Well unfortunately I've got to up the safety a bit on my mk2, when I return to uni it's going to be out on the street as I've moved from where I had gated parking last year :(

There's literally NO security devices on the car, I've never really had to bother before because of rural/secure parking, so I'm a bit clueless.

I'm considering...

- Battery/Starter cut off switch

I want something that will actually stop anyone starting the car if they broke in. Was thinking of an immobiliser but one of these cut off switches seems slightly easier, and provided I hid it well would be discrete aswell.

- Steering wheel lock/bar type thing

I also want something as a deterrant, but functional aswell, so ideally stops someone from smashing the window etc. They're less than a tenner posted ( ) off eBay nowadays, but I'm sure there's more effective measures for more monies.

Thoughts/recommendations? I'm not sure I want a full-scale alarm, or do I? What do you use yourself?

Cheers

iv bought a cheap alarm, still in the process of installing it, but I'm well chuffed with it so far

Only takes a few minutes to remove a steering wheel lock.

There was a little unit you could buy that fitted on the battery cable that when you removed the nut it allowed enough power to keep the radio/ecu happy but would blow its internal fuse (fuse is replacable) if you tried anything of higher power.

The other method is remove the distributor cap or the coil lead, not going to go anywhere then. lol. (watch the sound of music towards the end)

I have a cheap alarm fitted just to have one but its a bit shit as if the interior light is off the alarm wont sound and the vibration sensor sometimes goes off in rain other time i can sit there shaking the car and kicking the wheel and it still wont go off, once i drove 6 miles home with the alarm still armed and it only sounded after i got out and slammed the door

Edited 15 September, 200817 yr by Cymro

The cut off thing would be a good start, at least they wont be able to drive it away.

Or as said, remove the dizzy cap.

The car's still easy to break into though, 1 piece of glass away..

Yeah there's a richbrook(?) starter cutoff which allows enough power for the stereo memory (not really a worry) or ECU (soon to be a worry i hope).

Don't really want to remove the dizzy, swap the leads round or anything like that. Want something I can operate from inside the car!

Obviously it's easy enough to break into, hence why I'm looking for a deterrant!

dislock steering wheel lock

fuel cut off tap

dummy led or a cheap alarm

mk2 polo are so easy to get in and steal theres not much else to do...maybe mount the headunit elsewhere and leave the dash hole open

You can get some armour door handle shields to

snapp off steering wheel, that will ahve them stumped!

DIscloc steering lock is about the best thing. Those cheap steering wheel locks things are useless, in fact they can be used to help break the built-in steering lock. And/or a decent alarm such as Toad or Clifford. Most important thing is to not leave anything of value in the car or at least on show, no matter what it is, people will smash windows to steal coats left on seats or anything...

snapp off steering wheel, that will ahve them stumped!

thats probs best one to make sure it cant be stolen!

Snap off steering wheel is a good one, didn't think of that. Anyone running one?

Edit... looking at the price of them, maybe better just to keep a socket and ratchet in the car!

Disklok is a no-go as the smallest size they do (35-39cm) won't fit my aftermarket wheel (32.5cm) :( Any recommended alternatives?

Edited 16 September, 200817 yr by TomW

id see if you can lend a dislock and see if it would still work....they dont need to be too accurate

thing is with snap offs...or removing your std wheel , are you prepared to lug it around while shopping , cinema etc ?

At a minimum put a dummy flashing LED in the dash somewhere. Then you can just use a snap off steering wheel and hey presto

Most steering wheel locks are a waste of time, the sort pictured can be removed in less than 10 seconds. Immobs and key switches are ok, but they mean you end up getting your dashboard ripped out when they try to nick it.

To be honest, the only thing that's worth fitting apart from an alarm is a disklock.

get your self one of these .

only like 50 quid and i dont think they have ever been broken off by criminals. me and my brother have one each :)

a big nasty dog works too!! Especially if it's hungry!

I had a cheap ass alarm in my old old car. It wouldn't go off until you put the key in the ignition and try to start the engine!!

i'm in the same situation, at uni and cars on the street, whatever you do can be undone and the car will get taken. and if they cant drive it they'll probably torch it, i've just removed the king from the coil~dizzy, disconnected the battery, left the steering lock on, nothing but nothing in the car and removed the door pins so they have to slice themselves open to get in. considered removing the steering wheel but you want the car to look like its being used regularly and not just dumped.

Edited 28 September, 200817 yr by polopete

Car clamp :) worked for dad lol

A Mk3 has slightly better security as it has an engine immobiliser however that didn't stop some silly looking twots from breaking into my mates G40 at Alton Towers (the car park with no cctv).

Now I had plans to visit in my mk2 which seriously put me off. I went in the end but I bought one of those hefty steering wheel locks.

That's one thing they couldn't get past in the G40.

i'd say disc-lok... but if they're too big.. i'd say you need a crook lok for steering wheel, as every car i've had broken into the first thing they do (after raiding glovebox, boot etc) is break the vw steering lock, and then move to wiring if they get that far.

so steering crook lock, alarm! (£150 or less off ebay gets you a self-fitting, CAT1 alarm, with pre filled certificate, just fit yourself or get pro to do) - [p.s. dont start flaming me for saying about the pre filled certificate... etc etc]

i'd say get clever if your looking to be really secure, like others have said, taking rotor arm out is a good one, or fuel pump fuse if you have one etc......

mate of mine (not going to say who or where as its a nice mini!) bought his car off a friend who had lost the keys, so the thing is always left unlocked and start by using 1 switch for power, 1 for starter motor. The main switch is hidden and you wouldnt be able to find it unless you knew it was there...so that would help.

He also has a length of chain that is bolted through the floor pan, it is just long enough that it will go through the spokes of the steering wheel, allowing him to padlock it together meaning the steering wheel wont turn no matter what! then he just takes the key with him. The chain is bolted to the floor pan underneath the seat and just tucks under there when driving! works great!

I have a Toad alarm in mine with a bonnet lift switch. Thing is, I don't arm it much when it's hot as I have to leave the windows open a few mm or it gets silly hot and then the slightest breeze sets it off. It does have a panic button though which is by far the best reason to fit an alarm. I can see my car from my flat window and whenever somebody walks past if with trackies tucked into their socks, I just set it off! Oddly enough, most of them leg it even though they are innocent,,,,,,ummmmm.

Have a 'bar' type steering lock but might give it a miss having read some of the comments.

I have two suggestions that have not been mentioned so far!

1) When indicating into a parking space, simply forget to cancel the indicator so that when you turn the ignition off your parking light comes on.

Leave it over night then there is no way it can be stolen. I do this ALL THE TIME and I sure as hell can't start it without a jump start so unless the

dirty thieving scum have some leads with them they are stumped!

2) THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT YOUR CAR, WILL WORK ON ALL MAKES AND MODELS!!!!!

Spin your gear knob round to show the diagram upside down. Some charva may be able to break into your car,

but when you get up in the morning instead of finding your car is missing, you will find a THICK AS F**K thieving little gypo

still sat in your seat trying to figure out why the car keeps going the wrong way. SORTED : )

SERIOUS QUESTION NOW, how do I get the steering lock / ignition bracket thingy off the steering column. The haynes book has failed me as I have taken out the screws and bolt but it will not pull off. It mentions removing a spring but there is no photo and I can not see any spring on mine. I need to get it off to see if the bearing has gone as I can rattle the wheel about 1cm in every direction! is there a guide somewhere on here?

I have an alarm with a proper bright led n live in a car crime hotspot n that put them off nicking it even with a tomtom stuck to the window!

Another way you could try is to sleep in your car with your wang out and a sign on the window sayin "thieves will be penetrated" hahaha

I run a clifford alarm and snap off steering wheel and its been great, the snap off if fun, you do get some funny looks when your walking down the high street to work holding it tho.... lol

remove a critical fuse. takes a few seconds and stops them driving off. Not much else you can do i would think.