Honestly, I’m with you—just locking up and hoping for the best doesn’t always cut it. I started using a steering wheel lock after my neighbor’s Civic got hit, and it’s cheap peace of mind. Has anyone actually had luck with dash cams or alarms at shows? Wondering if they’re worth the hassle or just make you a bigger target...
Has anyone actually had luck with dash cams or alarms at shows? Wondering if they’re worth the hassle or just make you a bigger target...
Honestly, alarms are hit or miss. My buddy had his Mustang at a show—alarm blaring, but people just ignored it because they thought it was a glitch. Dash cams, though, saved my butt once when some kid tried to key my paint. Caught him clear as day. Only pain is remembering to check the footage. Ever had someone actually back off because of visible security stuff, or do they just not care?
I’ve always wondered if the visible stuff—like a blinking dash cam or a steering lock—actually scares anyone off, or if it just makes people more curious. I’ve had folks lean in to check out my camera setup, but not sure if that’s good or bad. Has anyone actually had someone admit they left your car alone because of security gear? Or is it just wishful thinking? Sometimes I feel like the real deterrent is just being nearby... anyone else just hang around their car the whole time?
I kinda get what you mean about the visible stuff maybe just making people more curious. I’m still new to all this, but honestly, I don’t think most people at car shows are really out to mess with your ride. The steering lock and blinking dash cam probably help a bit, but if someone’s really determined, they’ll find a way around that stuff anyway.
I’m on a tight budget, so I just stick with the basics—lock the doors, don’t leave anything tempting in sight, and try to park where there’s a lot of foot traffic. Hanging around the car the whole time sounds exhausting, and honestly, I’d rather be checking out other cars or grabbing food.
I’ve never had anyone say they left my car alone because of security gadgets. If anything, people just wanna ask about the camera setup or point out how “extra” it looks. Maybe it helps? But I feel like common sense and not drawing too much attention is just as good as any flashy gear.
If anything, people just wanna ask about the camera setup or point out how “extra” it looks.
That’s been my experience too. I brought my E-class to a show last year and had a cheap steering lock on it—nothing fancy. Folks kept asking if I was worried about theft, but honestly, I think just keeping valuables out of sight and not making a big deal draws less attention. The only time I had an issue was when I left a designer bag on the seat (rookie mistake). Never again.
