Date: Wed, 03 Nov 1999 18:43:32 +0100 From: Magnus Ingmarsson <emperornopsamtor.liu.se> Subject: Re: Saab = Anti-Theft?
Bristlecone wrote: > > Since SAABs have the ignition mounted beside the seat, does that make it > much more difficult to steal than a car with the ignition in the column? As > I understand it, most car thefts are accomplished by "popping" the column by > wrenching on the column-mounted ignition. Am I wrong? > > (BTW, the only car I ever had stolen was an '84 900S, which was stolen out > of my garage one Christmas Eve when I left the keys in the ignition (doh!). > But the guy wrecked it 20 minutes later, totaling the car and sending him to > the hospital for 2 weeks with a severed tongue and 2 broken femurs. When he > got out, he spent the next 3 years with free room and board and all the > sodomy he wanted.) > > Bristlecone The new Saabs are designed so that the gearshiftlever will break before the lock that holds it inplace. Even if the thief manages to get into the car, (The thief will have to smash a window because of the deadlockfunction in the door. Any screwdriver hammered into the keyhole will just rotate due to the deadlockfunction. Trying to lift the inside "lockbuttons" at the doors will also amount to nothing since they too are disconnected when you deadlock the car.) he won't be able to start it unless the chip-code on the key matches the one in the igntion-electronics. Even if he manages to pop the hood and make the startermotor rotate by manually connect it to the battery, the car won't start since the computerized ignition program has not recieved go ahed signal from the "codechecker". Of course they can always tow the Saab... but drive away with it unless they change the ignitioncomputer will be impossible. -- ************************************************************************ * /\/\agnus Ingmarsson | Studying for a masters in * * Linkoping University Sweden | Cognitive Science * *-----------------------------+------------+---------------------------* * WWW: http://www.lysator.liu.se/~emperor/ | Phone: INT+46(0)705641323 * *-----------------------------------+------+---------------------------* * e-mail: emperornopsamtor.liu.se | Proud European Federalist * ************************************************************************