2004 Most-Stolen Vehicle List

[OrangeShadow]

#25 honda civic who in there right mind would want to jack a civic?

[Alastor]

"Unfortunately, if somebody really wants to steal your car, they're going to steal it," Spencer said. "That's pretty hard to avoid."

Ford F-150's are the second most popular vehicle in the world (often first, but this year I think they were second). They have powerful engines, but aren't real fast. They're also common as dirt, and so parts and such are relatively cheap, lowering the value of a "chopped" vehicle.

And yes, they're mildly harder to steal - relatively speaking. Ford F-150s have a problem in their ignition system though, which makes them incredibly easy to "pop and cop" - my F-150 sits in front of my house right now and is currently hot-wired actually, specifically because of this problem and me getting tired of fixing it, so I just hot-wired it and said, "To Hell with it."

Mostly it's because they have powerful (but not fast) engines and because the resale value of the trucks and the parts simply aren't as high as for imports and the rice burners that might be less common and more expensive.

[FanFromMichigan]

....and why did you put this up?...... did your car get stolen?

Nope, just thought it was interesting.

Not a Ford anywhere on the list. Does that mean those of us that drive Fords should feel safer? Or does it mean our cars (or in my case truck) are pieces of crap that no one wants?

Mercury, and the 2004 Mercury Marauder, are both owned by Ford, but I think that there are very few Ford's stolen because either they have less powerful engines, or that maybe they are harder to steal.

[broncosphreek]

Source

1. 1999 Acura Integra
2. 2002 BMW M Roadster
3. 1998 Acura Integra
4. 1991 GMC V2500
5. 2002 Audi S4
6. 1996 Acura Integra
7. 1995 Acura Integra
8. 2004 Mercury Marauder
9. 1997 Acura Integra
10. 1992 Mercedes-Benz 600
11. 2001 Acura Integra
12. 1989 Chevrolet R25
13. 1993 Cadillac Fleetwood
14. 1994 Acura Integra
15. 1996 Lexus GS
16. 2000 Acura Integra
17. 1999 Mercedes-Benz CL
18. 1996 Lexus SC
19. 2004 Cadillac Escalade
20. 1996 BMW 750
21. 1998 Land Rover Range Rover
22. 1994 Audi Cabriolet
23. 2001 BMW M Roadster
24. 2003 Cadillac Escalade
25. 2000 Honda Civic

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Source

DETROIT - The 1999 Acura Integra coupe was the most-stolen vehicle last year and Integras from other model years weren't far behind, likely the targets of street racers who want their fast engines, according to a report released Tuesday.

One out of every 200 registered 1999 Acura Integras was stolen last year, said Chicago-based CCC Information Services Inc., an insurance industry tracker of theft and vehicle damage. The list compares loss claims to the total number of registered vehicles.

The 2002 BMW M Roadster was No. 2 on the list and the 1998 Acura Integra was third. Other vehicles in the top 10 include the 1991 GMC V2500, the 2002 Audi S4 and the 2004 Mercury Marauder.

Jeanene O'Brien, CCC's director of marketing services, said an upsurge in street racing may be responsible for the appearance of the Integra and other fast cars on the list.

"We can never say for sure why a car's stolen, but we can look at the data and make some interesting assumptions," O'Brien said.

She said the Integra, which was replaced by the RSX in the 2002 model year, also may be targeted for its parts. Acura is Honda Motor Co.'s luxury brand, and the Integra engine can fit into other Hondas, for example.

O'Brien said it's difficult to overstate the value of vehicle parts. A 2000 Honda Accord LX cost $22,365 when it was new but would cost $68,065 if it were built entirely from Honda replacement parts, she said.

Pop culture's love affair with vehicles like the Cadillac Escalade sport utility vehicle also is driving up thefts because of perceived value, O'Brien said. A used Escalade can still command up to $49,000, she said. Limited-production vehicles like the Mercury Marauder — which was made for only two years — also are targets.

"Never before in our society have we had such insight into movie and music stars and their cars and homes, and that drives up preferences," O'Brien said.

Acura spokesman Mike Spencer said Acura was aware of the theft problem and made several changes to the Integra during its lifetime, including adding more secure locks and immobilizer systems and installing door panels that were harder for thieves to break into.

"Unfortunately, if somebody really wants to steal your car, they're going to steal it," Spencer said. "That's pretty hard to avoid."

The average age of a stolen vehicle in 2004 was 6.6 years, down slightly from 2003. The average age of all registered vehicles on the road in 2004 was 7.9 years.

Vehicles from the 1997 model year were most susceptible to theft last year, followed by model years 1996, 1999, 1995 and 1998. Acura was the most-stolen brand, followed by Hummer, Land Rover, Daewoo and Honda.

CCC, which provides software and information services to insurers and repair shops, compiles its report with loss claims from more than 350 property and casualty insurers in North America. The annual report is based on total losses for vehicles that are stolen and not recovered or stripped to the point of being a total loss.

....and why did you put this up?...... did your car get stolen?

a long time ago, my brother's car was stolen, and a couple months later he found it in Erie, and we live in a whole other state!!! it was kool though

[Calif. Bronco]

Not a Ford anywhere on the list. Does that mean those of us that drive Fords should feel safer? Or does it mean our cars (or in my case truck) are pieces of crap that no one wants?

[chickennob2]

Well lets be glad that in the English language, we have two letters to make the "K" sound. If the company that filed that report had used the other letter...

[TDash85]

Wow the Acura Integra must be very sad moving around all the time.

[FanFromMichigan]

Source

1. 1999 Acura Integra
2. 2002 BMW M Roadster
3. 1998 Acura Integra
4. 1991 GMC V2500
5. 2002 Audi S4
6. 1996 Acura Integra
7. 1995 Acura Integra
8. 2004 Mercury Marauder
9. 1997 Acura Integra
10. 1992 Mercedes-Benz 600
11. 2001 Acura Integra
12. 1989 Chevrolet R25
13. 1993 Cadillac Fleetwood
14. 1994 Acura Integra
15. 1996 Lexus GS
16. 2000 Acura Integra
17. 1999 Mercedes-Benz CL
18. 1996 Lexus SC
19. 2004 Cadillac Escalade
20. 1996 BMW 750
21. 1998 Land Rover Range Rover
22. 1994 Audi Cabriolet
23. 2001 BMW M Roadster
24. 2003 Cadillac Escalade
25. 2000 Honda Civic

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Source

DETROIT - The 1999 Acura Integra coupe was the most-stolen vehicle last year and Integras from other model years weren't far behind, likely the targets of street racers who want their fast engines, according to a report released Tuesday.

One out of every 200 registered 1999 Acura Integras was stolen last year, said Chicago-based CCC Information Services Inc., an insurance industry tracker of theft and vehicle damage. The list compares loss claims to the total number of registered vehicles.

The 2002 BMW M Roadster was No. 2 on the list and the 1998 Acura Integra was third. Other vehicles in the top 10 include the 1991 GMC V2500, the 2002 Audi S4 and the 2004 Mercury Marauder.

Jeanene O'Brien, CCC's director of marketing services, said an upsurge in street racing may be responsible for the appearance of the Integra and other fast cars on the list.

"We can never say for sure why a car's stolen, but we can look at the data and make some interesting assumptions," O'Brien said.

She said the Integra, which was replaced by the RSX in the 2002 model year, also may be targeted for its parts. Acura is Honda Motor Co.'s luxury brand, and the Integra engine can fit into other Hondas, for example.

O'Brien said it's difficult to overstate the value of vehicle parts. A 2000 Honda Accord LX cost $22,365 when it was new but would cost $68,065 if it were built entirely from Honda replacement parts, she said.

Pop culture's love affair with vehicles like the Cadillac Escalade sport utility vehicle also is driving up thefts because of perceived value, O'Brien said. A used Escalade can still command up to $49,000, she said. Limited-production vehicles like the Mercury Marauder — which was made for only two years — also are targets.

"Never before in our society have we had such insight into movie and music stars and their cars and homes, and that drives up preferences," O'Brien said.

Acura spokesman Mike Spencer said Acura was aware of the theft problem and made several changes to the Integra during its lifetime, including adding more secure locks and immobilizer systems and installing door panels that were harder for thieves to break into.

"Unfortunately, if somebody really wants to steal your car, they're going to steal it," Spencer said. "That's pretty hard to avoid."

The average age of a stolen vehicle in 2004 was 6.6 years, down slightly from 2003. The average age of all registered vehicles on the road in 2004 was 7.9 years.

Vehicles from the 1997 model year were most susceptible to theft last year, followed by model years 1996, 1999, 1995 and 1998. Acura was the most-stolen brand, followed by Hummer, Land Rover, Daewoo and Honda.

CCC, which provides software and information services to insurers and repair shops, compiles its report with loss claims from more than 350 property and casualty insurers in North America. The annual report is based on total losses for vehicles that are stolen and not recovered or stripped to the point of being a total loss.