Securing your car when taking it on vacations

How do any of you secure your car when taking a long weekend trip or vacation. I'm conserned while staying at a motel the car is pretty much exposed to easy access. I don't plan on staying in any dive but you can't be to carefull.
Do you cover the car or what?
Thanks for any advice.

Eddie

My wife and I travel all the time in MR356 and I just keep it covered so you don't know what it is.....Unless your ego is one that makes you put "SPEEDSTER" on it....put the word HUNDAI or KIA.....
As mentioned on this site before, none of us know of one that has been stolen, and if your insured, so what.....get a NEW one

Eddie, on my trip to Knotts Berry Farm last April, I did a few things to keep my car secure and my mind at ease.
1. I always tried to park my car outside my first floor motel window, when possible.
2. I installed a security alarm
3. I installed stickers that I purchased on ebay prominently on the driver's and passenger's windows
4. I had a cutout installed on the ignition circuit (that I never used).
Of all of these things, I think #1 was the most significant, at least for my peace of mind. Let's face it, if somebody wants your car badly enough or is a big enough a$$hole that they do damage to it, it's gonna happen. To the best of my knowledge, nobody on this website has had their car stolen.
my 2 kroner
Hoss

Eddie. I second John's suggestions. I use my alarm to 'alert' me at night.... that is the real value of having an alarm. Some other owners post 'expert' comments but rarely get their car beyond 100 miles from home and travel in groups, FWIW. There are exceptions; John is one.

Other thoughts.

A good cover is worth the cost in money and travel space.

Speedster Replicas are not stolen because 99% of this group has not spent more than 1 night on the road except to an annual rally. Check out the mileage on used Speedsters 'for sale' to verify my claim. I am not knocking other owner's use, but I am amazed at the advice put out by some.

Fuel and or Battery cut offs are worth the small amount of money it takes for the Mod. You'll sleep better on the road, and that makes it worth it.

I always stay at B&Bs or Motels that allow me to park it under my window or (even better) under the Veranda in sight of the night clerk.

Good Insurance without too many exceptions and caveats written in the policy is worth the added cost if you really want to drive your car. (Read: Mileage, Secured Parking, Covered Use, "replacement coverage")


When in doubt, pull the rotor.

Good Luck, Happy Motoring!

How about a cutout replica of yourself made from cardboard! That way someone will think you're just sitting in your car!

Eddie,
We don't have a speedster, we have a spyder but here's what I did when I had to leave it at the Sacramento Airport "secure" Hotel parking for 3 days...

1. Find a parking place with excellent public visibility, don't hide behind the bushes.
2. Shut the fuel pump off with the engine running. Run the engine until the carbs run out of fuel and it shuts down (a surprisingly long time).
3. Remove the fuel pump fuse, replace it with a defective dummy.
4. Remove the steering wheel (ours is quick release)
5. Remove battery ground and hide the special bolt that holds the strap to the battery.
6. Remove the rotor and put the cap back in place.
7. With the front wheels turned, run a heavy bicycle lock cable thru the holes in the Fuchs wheels and the lower suspension arm. Use a hardened padlock to complete the circuit attaching the padlock around both ends of the cable AND the suspension arm.
8. Cover the car.

When it's just over night I skip quite a few of the steps above. I park carefully, run it out of fuel, shut the switch down, remove the wheel and cover it.

If someone REALLY wants your car, they can take it no matter what. But trust me, you can make it really difficult which will eliminate most thieves. The truly determined thieves are after high dollar production cars and collector cars, not replicas. angela

Thank's everyone I appreciate it.

David, I do have a full size cut out of Michale Jordan I could put in the car if it would fit. But I think that would get more attention than the car, he he.

Eddie