Octavia vRS security ?

[eddie1]

I am thinking about buying an octavia vrs estate 3-4 yrs old, but could other owners advise me on the security of this car.
I live in north london, in an area prone to casual car vandalism, break ins etc.
How secure is the basic model vrs?
Should I be worried about it being broken into or stolen? And what could I do to make it more secure?

And how secure or desirable is the in car hi-fi? is it worth changing it to a face off or mask type or being a skoda stereo is it not 'sought after' ?

any advice greatfull received

cheers
eddie

[SkodiRS]

As standard car only comes with a factory fit immobiliser and deadlocks.

Standard HU is linked to the ECU so without the security code it cannot be used....unless it's decoded some how.

Alarms do diddly squat these days...and trackers are just a plain waste of money. Get yourself a some secuirty film for the windows and a Disk Lok.

However if insurnace company insist on an alarm you can do no worse than getting a Clifford alarm with anti hijack feature.

[Sheaf]

Originally Posted by SkodiRS

However if insurnace company insist on an alarm you can do no worse than getting a Clifford alarm with anti hijack feature.

Or a toad... the Ai606 seems to be a very good value for money alarm/immobiliser, £250 fitted and it does everything you could want.

[eddie1]

where do I get the window security film from, not heard of it before, how does it work?

[MC Bodge]

In addition to (unspecified) additional security, I've always used a highly visible mechanical steering wheel cover/lock on all of my cars.

It's not the last word in security, but I've always thought that it shows that I've gone to the effort of making things more difficult for a thief. Carrying a lucky rabbit's foot, horseshoe and some gypsy heather is optional.

[SkodiRS]

Originally Posted by eddie1

where do I get the window security film from, not heard of it before, how does it work?

Basically it stops the windows from being smashed in but can be smashed out from inside the car.

I believe companies like Pentagon do it...with a tint as well...and Toad also do something.

[andy2407]

Probably stating the obvious, but also think about where you leave the keys at night.
Plenty of people leave them within bent coathanger/fishing rod distance of the letterbox!
I have now got into the habit of taking my keys to bed with me and having the spare set hidden well away. House break-ins while people are asleep is not uncommon.

[cheezemonkhai]

Sextons and most places that will fit car alarms do the film.

Get an ok alarm to make a noise if somebody does something on your drive so you get woken, and then add a film and a ruddy great disk lock. Thats about it really.

[eddie1]

very helpful, thanks everyone.
2 Q's does the film need to go on all the windows?
whats the best disc lok?

[SkodiRS]

Originally Posted by eddie1

very helpful, thanks everyone.
2 Q's does the film need to go on all the windows?
whats the best disc lok?

All side windows.

Best.. Disc Lok....can be bought at Halfrauds for approx £50.

[Quinten]

to Ade... never heared of this security film, but now I've got one hell of an argument for having window tints applied to the next car

[SkodiRS]

Originally Posted by Quinten

to Ade... never heared of this security film, but now I've got one hell of an argument for having window tints applied to the next car

Aye....but I'd still keep the cash stash store a secret.

[Nigel26]

Alarm = Sigma M32, the west mids police have them on all their octy police cars and subaru use them on the impreza as standard. i got mine fitted from a local (mobile) dealers for somewhere around £300. Cant fault it and Sigma own Toad. the dealer told me the Toad system was ok but played up on the Skodas because of the dimming interior light or something, the Sigma was the same price and came with better ratings so i went for that.
Disc Lok is the one to go for.
i got my windows tinted at a place in stoke that Monkey Boy put me onto, cant remember the name of the place but i paid £220 for the sides and rear, the film has a security rating as well as being a nice tint. if you want details i can get them.

hth

[eddie1]

well sextons are quoting me £400-500 to put film on the windows, sounds like a good idea to me but very expensive. specially as last time my golf was broken into ut was by someone drilling through the lock!
if anyone knows of a cheaper fitter of foilm inlondon/s east please let me know
in the meantime i'm going to get the disklock

[iain]

another tip to help having the car nick is always leave it in gear!

it means that someone can not come along cut the hand break cable and drag the car off.

also with the estate make sure that if you can when parked leave the load cover open so that people can see their is nothing in the boot.

on the hi-fi how many little ********* could you see driving round with a skoda radio in the car? the skoda unit is not the best in the world, though it is worth doing the trick on the speakers mentioned in the ice and security section or upgrading them leaving the skoda covers in place

[cheezemonkhai]

Originally Posted by eddie1

well sextons are quoting me £400-500 to put film on the windows, sounds like a good idea to me but very expensive. specially as last time my golf was broken into ut was by someone drilling through the lock!
if anyone knows of a cheaper fitter of foilm inlondon/s east please let me know
in the meantime i'm going to get the disklock

How much!!!

Go slap them a branch of sextons quoted me £200-250 (without - with thints) for an octavia hatch only a few months ago. They are taking the ****.

[gav_vrs]

on previous cars i have had the ignition wired into the cigarette lighter (using the cigarette lighter as a push button start) no no matter how hard you turn the key it wont start unless you press the cigarette lighter great cos even if your keys are stolen they still cannot start the car.

[cheezemonkhai]

Wierd but genius regarding the fag lighter.