusigma: I should have been more clear: the exhaust sound is the only externally noticable thing that comes from the large amoutn of extra power that I've made the engine produce. :) No offense taken. :)

-James

[marklbucla]

CB900F is more than likely right.

But since the question was raised....
If I were a carjacker with every car being in equal demand, I'd probably aim for the Volkswagons since they seem to belong most to liberals and gays for some reason. I'd for sure avoid trucks since they tend to belong to men who are probably big enough to actually use them for what they were intended.

[Docwithglock]

Used to drive a gold BMW, and driving to work in the hood it looked like a drug dealer's car (no I am not a drug dealer). The cops would pull me over for no good reason, and let me go when they learned I was a doctor. I usually drive a Ford Ranger now, I definitly do not feel like a target in that. I have better visualization because it is higher off the ground. Also it does not go very fast and is not one of the more common vehicles stolen. When with the Mrs. we drive the BMW Z4 roadster. This car gets a lot of looks. I am contantly looking around for problem people, especially with the top down (never in the hood). More stress worrying about what ifs, but the car is worth the worry. Also a little stress keeps me more aware all of the time. I'm not paranoid (yet) but its better to be wary of your surroundings driving a Z4 Roadster than it is to "think I am safe" driving a 1972 impala station wagon (I used to have one... back when I was cool). My advice is get whatever car you 1)can afford, 2)want! 3)and is practical (going to start having kids soon, so got the convertible while we could).

[Docwithglock]

My 1911 and shotgun make me feel better driving any car!

[Wedge]

Ford Ranger with an NRA sticker, and some other RKBA stickers in the window...the bumper just started to rust (argg). I'm probably safe.

I am currently on the lookout for a 10 year old F350 4-door, long box, 4x4 diesel. I think that should be a safe car...the gun rack will give that one away (no room for a rack in the standard cab ranger).

:D

[Docwithglock]

Sorry to post three times but I thought it was important to say: the gold BMW was KEYED all over in a very nice suburb mini mall parking lot (around the same time junior high kids get out of school). I didn't see how did it... good thing too because I would hate to go to jail for excessive use of force. Just kidding, I would not have shot them, or even brandished. I carry a digital camera, and would have taken their picture for the cops.
A bit off topic but: I have had very little trouble in the real bad areas. Most of the problems I've had have been in places you would feel safer in. Kids don't always need a reason like poverty to be punks. They just have better lawyers!

[Carlos]

My 90 Audi Quattro might be a mark for the unscrupulous. But, I pity the fool who tries, because the first thing I'll do to a hand that reaches inside my window is tack it or a forearm to the doorjamb with my M16 knife.

[Ryder]

They can have my Caddy but they aren't getting my bike until they pry it from my cold dead hands!

http://thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=810051

[Josey]

My Chrysler 300M is a nice car. Nobody gets too close though, the teeth that my dog shows are uninviting. If the car goes, he goes. He even knows how to get the seat heater on. He likes a warm seat.

[Nick1911]

1989 Crown Vic; who'd bother.... :rolleyes: (Course it's a great car - pistons like paintcans, seats 15, drive through a ditch and not feel it lol)
Nick

[rayra]

"Now, I doubt most criminals are sophisticated enough to make these kind of associations"

why would you think that? ~8-10yrs ago, Florida had a huge spate of carjackings targeting folks driving rental cars.
It's the reason rental agencies no longer plaster their cars with self-advertising bumper stickers and plate frames.

[BHPshooter]

Ha! Looks like I'm covered --> '69 Chevy Pickup, with redneck two-tone (meaning that some panels are yellow, while the rest is red).

I've been driving it for 4 years, I don't have the key to the door locks, and I've never had a problem. Go figure.

Wes

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

No problems here. Two 2003 3/4 ton diesels (Dodge and GMC), both loaded, 4WD, usually muddy, Rifle rack. Utah plates. Even in L.A. people give a wide berth. Particularly the gangbangers :D

If I were a criminal looking to jack cars, I would hit the Volkswagons, Volvos, Beemers, Benz. No Kevlar necessary. Just wear rubber boots and rain pants ifor when the jackees wet themselves. :eek:

[Kodiak AK]

Wedge
Get an over head rack . They work fine . Even if you are a tall guy .

rayra
Very true,and what realy sucked was they figured out all of the rental plates for the state came out of Manatee county . I lived in Bradenton at the time. I hated traveling around the state .I hated haveing to be in an even higher state of awarness all of the time .

[hansolo]

'93 F-150 longbed with camper shell:cool: ........big, fat Goodyears, NRA stickers on both bumpers. Huge magnetic American flag centered on tailgate. Several vials of pepper spray, two cheap-but-effective folders within reach; Molon Labe! :evil:

[ny32182]

Hmm... '88 Honda POS... not sure if that makes me a target or not. Most people probably assume I'm a bum that would be easy but not profitable to jack.

The gun thats usually in the glove box is worth about half as much as the entire car...

[Erik]

"Does your car make you a mark?"

Yes, it does. Rather, it contributes to the criteria which make someone a mark.

Does MY car make me a mark?

Nope. I got rid of a Jag which did, and besides not minding door dings as much, nobody glances much my way one way or another when I'm in it. (I drive a Jeep Cherokee.)

[ny32182]

I used to drive bright red '91 300zx TT ... now THAT thing was a target, for random vandalisim if nothing else.

Never again will I daily drive a car like that, and especially while having to park it at/around college.

[KingRuger]

ive got a 91 black gt mustang with decent paint and black limo tint. everyone gets outta my way when i come up behind them, the car is so damn loud.

$8 grand in upgrades, makes it a target for thieves, but im just hoping someone will try it when i am walking out to her.

so far so good, got a nice alarm which wont do much, but it will at least have people look to see if someone is trying to break into it.

[JimJD]

Well, "common convention" dictates that yes, if one is driving a "nice car", chances of a carjacking transpiring is higher.
But...I've witnessed people getting carjacked while driving an economy car.
Some criminals do believe that a driver of a luxury vehicle is going to put up less of a fight. It also depends on the driver in question. A case could be made for either side though. Also depends on where this crime would take place.

Florida for instance. Here, as You probably already know, without a CCW, one can have a gun in one's car under the private conveyance laws/rules. . I have family here that has had to deploy their pistols to prevent them from being carjacked, mugged, etc. The crime was prevented and in some cases, when apprehended, authorities placed the would be robber under arrest. I'm not saying this is an end all, be all to the cessation of crimes such as these. However, after talking to one of My uncles who is a retired Miami-dade LEO, He's stated that it sometimes makes criminals think twice.
Now take My recent former city of residence, NYC. Criminals have it much eaiser up there. They know that their "mark" is most likely going to be unarmed. No laws like Florida. Thus, making it a very easy crime to commit. Chances are actually higher that the criminal will have an illeagal firearm in the commision of said crime.
Earlier, when I mentioned that even economy cars are taken, here is a recent news story on the subject:
Queens woman carjacked. (http://www.ny1.com/ny/Boroughs/SubTopic/index.html?topicintid=3&subtopicintid=10&contentintid=37429)
Even worse, She is an Elderly woman. Sad news. :(
What really kills Me is what Her son said. His fatalist attitude is all too common in NYC. Pitiful.

[Skunkabilly]

http://www.skunkabilly.com/images/tactical/shtf.jpg
http://www.skunkabilly.com/images/tactical/shtfstowed.jpg

Dont' mess with the two-tone tactical black/strategic air command silver Honda Crisis Response Vehicle!!! :evil:

[SMLE]

I'm always on guard and looking over my shoulder. Driving a twenty-four year old Ford Pinto is a dead give away that I'm loaded ...To drive a Pinto you'd HAVE to be loaded. With MD 20/20! :neener:

I drive a 1986 Dodge Ram Charger 2WD with a vanity plate that says "RULE303" I doubt it would be a very high priority target for a carjacker, but if someone DID try, well they'd learn soon enough that I have formed a symbiotic relationship with my Beretta 96.

[artherd]

You just never know, I picked up my Armalite AR-30 in .338 Lapua Magnum...

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=810559

In this...

http://www.texastoys.com/site/view_car/2000_vw_beetle/DSC01711.jpg


I actually had every gun I own (other rifles and a handgun) and well over 2,000 rounds of ammo. I was almost praying for an attempted carjacking :D

[foghornl]

In the 'everyday' cars, not much chance of being mistaken for someone with money....2003 Toyota Corolla, and 1994 Chevy 1500 pik-em-up truck.

The "fun car", though...different story. See attached pic for Mr & Mrs Foggy on a casual Sunday Afternnon drive....

[Highland Ranger]

I've used the same line of thinking as reason NOT to buy an Escalade or a Hummer . . . . safer to stick with the Suburban or Yukon's.

[XLMiguel]

Hondas and Camrys are among the top cars stolen in the DC metro area, but high end SUVs are top targets for carjacking.

Personally, the wife and I both drive older BMWs (in very nice shape), so maybe they're attractive to underachivering carjackers. Mr. H&K might object, however;) Basic drill is to get in, buckle-up, lock doors, then fire 'em up. Hard to get jacked if they can't open the door.

[MyRoad]

Ford Ranger with an NRA sticker, and some other RKBA stickers in the window...
When I first saw the thread, I thought it was going to be about putting gun manufacturer/NRA stickers on your car, and asking the question is someone more likely to break into the vehicle because they think they may find a gun in the glove compartment that they can steel. I thought about getting a special license plate with a gun insignia on it recently, but I've decided to just keep on keeping a low profile, and not advertise anything to anyone.

The reason Camry's and Honda's are the most stolen is becuase they are the most common foreign cars, with the most expensive used parts. They are stolen to be parted out, not because someone cared about the politics of the owner.

[c_yeager]

Sounds like some kind of sensationalistic urban legend. Of course people are going to go after nicer cars but I find it hard to believe that they are targeting Volvo station wagons. It was probably started by the local Audi dealership or something.

I live in the city in question and have never even heard this rumor so i think your probably right.

Additionally, in my experience people steal cars based on two factors.

a) they want to drive them

b) they can part them out for some quick money

In other words i think Volvo station wagons are pretty dang low on the list. But, you ricers might want to be careful ;)

[shermacman]

My green Ford Explorer is the perfect non-mark. It blends in perfectly to the suburban environment. It is the perfect assassin's vehicle. I am the perfect assassin. I can sneak up un-noticed and make my kill, even if I am noticed, what are the witnesses going to say? "He was driving a green Explorer." I am that bad. I am that much of a stone cold killer. I would spend my entire life killing and getting away with it except that my ride is soooo generic that in the supermarket parking lot I have to use the key chain alarm button to figure out which one is mine. Confusing sometimes, worse as I have gotten older...Gotta get some milk and bread for the kids before I can make my next kill!
:rolleyes:

[ID_shooting]

Dont know if our cars makes us marks or not.

Her's = 2003 chevy tracker, limo tinted windows and my Army veteran plates

Mine = 94 chevy silverado with gun racks and vet plates.

Can't say I have ever been worried about a carjacking, shoot, I can't even remember the last time I locked to doors on my truck.

[Samurai Penguin]

'92 Honda...half rust. I don't even lock the doors.

Question, though...does anyone think a pro-gun bumper sticker would contribute to break-ins (lowlives looking to rip off your guns) while perhaps decreasing your risk of carjacking? Seems kinda like a double-edged sword.

(BTW Ryder: You have one beautiful Fat Lady!)

[cratz2]

Hrmm... in the last eight years, I've had a 1988 2-door Cavalier, 1987 Sterling 825SL, 1999 Honda Civic Si, 1988 BMW 535iS and currently drive a 1998 Ford SVT Contour. The wife has had a 1993 Geo Metro, 1991 S-10 Blazer, 1999 VW Jetta and a 2001 Dodge Caravan.

Any of them would have been met with the same resistance to an addepted car-jacking. Except maybe the Geo... probably would have just let you take that one. ;)

Of the trends in car jackings, I'd largely think that the best selling cars (and cars with the best selling siblings) would have the highest rate of jackings... easy to move, easy to chop.

I would probably tend to think that cars with the least likely to be carrying a gun drivers would be the current VW Beetle, the Toyote Prius and the Honda Insight. The last two are hybrids typically driven by tree-lovin', gun-hatin' uber-liberals like Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins. :rolleyes:

[Soap]

I roll in a C-Class that is about to get 15% tints all around so decide for yourself:

[Soap]

Forgot the attachment:

[Hemicuda]

Uum... Lemme see...

a '96 Dodge Ram 1500 4X4 W/ mild lift, 33's, nerf bars, overhead lights, and a few MINOR dents from OBVIOUS trail riding, and a rear window fulla RKBA, Off-Roading, and Hunting stickers, and a CB antenna & CB...

A '94 Dodge Shadow, W/ NO modifications except for a CB & antenna...

A '91 Plymouth Acclaim, NO mods...

An '83 Jeep CJ Rustbucket... CB, antenna, oversized tires, decent stereo, no top or doors for 9 monthes of the year...

A '70 4-door Crew-Cab longbox stepside W/ a VERY healthy big-block, 3" straight pipes, and a good strereo...

A '70 Hemi-Cuda convertible, purple & white, completely restored...

the 'Cuda is a theft target, but it's a sunday-driver and showcar for now...

the rest all either don't attract attention, or fairly SCREAM "DON'T MESS WITH ME!!!!!!"

Not a real worry!

[Trigger]

No mark here.

I have a '91 Mustang 5.0 thats fully loaded (that is...rust, scratches, dents) with the 5.0 emblems off. Got lots more action street racing it when it was newer while emblemless. Anyway, I just washed it a couple days ago after not so for 3 years.

It's fairly ratty on the outside but under the hood it's in great shape having enough horses to get out of dodge. For the wandering hands that might want to see what's inside there is usually a big dog in the back seat willing to give the perp a 'tour.' :D

Trigger (my dog) don't take kindly to strangers.....

[Crownvicman]

My 1987 Crown Vic with a 351 engine, dual exhausts and custom Deer Dent front end probably doesn't. My wife says it looks like a Mad Max vehicle. :D

[dav]

Carjackings & auto theft are not necessarily related as to types and frequency... but here is a breakdown of auto theft by type for three recent years. No mention of Volvos.
auto theft 1997-1999 (http://www.crimedoctor.com/autotheft2.htm)

Next, cratz2 said:
the Toyote Prius and the Honda Insight. The last two are hybrids typically driven by tree-lovin', gun-hatin' uber-liberals like Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins. This is absolutely not true and I take it as a personal insult. I request that you retract this statement unless you can prove it. :fire:

[CraZYWiLLiE]

I drive DODGE'S............

[TamThompson]

In my younger and stupider days (when I was earning lots of money in engineering), I bought a brand-new Lincoln Navigator right when they first came out.

I did not enjoy the experience of owning a luxury car. I found out right away why the nice factory had provided "scratch-resistant paint"--I NEEDED it! That SUV was probably keyed about six different times during the 8 months I owned it.

And once, it was hit on the rear bumper in a parking lot hard enough to leave paint from the other car on the bumper, yet no one left a note. They probably thought I could easily afford to fix it.

To add to the problems of being keyed constantly and negligently collided into, I was *always* worried about being carjacked, and my husband worried about me.

After I tired of paying too much money for too much car, I sold it and bought a Ranger truck. No one ever tried to steal it.

Current vehicles:
Me: 2001 black Explorer, same as millions of other people. I blend in.
Husband: 2003 Mazda 6 sportscar. Zoom, zoom, zoom.

I seem to recall hearing that the most commonly carjacked/stolen vehicles in Texas are trucks, SUV's and luxury cars.

[sm]

A mark - No.

At one time the tailgate on my truck was a "possible" mark...but hey the truck is 11 yrs old now. Nope I look like a late forties fella, going to school that must have gone down a dirt road recently...and the rain after the snow didn't clean it all up.

I have one sticker from a former college that I sometimes frequent, handy for parking over there. Current college uses a hang tag...

I'm low profile, I look boring, poor and just going about my business. I must have "appeared" as if I was going to attend a T ball game the other day...Wilson "T ball bat bag" as I headed to the truck...no bats, shotgun and carbine tho'. ;)

$8.99 for a bag that works,has pockets and attracts no attention...works for me. Stole that idea from a 6 y/o niece. Added the Nemo and some other cartoon sticker [ dunno what /whom it is] so I look like "uncle" taking stuff to a kid. ;)

[clubsoda22]

I drive a white crown vic that used to be a new castle county k9 unit with a dashlight for my volunteer EMS work....For some reason i think carjackers would be running from it, not towards it. Downside is people like to key it :rolleyes:. Either way, i can't wait 'till i have enough money for a Lincoln Mark8 or mercury marauder.

[Gus Dddysgrl]

foghornl-where's the Mrs.? Or is she driving and we can't see you? :neener:

Skunky-nice ride.

Me I drive a beat up 86' Dodge SE 600. It's got a turbo!!!!!! Woohoo. Not really all that great since it's a piece of junk and half the stuff was removed by one of the previous owners. The lighter is now a fan that cools off the engine(good thing I don't smoke.) and the radio was a nice upgrade to a nice CD player. I don't have heat and everything else is just falling apart. Soon time for a new one.

I don't think I'll get mine stolen, and think any nice car is a good target to be messed with.

[foghornl]

You really have to look close, Mrs. Foggy kind of scrunched down in passenger seat

[Doug444]

Hemicuda, I'd really love to see a pic of your namesake! My "target" car is the '74 Challenger I hope to have on the road in a few months. My daily is a Hemi, though....'04 Ram 2500 4x4 Quad Cab. Not many folks here in the west are willing to disrespect somebody's truck with a key, but then again, it's a TRUCK, so who's gonna know which scratches came from what, eh?

[MAURICE]

97 Plymouth Breeze with several dents and dings, plus clear coat is coming off rear bumper.
Looking to buy an older Mustang or Camaro to work on in the next 4-6 months. The breeze is actually great for long road trips because of gas efficiency, but I want something that moves.

[Autolite]

What, no Power Wagon? Nothin' says "LEAVE ME ALONE" like a 1949 Dodge Power Wagon ... :D

[Brian Dale]

1998 RED Dodge Neon (nobody bothers to key Neons). Vol. firefighter license plate with my name on it (yeah, a vanity plate: 20 extra bucks to feel cool, instead of thousands on a newer car :neener: ). A few FF stickers. Crooks know we're friends with all of the police, Sheriff's Officers and State Troopers around. Maybe it's the (red) light on my dash that keeps 'em off, but I think it's that carjackers “just don't come 'round heah” too much. Easier ways to commit suicide than trying to jack a car in rural North Carolina ...

Once last summer, as I took a short cut through a fairly disreputable neighborhood in the nearest city, I heard a fella say to his buds, “thassa Cop, right there.” He probably saw the dash light. Sure: my FD's name is on the front plate. I thought, “Yeah, thassa Drunk, right there.”

[TechBrute]

I have a different take on the whole carjacking thing. I drive a Dodge pickup, of which there are like 38 bazillion of them in Texas (give or take a gajillion.) If someone wants to carjack me, knock yourself out. It's insured.

The problem came when my wife had a kid. Carjackers won't give you time to get your kid out of the back seat. They're strapped in and take forever to get out of their seats.

That's when we decided to go bulletproof. If someone decides they want our Suburban, it ain't happening. It carries precious cargo. We have a second kid on the way now, and I feel even better about our decision. We actually decided to upgrade to a new model of Suburban, too.

[cdislicker]

Hell yes, I'm a target! :(

1999 Integra GS-R, dark green. Almost everyone with a tricked out Honda Civic wants the motor out of *my* car. At least I can screech away.

A few years back (Dec, 2000, IIRC) some "interesting character" attempted to carjack me while I was driving a Chevy Metro. They flashed "shiny metal" while reaching for the door. I ducked and floored it ... no CCW here in PRMo.

Never again will I drive a penalty box.

Edit: Last summer, I found out the hard way how much it cost to fix a dent in an Acura. $7,000 "door ding" :banghead: Some SOB in a parking lot hit me in *just the right spot* to do frame damage with a fist sized dent. No note, no nothing. :cuss:

[cratz2]

[quote]A '70 Hemi-Cuda convertible, purple & white...uote]

You own a Hemi Cuda and you call 'Plum Crazy', 'purple'?

:what:

[cratz2]

This is absolutely not true and I take it as a personal insult. I request that you retract this statement unless you can prove it. :fire:

Prove what? That Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon have a Prius?

There's an article in Motor Trend or Car and Driver talking about the new Prius... in the article it mentioned that several Hollywood-types flocked to the Prius as the current 'it' car environmental types. Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon were mentioned by name as were several others.

I didn't mean to offend you... I actually went and looked at one of the new cars. Larger and considerably more powerful feeling than the original. Don't know if I could drop twenty two large on one over a Camry but... I didn't mean it as an offense. Just an observation.

[Hazwaste]

Ryder, nice Valk! Mine isn't quite as nice. Oh yeah, but I do store a GUN under the seat when I ride (wink wink Mr. Moderator).

[goon]

'89 Jeep Commanche. Covered with salt and dirt. Rust beginning to reappear through the Rustoleum paint job that I applied three years ago. Passenger mirror broken because of rough handling in the cold. Windshield washer, horn, parking lights and back-up lights are all on separate switches. It feels like I am powering up a Huey when I get in that thing and start flipping switches on. Add in the dozen empty oil bottles in the bed and it doesn't take a genius to see that I am not worth the effort of robbing.

Now if you wanna talk making an impression...
The ex-Army field jacket with the Big Red One on my left arm, the JM Browning baseball cap, the handful of empty 12 gauge shells in the bed next to the oil bottles, and the readjusting of my SIG when I step out of my truck...
That might send a message.

[Carlos]

You ARE the man, Goon. :)

[Ryder]

Well thanks guys. The bike does draw a bit too much attention at times. I travel far and often find myself in undesirable environments. Don't know I'm in them until I'm reakky in them. Haven't had anyone mess with it yet. Many suspect it is beyond their ability to control safely. Several bike riding friends of mine don't care to give it a try. :D

I remember this guy hanging his head out the window of his pimpmobile on this big city throughway once yelling at me "how much dat dere bike cost?" Hahha, probably not as much as the bling-bling hanging around his neck but I just flashed him some fingers and a smile then made him disappear in my mirrors. Hope he didn't think those were gang signs or something? I'm not yelling anything at 80mph. :neener:

That was actually an old picture. I've added a few enhancements since then. Here's the business side with some of the new addons.

http://thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=812791

[artherd]

$8.99 for a bag that works,has pockets and attracts no attention...works for me. Stole that idea from a 6 y/o niece. Added the Nemo and some other cartoon sticker [ dunno what /whom it is] so I look like "uncle" taking stuff to a kid.

Uh, your kid walks to their car strapped with a carbine? ;)



HemiCuda- AWESOME! You must post pics!

cratz2- you may want to take a look at my previous post, GRIN!



TechBrute- Very nice, those are the ultimate, what threat level did you go with?

[duckfoot]

Used (read: beat to he!!) North Carolina D.O.T Chevy 3500 crew cab long bed, D.O.T yellow and hazard light on top. Looks like crap, but legal, and runs like a top, after some TLC and $500.

Teeth, (my dog, named him after my first imperssion "that dog is all teeth") is usually in the back to dissuade snoops from snooping.

[LiquidTension]

My car is very common ('99 Civic), but it's so messy that it probably ups my chances of someone stealing it just because they think, "Hey, with all that stuff in there, there's got to be SOMETHING worth stealing." It's very easy for a car to get messy in a hurry when you do lots of work out of it. Once it's cleaned up it'll be spotless inside, nothing interesting for anyone to take. I don't have any stickers or identifying marks on it anywhere. The car has never been keyed, but it does seem to be a magnet for other people "brushing" up against it in parking lots. Just got a new dent the other day :fire:

[cdislicker]

LiquidTension,

I feel your pain about the dent (see above).

On another note, what can be done to camouflage and otherwise 'marked' vehicle?

[Moparmike]

I dunno, you tell me. Its going in for a tint job in the near future.

http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/attachment.php3?postid=369022
Not mine, but looks exactly like that, same color and all. 1983 Mercedes-Benz 380 SEL. I can haul a$$ and look good doing it:D . For 155 neutered HP in the US model, that little V8 can scoot. Toasted a couple stock ricers that thought their stickers made them fast:rolleyes: ......not bad for a 3900lb car.:)

[EricO]

Current vehicle - sedate Japanese 4dr, 4cy 150hp sedan (needed for the backseat - babyseat).

Two prior vehicles - Limited Edition GMC Syclone AWD, intercooled, turbo-charged 4.3L V6 truck. 285hp, 365lbs torque. Gosh, I miss that truck. Owned it 5 years. Bought it in '92 (a 91 model that hadn't left the lot) for way under invoice $19,995 and 5 years/low 45,000 miles later sold it for $15,000 to some young out of high school guy from Los Angeles, CA. I hope he's treating her nice!

'88 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 5spd sedan (CHP style) with many mods completed by my brother in law. Did an easy 14.02 on my 3rd pass at Fremont, CA's old dragstrip on stock street tires, with a rookie (me) piloting. Capable of mid 13's on same tires. No internal engine work, just chip, exhaust, underdrive pulleys, great handling street suspension (Koni's, strut tower brace, frame connectors, upgraded bushings, etc) lower gears.

Most jacked/stolen cars are models that have many on the road, i.e., Accords, Camrys, etc. They're parted out easily and don't attract attention. My Syclone would've been a terrible car to steal, there's less than approx. 4500 of them on the roads from 2 years production.

EricO
"About ready for a early mid-life crisis."

[Zach S]

Although I have a few thousand dollars invested in my Fairmont, it looks worse than a lot of the $300 disposable cars I've owned in the past. I guess most ppl assume its just a beat-up factory V8 Fairmont with loud pipes. It wont look so bad soon though, I'm getting a parts car with a great body next weekend.

Then there's my 94 Caprice. Crappy blue paint job, pealing clearcoat on the front bumper, cracked rear bumper, no hubcaps (only came with three, so I took them off), with a few rust spots on the hood along with some hail damage on the hood, roof, and trunk. Its what a used car salesperson would call a 50 footer.

If I could ever get it put together, I have a 76 ford truck that is pretty much beat to hell. Based on its looks, setting it on fire and rolling it down a hill might make the value come up a little.

Mom drives a 90 Mazda 626(?) which is stock as a rock with almost 240k on it.

I dont hink I'm a target regarless of what I drive.

[TechBrute]

TechBrute- Very nice, those are the ultimate, what threat level did you go with? Rifle resistant. The next level up is armor piercing resistant, but the type of armor they use makes you lose a lot of the daily comfort and usefulness of the vehicle, and I don't see that as a big carjacking threat. Maybe if we lived in the big overseas sandbox, but in Dallas, I just worry about the banger with his 9, possibly some cheapo SKS or something, but I've never heard of anyone holding up a car with a rifle. Really the only reason that we got this was to get the kiddo away from a carjacking.

Around here, a Suburban doesn't stand out at all. When sitting next to another Suburban, you'd notice that there's something different about mine, but not in traffic. The 3/4 ton 4x4 suspension makes it sit a little different than most on the road, and the maker has a proprietary push bar on the front that is fairly effective in protecting the cooling system if you have to give someone a shove.

[Calumus]

I drive a Mustang because here in Jersey you're really not able to defend yourself in a car-jacking so a quick getaway is a must. I don't think that it really attracts more attention than anything else on the road because there are so many of them rolling around. On the otherhand, I wouldn't mind seeing my mobile security system in action if I were ever car jacked. It would be, interesting. All I can say is that sunroof deployment in my old car even kept squeegee kids away when I was going to school in Ottawa :) Cheers.

[Calumus]

Whoops, forgot the pic of my system. Cheers.

[GraniteState]

Probably not in this area, maybe in the greater Boston area

But a pickup or SUV from the last century ????