Which car to store, which to keep in Center City?

[PJC1909]

I have a bit of a quandary. We're moving to Center City from Indianapolis.

I have an 04 WRX wagon that is mostly track car. My daily driver is a 1990 Integra GS hatch.

I just learned that even an old 1990 Integra is popular among thieves and that the WRX is not very popular because it is difficult to steal. I had previously seen where the 1994 and up Integras were popular, but not the 2nd generations.

The integra has an alarm/kill switch and the WRX has factory security.

Whichever car I keep in Center City will be on a surface lot behind our apartment in Old City. The building sup says nothing has ever happened to a car on his lot.

Does anyone have an opinion about which should be stored and which kept in the city?

If there is a broad consensus that the Subaru is better for the city, I am going to put it back to stock, sell the Integra and buy a Miata with some sort of induction air compressor. Otherwise the wagon will remain my track car and the Integra my DD. Please do not suggest modding the Integra. I've resisted this so far, except for tires and brake pads.

Hmm I know. I'll make a poll.

thanks,
pat

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[Mulder]

Originally Posted by PJC1909

the WRX is not very popular because it is difficult to steal.

Whoever told you that obviously wasn't from around here-
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...hreadid=428121

And here's the most recent-
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=1268693

[PJC1909]

I saw these threads. The WRX is a boring black wagon -- to the untrained eye. It is pretty obviously lowered, has a Wilwood LBK, and some would recognize the Stromung twin tip.

Overall, though, pretty unremarkable.

[99subi]

dunno man id want to use the rex everyday but i wouldnt risk losing it, store it i guiess

[photog72]

Originally Posted by Mulder

Whoever told you that obviously wasn't from around here-
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...hreadid=428121

And here's the most recent-
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=1268693

Mulder, here in Philadelphia and the surrounding communities we don't have the stolen WRX problem you have up in NNJ. I have left my WRX parked on Center City streets w/ no problems. I know of at least 3 parked on city streets as I write this at 1:16 in the morning. I know they'll be there in the morning when the sun comes up too. Yeah, they steal cars here. But, compared to NNJ, we don't have problems like you do. My wagon sits parallel parked on city streets, ever since my convertible took up the spot in the garage. Not a scratch on it - only bird crap.

[Mulder]

Yes I realize the thefts are mainly a NNJ problem. However I just needed to correct the misinformation he was given about the WRX.

[PJC1909]

My fault. I was reading about Subarus in Australia. Why don't US cars have this stuff?

http://www.autoweb.com.au/cms/A_1040...wsarticle.html

[Giganticprune]

personally id keep the wrx as a daily driver. maybe a 1990 gs may not be topping like charts as a most stolen car like the 3rd gen integras.

i know when i had my 2000 integra gsr in the city when id go to my buddies i was constantly worrying. now that i got my 06 wrx i really dont worry all that much anymore.

[Mulder]

Newer WRX's and STi's in the US have built-in immobilizers which have just about eliminated drive-away thefts. However your 04 wagon is not so equipped.

[BizzarBoxerXt]

I have the data dots on mine, but i think that was something the dealership put on, not from the factory.

[Scooby Roo]

to me its a no-brainer, store the WRX. theres a lot of other things that can happen to your car. and it wont be that much fun driving ur "mostly track" WRX around city limits.

and welcome to the neighborhood, im right above you in northern liberties

[PJC1909]

Originally Posted by Scooby Roo

to me its a no-brainer, store the WRX. theres a lot of other things that can happen to your car. and it wont be that much fun driving ur "mostly track" WRX around city limits.

and welcome to the neighborhood, im right above you in northern liberties

This is what I was thinking originally, but then I figured I'd see if I'm missing something.

There are a couple of ways to ask my question:

1) Which car is more likely to be stolen or broken into, etc.? The answer does not seem so clear.

2) Which car would be better to have stolen? The Integra, without a doubt. The market value of just my mods is probably twice the market value of the Integra. It's not a GSR or an ITR, just a Plain Jane 1.8L.

Also, you're right. The track suspension is pretty jarring around town, not to mention the low ground clearance.

[Giganticprune]

when it comes to integras, the fact that its an LS is a moot point. thieves love those engines, no matter which model they came out of. and the fact that its a 1990...lord it would be easy for them to make off with that, hell even the newer (mid 90's-01) hondas with the immobilizer theyre easy as pie. its actually a sequence using the e-brake, brake pedal and ignition in order to bypass it.

imo, the fact that you have a wagon wrx makes it even less likely to be stolen. but the sad truth is, no one can predict car thieves

[AugustusMaximus]

I just learned that even an old 1990 Integra is popular among thieves and that the WRX is not very popular because it is difficult to steal

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!!!!!!!!! Probably 2 of the most popular cars around here among thieves!!! Those alarms will only deter troublemaking kids, not car thieves.

[photog72]

My vote is to leave the WRX in the surface lot.