Hey, thanks for the replies guys..

ummm this is a huge draw back..
Are the seats really that desirable to begin with? I just heard about it from one of my friend, and he probably got the info from forums, maybe people living in some less secured cities in US.
Sorry, I forgot to mention, my friends who got broken in all either left stuff inside the car, or has high end aftermarket audios.

I'm not an expert on cars and break-in's.
I used to have a miata, no break in or what so ever.
Would that be a good enough sign of good security around the area?

Mountain View is around the heart of Silicon Valley...
I'm kind of hoping that a soft top would be ok without a garage.
umm what about parking beside an M3 outside a garage? Think that would decrease the chances?

Alarm is definitely a good idea. I don't mind about the constant worrying.
But, to prevent breaking in through the soft top, I probably need those touch sensitive alarm, which makes the noise whenever someone touches it. My neighbors are gonna hate me!! LOL

 

s2k's are the most desirable seats in the tuning empire. Theyre also a target because theyre so easy to steal (slash the top, 4 bolts and your out about $800 richer).

I dont want to scare you away from getting an s2k but it is a reality every s2k owner should be aware of. If you have an AP1 or maybe an early AP2, and your top gets slashed and your seats get stolen. The damage will be enough to total the car just with those things... New seats from honda are about 3-4 grand if i remember correctly, and i think the top is just as much if not more.

 

Get a garage.

 

"If you have an AP1 or maybe an early AP2, and your top gets slashed and your seats get stolen."

when you say early AP2, which year is that?

2005 and 2006?

I'm looking into 2005 s2k.. I guess I'm within that range.
What about late ap2, it doesn't have the problem anymore?

thanks

 

I think it really depends on where you live, my car is outside at all times and I almost never put the top up, sits in the street with the top down almost every night and also every day while I am at work. And by the way, I do have a garage but the nice cars are in there. I think it really depends on where you live.

I was in Stockton a few months ago for work and the hotel manager called me near midnight to tell me that the top was down on my car in the parking lot and I really should put it up, I thanked him and went back to sleep...car was fine.

I was more worried about bears getting into my car when I was in Yosemite for 3 days then people stealing my seats but I figured they would rip through the top so I kept the top down there too, car was fine.

Some parts of Los Angeles, I would think twice about leaving my car out of my sight but the car sits at LAX 1 week of every month with no issues.

Now with all the seat thefts in Florida, I might never even drive my S near there

Just think about where you will be parking it and stop worrying, enjoy the car. And to the people who keep saying get a hardtop, I hope you know windows are easy to break too, if they want your seats they will get them. Why destroy the car by putting a hardtop ? you bought a convertible, enjoy it, long before I put a hardtop on my car, I would sell it and buy a mommy wagon.

By the way, don't get me wrong ! there are times I worry about my car but I will always drive it anyway, just sometimes be more careful than usual or walk a extra block because the lighting is better or like that, luckily those times are very rare for me and the places I visit.

The very best theft protection is good insurance, I pay my premium and let them worry about seat theft and I enjoy the car big time.

 

Early AP2's are 04 and 05. It just really depends of the value of the car because if I remember correctly I think its considered total if the damage is more than half of the value of the car. Most early ap2s are around 19k-22k. And the cost of fixing a slashed top and seats is usually around 8k-10k. And if you have an AP2 your more likely for them to take the center console since its also a very expensive piece. And the bumper is also a magnet too. Late ap2's 06+ are just as easy magnets but since they cost alot more they wont be totalled. In fact a 2008 s2k got broken into right at the honda dealership here in florida, they took the seats, center console, gauge cluster and the shift knob. Car didnt even have 20 miles on it so the dealership is selling it for about 25,000.

An alarm will help alot, because most thieves that steal seats (most of the time) arent after the engine or the car itself, so they wont go through the trouble of popping your hood to disconnect the battery and yadda yadda ya...

My car came with the factory alarm, so whenever the doors open or it detects movement inside the car it goes off. Although my car never leaves my sight and is always garaged. Honestly just get the car and enjoy it, you cant live your life in fear. In the end its just a car/seats. The good times will make up for it IF you ever got robbed.

 

guys, thanks for the reassurance.

mikeyr, thanks for the reassurance!
I would never drive a s2k to LA, I've been there and "accidentally" got out at night for dinner in china town.. man.. don't feel safe at all
As in Yosemite. I agree. Don't think anyone would want to carry your seats around after climbing the half dome .. lol

qbmurderer13, thanks for for the tips. Knowing that you are living in FL without just a factory OEM alarm, I actually feel a lot better around San Francisco inside silicon valley (where i'll be working in around august.
Just curious, the factory alarm can detect movements inside the car? I thought the Honda factory alarm only detects if the doors opens?


I know I'm a bit paranoid, but I started liking s2k since 2001. It's like a 7 years urge already. I would feel really bad if someone break into it.

 

If there is none within walkable distance, move to an apartment complext that has full-=y-gated garage. There are a few buildings in MountainView area that have underground/fully-gated garage -- e.g. Avalon, etc.

Even if you get a hardtop, seatlocks, best alarm install job (i.e. have multiple alarms installed, and hide everything really well), your car is still prone to theft. The S2000 is just a target for theft.

 

^ Unfortunately, I have to agree with this. Don't want to be a pessimist, but if you are going to worry about your car, you need to have it garaged. So many threads lately about theft. It is really sad how much it has increased. I would not have bought my first S seven years ago without a garage space, and I'm even more glad I have the space now. These thieves have become very organized and professional. A real shame...

 

A hardtop isn't going to save your seats. It's very easy to bust a window and unlatch and remove the top.