From: troyf@microware.com (Troy Frericks)
Subject: Re: Have thieves ever broken into your trunk?
Organization: Microware Systems Corp., Des Moines, Iowa
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 18:58:27 GMT

In article <linqcpINNdmb@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM> tut@cairo.Eng.Sun.COM (Bill "Bill" Tuthill) writes:
>Are some makes of cars known to have more secure trunks than others?
>Have thieves ever smashed windows but not gained access to your trunk?
>If so, what make of car was it?  (It's ironic that car security systems
>have gotten so good that criminals now just hijack the keys!  The best
>defense seems to be a crummy car.)
>
>When I bought my first sedan, an '84 Camry, I was living in high-crime
>Berkeley, and thought the trunk added a nice security feature to replace
>my '76 Honda station wagon.  On several occasions, thieves had smashed
>windows to steal things of comparatively little value, such as an old
>tennis racquet.  The deal was sealed when a Toyota salesman showed me
>how the key would "doublelock" the trunk so it couldn't be opened with
>the release latch inside the car.
>
>Wrong!  That Camry trunk has to be the easiest mark in the world.  All
>a thief needs is a screwdriver and it'll pop open in a second.  Over the
>years I lost many items out of the Camry's trunk, including a 1st aid kit,
>another tennis racquet, and a 6-pack of beer.  One consolation was that
>thieves never smashed any windows, because the trunk was so easy to pop.
>However, after a few screwdriver treatments, the trunk key stopped working,
>so we always have to use the release latch.  What's worse, we can never
>leave anything valuable in the trunk.
>
>Now we find ourselves facing a dilemma.  I know sedans are quieter than
>station wagons, and get better gas mileage because of lower curb weight
>and coefficient of drag.  But I still love a station wagon, for hauling
>stuff to the dump, carrying rafting and camping gear, and sleeping in the
>back on rainy nights.  Should we buy a Volvo 850 sedan now, or wait until
>the wagon comes out next year?  If Volvo trunks are just as insecure as
>Toyota trunks, we might as well wait for the 850 wagon.  I assume Camry
>trunks are just as bad as ever, since the lock and latch are co-located.
>Volvos have the lock about 1/2 a meter away from the latch.
>

I have a couple of suggestions... See what you think.  In high school,
I drove a 68 chevy nova for 1 year and a 68 impala for two.  Never hand
anything stolen from the cars - passenger compartment or trunk.

In college I drove a 79 honda civic.  Never hand anything stolen from
the car - passenger comparment or behind the rear seat.

Since then, I've driven a 88 Pont Phenix, 89 Astro Van, 85 Chevy
Chevette, and a 92 Honda CIVIC VX.  Never had anything stolen from
any of the cars.

I would suggest any or all of them.  They appear to be VERY SECURE!

Troy Frericks.















PS...
When I was in high school, I lived in Blue Grass, Iowa.
When I was in College, I lived in Kelley, Iowa.
Since College, I lived in Ankeny, Iowa.

-
Troy Frericks                      Internet: troyf@MICROWARE.COM
Microware Systems Corporation          UUCP: uunet!mcrware!troyf
1900 NW 114th St                      Phone: (515)224-1929
Des Moines, IA 50325-7077               Fax: (515)224-1352
Newsgroups: rec.autos