Are CRXs easy to break into?

[Lance]

I am looking at getting a Metro/CRX/Civic for some high milege work. I need something with solid fuel economy.

Now, I am seeing some posts elsewhere that the CRX is too easy to break into.

--Is this true?

--Are there products or modifications that can defeat this?

--Is this true for Civics as well?

Lastly, I am seeing some Civics and CRXs that don't have A/C. Being in AZ, it is a necessary feature. However, we have hit the turn and it will be really nice weather for about the next 5 months. So, I am thinking that if I get one that is without, I can do it when I don't yet need it. Unfortunately, I am having to buy not only used, but old as well, and wonder about parts availability.

--Can one easily find and install a junked A/C onto to an older Civic/CRX without much hassle?

--What would be a well rounded price for an A/C system?

--Any recommendations as to whom would have the best price and condition?

Thank you again guys
Lance

[Matt Timion]

Everything said below about CRXs can be applied to 88-91 Civics, and probably 92-95 Civics as well.

CRXs can be very easy to break into, mainly b/c the people who break into them are the same people who work on them.

You can easily add a few kill switches here and there that will make it so that your car isn't stolen (unless they tow it). There are a NUMBER of ways to make it so your car won't start.

As for the A/C, I'd just recommend finding a CRX/Civic with A/C already installed. I've seen loads of CRX HF's that have A/C standard.

Just FYI, I have a friend in Pheonix who has had her Saturn stolen twice in the last 6 months. The previous owner had it stolen 2 times as well. The cops say that Saturns are the most frequently stolen car in Pheonix due to them being so easy to break into.

[JanGeo]

Geo's at least the 94 that I had did not have the linkage that could be slim jimmed in the door and didn't have the usual button lock either - of course no one wants to break into a Geo - even when left parked on the street in New York City all weekend.

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by JanGeo

Geo's at least the 94 that I had did not have the linkage that could be slim jimmed in the door and didn't have the usual button lock either - of course no one wants to break into a Geo - even when left parked on the street in New York City all weekend.

This bar you speak of CAN be removed from CRXs as well, but you'll have zero use of the key/lock on the door. The way around this is to install an after-market keyless entry.

Of course, let's hope your battery doesn't die.

[SVOboy]

Well, let's just say I'd rather have my crx broken into than stolen, part of the reason I leave the doors unlocked. Better they have easy entrance to realize my engine is worthless and just leave the car than to break my handle or window to realize the car is worthless.

If you've got anything nice in there it can be stolen, no matter what. Someone on h-t had their ef hatch with a boot on it stolen,

[Silveredwings]

Originally Posted by Matt Timion

This bar you speak of CAN be removed from CRXs as well, but you'll have zero use of the key/lock on the door. The way around this is to install an after-market keyless entry.

Of course, let's hope your battery doesn't die.

Good excuse for those shaved door handles too.

[Ryland]

I don't get people who just brake in to cars, I have friends who ended up junking their vx after the 4th time it was broken in to/stolen, the 3rd time it was broken in to they couldn't get it started, so they stole the window cranks... why???
I met a guy from columbia who told me that if you own a car there that you do not bother locking it, as windows are to expensive to replace, insted you have a brefe case that you keep all of your important things in, and you take it with you, and you get a lock that goes on your gear shift making it imposible to take it out of 1st gear, then leave your door unlocked, figure that a few times a day someone will enter your car, realize you have nothing of value, and move on to the next car on the street.
older hondas are all pretty easy to brake in to from what I've been told, mostly people want the radio, my vx had whatever fancy radio stolen befor I bought it, so he put in an alarm,I don't worry about those kinds of things, so I removed the alarm and tend to leave it unlocked most of the time, and the keys in the ash tray, I don't know if my 85 crx was broken in to, I suspect it was a few times, I'm pretty sure my 84 civic was as well, or at least someone screwed up the drivers key lock with a screw driver, but really, what is someone going to do with a stock stolen car? besides take it for a joy ride.

[Lance]

I suspect you are right on the taking all that is valuable with you, but its the violation of one's private space that gets me by leaving the doors unlocked.

What's "h-t"?

Keyless entry would be back where one started, yes? No? Expensive?

Y'know, it is a selling point for the Geo. Not having a vehicle that is of prime interest like a CRX, that has some value even gutted and/or thrashed. I suspect that even the insurance is cheaper on a Metro than a CRX/Civic. Anyone know for certain?

Yeah, I feel the same way Matt. I just was wanting to get some opinion in case I find a really smokin' deal should it be without A/C and I didn't want to pass it by.

My prob is that the VX or HF may be a bit more zippy/fun to drive and the Honda A/Cs might work better than say one that is strapped to a 1.0L 3 cyl. engine. In AZ, a modest A/C will do just fine until you get to around 110+ degrees or lower degrees with higher humidity as in late summer.

Plus, from time to time you can find a Honda with CC, PW, PL etc,. I haven't seen any Metros with that. Maybe the Swift or Fireflys have them. Dunno... anyone?

Again I thank all of you and welcome any further thoughts in my pursuit of a good high MPG vehicle.

[SVOboy]

h-t is honda-tech.com, and while I understand the idea that the metro may be a bit "safer" to drive isn't it just as much a violation on the parts of the theives that they have forced your car decision? It's annoying to live with, but as much as I here about rexs getting stolen I have yet to see one bone stock non-vtec d-series get ripped off.

[Ryland]

NorthernSun.com (nice people) printed and sold me the sticker I have on my car next to the drivers door handle "Attention theives, there is nothing worth stealing in this car" not sure how many people it has detoured, but it's simaler to the signs that say "radio has already been stolen" as far as I know radio's are the most commen reason for a car to be broken in to, not having one, or getting a removable face plate at least might help, altho I know someone who had their face plate stolen.
you can brake in to any car, the easiest way is to brake the window.

[BEN_EJ8]

The easiest way to break into a Honda is by punching in the keyhole. My integra had it punched in, and my EF had it punched in. Its a little less risky than smashing a window, as it isnt nearly as loud, and glass doesnt go flying everywhere. All you need is a screwdriver.

[jolt-tsp]

I'm gonna preface by saying, I'm not a theif, I've just had my car broken into/stolen plenty of times (more than 10 all together). All the cars mentioned in this thread can have the windows pulled back with a prybar, making a slimjim unnessisary. Once in the car it can be stolen easily, as the key ignition is nothing more than a cover for a switch that is held on by a couple screws. The steering wheel lock is cast, and can be busted with a little grunt and a prybar.

Stock CRX's are worth pretty good money as parts are hard to come by. However, they are no where near as targetted as modified cars, particularly ones with big wheel. Also, if you make enough layers of security, you would make it not worth it for a theif. However, a pissed off theif tends to vandalize the car. The Metro would only be safer in that its parts are less desirable. It would be no harder to steal it if a theif wanted it (for joyriding and drug deals they don't tend to care as much about what type of car it is).

Parking near a more desirable car is actually a pretty good way to keep your car safe. Although car theives sometimes come by in a group and steal several cars at once. I guess you can never ensure a victory over a car theif.

[onegammyleg]

Most cars are easy to get into if you know how and a few simple tools.

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by Lance

Plus, from time to time you can find a Honda with CC, PW, PL etc,. I haven't seen any Metros with that. Maybe the Swift or Fireflys have them. Dunno... anyone?

There are plenty of after-market kits for power locks and power windows, as well as keyless entry. The same is true for Cruise Control. I would say that finding a car with a working A/C system is the most important, however.

[Gary Palmer]

On looking for a car, I'd echo what Matt said about the A/C. I have added A/C to an 87 Civic and I have the part's to add it to my 89, but I haven't been able to get to it, yet. You can get the part's to add it, from a salvage, and it work's very nice, once it's done. However, if you can buy a car with the A/C already installed, even if it's not operating, that would be a much easier route to go, than adding it, after the fact. Additionally, on a 90's era car, the cost is virtually non-existent between a car with A/C and one without A/C, so if you have a choice, I would go for the A/C.

As far as the CRX's getting broken into, I can't comment, since I am driving a 89 Wagon. However, my "philosophy" is that if I use the passenger's side for collecting my trash, that it's very unlikely anyone will want to steal the car, since it's "dirty". Additionally, my under-dash is all dangling wire's, since I got half way through modifications to codfish and so I have a kill switch, which work's, but it also trips the ecu into a fault condition, so I don't use it to the extent I had planned. Finally, as SVOboy said, a stock engine doesn't do much to get anyone excited about ripping it off.

[psyshack]

I once owned a Delta 88,,, brand new folks wanted to break into it parked infront of the house. I put a alarm on it. About 3 days later It went off. I grabed the 44 mag. and went out the back door so I could get a clear shot and not shoot my car. He saw me. A big fat white guy in his tighty whiteys and a cannon. He ran and I missed him. Blew a branch out of a tree above his head. Needless to say he ended up in hospital with wood in his head. All charges where drop against me.

Moral is,,, hand cannon and big fat white guys in redneck towns always win. We havent had anything botherd in year now. Knock on blued steel.

[onegammyleg]

Many years ago I was getting one of my cars broken into every saturday night for ages - it was obvious it was the same guys.
I got tired of replacing door locks , so I put an alarm in it.- actually it was a simple one that I made form a kit.

The next saturday night it went off (2am) so I grabbed my handy tire iron and took off out the house.
The guy (non white guy) took off too and he run SOOO fast you wouldnt belive it.
I chased him for about half a mile screaming that ime going to mess him up big time.

I never did catch him - didnt actually want to make good on my threats.
But it worked and he never came back again.
My alarm was never set off after that during the time I kept that car.

But the thing with alarms is dont count on any neighbour or stranger to come and help when it goes off - If your not in earshot and willing to do some running with a big stick , dont bother with installing an alarm.

[Ryland]

I'm sure someone makes an alarm simaler to those made for motorcycles that come with a pager to tell you what is going on insted of having the horn beep.

[MakDiesel]

My friend had one like that Ryland. A little bulky, but this friend also had $6k worth of competition stereo equipment in the back of his Jeep Grand Cherokee and didn't feel the need to have it lifted. Anyway, the pager was very cool, was about the size of 1/2 a deck of cards, and even had a sensor for each section of the car so the icon would beep/flash/whatever and then indicate that the driver's door, hatch, etc was being invaded. I think it was Viper something alarm but he said it cost $5-600. Not I. I go with a hidden kill switch and the fact it's a factory faded paint, 222k mile, '85 Honda CRX with exposed rear speakers slapped on to the wheel wells by magnetic force alone. That deters most of all. When I install a simple 10" woofer it'll be concealed. Mak

[red91sit]

can't have anything nice in this world , well actually you can have a sleeper no problem :P

Honda's are notorious for being broken into due to all the interchangeable parts on them. They went as far as taking the entire dash out of my civic! Even stock CRX shells are expensive! (just the bare frame) all of the hondas I've owned have had broken drivers side windows atleast one time (just look in any older honda's air vents, i'll bet you find broken glass) My civic actually has a bent door I dont' see why you'd bend the door to get in, but they did. I think she's on her third engine!

[Bunger]

Originally Posted by Lance

I am seeing some posts elsewhere that the CRX is too easy to break into.

--Is this true?

Depends on the person trying to break into it. I've watched "seasoned" tow truck drivers take 25-30 minutes to open a locked door on a CRX, while at the same time, when a friend of mine lost his keys in Las Vegas, we used one of those free porno mags to jimmy the door open and a screw driver to get the ignition switch off. Total time... bout 7 minutes. Imagine if we had the correct tools.

You can always do things to make it harder to break into car, but really if the person wants in... a rock does the job nicely, and takes about 2 seconds if you get the window to break on the first try. The reason I know this is cause my GFs car had this done to it... they didn't have time to take anything, and thankfully they didn't miss the window and hit the side of the car, but its still a pain to vacuum up all that glass.

Thieves