Parking in a dodgy area car.
Discussion
My commute may change soon and as we have no work place parking,id have to park in the public car park opposite. However its a known crime ridden area so the car is going to get vandalised/broken in to at some point.
What the least likely car that will attract attention from the local pond life so they just walk past and leave me alone, needs to be able to be comfortable on a 10 mile dual carriageway commute to.
What the least likely car that will attract attention from the local pond life so they just walk past and leave me alone, needs to be able to be comfortable on a 10 mile dual carriageway commute to.
t as possible imoIs it just risk of vandalism/theft from the vehicle?
Or theft of the vehicle?
If the former, anything that looks uncared for will do, and it will be helped by leaving food wrappers and empty drinks bottles and general crap all over the floor and seats.
Mid-90s Japanese will be cheap, reliable, and likely unattractive/look cheap, therefore hopefully will blend in and not be a target while also fulfilling the role of a good commuter vehicle nicely.
You could get clear (not darkened) security film added to the windows if they are risk of being smashed, which would hinder a break-in and hopefully mean you didn't have a gaping hole when you came back to it.
If the latter, decent security will be the issue. Anything old and without a factory-fit immobiliser (so pre-'95 or '96 IIRC) is potentially easier to steal, although perhaps all the scrotes now are carrying around keyless entry kit rather than old-school vehicle entry 'tools' and newer cars are therefore more at risk?
A car alarm is pointless as everyone ignores them, but you could fit a battery cut-off thing in a hidden but easily accessed place within the cabin - that would mean you could remove it and attach it to your keyring when you park up and walk away, and it should be enough of a hurdle to prevent easy theft.
EDIT:
Yaris?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Or theft of the vehicle?
If the former, anything that looks uncared for will do, and it will be helped by leaving food wrappers and empty drinks bottles and general crap all over the floor and seats.
Mid-90s Japanese will be cheap, reliable, and likely unattractive/look cheap, therefore hopefully will blend in and not be a target while also fulfilling the role of a good commuter vehicle nicely.
You could get clear (not darkened) security film added to the windows if they are risk of being smashed, which would hinder a break-in and hopefully mean you didn't have a gaping hole when you came back to it.
If the latter, decent security will be the issue. Anything old and without a factory-fit immobiliser (so pre-'95 or '96 IIRC) is potentially easier to steal, although perhaps all the scrotes now are carrying around keyless entry kit rather than old-school vehicle entry 'tools' and newer cars are therefore more at risk?
A car alarm is pointless as everyone ignores them, but you could fit a battery cut-off thing in a hidden but easily accessed place within the cabin - that would mean you could remove it and attach it to your keyring when you park up and walk away, and it should be enough of a hurdle to prevent easy theft.
EDIT:
Yaris?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Edited by RSTurboPaul on Thursday 6th June 12:12
I've had experience indirectly of this kind of situation with where my sister used to work.
You've got 2 things to avoid really, which is vandalism/damage and theft. Having a pretty boring/shoddy looking car should attract less in terms of vandalism, but thieves may say a tatty/uncared for/boring car as the ideal target for theft as the owners would be less inclined to take anti-theft measures and an older car could be easier to nick.
So, my tips would be:
Buy anything that does the job you want it to as cheaply as possible for something that will be (hopefully) reliable. A basic looking MK6 Fiesta or MK1/2 Focus, MK5 Astra, K12 Micra, Toyota Corolla/Yaris, anything that doesn't attract any real attention for looking too fancy or too comically bad. That should stop it from being a beacon for criminal damage.
When you park the car up leave it COMPLETELY empty. Don't leave anything in the car. Obviously no valuables, but don't leave so much as a crisp packet, sweet wrapper or piece of paper in the car. It's amazing what attracts attention and makes people believe there may be more in the car. That should prevent it from attracting thieves to smash a window.
Invest in an anti-theft device or two. I would always recommend a complete steering wheel cover type Disklok, but I'd say go for a gear/handbrake lock of some kind as well. The more the better. Thieves could look at an older/basic car and make it an easy target for theft, but any visual deterrent would put them off. Those devices wouldn't necessarily put off a hardcore thief, but they'd render what was an "easy target" vehicle to pinch as being too much hassle.
You've got 2 things to avoid really, which is vandalism/damage and theft. Having a pretty boring/shoddy looking car should attract less in terms of vandalism, but thieves may say a tatty/uncared for/boring car as the ideal target for theft as the owners would be less inclined to take anti-theft measures and an older car could be easier to nick.
So, my tips would be:
Buy anything that does the job you want it to as cheaply as possible for something that will be (hopefully) reliable. A basic looking MK6 Fiesta or MK1/2 Focus, MK5 Astra, K12 Micra, Toyota Corolla/Yaris, anything that doesn't attract any real attention for looking too fancy or too comically bad. That should stop it from being a beacon for criminal damage.
When you park the car up leave it COMPLETELY empty. Don't leave anything in the car. Obviously no valuables, but don't leave so much as a crisp packet, sweet wrapper or piece of paper in the car. It's amazing what attracts attention and makes people believe there may be more in the car. That should prevent it from attracting thieves to smash a window.
Invest in an anti-theft device or two. I would always recommend a complete steering wheel cover type Disklok, but I'd say go for a gear/handbrake lock of some kind as well. The more the better. Thieves could look at an older/basic car and make it an easy target for theft, but any visual deterrent would put them off. Those devices wouldn't necessarily put off a hardcore thief, but they'd render what was an "easy target" vehicle to pinch as being too much hassle.
And make sure you get one of the bigger boys to walk you to and from your car as well 
Honestly, I don't believe you can predict that any car is going to be more or less likely to be vandalised than another in that situation. It's more a question of how much it bothers you - whether the car is your prized possession or just a tool for the job.
Stolen to order or stripped for parts, maybe. But random acts of vandalism are just that - random.
I'd second the advice to leave the car completely empty though to deter break ins though.
Honestly, I don't believe you can predict that any car is going to be more or less likely to be vandalised than another in that situation. It's more a question of how much it bothers you - whether the car is your prized possession or just a tool for the job.
Stolen to order or stripped for parts, maybe. But random acts of vandalism are just that - random.
I'd second the advice to leave the car completely empty though to deter break ins though.
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