so I'm new here, i was wondering how bad the theft rate was on this generation TL? is it anywhere near 2000 and below civics and integras? how trustworthy is the oem alarm? I have electronics already installed (headunit, amps, speakers, woofers), and I'm about to spend a good amount of cash on wheels and suspension, I've always owned older civics with a lot of money invested in them and I've always done all i could security-wise but living in southern california i still didn't feel safe even with stealth alarm installs and smart start/gps, should i be as worried as i was when i owned 1999-2000 civic si's?

my cars are garaged over night, my work place is gated and we have security at the entrances and exits, but i do like to travel with my girlfriend where i usually leave my car in lots for extended periods of time which is what I'm worried about

 

I seriously doubt it's as common as those other cars, but I don't have data to back that up. The OEM alarm only goes off if any door, the trunk, or the hood is opened while the alarm is active. Someone can steal your rims without it going off. Someone can smash it, key it, etc.

What you can do is add a tilt, shock, and/or proximity sensor to the factory alarm. Check out this thread: https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/%5Bdiy%5D-add-some-security-shock-sensors-factory-alarm-855658/

Also, someone had their car stolen and it was recovered using LoJack. https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/stolen-07-tl-s-nbp-san-gabriel-valley-la-%2A%2Aupdate-car-recovered-lojack-ftw%2A%2A-880518/

 

Goes with the territory. You spruce up your car the more likely it will get jacked. I've seen many threads here about wheels, spoilers, roof spoilers and other stuff being ripped off. POS thieves are everywhere. Maybe try and park your car in a valet or other secure area when you travel? It may cost more but will give you piece of mind.

Welcome to AcuraZine.

 

To answer your initial question. No. The 3rd gen TL is NOT nearly as easy to steal as an integra or civic from the 90s-early 2000. I helped someone on hondatech get into his car when he locked his keys inside and his batter died. Just had him deflate the front driver side tire a tad, reach around the fender line for a hood pull cable. Pop the hood and youve got access to the battery.

The 3rd and 4th gen Integras were the most commonly stolen cars in america for YEARS. Youd see a list with the 1995 integra at #10, 1997 @ 5, and I remember by 1994 inetgra was even number 3 or 4 at one point. Sketchy as fuck.

Now a days acuras are much harder to get into let alone start up.
Anything after starting from the rsx is decently safe compared to the integras and earlier civics. But its just a matter of time and location. Even a TL can be stolen.. though I do see more stolen wheels/visors threads for TLs... nothing like the kid who got his auto integra stolen while taking prom pictures at lunch time at the local mall. Ill always remember that story :/ Glad I sold my Integra.

 

Get lojack they put it on and the only person who knows whee it's placed is the person who put it on. I got it cause I'm really paranoid when it comes to parking my car and leaving it. I have to check on it every so often just to keep me sane. Oh and wheel locks they may not be 100% theft-proof but it will deter most thieves.

 

Honestly i havent really heard of 3rd gen TL getting stolen, i've seen pictures of wheels being stolen but thats about it.

 

The more mods you have the more likely it is to get vandalized/stolen.

 

As usual, if you have a determined enough scumbag, they will have your car, even if they tow it away. Layered security is best (up to and including LoJack), but no guarantee of success. I think the best thing to do is not have the car stand out against others and if it is highly modded, garage it.

 

^

 

not as bad as civics and tegs though and it was recovered

 

No car is unstealable, but the comparison between the 3G and Civic/Integra is not on the same scale. Now there are a lot of stories on here about spoilers getting ripped off, or window visors or what not, but not to the extent where a flat head is inserted into the ignition and driven off. Now it will still not stop people from putting a gun in your face and making you get out or towing your car at night, but those incidents are few and far between