Beemers are best at car security
Tests show 5 Series and X3 are hardest to enter
What Car? magazine's latest security tests show that two of the cars least likely to get broken into are BMWs – a 5 Series and an X3. The Mini Cooper and Golf GTi do less well though, coming 13th and 18th respectively.
At the bottom of the 20-strong table is the Fiat Panda, which was entered in just eight seconds. The news comes as the nation’s consumers approach the biggest shopping weekend of the year – and many will fall prey to thieves targeting cars packed with Christmas shopping.
Every year, What Car?’s expert testers assess the security of new cars. This year, using only commonly available tools, they attempted to break into 20 new cars without causing any physical damage to the vehicles. Only four kept their experts out for two minutes, the guideline laid down by the Home Office.
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BMW 525i SE Did not gain entry BEST
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Lexus RX300 SE-L Did not gain entry
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Peugeot 407 SE Did not gain entry
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BMW X3 SE Did not gain entry
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Skoda Octavia Ambiente 1 min 57 sec
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Volvo S40 SE 1 min 48 sec
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VW Touran S 1 min 40 sec
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Citroën C2 VTR 1 min 15 sec
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BMW 116i 1 min 9 sec
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Audi A6 Quattro SE 1 min 4 sec
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Peugeot 307 CC 1 min 3 sec
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Renault Scénic Privilège 53 sec
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Mini Cooper S Convert’ 52 sec
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Vauxhall Astra Design 46 sec
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Subaru Legacy SE 40 sec
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Mazda RX-8 39 sec
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Smart Forfour Pulse 31 sec
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VW Golf GT 26 sec
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Kia Picanto SE 11 sec
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Fiat Panda Dynamic 8 sec WORST
Although the British Crime Survey suggests that car crime was 12 per cent down in 2003/04, there are still more than 1.3 million thefts from cars a year. Car crime accounts for almost 15 per cent of all recorded crime.
What Car?’s editor, David Motton, said: "Car security is far better than a decade ago, but there are still some popular cars on sale with weak locking systems. We advise all buyers to consider the results of our security tests before they buy.
"Also use your common sense. Never leave belongings, such as mobile telephones, laptops, jackets or bags of shopping on show to tempt thieves. Where possible, put them out of sight in the locked boot or take them with you. Always lock your car and activate the alarm and immobiliser where fitted."
What Car?’s security test is an annual event. To see the full table of 126 cars tested over the past four years, go to www.whatcar.com.
v8thunder said:
Of course the current BMW range is so good at security - they're so ugly no-one would want to nick them!
Back on topic... I think if I'd be dropping any significant amount of money into a car in the first place, I'd purchase a better security system than the stock version. Or build my own... buwahahahahaha
some stupid report said:
they attempted to break into 20 new cars without causing any physical damage to the vehicles.
They do this year in and year out, collate the results, and publish this sort of crap.
I can gaurantee, that with no expert knowledge whatsoever, I could get into the best performing car in under 5 seconds. Just like any burberry clad scrote could do too.
A few years ago one of the motoring magazines did just this, they rounded up the top ten, and got into all of them in under five seconds.
Its called lobbing a brick through the window.
bullet resistant windows will fix that, even a very strong tint film over the window will make that difficult. Still if your going to leave anything remotely valuable in your car then you may as well expect it stolen. I know lots of people who have had scrotes go through the car just to see whats in bags like school bags and old shoppin bags full of garbage. You may as well have an easy to break into car so they dont cause expensive damage, or else a car so crap they don't even want to risk being caught breaking into it. Like a bright pink volvo 740GL wagon
imperialism2024 said:
Of course the current BMW range is so good at security - they're so ugly no-one would want to nick them!
Back on topic... I think if I'd be dropping any significant amount of money into a car in the first place, I'd purchase a better security system than the stock version. Or build my own... buwahahahahaha
I saw one on 5th Gear a while back (when Quentin was still in it), which was a wheel lock charged with an electric current that electrocuted the assailant, and another one that flashed a strobe light in their face and blasted the kind of alarm used in Spooks the other week.
Problem is, these days the car thief would just claim electrocution, epilepsy or hearing loss and take you to court over it.
Sad world, isn't it?
still bricked the window to nick the radio.Gassing Station | Motoring News | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff