Mechanical Security on your Car - anyone still use one ?

[Brandane]

Remember these useless devices? I bought one in the 80's to try and protect my VW Golf. Then someone pointed out that to overcome it, all you had to do was unscrew the golf ball shaped gear knob, then lift that end of the device off, and from there the handbrake covering bit would also slip off. It took 10 seconds to do it!

 

[oldandslow]

We have a "Crook Lock" steering lock. Always used one. Never had a car stolen, which proves that it works, at least to the standard of proof that you see in some debates I could mention (but won't).

 

[fossyant]

View attachment 818875

Remember these useless devices? I bought one in the 80's to try and protect my VW Golf. Then someone pointed out that to overcome it, all you had to do was unscrew the golf ball shaped gear knob, then lift that end of the device off, and from there the handbrake covering bit would also slip off. It took 10 seconds to do it!

Oh yes.

But why, now, some many years later are we back where we started.

Should have stopped with a physical device that needs plugging in (key, electronic key) rather than the fancy keys.

TBH mine drives me nuts when trying to wash the van.

For washing, I have to pop the key back in the faraday pouch and pop it in the garage. Then this allows me to wash the van without the wing mirrors/locks going off if I get water/my hand near the front/passenger doors (touch sensitive locking) and the worse, is washing the rear bumper near each corner - you set off the electric side doors to open. So you jump out of the way before a door whacks you in the head. Pain in the ass for cleaning the car. The rest of the time it's great.

The van is washed weekly... sorry, so it is a pain for me. My solution is to unlock the van, open a door, then pop the key in the pouch, pop it a couple of meters away, and I don't have random doors/mirrors trying to take my head off.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

I still have my old Disklok, that's probably 30 years old
It's been on my Land-Rovers, the XKR (when wife was working in Cardiff), my Octavia, & now it's always used on my Kodiaq

The only issue is that all 3 keys have had to have the 'grips' (fobs?) reassembled using Araldite, as they'd all fractured & fallen apart

 

[Alex321]

Oh yes.

But why, now, some many years later are we back where we started.

Should have stopped with a physical device that needs plugging in (key, electronic key) rather than the fancy keys.

TBH mine drives me nuts when trying to wash the van.

For washing, I have to pop the key back in the faraday pouch and pop it in the garage. Then this allows me to wash the van without the wing mirrors/locks going off if I get water/my hand near the front/passenger doors (touch sensitive locking) and the worse, is washing the rear bumper near each corner - you set off the electric side doors to open. So you jump out of the way before a door whacks you in the head. Pain in the ass for cleaning the car. The rest of the time it's great.

The van is washed weekly... sorry, so it is a pain for me. My solution is to unlock the van, open a door, then pop the key in the pouch, pop it a couple of meters away, and I don't have random doors/mirrors trying to take my head off.

Why have the key anywhere near it for washing?

I've never washed my car very often, but when I do, I normally leave the key in the house - and I haven't previously had one with auto unlocking, though the Skoda I'm collecting on Thursday will.

 

[Drago]

View attachment 818875

Remember these useless devices? I bought one in the 80's to try and protect my VW Golf. Then someone pointed out that to overcome it, all you had to do was unscrew the golf ball shaped gear knob, then lift that end of the device off, and from there the handbrake covering bit would also slip off. It took 10 seconds to do it!

Thats a Ford and the gear knobs did indeed simply unscrew!