Security - counsel

[James Shunt]

So I'm driving my 993 around like I'm a little kid - I actually said out loud the other day that "this is what the guys on the forum were talking about when they said they couldn't wipe the grin away" - and loving it. Compared with anything else I've driven on a public road, the handling is sublime, the grip is awesome and the power inspiring. It's so gorgeous that I'm spending ages looking out of my living room window at it...

... which is part of the problem in that I'm scared witless that I will look out of that window one morning and see no 993. Financial restictions (caused by buying the 993) mean that I'm waiting for Christmas for promises of pressies to help - a cover for a start - but what does anyone else recommend re. security? Bear in mind that I live in a London flat with no driveway, I have a two-year-old Cat 2 alarm/immobiliser on the car and a face-off stereo. I'm considering a Disklok (fits around the steering wheel) and even a scooter-style reinforced chain/lock to secure one wheel to a handily placed lampost outside, with the intention of deterring those who with to make off with my lovely 18in alloys. I know I won't stop them if they are determined but anything that holds them up, annoys them or whatever must surely help.

Any recommendations?

James

 

[Sean]

Congrats on the purchase!!!

have you considered a wheel clamp.

Sean

 

[James Shunt]

Hmmm... I've got lockable wheel nuts (I assume that's what you mean, Maurice). I haven't seen any removable steering wheels and I do like the authentic Porsche one so that's not my favourite option. I'm not even considering removing engine parts either!

As for a wheel clamp, I've looked at some interesting options from those useless single bar efforts right up to DVLA-approved ones that are even tougher than rogue parking companies' clamps. See

http://www.saundersonsecurity.co.uk/wheelclamp.shtml

for a full list. That Fifth Gear report on them a few weeks back was an eye opener - an angle grinder can get rid of even the most rugged models. I concluded that spending that much and carrying something that big (weighing as much as 65kg) would be too much of a pain compared with a bike chain lock such as those at

http://www.wiggle.co.uk

(click on locks - Abus apparently is a good brand).

Any other experiences/sources/views?

Thanks

James

 

[Taverner]

How about removing the fuel pump relay? Very easy, no dirty hands, and car will not start without it.

 

[James Shunt]

Nice idea - I might try it - but my worry about the whole thing being lifted onto a low-loader would still apply, as would my concern that idiots would break into it on the off-chance there would be something worth having inside. It's a fairly quiet street.

I know it's not a GT3 and so not as desirable (there are some horror stories elsewhere on the forum) but when I'm walking home, looking at all the cars along my street, they all look like dull boxes except this gorgeous, curved, silver 993!

Despite the annoyance every time I want to drive it, I may have to go for the whole shebang:
- Waterproof cover
- Krooklock or Disklok thing inside
- Bike chain or wheel clamp
- Fuel pump relay or other simple way to disable the car.

I don't know how that compares to others in my position (street parking in London) but I would hope that deters most b*******.

James

 

[daro911]

Despite the annoyance every time I want to drive it, I may have to go for the whole shebang:
- Waterproof cover
- Krooklock or Disklok thing inside
- Bike chain or wheel clamp
- Fuel pump relay or other simple way to disable the car.

I don't know how that compares to others in my position (street parking in London) but I would hope that deters most b*******.

James
[/quote]
************************************************************
James hope you have a good memory for where you put the keys etc to all that kit plus the 993 of course [] Remember they must be hidden from potential break in merchants! I know the hard way from having a Jeep nicked last May at 3.00am keys sitting on display in kitchen []

 

[kitchens]

[][]Hi to all 993 owners and to all on the forum , we have the same problem up here in Scotland I could suggest a couple off guard dogs , serious I have tracker fitted to mine and get 10%off my insurance check it out regards brian ro region 1

 

[James Shunt]

Just as an update to all this, I went for:

- Disklok
- dark cover

and decided against the rest. The cover stops it looking so obvious and the Disklok is there to deter anyone who can be bothered to unclip and lift the cover to see inside the car - Auto Express reckons it takes a good 10 minutes with very noisy, heavy-duty equipment to shift the Disklok. I didn't want a dirty, heavy wheel clamp in the car or in my flat, and the same goes for a bike/scooter chain to secure a wheel to a lamppost though I may add that sometime if I get really scared! Fortunately a previous owner scuffed and knocked some bits out of the 18in alloys which makes them a little less attractive to thieves...

Daro is right - one extra key for the Disklok is plenty to worry about with the face-off stereo, CD changer caddy etc etc to carry around. He's also spot-on about hiding the keys. Your front door doesn't have an immobiliser! My keys are always secretly hidden under the toilet cistern. I shouldn't have told you that - doh!!!! Seriously, the only thing that saved my mate's TVR Chimera when his house was done over stolen was that another car was parked in the garage in front of the TVR. He now hides his keys THE INSTANT he gets home and even puts the remote/button in a different place to the key.

The only other thing I always do which may help others is pretty obvious - engage the steering lock. Any other clever tips?

James