My silver Redline was taken from a layby just outside Swansea yesterday - F335 KHJ - got back to find glass all over road and car gone. Had a steering wheel lock on it as well so someone was very determined.

Can't think why someone would want to nick a 20 year old car, unless the alloys appealed for scrap value or something.

It was in good shape with no visible rust on the body and a very good interior. As usual it was worth more to me than the money I'll get back on insurance. It was insured fully comp - Any ideas what the value might be if they have to pay out, as I'm sure even if recovered it will probably be written off. I know there is a chance of buying it back - but I'll wait and see if it's recovered and if it is, what the damage is before I decide what to do.

hi

sorry to hear that. makes you wonder what goes through peoples mind when that happens.
i hope that its returned safe and sound, so you can still enjoy the car.

cheers
jeff

might be worth poting this on some of the drift forums as they are so popular with the drifters

The more ppl on the look out the better. There is some scum around

If the car is not recovered value wise is what is it foing to cost to replace?

There have been a few redlines on the bay and have made good money.

That sucks

As Mick says, perhaps the popularity with drifters is making them more of a theft target

Arghhhhh

this raises the questionn are 300's easy to steal

That's bad news mate. There was an item on the news about the value of scrap meaning any car that is parked in an easy to steal spot, or that can be stolen without anyone passing by is becoming an easy target. Even cars from peoples driveways are being stolen then weighed in for scrap. It appears to be far too easy for them to do, as I believe it is the owners job to fill out the V5C when scrapping a car, no need to prove ownership or any right to the vehicle at most scrapyards.

I'd try ringing any localish scrapyards asap and alert them to the fact that they would be handling stolen goods and to report it to you asap if they are offered it or have it come in.

As to the question are they easy to steal, they are an old car, with 80's security, so they're not going to be up to modern standards, but as with anything, given enough time and determination, nothing is safe, and it seems as though it was a smash and grab through the window in this case, which you're never going to stop.

Good luck in finding it, everyone keep their eyes peeled for any adverts for a Redline.

Pete

hatch360 wrote:Arghhhhh

this raises the questionn are 300's easy to steal

Short answer: yes.

Longer answer: Yeeeessss they are f*cking easy to nick.

Often it's smashing the window indeed, or using a crowbar to force the doorframe along the window out.
Other methods: screwdriver in lock and turning the whole thing with pliers, using a piece of metal wire to pull the lock rods...
Entering is a piece of pie

Touch wood the locks are a bit better than 106/punto style separate barrels in the doors to the handles, i.e. I can't just be punched out, but yeah, taking a window out is dead easy.

Do what a load of road rally cars do... rig up and start and a horn switch on the dash, and swap the labels round with a pair of Steibel air horns connected

you dont need to break the glass just the lock.

we all know how but im not writing it on here. they are too easy to nick, i know if i locked the keys in the car i could get them out without a problem just a small amount of damage.

it could be the tramp drift world that has made these appealing to skum to steal them. they need shooting.

feel sorry for you man.

Nice idea Chris

But seriously, adding a kill switch of somekind, or rewiring the ignition to require some other switch to be on in order to start is probably a good idea, and not too hard to do.

You'd just need to make sure the mechanics know how to start it when you take it in for servicing or MOT's

With a HiAb, the car can be gone in just a few minutes....

I've been thinking of a similar idea to chris but it doesn't really help people who wish to keep their car standard. As always getting in is pretty easy especially with packing strip method etc which causes no damage.

Sadly, it looks as if someone nicked it for what it was, as opposed to a random theft. Worrying and astonishing in equal measures, given that these cars are readily available for peanuts....
The only answer to this is to fit a good Tracker, yet they cost more than most 300's sell for....

This sucks, hate the scum!!! I have an ignition kill switch wired under my dash, have done on all my cars. Simple and no one car drive it away. Good luck hope u get it back...