My Car Was Stolen

They found it, k!

Fantastic!

I'm so glad that it's (mainly) good news!

Sorry to hear your car got stole and glad you got it back. Lucky, that - most probably don't get it back as intact. Sorry 'bout the repairs and the (probably) damage this will do to your overall peace of mind temporarily.

Hey, what's a shrinky dink whale?

excellent news, 'k!
ya got yer wheels back...

Littlek--

"Could have been worse" is lukewarm comfort, but....

At least spring is coming.

Come howl tomorrow night. Requests for vengeance will be considered--although not necessarily granted.

Hey, that sounds like one of best possible outcomes!

So it wasn't exactly neat-freak, good-driving joyriders, but it sounds like you can fix the car for WAY less than it would cost to get a whole new one.

Couldn't find you a whale, put maybe a doggie will do...




So glad to hear it isn't at bad as it could be. $300 s*cks, even so.

Thanks all! Looks like they found a used part for my car and will be able to install it for $215-225 parts and labor. The guy at the shop told me, after I asked him, that the steering wheel locks are always bought with best intentions and that almost everyone stops using them after about a month. He suggested that I don't really need to lock the device for it to be effective, just put it in place - less hassle.

I kind of like username's chain link idea.....

Glad you are getting sorted

You made me smile username, picturing my Dad.

He has always, when leaving the car overnight in our drive, turned the steering wheel all the way to the right (or left) and threaded a huge heavy duty chain like username describes above through it so that it is tight and not moveable. He then chains it to the bar directly under the drivers seat and uses that big ole padlock (just like usernames construction site locks). He has never had a car stolen - ever! And we lived in an area where kids would joy-ride and then burn-out the car. Every home in our area had their cars stolen several times, except my Dad. No-one could ever get that huge chain and lock off and gave up, just smashing a window in frustration every now and then.

BTW he would put a tea-towel around the area of the steering wheel that the chain came in contact with because it was very rough on the leather of the steering wheel (leaves a mark)!

Certainly seems like heavy chain would be the cheapest and most variable security system.

not to mention the coolest. you'll be the badass at school.

Or you could keep a rabid badger in your car at all times.

I've been thinking about the chain. Wouldn't all that weight on the steering wheel/column be damaging?

I don't think so, the column is pretty sturdy. Having a ton of keys on your keychain can be damaging to your ignition, though.

kris, my guess is my chain only weighs maybe ten or twelve pounds, not all that heavy a load. I'll try to remember to bring it in and put it on a scale.

The other end of the chain-loop attaches to what? The frame of the driver's seat?

the nuts of whoever stole your car (assuming they're male), then you go driving and make lots of quick sharp turns

glad things worked out as well as they did

a buddy of mine had two vehicles stolen and both times they were damaged beyond repair (one was set on fire)

twice!

My daughter had her car stolen twice, and got it back badly damaged, but not totalled. Then, a flood lifted the car off the pavement enough to move it several feet. Naturally, the insurance company was irate. It was inferred by at least one agent she and I were responsible. Turns out, there were some men stripping down a Honda of the same model, in an open field one night. They shot a police officer, but were arrested. They were serial Honda thieves, and they lived right next door to my daughter. I am certain they took her car, but it was never established by the law. Our insurance shot up to over $400 a month, until we separated our accounts and went with a new company.