How hard to steal?

Prius is pre-much out of question it regarding to theft. I know differents inbetween Japan and U.S, but Im living in car theft capital in Japan but I dont warry about it. Because theif is not interest about this car.. I only worry about smash and grab...
If theif will tow a way the Prius reather than hotwire.
For my theft prevention, My Prius have ID number etched windows thats about it, If they want it they will take it no matter what... Unless you will install Lojack

 

>When we picked our car (package BC) up, our dealer was pushing
> GuidePoint very hard (a GPS tracker would be installed in your car
> -- see http://www.guidepointsystems.com/consumerserv.html)
>For the time being we've turned it down.

Unless I had some reason to particularly trust them, I would assume the dealer either has orders to push that option, or that they make a good markup on the device. salesmen routinely push worthless or questionable add-ons. It is a normal part of the business.

 

When I ordered mine I was asking them to get the VIP (Vehicle Intrusion Program) alarm. They just said, I don't need it. They told me the Prius has a factory alarm.

is this true? does it beep when you lock the doors? the one thing I did order was the Glass Breakage Sensor

 

The US Prius has a perimeter alarm. If any door, the boot or bonnet is opened without being unlocked using the key or fob (eg by smashing the window then unlocking a door from the inside), then the alarm goes off.

The UK Prius also has a microwave interior movement sensor, with a button to disable it under the steering wheel. That gives the system a Thatcham Category 1 rating (which probably won't mean anything to non-UK readers, but it's the sort of thing our insurers like to know).

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KMO\";p=\"40486)</div>

Here we go again. In the colonies, those are known as trunk and hood.

:lol:

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KMO\";p=\"40486)</div>

A glass breakage sensor (gbs) (V2) is available as a port installed option in the US. Suggested retail price is $165 ($112 invoice).

 

I am very skeptical of the statement that "pros" have figured out how to trick the computer. At best, they could tow the car away and then replace the computer (at considerable cost) with a new one including new fobs.

I don't think you absolutely need a flatbed. I think you can tow the car if you lift the front wheels off the ground. Maybe you'd do some damage if the parking brake is set. But a thief would rather ruin the brakes than not get the car.

For the time being, the Prius is probably not going to be a big target for car thieves.

There is no wire that can be cut, or combination of wires that can be connected, that will start the car. Start it with the fob, or it won't go.

As far as etching the windows, that'd come in handy if they steal your windows and try to fence them. Otherwise, the serial number in the engine block seems a more useful identifier.

 

Its like movie Gone in 60sec :mrgreen:
No matter how many alarm is install your car, If theif want it they will take it...

 

It is also difficult to part out. You would need to know what you are doing or "it would be bad". There will be a time when this car becomes easy to steal, but that is not now. You need a "friendly" computer that you can get to work for you to operate the car. No "hot-wiring" this car. For the moment even the repo man has a problem if they don't get a active fob for the car.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Speedracer\";p=\"40537)</div>

Those were all classic cars. A thief can get your Prius, but without a fob he's not going to drive it. And there won't be much of a market for stolen parts until a large number of cars are out of warranty, and even then, Toyotas are so reliable, that there needs to be a huge number of them on the road before very many owners are looking for parts.

So there's no market for parts, and without stealing a fob they can't drive it. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I've read on one of these boards that if you lose both your fobs the dealer must replace the computer to provide you with a new fob.

 

It's more stuff they'd have to replace if they want to sell the vehicle on. More cost - more deterrent.