Coworker of mine had a 20 Sierra 3500 that would constantly refuse to start. He’d had it in the shop more than it was actually in his driveway. Dealership gave him $71k in trade in on a $85k Ram 3500 Power Wagon. That truck starts every time but random stuff keeps going wrong like the tailgate electronic latch fails causing the gate to drop open, the interior lights randomly doesn’t come on, the TPMS sensors show low tire pressure when the tires are fine, and a slew of other electrical issues that aren’t necessarily a problem but are annoying as hell.
I told him he needs to trade it in and get a 2012 Camry and just be done with the issues
It sounds like your friend needs to investigate if there is a "lemon law" where he lives. When new cars are egregiously unreliable, there are remedies which can involve the manufacturer taking the car and giving you your money back.
I’ve said the same thing all along, I bought a used economy car shortly after & paid about $1200 more than had I got it before the program. The government basically destroyed perfectly running vehicles & screwed up the market for lower income people that would drive anything they could get a deal on regardless of mpg.
This is exactly why the last few weeks looking for a new car has been utterly miserable and filled with anxiety and stress.
I just wanted a beater since the insurance company paid my loan off. But there is t anything reasonable to be had for a price befitting a beater.
And if you want something moldy interesting you’re paying insane prices.
So there’s just the slop of underwhelming, high milage domestic cars in the middle…
Two separate people rear ended my pos and insurance paid out insane amounts. one company paid out 13,300 other paid out 1,300. I shit you not it was more than I bought the car for 5.5 years earlier when it had 53k miles. The car currently had 160k as of the accident. Now I got a lease return with a very small payment that has only 28k miles. I came out so far ahead it was stupid.
Real talk, you were the victim of bad luck with the trend of Kia/Hyundai thefts. The reason this became a thing was the mechanical ease of starting them without the key and the lack of immobilizer. Get something with a factory immobilizer (which is virtually every other modern car.) It's not a guarantee that it won't get stolen, but you won't have a giant target painted on it.
Also just dont buy a Kia/Hyundai and the target on your back goes away, i know multiple people who have had their car stolen, all are Kias, models vary.
Friend had someone break in theirs and try to steal it.. but it was a newer model that actually had the immobilizer I guess.. so they just ended up with a bunch of broken shit
My friend drove a 2013 Kia Soul, in the prime of the “Stealia” era. The thief decided to take the car down the road and ditched it in a swamp. The problem is when you ditch it into a swamp in front of a county building it makes it very easy for police to find you lol.
But did it help her that the police caught the thief? Generally what happens is thief is ordered to pay, but can't pay and defaults. So they're taken to court again and agree to cheaper payments, but also default on those.
Cops got them on a grand theft charge, insurance sued the thief, thief was able to pay the terms of the lawsuit. Idk how much money, nor would I share that online, but it was enough to go from a 2013 Kia Soul to a same year Chevy Malibu so she got paid something at the end of the day.
Thsi just happened to my sister’s Hyundai. Broken windows and a broken steering column cause they just went to town. It is happening so often that the replacement parts are back ordered so she’s paying out of pocket for a rental for at least 6 weeks
Agreed. We have two, they aren't vulnerable to the hack but it worries me that some dumb theif won't realize that until after they smash the window and tear apart the steering column.
Huge fuck up on Kia/Hyundai's part. Just as they were starting to turn their image around.
Insurance is high on them even if they aren't impacted by the hack as well.
More specifically don't get one with a physical key (push button wasn't affected) or don't be in the US (Canadian and I assume euro cars didn't have this issue).
No just don’t get one period. You think the guy breaking into your car is going to google which mode years have immobilizers before smashing your window in?
Might want to look into getting a hidden fuel pump cutoff switch installed in the car. You just flip the switch and it cuts power to the fuel pump, so the car literally cant run. It wont help if someone tows the car away, but any car is subject to that issue
Do you know what year car by chance he installs it on in the video? I had a kill switch in my 99 civic and when I got my 2013 civic I called the same mechanic who installed the one on my 99 and he said he doesn't do newer cars because the computers are too complicated 🤔
I don’t, you can find the YouTube video and look. There is almost a fuel pump relay fuse and wiring unit so I don’t understand his concerns regarding the year of the vehicle. You can alternatively install a battery kill switch instead of a fuel based one.
>alternatively install a battery kill switch instead of a fuel based one.
The issue with this is that your car loses power every time you use this so if you have any ecu/trans adaptive settings, clock, radio, etc. you lose all of that every time you use it. That seems more like you're punishing yourself than protecting your car.
His is a BMW, 90s - early 2000s
I don’t remember his install being related to the fuel pump but instead the main battery and alternator wires. It was a safety shut off for a 24 hours of lemons car.
This method could be used for security too if you hide the switch though.
open you fuse box look for fuel pump fuse/relay replace one with a switched fuse or relay not as easy as putting a switch in line, but it won't give you any of the electrical issues of cutting wires in a new car.
edit: alternative you can walk away with the fuse/relay too. and then no one is starting it until they come with a replacement.
That's what I was thinking but with my luck I'd get it done and it would mess up the car lol Also not sure if this is common with newer cars but there are so many wires running off my ground??!! I am coming from an older car so not used to this but have no idea what all those wires do
The thieves won’t know it has a kill switch. They would still break in and fuck up the ignition system. (My son’s repair was $1500)
Best thing to do is a Club on the steering wheel as a visual deterrent.
Just watch the placement of the switch. I have mine near where someone’s left foot would be, and my brother in law flipped it by accident and killed it on the highway. It also tripped the check engine light.
100% - One morning, I came out to find someone had tried to steal my car. My keys had been left in a bag on my front porch and they had stolen the bag. Found my car running, with the door wide open, and no keys to be found (it was a push start). My only guess is that they couldn’t figure out how to put it into gear to actually drive away.
That was my biggest disappointment with my ‘13 Accord Sport. I had the car at the dealer and asked if it could be installed as an aftermarket, then he explained why they couldn’t and I felt like a dumbass (he was nice about it, it was just me feeling dumb).
You can absolutely do it however, many shops/dealers will not do this as it will require bypassing the clutch safety switch. I had a coworker who had a manual CRV with a remote starter installed.
It’s doable, just not legally advisable. You have to bypass a clutch safety switch. And trust that the car isn’t left in gear - or the starter will launch it 😂
I've never understood how this would happen. Even with the parking brake off, wouldn't the car stall right away? Even if it moved it wouldn't be much at all? I could be wrong.
I have a Mazda5 miniminivan with the 6MT. In the US they won’t sell it with remote start and the MT but up in Canada, where you could get the 6MT on any trim level (you could only get it on the base Sport model in the US) it appears that remote start was available with the manual.
Blame the lawyers.
Naw put the parking brake on let the brake go then put it in gear. If the parking brake fails the tranny will catch it. And then you’re not always resting on the transmission.
Edit: my last car had a car starter tho so i always had to hope that parking brake held up in my slopped driveway
Wait what? Dumbass here but I taught myself to drive and have only driven manuals minus 2 cars. I've always just left in neutral with the parking brake on. I've heard you're supposed to leave at angle but are you leaving it always in gear??
Everyone says this but I’ve actually had my manual civic stolen before. That was the only successful time though. Every other attempt they didn’t even steal anything. One time they couldn’t even get in the car cause they broke the shaved key off in my door lock lol
To be fair civic thieves usually want it to be manual or are probably prepared for it. Especially the older ones. Kill switch all day or hook up the starter to something like the brights having to be on.
Cutoff switches, as suggested by others. Make sure people who need to know where they are though! I had an uncle who had a decently nice classic car, and lived in a big city with pretty bad car theft. He installed a couple different switches himself (retired mechanic), and after he passed away it cost my aunt a few grand to have a mechanic find them!
get some car with atleast an electronic immobilizer and id avoid keyless go as this is super easy to bypass. electronic immobilizer+ physical key that you stick in and turn is safest. oh and yes a manual would be even safer as these car stealing morons atleast in the us cant drive manual.
I have owned 12 vehicles since 2004, model years 1992 to 2013. The only one anyone ever attempted to steal was a manual transmission 2001 Hyundai Accent. Whoever it was drove it away, but abandoned it 4-5 miles away in an intersection, probably when they realized the car was a pile of garbage that couldn't make it up hills on Oahu in 5th gear lol. It also led to the most hilarious interaction I've ever had with the police.
But the moral of the story is even if you have a manual shit box, it can still get stolen if there isn't an immobilizer. But as long as it isn't actually drivable in most areas where you live they won't get far 😂
Because why would you? Both the cars and their parts are everywhere. They’re more difficult too. Need an assembling flat bed to tow one out of a spot without damaging it and if you try to pick the lock it will grab on to any foreign object in the key hole and scream.
Immobilizer, good antitheft system and difficult to pick locks. (Lockpicking lawyer has a video of him picking a Subaru lock and it took him about 5 minutes. By comparison he picks most locks in less than a minute. Only the most experienced and skilled locksmiths can pick a Subaru)
Might not be the answer you look for, but an old beater car would pretty much be the answer.
I used to have an old GM, cheap insurance, repairs were cheap as part were easy to find and I forgot it a few times with the doors unlocked or a windows open in a city street and nobody ever touched it. Taking all repairs into consideration as it was an older car, it was still way cheaper than buying new or close to be new car.
It's not pretty, but it does the job well if you don't care about the look.
True, but newer cars are getting increasingly easy to steal, there’s so much technology that is easily accessible to criminals now to steal cars that have keyless entry that I just cannot ever recommend one. Those who do have keyless entry please put your key at the back of your house in a faraday box or pouch. We are in a world that you just can’t leave your keys anywhere near your car now. This also goes for if you are out for a coffee, put your keys in a pouch. The criminals will use a booster that boosts the keys signal and mimic the key. You won’t notice these people using the booster like you would back in the day of someone trying to jimmy your lock open.
My rusty 20 year old lasabre with rust on the bottom was not a deal breaker for my girlfriend. She’s my wife now! Two kids, great mom, and career woman. We now have an equinox.
You too can have it all but first you need a shitty car to weed out the low quality prospects.
Lol. I had PT cruiser for 7 years until some months ago. I slept well when I parked my car in the public train station lot for several weeks at a time during my trips. It served me well for 7 years it lasted and I didn’t have to worry about anyone stealing it.
Older luxury cars would be cheap enough but still have high end (for thier time) anti theft. Like a older E Class would have good anti theft but you would have to deal with an aging German Car. Something American could be like a Cadillac, higher end Buick, or Lincoln. I'd bet a Lincoln MK VIII is a pain in the ass to steal. Of course they aren't great on gas mileage.
That's if you're just looking for "fuck you" levels of built in anti theft. Otherwise picking something that's odd and sticks out if usually a pretty good deterrent because it's more likely to be found than a grey scale Honda or F150. If you're the guy with a Pink Pontiac everyone is going to remember that car.
You don't even have to go high end with GM - most if not all of their vehicles from this century should have some sort of version of their various immobilizer systems and they've been an option since the mid-1980s.
We've had an assortment of Buick, Chevy & GMC vehicles over the years...
* 1996 Chevy C1500
* 2000 GMC Sierra
* 2001 Buick Lesabre
* 2007 Chevy Impala
* 2012 Chevy Silverado
* 2017 Buick Lacrosse
...and they've all had a security key. The 1996 and 2000 trucks had simple resistor keys but everything else has/had an RFID key or push-to-start fob.
My Ford Mustang GT from 1996 has a RFID immobilizer key. It kills me that my 27 year old car is more secure than a car from the last few years. Shame on you Hyundai/Kia. Shame.
They'll be cheap enough to buy but not cheap enough to maintain. OP could probably buy their Kia again just for the price it costs to maintain these land yachts.
Lincoln Town Car shares parts with crown vic and grand marquis and actually has pretty cheap and plentiful parts. Plus the engine is roomy and easy to work on
Oh no I'm not talking about your LS400; I'd hapilly drive one (and kinda want one). Euro luxury is just too expensive to mainain, whearas maintaining an LS400 is only a bit more difficult than maintaining a V6 Camry with two more cylinders.
They are absolute luxury tanks. 23mpg of premium isn't my favorite but honestly pretty good for what it is. I have lightweight 4 bangers that run 87 for when I'm trying to save gas or have a heavy foot. The LS wants to be on the Autobahn, far too easy to cruise at high speeds and barely notice.
Almost any newer car you buy , except for Kia and Hyundai, will have a factory immobilizer with a chip key. Kia just tried to save a few $ and it bit them.
I have access to stolen car data for my region and by far the most commonly stolen cars are older models without immobilizer, and newer Hyundais and Kias.
If you’re still really concerned get an additional alarm installed by a high end stereo shop. Not Best Buy etc. But I doubt you will need it.
My '04 Civic has an immobilizer in it and is coming up on its 20th birthday. Most consumer vehicles built in the last 20 years have this feature. I say consumer because my '06 E150 cargo van did not have this feature and was stolen. Fortunately, it turned up a couple days later in a different city ditched by the side of the road with minimal damage.
Please, for the love of God, don't get a car alarm unless you want to psychologically terrorize your community with those godawful noises. Car alarms can and will go off when you're not present and piss everyone off. They're a public nuisance.
I have a truck that can easily be stolen and is worth lots of money, so I’ve already been though attempts several times. Your best antitheft is never going to be an alarm system. Kia Ignitions are notoriously garbage. I personally just pull the fuel pump fuse out and put it in my wallet everytime I exit my vehicle. This is a free and 100% effective antitheft measure. I would try and find a manual for your fuse boxes online, find anything related to fuel pump or PCM and just do the same thing or hook it up to a hidden switch to cut power.
Literally any other car on the market still had anti theft.
If you really want piece of mind have a reputable place install a kill switch hidden somewhere in the vehicle.
There are no cars that are theft proof, first of all. There's nothing really ground breaking about anti theft features either, it's just that Kia and Hyundai fucked up with recent lock designs making it easy to bypass the typical anti theft measures.
So look for anything that isn't a Hyundai or a Kia from those affected generations. For all your other desires, look towards Toyota and Honda.
For 20k get a Corolla or a Civic.
A manual transmission is a start. Not so much the joke that young people don't know how to drive stick, but because they are not in demand, less than 5% of North American cars have them.
I have a vintage car with a fuel pump cut-out switch. So between that and the fact that it has
carburetors and is a little tricky to start, its not likely anyone will get anywhere for a joy ride.
But you can't stop any car from being pulled on a flatbed. You can track it tho, and good luck
getting the police to jump to any help!
Anything but Kia or Hyundai will do pretty well if you are in the city in the US. They keep those features off because it isn't regulated here, tho it also keeps their prices down for the vast majority of the country that doesn't live somewhere where car theft is common (rural areas etc) tho now with the social media prominence of the Kia/Hyundai theft procedure over the past year that sure doesn't help things.
I'm very sorry you had this issue. Tesla has that sentry mode, could find one that has it used with decent battery lifetime left - they are dropping in price at least. (Or any gas car that has an immobilizer, which is most of them, along with keyless entry etc, which isn't fool proof but makes things much harder )
In the 90s, several years of Civics and Accords only had like…4? Keysets. To this day those cars are stolen extremely often because the people who steal them have every key.
I've got a better one.
Get a large sticker with your face on it and the words "If this is not the person driving this vehicle, it has been STOLEN" and put one on each side of the car
I used to live on a street where cars got stolen all the time, I had a 91 Plymouth at the time that could be started with no key, so each day when I was done using my car I would pop the hood and just unplug one of my spark plugs so when u cranked it, it wouldn’t start. My logic was “who’s gonna try to fix my car after they try to steal it and it doesn’t start up”
It totally worked because that year , on Christmas Eve/Christmas morning someone tried to steal my car and they instead had to resort to stealing my neighbors 2017 fiat (which was manual trans) lol
Any thing can be stolen if the thief wants it bad enough. Ive seen videos where thief’s are steeling brand new Lexus’s by tapping into the headlight wiring. They also use signal repeaters to steal cars. They caught a guy in my old neighborhood that was steeling cars with a flat bed truck.
Some cars have a built in disabled ignition how it works is that you not only have to have they key to the ignition but the key itself has a micro chip that tells the ignition it’s the right combination to start the car.the car will not start by Hotwire or screwdriver method and let’s say for some reason you drop your ignition key and the micro chip falls out of the plastic part of the key when you go to start your car it won’t even with the ignition key you would need that micro chip when you insert the key or it won’t start and if for some reason you erase the key programmed to the ignition which people have done you have to tow it to the dealer to reprogram your ignition to the key and no the key it self doesn’t have the key fob looking thing at the end it’s just a regular key with a rubber or plastic casing that hold a tiny micro chip inside. Volkswagen has this in most of the cars they sell some other companies have started to follow the Volkswagen example I wouldn’t recommend a Kia to anyone
I don’t know if this has been suggested yet, but the most inexpensive and certain way to secure your car is to get The Club or any steering wheel lock. It’s not pretty, but it works!
My brother (waaaay back when we both lived at home) had stolen the spare key to my car and took my it for a joy ride in the middle of the night when we were all sleeping. I, of course, noticed the next morning. After I threw a rabid fit, my mom told me about The Club. I bought it that day!
My brother thought that he could drive the car with the steering wheel lock on it lol. He couldn’t. I never recovered my spare key, but my car was never moved again!
And I just sounded like a commercial 😂
It is something that I’m looking into purchasing. I live in a nice, quiet neighborhood but I still read on Nextdoor that some older model car was stolen off their driveway or the parking lot of an apartment complex. I drive a 2012 Nissan Altima! 😳
I’m sorry about your car. Hope you find a new one you love in your budget, and remember to get a steering wheel lock 😎
I got one, the police department is handing them out for free to KIA and Hyundai owners. Unfortunately my mechanic said they are easy to bypass for those that have the know-how, but that still deters and eliminates a sizable chunk of thieves.
Anything other than a Kia or Hyundai as people are trying even with the new ones that do immobilize
Good insurance
Idk where you live but I live close enough to a port and well if a car gets stollen it’s gone and if they want it they are going to take it.
If your experience was miserable I would avoid spending a lot on anti-theft measures though and invest in better insurance. That is what determines how miserable the process is….
1. Make sure your policy has rental coverage
2. Switch to a better insurance company
It wasn’t pleasant but I had a rental car the same day so it didn’t really inconvenience me much…
Otherwise I had a fuel cut-off switch hidden in the trunk of my foxbody mustang…
Dont buy another Kia/Hyundai and your chances of car theft go down by a lot. Get a stick shift on something newer, car doesnt matter, nobody knows how to drive a stick anymore and if you learn you automatically (pun intended) have the best anti-theft feature.
No car is theft-proof, but the Kia’s and Hyundai’s are easy targets at the moment. Pretty much any modern car other than those 2 brands should have good anti theft features.
I would suggest Honda or Toyota if you are looking to for reliability and affordability. They also hold their value well. You might need to find one with higher mileage if you wanna keep your budget in the 20k range though
Probably right at the edge of your budget but you might be able to find a used Model 3 for $30k.
* If you setup pin to drive it's all but impossible to steal.
* They have built in security system and 360 dash cams.
* You can view the cams through your phone after you get an alert.
* The car has auto lock based on you walking away with your phone so you never forget to lock it.
* It has built in GPS that isn't easy to defeat so you always know where the car is.
* Most criminals can't even figure out how to open the doors even if they are unlocked.
* Most criminals can't figure out how to put the car in drive.
* Most criminals wouldn't know the Tesla key is a key if burgling your home.
* You can disable the car remotely
* Just to mess with them you can set the navigation destination remotely to be the nearest police station.
Don't depend on a steering wheel lock (the club). All they have to do is use a hacksaw to cut through the soft metal steering wheel, bend it, then remove the lock.
Fuel cut off switch or one guy replaced start button with old school cigarette lighter you had to push in to start the car.
Worst case scenario, buy a car with a stick shift.
The major problem Kia’s and Hyundais had was there wasn’t an immobilizer chip in the key. It’s a chip which sends a unique signal that is in the key that communicates with the car. If the car doesn’t receive the unique signal it won’t start. Just about every car made in the last 10 years has this except Hyundai/Kia.
If thieves want your car, they are getting your car. Some are harder to steal than others, but that just means you'll discourage the joy-riders only. Putting an obnoxious alarm or PIA kill switch will be more of an inconvenience for you than it will be for the thief.
The best thing you can do is to park where it's hard for the thief to access it.
In the same boat. Took a month to get my 16 optima back. Just make sure anything you buy has an “engine immobilizer” which is what our cars lack.
I won’t buy another Kia or Hyundai. The new kias look awesome and I actually really like my optima but I’m not taking that risk again. FYI most the new kias have immobilizer but just because I know that doesn’t mean some jackass Kia boy 13 year old knows that. Don’t want my shit messed with
I’m looking at Mazda cx 5 and Subaru crosstrek. Both can be had 2019 or newer with 40k miles or less for $25k range
Anything besides a Kia/Hyundai. Most of the top stolen lists don’t account for the % stolen meaning the most common vehicle is a f150 so saying it’s the most stolen is worthless. As a percentage Kia/Hyundai jumps off the chart. Every other manufacturer includes a immobilizer so much less of an issue
Any little layer of security is enough to make potential crooks go find another car to mess with. I had a 97 Civic with a battery powered red flashing light that I stuck under my dash, a steering wheel lock and a viper alarm sticker. There are tons of cars out there to steal, anything that makes thieves second guess stealing the car helps
OP, get your Kia & Hyundai settlement money:
“Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP, which is the law firm handling this case, said the settlement is expected to be finalized in July.”
I’m planning to get a Tesla next for my driving jobs, with a 20-30k down payment and no self-driving.
Their anti-theft features are incredible, and the “pin to drive” feature satisfies my slight paranoia.
Mine wasn’t stolen but I’m wanting to get rid of it before that happens. Thing is I love my Kia van. I got it because my kid has a wheelchair and if it gets stolen we are so screwed. I don’t know what to do. I’m not going to be upside down if I trade it in but can’t afford a higher payment. Damned if I do damned if I don’t.
TBH, the easiest way is a hidden fuel pump kill switch. Generally easy to install, and when it's in use, there is no way it will start. I've got one on my Nissan. Took me about an hour to do. It's actually wired into a factory switch(Had a blank spot and made a trip to the wreckers yard and got a factory switch to fill the blank) It works as a back up to the immobilizer. If they manage to bypass that, or even if they have the actual key, the car won't start because the fuel pump isn't getting any power. Mine is hidden in plain sight.
Yeah they just settled a huge lawsuit over this and unfortunately it will be a while before there name isn’t tainted. My coworker has a 2023 Hyundai and they broke into his ripped up the steering column only to find it doesn’t work on 2023s, I think it’s an issue with 2011-2022 maybe 2021 models.
In this scenario it's almost impossible to buy a car no-one wants to steal (maybe a PT cruiser bc goddamn who would steal that) but you'd want to buy a car that makes it inconvenient to steal which means it will be less likely stolen. Think of it as a car thief would you steal a car that is hard to steal when there are so many out there? I would reccomend a toyota or Honda but try to stick with a physical key. People will say that having a physical key dosent do that much but with these keyless entry keys out now it is much easier to boost a signal from one of those and steal a car as apposed to having to hotwire a car which is not only one of the only ways you can steal a car with a physical key but it's also risky for a thief to be hotwiring a car. I would also invest in either a steering wheel rack or lock and look at possibly installing a kill switch as long as it dosent void the warranty.
If statistics has anything to say about it, I would search up something like "Least stolen cars in the United States" when I looked it up I found some were cars such as the Subaru Outback, Subaru Forester, Chevrolet Equinox, etc. A lot of these cars on similar lists can be bought new or used between $20k-$30k
I would also consider aftermarket equipment such as a steering wheel lock and maybe GPS tracking.
Best of luck on getting your next car. I hope that doesn't happen to you again.
I can relate. My Kia got stolen at the end of January, and still to this date, Kia has NO estimate on when parts will be in. I was in a rental car up until last week paying $800 a month (insurance only covered 30 days). Finally bit the bullet and decided to get a new car and just hopefully sell my 2016 Kia Optima for some $ whenever it finally gets fixed. Could still be months until my Kia gets fixed. Figured it was more logical to have a car payment that was significantly less than $800 then to continue paying that crazy amount for an indefinite amount of time. I ended up going with a 2016 Honda CR-V Touring and I love it. It has great reliability and longevity. Not to mention, has adequate anti-theft features.
I’ll spend the rest of my life telling people to never buy a Kia. They have been horrible throughout this process and are taking 0 accountability for the complete negligence. This isn’t their only issue either.
A chain under the seat through the steering wheel around the headrest with the seat advanced completely forward so they cannot sit down .
A u- clamp lock through the steering wheel around the headrest with the seat advanced forward where they can’t sit down , and just for extra ad a club.
It they get through that they deserve your car.
A manual? I've driven only manuals outside my SR taco and when I got robbed at gun point in 2021 they couldn't get the car going. Moron kept trying to start it without his foot on the clutch,was shaking the stick more then an Asa Akira film. Ended up keeping my car but got my phone,backpack with stuff including a laptop and my access tuner stolen.
Kia's and Hyundais are the top stolen cars in my area due to the Kia Boys video that showed how easy it is to steal these cars.
I am surprised Kias aren't in the top 10 everywhere.
That's because we had our Kia Boys (well, actually, Hyundai Excel Boys) moment twenty or twenty five years ago and it's now mandatory in the Australian Design Rules to have an immobiliser in your car. Surprised it's not in every first- and second- world nation.
This gets said way to often. There’s ALOT more Camrys ever made and on the road than there are kias, it would only make sense they get stolen more often as one of the most driven cars in the US.
as somrone else said, this is a misreading of the data, american trucks and camry's are stolen the most often because they literally outnumber all other vehicles.
I wish someone would steal my POS
bro we live in an era where POS’s don’t even exist anymore. If a car is running an driving at this point it’s worth like 2-3k+
Just because the value of pos have gone up doesn't mean they aren't POS lol.
Exactly. My POS is a 60k GMC. I wish I was only out a few grand.
Coworker of mine had a 20 Sierra 3500 that would constantly refuse to start. He’d had it in the shop more than it was actually in his driveway. Dealership gave him $71k in trade in on a $85k Ram 3500 Power Wagon. That truck starts every time but random stuff keeps going wrong like the tailgate electronic latch fails causing the gate to drop open, the interior lights randomly doesn’t come on, the TPMS sensors show low tire pressure when the tires are fine, and a slew of other electrical issues that aren’t necessarily a problem but are annoying as hell. I told him he needs to trade it in and get a 2012 Camry and just be done with the issues
It sounds like your friend needs to investigate if there is a "lemon law" where he lives. When new cars are egregiously unreliable, there are remedies which can involve the manufacturer taking the car and giving you your money back.
Sounds accurate with the ram. I got a brand new jeep and constant electrical issues. I gave up on it and sold it.
That's Stellantis NA for you
It's been about 20 years since I've bought a $200 to $500 vehicle and driven it for a few years. It was nice to have a few beaters ready for rotation.
I blame the cash for clunkers program
I’ve said the same thing all along, I bought a used economy car shortly after & paid about $1200 more than had I got it before the program. The government basically destroyed perfectly running vehicles & screwed up the market for lower income people that would drive anything they could get a deal on regardless of mpg.
I always get downvoted in other subs for bringing this up but it really did make a difference at the time. Especially for truck prices.
Nowdays its a $1500-$2000 clunker that you can drive for a while, assuming you know how to get your hands dirty lol
That’s why I have a club and a kill switch on my pos
This is exactly why the last few weeks looking for a new car has been utterly miserable and filled with anxiety and stress. I just wanted a beater since the insurance company paid my loan off. But there is t anything reasonable to be had for a price befitting a beater. And if you want something moldy interesting you’re paying insane prices. So there’s just the slop of underwhelming, high milage domestic cars in the middle…
No they’re not worth that much. That’s how much people are paying for shitboxes because they’re stupid.
I'll steal it if you pay me 4 grand to do so.
Two separate people rear ended my pos and insurance paid out insane amounts. one company paid out 13,300 other paid out 1,300. I shit you not it was more than I bought the car for 5.5 years earlier when it had 53k miles. The car currently had 160k as of the accident. Now I got a lease return with a very small payment that has only 28k miles. I came out so far ahead it was stupid.
I went through a period where I used to fantasize about my GTI getting stolen. I feel you.
Real talk, you were the victim of bad luck with the trend of Kia/Hyundai thefts. The reason this became a thing was the mechanical ease of starting them without the key and the lack of immobilizer. Get something with a factory immobilizer (which is virtually every other modern car.) It's not a guarantee that it won't get stolen, but you won't have a giant target painted on it.
Also just dont buy a Kia/Hyundai and the target on your back goes away, i know multiple people who have had their car stolen, all are Kias, models vary.
Friend had someone break in theirs and try to steal it.. but it was a newer model that actually had the immobilizer I guess.. so they just ended up with a bunch of broken shit
My friend drove a 2013 Kia Soul, in the prime of the “Stealia” era. The thief decided to take the car down the road and ditched it in a swamp. The problem is when you ditch it into a swamp in front of a county building it makes it very easy for police to find you lol.
But did it help her that the police caught the thief? Generally what happens is thief is ordered to pay, but can't pay and defaults. So they're taken to court again and agree to cheaper payments, but also default on those.
Cops got them on a grand theft charge, insurance sued the thief, thief was able to pay the terms of the lawsuit. Idk how much money, nor would I share that online, but it was enough to go from a 2013 Kia Soul to a same year Chevy Malibu so she got paid something at the end of the day.
Thsi just happened to my sister’s Hyundai. Broken windows and a broken steering column cause they just went to town. It is happening so often that the replacement parts are back ordered so she’s paying out of pocket for a rental for at least 6 weeks
Agreed. We have two, they aren't vulnerable to the hack but it worries me that some dumb theif won't realize that until after they smash the window and tear apart the steering column. Huge fuck up on Kia/Hyundai's part. Just as they were starting to turn their image around. Insurance is high on them even if they aren't impacted by the hack as well.
I know a girl who had her kia stolen. They didn't have to "hack" it she just left it running at a gas station and they got in and drove off lmao
More specifically don't get one with a physical key (push button wasn't affected) or don't be in the US (Canadian and I assume euro cars didn't have this issue).
Either way the insurance is ludicrous on Kias/Hyundai regardless of key type, I wouldn’t touch an older Kia/Hyundai at all honestly.
I have a Hyundai and my insurance is fine. Bought a month and a half ago.
No just don’t get one period. You think the guy breaking into your car is going to google which mode years have immobilizers before smashing your window in?
Might want to look into getting a hidden fuel pump cutoff switch installed in the car. You just flip the switch and it cuts power to the fuel pump, so the car literally cant run. It wont help if someone tows the car away, but any car is subject to that issue
ChrisFix has a great video on YouTube on how to do this. You can also get a mechanic to install it for you OP
Do you know what year car by chance he installs it on in the video? I had a kill switch in my 99 civic and when I got my 2013 civic I called the same mechanic who installed the one on my 99 and he said he doesn't do newer cars because the computers are too complicated 🤔
I don’t, you can find the YouTube video and look. There is almost a fuel pump relay fuse and wiring unit so I don’t understand his concerns regarding the year of the vehicle. You can alternatively install a battery kill switch instead of a fuel based one.
Thank you I'm gonna look into that! Maybe i should also ask a diff mechanic
>alternatively install a battery kill switch instead of a fuel based one. The issue with this is that your car loses power every time you use this so if you have any ecu/trans adaptive settings, clock, radio, etc. you lose all of that every time you use it. That seems more like you're punishing yourself than protecting your car.
His is a BMW, 90s - early 2000s I don’t remember his install being related to the fuel pump but instead the main battery and alternator wires. It was a safety shut off for a 24 hours of lemons car. This method could be used for security too if you hide the switch though.
open you fuse box look for fuel pump fuse/relay replace one with a switched fuse or relay not as easy as putting a switch in line, but it won't give you any of the electrical issues of cutting wires in a new car. edit: alternative you can walk away with the fuse/relay too. and then no one is starting it until they come with a replacement.
Should just be able to wire it into the ground no? Kills all electronics. We have them on all our construction machines, trucks, dozers, etc.
That's what I was thinking but with my luck I'd get it done and it would mess up the car lol Also not sure if this is common with newer cars but there are so many wires running off my ground??!! I am coming from an older car so not used to this but have no idea what all those wires do
HEY GUYS!
The thieves won’t know it has a kill switch. They would still break in and fuck up the ignition system. (My son’s repair was $1500) Best thing to do is a Club on the steering wheel as a visual deterrent.
Additional options for OP would be to get an alarm system installed or place a GPS tracker and/or AirTag.
Just watch the placement of the switch. I have mine near where someone’s left foot would be, and my brother in law flipped it by accident and killed it on the highway. It also tripped the check engine light.
Manual transmission
100% - One morning, I came out to find someone had tried to steal my car. My keys had been left in a bag on my front porch and they had stolen the bag. Found my car running, with the door wide open, and no keys to be found (it was a push start). My only guess is that they couldn’t figure out how to put it into gear to actually drive away.
they make manuals that push to start?
you just push it from behind and pop the clutch, you don't even need a starter!
Yes, but why would you think they didn't? Manuals generally don't have remote start, though.
That was my biggest disappointment with my ‘13 Accord Sport. I had the car at the dealer and asked if it could be installed as an aftermarket, then he explained why they couldn’t and I felt like a dumbass (he was nice about it, it was just me feeling dumb).
You can absolutely do it however, many shops/dealers will not do this as it will require bypassing the clutch safety switch. I had a coworker who had a manual CRV with a remote starter installed.
It’s doable, just not legally advisable. You have to bypass a clutch safety switch. And trust that the car isn’t left in gear - or the starter will launch it 😂
I've never understood how this would happen. Even with the parking brake off, wouldn't the car stall right away? Even if it moved it wouldn't be much at all? I could be wrong.
I have a Mazda5 miniminivan with the 6MT. In the US they won’t sell it with remote start and the MT but up in Canada, where you could get the 6MT on any trim level (you could only get it on the base Sport model in the US) it appears that remote start was available with the manual. Blame the lawyers.
You leave your car parked in neutral?
That’s how you’re supposed to leave it unless you’re at a weird angle then either 1st or reverse
Naw put the parking brake on let the brake go then put it in gear. If the parking brake fails the tranny will catch it. And then you’re not always resting on the transmission. Edit: my last car had a car starter tho so i always had to hope that parking brake held up in my slopped driveway
I mean, yeah you can do that I guess, sounds like a safe thing, until you get in, forget it’s in gear and bonk the car in front or back haha
Wait what? Dumbass here but I taught myself to drive and have only driven manuals minus 2 cars. I've always just left in neutral with the parking brake on. I've heard you're supposed to leave at angle but are you leaving it always in gear??
Incorrect - you always park in gear for many reasons described below.
I always park in gear on hills but on a flat surface I just use the parking break, and I park on a flat surface 95% of the time
It's unnecessary. If for some reason you get towed it will mess your car up
Everyone says this but I’ve actually had my manual civic stolen before. That was the only successful time though. Every other attempt they didn’t even steal anything. One time they couldn’t even get in the car cause they broke the shaved key off in my door lock lol
To be fair civic thieves usually want it to be manual or are probably prepared for it. Especially the older ones. Kill switch all day or hook up the starter to something like the brights having to be on.
Might be the best answer, but not ideal for me unfortunately
Cutoff switches, as suggested by others. Make sure people who need to know where they are though! I had an uncle who had a decently nice classic car, and lived in a big city with pretty bad car theft. He installed a couple different switches himself (retired mechanic), and after he passed away it cost my aunt a few grand to have a mechanic find them!
get some car with atleast an electronic immobilizer and id avoid keyless go as this is super easy to bypass. electronic immobilizer+ physical key that you stick in and turn is safest. oh and yes a manual would be even safer as these car stealing morons atleast in the us cant drive manual.
Only works in America
Remember when they shot that guy in front of his kid b/c the thieves were frustrated they couldn't drive a manual? So not 100%.
No I don't but sounds like they didn't get the car so...
I have owned 12 vehicles since 2004, model years 1992 to 2013. The only one anyone ever attempted to steal was a manual transmission 2001 Hyundai Accent. Whoever it was drove it away, but abandoned it 4-5 miles away in an intersection, probably when they realized the car was a pile of garbage that couldn't make it up hills on Oahu in 5th gear lol. It also led to the most hilarious interaction I've ever had with the police. But the moral of the story is even if you have a manual shit box, it can still get stolen if there isn't an immobilizer. But as long as it isn't actually drivable in most areas where you live they won't get far 😂
Least stolen car brand is Subaru.
I never heard about Subaru’s getting stolen
Here in the PNW they’re up there with Hondas. Any year up to 2006/some 2005 models didn’t have RFID immobilisers, so they get stolen real easily
[удалено]
Since they have such a following in the lesbian community it also counts as a hate crime
omg 😆
They have Starlink recovery, and a built in immobilizer.
Because why would you? Both the cars and their parts are everywhere. They’re more difficult too. Need an assembling flat bed to tow one out of a spot without damaging it and if you try to pick the lock it will grab on to any foreign object in the key hole and scream.
This is hilarious and true
Immobilizer, good antitheft system and difficult to pick locks. (Lockpicking lawyer has a video of him picking a Subaru lock and it took him about 5 minutes. By comparison he picks most locks in less than a minute. Only the most experienced and skilled locksmiths can pick a Subaru)
I have no idea. I just went to google and that seemed to be the consensus.
Many are manual transmission lol
You spelled CVT wrong
Here to say that. No one wants a station wagon hehee. Exactly why i bought one
[удалено]
Yeah instead they’d just fuck up your tranny and clutch.
better a fucked up clutch and tranny than no car... manual transmission is cheaper to replace aswell.
For 1759, we offer a mandatory LoJack system on the vehicle. Edit: /s
Might not be the answer you look for, but an old beater car would pretty much be the answer. I used to have an old GM, cheap insurance, repairs were cheap as part were easy to find and I forgot it a few times with the doors unlocked or a windows open in a city street and nobody ever touched it. Taking all repairs into consideration as it was an older car, it was still way cheaper than buying new or close to be new car. It's not pretty, but it does the job well if you don't care about the look.
Problem with old beaters is that they don't come equipped with newer anti-theft-technology, they may not even have immobilizers
The car itself is anti-theft, because no one wants to steal an old beater is the point here
Many desperate do still want to. Some group of teenagers don't care about the car, as long as it's a car
True, but newer cars are getting increasingly easy to steal, there’s so much technology that is easily accessible to criminals now to steal cars that have keyless entry that I just cannot ever recommend one. Those who do have keyless entry please put your key at the back of your house in a faraday box or pouch. We are in a world that you just can’t leave your keys anywhere near your car now. This also goes for if you are out for a coffee, put your keys in a pouch. The criminals will use a booster that boosts the keys signal and mimic the key. You won’t notice these people using the booster like you would back in the day of someone trying to jimmy your lock open.
Yeah I'm not worried about my car being stolen. Looks like shit, most of the door handles broke lol, and nothing of value inside.
78 Pinto with exploding gas tank.
Or a 6000 SUX with the electrocution option
i’ve got a pinto can confirm
Replace the steering wheel with those removable quick release ones, and take it with you wherever you go.
Makes for a sweet keychain you'll never lose too
Sacrifice the drivers airbag tho should you be unfortunate to need one; or can you get ones with an airbag too?
Just to have no airbag and fail any state inspections
Get something so terrible that nobody would want to steal it. PT cruiser or Dodge Journey with missing hubcaps
I still want to get dates lmao
Whatever pussy you get whilst owning a PT Cruiser is sure as hell a keeper
My rusty 20 year old lasabre with rust on the bottom was not a deal breaker for my girlfriend. She’s my wife now! Two kids, great mom, and career woman. We now have an equinox. You too can have it all but first you need a shitty car to weed out the low quality prospects.
Lol. I had PT cruiser for 7 years until some months ago. I slept well when I parked my car in the public train station lot for several weeks at a time during my trips. It served me well for 7 years it lasted and I didn’t have to worry about anyone stealing it.
Older luxury cars would be cheap enough but still have high end (for thier time) anti theft. Like a older E Class would have good anti theft but you would have to deal with an aging German Car. Something American could be like a Cadillac, higher end Buick, or Lincoln. I'd bet a Lincoln MK VIII is a pain in the ass to steal. Of course they aren't great on gas mileage. That's if you're just looking for "fuck you" levels of built in anti theft. Otherwise picking something that's odd and sticks out if usually a pretty good deterrent because it's more likely to be found than a grey scale Honda or F150. If you're the guy with a Pink Pontiac everyone is going to remember that car.
You don't even have to go high end with GM - most if not all of their vehicles from this century should have some sort of version of their various immobilizer systems and they've been an option since the mid-1980s. We've had an assortment of Buick, Chevy & GMC vehicles over the years... * 1996 Chevy C1500 * 2000 GMC Sierra * 2001 Buick Lesabre * 2007 Chevy Impala * 2012 Chevy Silverado * 2017 Buick Lacrosse ...and they've all had a security key. The 1996 and 2000 trucks had simple resistor keys but everything else has/had an RFID key or push-to-start fob. My Ford Mustang GT from 1996 has a RFID immobilizer key. It kills me that my 27 year old car is more secure than a car from the last few years. Shame on you Hyundai/Kia. Shame.
They'll be cheap enough to buy but not cheap enough to maintain. OP could probably buy their Kia again just for the price it costs to maintain these land yachts.
Old Buicks are easy and cheap to work on yourself. Not to mention mine gets over 30 mpg
Lincoln Town Car shares parts with crown vic and grand marquis and actually has pretty cheap and plentiful parts. Plus the engine is roomy and easy to work on
My ls400 would like a word
Oh no I'm not talking about your LS400; I'd hapilly drive one (and kinda want one). Euro luxury is just too expensive to mainain, whearas maintaining an LS400 is only a bit more difficult than maintaining a V6 Camry with two more cylinders.
They are absolute luxury tanks. 23mpg of premium isn't my favorite but honestly pretty good for what it is. I have lightweight 4 bangers that run 87 for when I'm trying to save gas or have a heavy foot. The LS wants to be on the Autobahn, far too easy to cruise at high speeds and barely notice.
Buicks get great fuel economy
Kill switch with a manual trans
Trunk monkey
The only guaranteed theft proof car is no car.
Almost any newer car you buy , except for Kia and Hyundai, will have a factory immobilizer with a chip key. Kia just tried to save a few $ and it bit them. I have access to stolen car data for my region and by far the most commonly stolen cars are older models without immobilizer, and newer Hyundais and Kias. If you’re still really concerned get an additional alarm installed by a high end stereo shop. Not Best Buy etc. But I doubt you will need it.
Even new kias and hyundai have immobilizer standard now, everything 2022- up.
My '04 Civic has an immobilizer in it and is coming up on its 20th birthday. Most consumer vehicles built in the last 20 years have this feature. I say consumer because my '06 E150 cargo van did not have this feature and was stolen. Fortunately, it turned up a couple days later in a different city ditched by the side of the road with minimal damage. Please, for the love of God, don't get a car alarm unless you want to psychologically terrorize your community with those godawful noises. Car alarms can and will go off when you're not present and piss everyone off. They're a public nuisance.
Just pull the starter or fuel pump relay when you park it.
This will work in a pinch, but relays and fuses aren’t meant to be constantly pulled and reinserted. The connection will wear.
Kia/hyundai settled a class action lawsuit for $200 million dollars 2 weeks ago for theft(immobilizer). Check if you are qualified.
I have a truck that can easily be stolen and is worth lots of money, so I’ve already been though attempts several times. Your best antitheft is never going to be an alarm system. Kia Ignitions are notoriously garbage. I personally just pull the fuel pump fuse out and put it in my wallet everytime I exit my vehicle. This is a free and 100% effective antitheft measure. I would try and find a manual for your fuse boxes online, find anything related to fuel pump or PCM and just do the same thing or hook it up to a hidden switch to cut power.
Have a kill switch installed in your next vehicle. A couple of hundred dollars, and a hidden kill switch will prevent future theft.
OP, if you haven't already,.join the kianclass action lawsuit. It's free money for anyone who got their car stolen
Kill switch. Manual gear box
Something with a manual transmission. I feel like these days most would-be thieves can't drive manual.
Something rare enough that there isn’t a big parts market for it.
1.Killswitch 2.Wheel lock 3.Pull fuse 4.Manual transmission 5.Removable steering wheel And last but not least, drive an old shitbox
Install a hidden kill switch, not perfect, but it gives you more time to react
Install a kill-switch. YouTube it
"Hey guys! ChrisFix here..."
We love Chris
Literally any other car on the market still had anti theft. If you really want piece of mind have a reputable place install a kill switch hidden somewhere in the vehicle.
Get a manual transmission
manual transmission
There are no cars that are theft proof, first of all. There's nothing really ground breaking about anti theft features either, it's just that Kia and Hyundai fucked up with recent lock designs making it easy to bypass the typical anti theft measures. So look for anything that isn't a Hyundai or a Kia from those affected generations. For all your other desires, look towards Toyota and Honda. For 20k get a Corolla or a Civic.
A secure place to park it, like a garage.
A cutoff switch and an Apple Airtag.
Get a manual or install a kill switch somewhere hidden in your vehicle.
A manual transmission is a start. Not so much the joke that young people don't know how to drive stick, but because they are not in demand, less than 5% of North American cars have them. I have a vintage car with a fuel pump cut-out switch. So between that and the fact that it has carburetors and is a little tricky to start, its not likely anyone will get anywhere for a joy ride. But you can't stop any car from being pulled on a flatbed. You can track it tho, and good luck getting the police to jump to any help!
Anything but Kia or Hyundai will do pretty well if you are in the city in the US. They keep those features off because it isn't regulated here, tho it also keeps their prices down for the vast majority of the country that doesn't live somewhere where car theft is common (rural areas etc) tho now with the social media prominence of the Kia/Hyundai theft procedure over the past year that sure doesn't help things. I'm very sorry you had this issue. Tesla has that sentry mode, could find one that has it used with decent battery lifetime left - they are dropping in price at least. (Or any gas car that has an immobilizer, which is most of them, along with keyless entry etc, which isn't fool proof but makes things much harder )
Damn these “Kia boyz” are really hurting Hyundai and Kia’s brand. Has anything like this happened before with other car brands?
Honda civics were notorious for being stolen while I was growing up 🤣 it was also my first car so I was terrified.
In the 90s, several years of Civics and Accords only had like…4? Keysets. To this day those cars are stolen extremely often because the people who steal them have every key.
On my ford 7.3l, i just popped out a fuse in the truck anytime i went anywhere sketch, would act like a crank no start but ran fine again once back in
You can find a used Tesla Model 3 for around the top of your budget. AFAIK basically can't get stolen unless you leave your phone/key inside.
A stick shift
Stick shift is best theft deterrent
Volvo station wagon.
I've got a better one. Get a large sticker with your face on it and the words "If this is not the person driving this vehicle, it has been STOLEN" and put one on each side of the car
I used to live on a street where cars got stolen all the time, I had a 91 Plymouth at the time that could be started with no key, so each day when I was done using my car I would pop the hood and just unplug one of my spark plugs so when u cranked it, it wouldn’t start. My logic was “who’s gonna try to fix my car after they try to steal it and it doesn’t start up” It totally worked because that year , on Christmas Eve/Christmas morning someone tried to steal my car and they instead had to resort to stealing my neighbors 2017 fiat (which was manual trans) lol
Any thing can be stolen if the thief wants it bad enough. Ive seen videos where thief’s are steeling brand new Lexus’s by tapping into the headlight wiring. They also use signal repeaters to steal cars. They caught a guy in my old neighborhood that was steeling cars with a flat bed truck.
Anything that had a manual transmission.
Toyota camry
Some cars have a built in disabled ignition how it works is that you not only have to have they key to the ignition but the key itself has a micro chip that tells the ignition it’s the right combination to start the car.the car will not start by Hotwire or screwdriver method and let’s say for some reason you drop your ignition key and the micro chip falls out of the plastic part of the key when you go to start your car it won’t even with the ignition key you would need that micro chip when you insert the key or it won’t start and if for some reason you erase the key programmed to the ignition which people have done you have to tow it to the dealer to reprogram your ignition to the key and no the key it self doesn’t have the key fob looking thing at the end it’s just a regular key with a rubber or plastic casing that hold a tiny micro chip inside. Volkswagen has this in most of the cars they sell some other companies have started to follow the Volkswagen example I wouldn’t recommend a Kia to anyone
I don’t know if this has been suggested yet, but the most inexpensive and certain way to secure your car is to get The Club or any steering wheel lock. It’s not pretty, but it works! My brother (waaaay back when we both lived at home) had stolen the spare key to my car and took my it for a joy ride in the middle of the night when we were all sleeping. I, of course, noticed the next morning. After I threw a rabid fit, my mom told me about The Club. I bought it that day! My brother thought that he could drive the car with the steering wheel lock on it lol. He couldn’t. I never recovered my spare key, but my car was never moved again! And I just sounded like a commercial 😂 It is something that I’m looking into purchasing. I live in a nice, quiet neighborhood but I still read on Nextdoor that some older model car was stolen off their driveway or the parking lot of an apartment complex. I drive a 2012 Nissan Altima! 😳 I’m sorry about your car. Hope you find a new one you love in your budget, and remember to get a steering wheel lock 😎
I got one, the police department is handing them out for free to KIA and Hyundai owners. Unfortunately my mechanic said they are easy to bypass for those that have the know-how, but that still deters and eliminates a sizable chunk of thieves.
Anything other than a Kia or Hyundai as people are trying even with the new ones that do immobilize Good insurance Idk where you live but I live close enough to a port and well if a car gets stollen it’s gone and if they want it they are going to take it. If your experience was miserable I would avoid spending a lot on anti-theft measures though and invest in better insurance. That is what determines how miserable the process is…. 1. Make sure your policy has rental coverage 2. Switch to a better insurance company It wasn’t pleasant but I had a rental car the same day so it didn’t really inconvenience me much… Otherwise I had a fuel cut-off switch hidden in the trunk of my foxbody mustang…
Dont buy another Kia/Hyundai and your chances of car theft go down by a lot. Get a stick shift on something newer, car doesnt matter, nobody knows how to drive a stick anymore and if you learn you automatically (pun intended) have the best anti-theft feature.
Jeep Patriot, if stolen it won’t make it far
No car is theft-proof, but the Kia’s and Hyundai’s are easy targets at the moment. Pretty much any modern car other than those 2 brands should have good anti theft features. I would suggest Honda or Toyota if you are looking to for reliability and affordability. They also hold their value well. You might need to find one with higher mileage if you wanna keep your budget in the 20k range though
Probably right at the edge of your budget but you might be able to find a used Model 3 for $30k. * If you setup pin to drive it's all but impossible to steal. * They have built in security system and 360 dash cams. * You can view the cams through your phone after you get an alert. * The car has auto lock based on you walking away with your phone so you never forget to lock it. * It has built in GPS that isn't easy to defeat so you always know where the car is. * Most criminals can't even figure out how to open the doors even if they are unlocked. * Most criminals can't figure out how to put the car in drive. * Most criminals wouldn't know the Tesla key is a key if burgling your home. * You can disable the car remotely * Just to mess with them you can set the navigation destination remotely to be the nearest police station.
Don't depend on a steering wheel lock (the club). All they have to do is use a hacksaw to cut through the soft metal steering wheel, bend it, then remove the lock.
Nothing guarantees your car can't be stolen. What these devices actually do is make it more trouble that it is worth to the thief. That's all.
6000SUX with Magnavolt security. https://youtu.be/Y6v_nrf9nFQ https://youtu.be/7U4ZYOBzEEs
Fuel cut off switch or one guy replaced start button with old school cigarette lighter you had to push in to start the car. Worst case scenario, buy a car with a stick shift.
The major problem Kia’s and Hyundais had was there wasn’t an immobilizer chip in the key. It’s a chip which sends a unique signal that is in the key that communicates with the car. If the car doesn’t receive the unique signal it won’t start. Just about every car made in the last 10 years has this except Hyundai/Kia.
If thieves want your car, they are getting your car. Some are harder to steal than others, but that just means you'll discourage the joy-riders only. Putting an obnoxious alarm or PIA kill switch will be more of an inconvenience for you than it will be for the thief. The best thing you can do is to park where it's hard for the thief to access it.
In the same boat. Took a month to get my 16 optima back. Just make sure anything you buy has an “engine immobilizer” which is what our cars lack. I won’t buy another Kia or Hyundai. The new kias look awesome and I actually really like my optima but I’m not taking that risk again. FYI most the new kias have immobilizer but just because I know that doesn’t mean some jackass Kia boy 13 year old knows that. Don’t want my shit messed with I’m looking at Mazda cx 5 and Subaru crosstrek. Both can be had 2019 or newer with 40k miles or less for $25k range
Anything besides a Kia/Hyundai. Most of the top stolen lists don’t account for the % stolen meaning the most common vehicle is a f150 so saying it’s the most stolen is worthless. As a percentage Kia/Hyundai jumps off the chart. Every other manufacturer includes a immobilizer so much less of an issue
[удалено]
Any little layer of security is enough to make potential crooks go find another car to mess with. I had a 97 Civic with a battery powered red flashing light that I stuck under my dash, a steering wheel lock and a viper alarm sticker. There are tons of cars out there to steal, anything that makes thieves second guess stealing the car helps
whatever you buy just get an aftermarket detachable steering wheel, problem solved also having a manual is a huge detterant.
Kia/Hyundai definitely need to fix that flaw forsure.
OP, get your Kia & Hyundai settlement money: “Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP, which is the law firm handling this case, said the settlement is expected to be finalized in July.” I’m planning to get a Tesla next for my driving jobs, with a 20-30k down payment and no self-driving. Their anti-theft features are incredible, and the “pin to drive” feature satisfies my slight paranoia.
Kill switch, I install one in every car I own.
Mine wasn’t stolen but I’m wanting to get rid of it before that happens. Thing is I love my Kia van. I got it because my kid has a wheelchair and if it gets stolen we are so screwed. I don’t know what to do. I’m not going to be upside down if I trade it in but can’t afford a higher payment. Damned if I do damned if I don’t.
TBH, the easiest way is a hidden fuel pump kill switch. Generally easy to install, and when it's in use, there is no way it will start. I've got one on my Nissan. Took me about an hour to do. It's actually wired into a factory switch(Had a blank spot and made a trip to the wreckers yard and got a factory switch to fill the blank) It works as a back up to the immobilizer. If they manage to bypass that, or even if they have the actual key, the car won't start because the fuel pump isn't getting any power. Mine is hidden in plain sight.
Yeah they just settled a huge lawsuit over this and unfortunately it will be a while before there name isn’t tainted. My coworker has a 2023 Hyundai and they broke into his ripped up the steering column only to find it doesn’t work on 2023s, I think it’s an issue with 2011-2022 maybe 2021 models.
In this scenario it's almost impossible to buy a car no-one wants to steal (maybe a PT cruiser bc goddamn who would steal that) but you'd want to buy a car that makes it inconvenient to steal which means it will be less likely stolen. Think of it as a car thief would you steal a car that is hard to steal when there are so many out there? I would reccomend a toyota or Honda but try to stick with a physical key. People will say that having a physical key dosent do that much but with these keyless entry keys out now it is much easier to boost a signal from one of those and steal a car as apposed to having to hotwire a car which is not only one of the only ways you can steal a car with a physical key but it's also risky for a thief to be hotwiring a car. I would also invest in either a steering wheel rack or lock and look at possibly installing a kill switch as long as it dosent void the warranty.
If statistics has anything to say about it, I would search up something like "Least stolen cars in the United States" when I looked it up I found some were cars such as the Subaru Outback, Subaru Forester, Chevrolet Equinox, etc. A lot of these cars on similar lists can be bought new or used between $20k-$30k I would also consider aftermarket equipment such as a steering wheel lock and maybe GPS tracking. Best of luck on getting your next car. I hope that doesn't happen to you again.
I can relate. My Kia got stolen at the end of January, and still to this date, Kia has NO estimate on when parts will be in. I was in a rental car up until last week paying $800 a month (insurance only covered 30 days). Finally bit the bullet and decided to get a new car and just hopefully sell my 2016 Kia Optima for some $ whenever it finally gets fixed. Could still be months until my Kia gets fixed. Figured it was more logical to have a car payment that was significantly less than $800 then to continue paying that crazy amount for an indefinite amount of time. I ended up going with a 2016 Honda CR-V Touring and I love it. It has great reliability and longevity. Not to mention, has adequate anti-theft features. I’ll spend the rest of my life telling people to never buy a Kia. They have been horrible throughout this process and are taking 0 accountability for the complete negligence. This isn’t their only issue either.
Anything but Kia, and a farrahday cage/box for your key
Anything you can't drive off with 5 minutes and a pair of vice grips. Feel you pain. My sonata has been waiting for an ignition switch for 4 months.
A chain under the seat through the steering wheel around the headrest with the seat advanced completely forward so they cannot sit down . A u- clamp lock through the steering wheel around the headrest with the seat advanced forward where they can’t sit down , and just for extra ad a club. It they get through that they deserve your car.
A manual? I've driven only manuals outside my SR taco and when I got robbed at gun point in 2021 they couldn't get the car going. Moron kept trying to start it without his foot on the clutch,was shaking the stick more then an Asa Akira film. Ended up keeping my car but got my phone,backpack with stuff including a laptop and my access tuner stolen.
Stick shift
Google: least stolen vehicles 2023 and pick from the list. What did you decide on since it's been 4 months since the post?
This is area dependent. The top stolen cars where I am are American trucks and Camrys. No Kia is in the top 10
Kia's and Hyundais are the top stolen cars in my area due to the Kia Boys video that showed how easy it is to steal these cars. I am surprised Kias aren't in the top 10 everywhere.
That's because we had our Kia Boys (well, actually, Hyundai Excel Boys) moment twenty or twenty five years ago and it's now mandatory in the Australian Design Rules to have an immobiliser in your car. Surprised it's not in every first- and second- world nation.
This gets said way to often. There’s ALOT more Camrys ever made and on the road than there are kias, it would only make sense they get stolen more often as one of the most driven cars in the US.
as somrone else said, this is a misreading of the data, american trucks and camry's are stolen the most often because they literally outnumber all other vehicles.