Can These Cars Be Stolen?

[Guest androcles]

I had a slight problem recently when a (non citroen) garage mechanic accidentally locked out the ignition code key pad on my 2.1 TD Xantia and there was a bit of panic until I eventually followed the rather straightforward instructions in the owner's manual

 

My question is this: if the code is essential to start the car and the only way to change it (if you don't know the original code) is an expensive recoding procedure (according to the owner's manual), does this make these vehicles effectively unstealable? And if that's the case, why aren't all vehicles fitted with a similar code system?

 

New vehicles increasingly come with a coded/chipped key or card of some sort which, if an enterprising thief manages to get it from your house or wherever, he's got your car whereas you could GIVE the Xantia key to the thief and he'd still not get anywhere!!

 

Am I making sense or is there a flaw in my suggestion?

[kfk]

whether it be a coded key pad or a chipped key it is basically the same idea.......however as you say, you can give a coded key to a thief for them to take it.......there doesnt seem much benefit in the key pad system as they will still hold a knife to your throat and ask you for the code first!

[bigbrian]

whether it be a coded key pad or a chipped key it is basically the same idea.......however as you say, you can give a coded key to a thief for them to take it.......there doesnt seem much benefit in the key pad system as they will still hold a knife to your throat and ask you for the code first!

It does mean that casual thieves are stopped though. Just for interest, the coding is actually held in the fuel injection pump and operates the stop valve, it can be bypassed but it ain't that easy.

[techbod]

there is no car made that cant be stolen with the right tools like a tow truck/fork lift that's how the council takes them when your parked in a no park area so there is nothing stopping the thief from using the same method but they would do it to strip it for parts rather than for them selves

[Guest Colin Hunter]

F***S Sake! Who wants to nick an old Xantia anyway?

[kfk]

well there are some wierd people out there.

[techbod]

its mainly the youth of today and they will take anything for a buzz but lets not knock the xantia its a good car especially the V6 :rolleyes: