Rumor has it the next Fast & Furious installment involves Brian O' Conner (Paul Walker) battling drug lords on a BMX bike. WTF... a bicycle?! Well, maybe that's stretching the truth just a wee bit, but if the producers had planned on bringing back the infamous F&F 4 R34 hero car (May 2009 cover car) driven by Walker, they're in for a big surprise-the car was recently stolen from a Sun Valley, CA warehouse. Surveillance cameras show the thieves go in and out of the storage yard, and make off with the $75,000 Skyline in minutes. My investigative journalism revealed the stolen Skyline was one that was wrecked during the production, sold by Universal Studios, and then restored by a new owner: drifting competitor Chris Milano. The kicker is that the car wasn't insured. So what lessons should be learned from this historical movie-car tragedy? Here are some tips to keep your loved one from falling into the wrong hands.
Senior Editor
Scott Tsuneishi
scott@importtuner.com
01) First and foremost, always insure your car! If you are investing thousands of dollars into your prized possession, wouldn't it be worth dropping a few hundred more for full-coverage insurance, knowing you have protection in case your ride vanishes into thin air? Some insurance companies offer comprehensive coverage based on the value of the vehicle and aftermarket parts you've installed.
02) Never invite strangers or unknown people into your garage if expensive parts are strewn about. Keep in mind: one man's junk is another man's buck.
03) Prevent prying eyes and hands from accessing your automotive haven by keeping your garage door closed and your parts hidden in discreet locations at all times. Everyone's looking to make a quick buck at the expense of someone else, and your car is the perfect target.
04) If the downed economy is forcing you to sell off one of your rides, be smart and offer to show the car at a local mall or gas station, filled with plenty of onlookers. Throwing a sales pitch in front of your house is the worst thing you can do. Not only do they know where the car is being parked at 3 a.m., they can easily bust a jack move on the spot and leave you crying all the way to the police station.
05) If you see a suspicious car trailing you on the way back from work or school, don't be a fool and lead them directly to your house. Take an alternate route or detour to ensure they don't get the inside track.
06) And last but not least, invest in a quality alarm system. There's no guarantee that an alarm will prevent a thief from stealing your vehicle, but with many of the newer alarms using GPS tracking or paging systems, you can gain the upper hand in recovering your car.
Living it.
'95 Nissan Skyline Gt-R
The last time my battery died, I was in a pinch and got a generic one from the local parts store. Dumb move. Don't get me wrong, they're usually fine if you drive your car once a day, week or month, but fire up a car once a season and they go kaput. This time, I went with a deep-cycle SVR 2000P battery for durability, and in case I decide to add audio. Worse case, if the season turns into two, I can always disconnect a terminal (like I should have in the first place). www.svrbatteries.com
Editor
Carter jung
'05 Subaru Wrx Sti
With all my focus spent maintaining my Subaru's EJ25 engine, I realized my neglect to wash the car for over three months, after seeing a nice buildup of seagull crap splattered on the exterior. The chemicals in the fecal matter left the clear coat badly damaged, leaving me no choice but to sit there for the larger part of a day, scrubbing and claying the car. After a thorough wash and wax, the car was looking fresh and clean . . . until the neighbors' kid decided to customize it with her favorite crayon.
Senior editor
Scott tsuneishi
'93 Mazda Miata
As the Project DC2 spent much of the last two months in and out of police impounds for being badass, I've been overdosing on Cali sun behind the wheel of the Project Miata. Nearing track-readiness, I took it out to Dai's Drift Academy (flip to 411) at El Toro Field for an autocross/drift shakedown session. Taking cues from my roomate's camo Hachi, I realized some last-minute tweaks that need to be made before it can be called "competitive". Part one of "Project Miata: Cheap Thrills" is coming soon . . .
Tech editor
Luke munnell