Re: Lock Me Up, Lock Me Down...Armor Door Plates

[u3109@calv1.cray.com (Mike W. Young)]

John Eickerman -- jke@halcyon.com wrote:
> > 
> > So, how many of you out there have Armor Door Plates on your Audi or
> > derivatives?  If so, how difficult were they to put on?  Is it suggested
> > to put them on the front and back, or just the fronts.  I picked up a
> > brochure on them at a parts store yesterday, and they seem like a good
> > idea, before the fact.
[SNIP]  
> > Comments anyone?
> > 
> > 
> John,
>   I have the ADP's on my '82 Scirocco.  The car spends most of it's time
> in Boston, and this was a simple investment for the piece of mind.

* Key point - "piece of mind"
[snip]
> One thing to bear in mind, is that the kit doesn't come with gaskets.  The
> large rectangle has some foam underneath, but you might consider replacement
> gaskets when you do the mod.
>   I would put them on all four doors (if I had four doors) because the ease
> of entry isn't limited to just unlocking the door, but in opening it. So all
> four could use the protection.  The tricky part is the determined A**HOLE.
> You've got these nice ADP's, his screwdriver is basically useless, so he
> takes his centerpunch and breaks a window instead.  Assuming the car isn't
> stolen, you need to choose your damage.  Windows can be replaced $$, but so
> also can bodywork be ordered up for the doors $$$$.... Your choice.

Additional Points to ponder. 

The Armor Door Plates are made of metal, and the VW door handles on my
'86, and '89 Jetta GLIs were made of plastic. When pressure was applied
at the door handle base with a large screwdriver the plastic door handle 
broke and the end result was as if I had not spent $$$ for Armor Door 
Plates in the first place. Although after buying the new door handle, there
was no visible damage except a scratch on the ADP.

A variation happened to my '89 GLI at LAX. They just pounded the 
screwdriver through the door sheetmetal under the Armor Door Plate.
These guys even had enough time to locate and steal the Alarm components.
I hate when that happens!!!

State Farm now insists that I carry a rider policy on my sound equipment, 
and I suggest this is the best way to spend your money.

If you make it more difficult to gain entry by adding Armor *ANYTHING* they 
will only cause more damage and stress to the car. VW/Audi thiefs are 
specialist in many cases, and know at least as much as any owner on how to
enter your car. They know much more about defeating any attempt you make to
prevent it. They probably practice more than a few times a week.
Remember,  THEY don't care what YOUR car looks like in the morning.
If they want what you have, they WILL get it. The current vogue for defeating
alarms is to put a drill bit through the fenderwell into the battery, draining
it of juice. This started with Corvettes, but somebody figured that with a
change of drill bits this could apply to almost any car (Except maybe those 
with a battery under the rear seat).
I don't like it, but this is my experience. 

'83 GTI owned 3 years, 2 break-ins (Garaged nightly)
'86 GLI owned 3 years, 1 break-ins (Parked in garage for 2 of the years)
'89 GLI owned 4 years, 3 break-ins (Parked in storage for 2 years)
'93 Audi 90CS owned 1 year, nobody looks... or cares. (10k miles and garaged)

BTW, my Nakamichi/ADS stereo equipment from the '89 GLI is boxed until I 
figure out how/where to install it invisibly in the Audi. 
I can't imagine anybody is stupid enough to bother with the standard radio.

If the Armor Door Locks make *YOU* feel better buy them, but they (IMHO) do
not make your car more secure.

The whole point is to lift the door lock mechanism, in all cases they did.

Sorry for the gloomy outlook so early in the year.
For Auto Burglury an once of prevention does not equal a pound of cure.
A visible (blinking) alarm with a back-up battery, and selective parking 
are the best prevention.


Regards, and safe parking,


Mike


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     Michael W. Young            Americas East Technical Support Group
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