Episode 24

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Published on:

3rd Nov 2022

1992 Honda Accord Update - Stolen Used Car Lightning Strikes Again!

00:00 - Show Open

I expected to have an issue or two with my son's recent purchase of a used 1992 Honda Accord that replaced his Honda Civic, which was stolen a month earlier, but I wasn't expecting this!

00:55 - Lighting Strikes Twice!

According to NHTSA, a vehicle is stolen in the US every 43.8 seconds. That's more than one per minute, 82 per hour, 1973 per day, about 60,000 per month and around 720,000 per year. That is a lot of stolen cars, so it is likely you may know someone who has had their vehicle stolen. In an unusual twist, I now know someone who has had TWO vehicles stolen, a little over a month apart... my son, Kenji.

03:00 - Quick Recap on Why Kenji Bought The Honda Accord

On Labor Day weekend, 2022 our son Kenji had his used Honda Civic stolen, so a week later we found a replacement - a used Honda Accord.

04:25 - Where And How It Was Stolen

The Honda Civic was stolen in West Seattle and the replacement Honda Accord was stolen in the Queen Anne neighborhood, just north of downtown Seattle on the night he moved into his new rental. It was stolen in spite of being locked. However, older Honda's (and many older vehicles) with their flimsy, worn out lock mechanisms are relatively easy to steal

08:00 - The Police Found It!

The Honda Accord turned up 3-weeks later about 2-miles away and the police had it towed to the city impound yard for safe keeping.

09:30 - The Toxic Drive Home for Clean-up

Fortunately the pandemic left me suitably equipped with extra rubber gloves and a face mask so I could safely drive the car home, in spite of it being tweaker-central for a couple of weeks. After eliminating the toxic stink and washing off the graffiti from the steering wheel air bag, it is almost back to normal. Just need to fix the transmission interlock, which now requires an extra step to put the car into gear. Annoying? Yes. But we are just happy to have the car back in relatively good condition with minimal damage.

11:00 - What's Next? Probably The Bus... For Now

Kenji is concerned that the Accord will get stolen again, so he is planning to ride the bus for now and eventually get another car, but something newer that's more difficult to steal... if there is such a thing.

12:30 - Advice from an "Expert" to Keep Your Car from being Stolen

  • Older cars are oftentimes easier to steal
  • Get an alarm to make it more difficult to steal your car
  • Be vigilant in high-crime areas
  • Remove valuables
  • Use "The Club" (a steering wheel lock) if you have it.
  • A disabling device can disconnect the battery so you car won't start, but it can be a hassle to use though, so it's only worthwhile if you can easily activate it.
  • A manual transmission can be a deterrent for thieves who can't drive a manual
  • Be sure to file a police report so police know your car is stolen if they run the license number (assuming the thieves didn't remove the plate).

16:30 - Local Volunteers Who Help Find Stolen Cars

We quickly discuss PNW Stolen Cars and PDX Stolen Cars Facebook groups here in the Pacific Northwest as an option for people who are trying to find a stolen vehicle. There may be a similar group near you, so do a local search to see if that's the case. These groups can be very helpful in spreading the word and finding stolen cars and trucks.

18:00 - Show Wrap Up

Links and Resources:

NY Times Article: An 'Army' of Volunteer Sleuths Is Out Hunting for Your Stolen Car - October 30, 2022 by Mike Baker

Excellent article that highlights how volunteers in Portland are banding together to help find stolen cars before they are stripped for parts.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/29/us/portland-car-thefts-crime.html?searchResultPosition=1

Jalopnik Article: Car Theft Victims Built a Network to Fight Back - November 3, 2022 by Erin Marquis

Builds on info from the NY Times article and includes additional links to relevant content about stolen vehicles.

https://jalopnik.com/car-theft-victims-build-a-network-to-fight-back-1849737126

PNW Stolen Cars - https://www.facebook.com/groups/pnwstolencars/?mibextid=6NoCDW

Public Facebook Group - Been active for a decade with over 81,000 members - helps people share stories and locate their stolen vehicles.

PDX Stolen Cars - https://www.facebook.com/groups/pdxstolencars

Private Facebook Group - 12,000 members. Provides a place for members to share stories and information to help locate stolen vehicles.

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About the Podcast

Better Than New
Find a cool used car, truck or SUV at a price you'll love
The average new car sales price in the US is nearly $50,000, and the average used vehicle sales price is close to $30,000... I think that's insane! Well if you're like me and you don’t want to pay these crazy inflated car prices, I believe you should still be able to drive something fun. That’s the idea behind Better Than New – a podcast to help you find a cool used car, truck or SUV at a price you’ll love.

I’m Gary Crenshaw, host of Better Than New and a long time automotive enthusiast, and I want to inspire car buyers on a budget to think differently about what they can actually afford to drive. My goal is to introduce listeners to the broad array of interesting, fun-to-drive, enthusiast-friendly used cars, trucks and SUVs available at prices just about anyone can afford… vehicles from the 80s, 90s, 2000s and beyond that offer buyers a wide range of interesting choices. Each week we’ll explore a specific vehicle or vehicle category, tell you what to look for and what to avoid, and give you practical tips to help you find your next cool used car, truck or SUV and keep it on the road for years to come.

With a little work, the joy of owning a cool used car at price you’ll love is within reach and this podcast is here to help you find it.

So hop in, buckle up and let's go for a drive!

About your host

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Gary Crenshaw

A lifelong lover of all things mechanical, Gary has spent the majority of his existence driving, dreaming about or wrenching on cars, motorcycles and even the occasional airplane.

It started with mini-bikes and go-karts as a kid, progressed to 2-stroke dirt bikes, followed by his first car… a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle. Then came the Yamaha era with several RD400s, RZ350s and a Canadian RD350LC (should have kept that!). A pilot’s license was next with some memorable hours flying a 1946 Aeronca Champ low and slow around the Pacific Northwest. While in college, his brother-in-law who sold high-end cars hired him to deliver BMW, Mercedes and Porsche vehicles to customers.

Those early experiences led to a lifetime of owning an eclectic mix of interesting used cars, including a ‘65 Mustang GT, a ’72 Datsun 510, a Porsche 914, a Celica Alltrac Turbo, a Mini Cooper S, a couple of Miata’s, two Audi S4 Avants, a Galant VR4, a Fiat 850 Spider, a 1983 Subaru 4x4 GL wagon and a first gen RX-7, along with dozens of daily driver cars and SUVs from Acura, Honda, Toyota and Mazda. And his favorite? Depends on when you ask, but that distinction likely goes to the Mazda RX-4 station wagon he learned to drive in. That fun-to-drive car combined Gary's passion for wagons, rotary engines and manual transmissions all in one.

So what about you? Which used car, truck or SUV would you love to own? Let’s find it together!