Stolen Cars – Not Mine!

We have read about it and heard about it on the news, somebody’s car getting stolen. But we never can imagine it happening to us. The fact of the matter is, if it hasn’t happened to you, then you have been lucky as statistically, a car is stolen every 23 seconds in the United States with a total of nearly 1.4 million vehicles stolen in all. According to the FBI, auto theft is an estimated $7.5 billion business,

Where is your car most likely to get stolen at? According to statistics, certain regions of the United States are more susceptible to theft than others. The highest amount of auto theft occurs in the Southern states, at a 35% rate. This is followed by Western states at 28%, Midwestern states at 20%, the last is Northeastern States 17%.

Is there a time of year that cars are stolen more often? Not really. Crime rates only increase slightly between January and July. The lowest percentage of auto thefts occurs in February and April, probably because of fewer days in the month.

If you live in a small town, your percentages drop even more in regards to the theft averages. Most auto thefts typically occur in larger cities. Again, this may just be a matter of numbers due to the fact that there are more cars in cities and more people are parking on the streets or in open parking lots. In rural areas people tend to have garages or big properties with long driveways. Theft rarely occurs in rural yards that have dogs and seem more obscure.

If you are hoping to recover your car, again, you are more likely to have better results if you live in a small town or rural area. This is again due to the fact that there are fewer people and a smaller search area and therefore the police don’t have to search as hard as police in large cities. In large cities there could be thousands of similar looking vehicles in traffic, making it difficult to pick out the stolen car.

How long does it take for a thief to steal your car? Statistics show that an experienced car thief can steal your car in less than a minute. While some cars are hot-wired other thieves may just smash the drivers’ window in. For the most part, cars are seemingly stolen for the value of their parts rather than resale or personal use. According to insurance companies, a $20,000 stolen vehicle can be stripped and sold into $30,000 worth of parts.

Now, if you live in the city and are getting concerned, not to worry. There are some precautions you can take to help make the statistics favorable to you. They include:
• Never hide a second set of keys in your car. Extra keys can be easily found if a thief takes time to look.
• Lock Your Car. Approximately 50 percent of all vehicles stolen were left unlocked.
• Park in attended lots. Auto thieves do not like witnesses and prefer unattended parking lots.
• If you park in an attended lot, leave only the ignition/door key. If your trunk and glovebox use the same key as the door, have one of them changed. Don't give the attendant easy access to your glovebox and trunk. Upon returning, check the tires, spare tire, and battery to be sure they are the same as those you had when you parked.
• Take Your Keys. Nearly 20 percent of all vehicles stolen have the keys in them.
• Park in well-lighted areas. Over half of all vehicle thefts occur at night.
• Completely close car windows when parking. Don't make it any easier for the thief to enter your vehicle.
• Don't leave valuables in plain view. Don't make your car a more desirable target and attract thieves by leaving valuables in plain sight.
• Never leave your car running, even if you will only be gone a minute. Vehicles are commonly stolen at convenience stores, gas stations, ATMs, etc. Many vehicles are also stolen on cold mornings when the owner leaves the vehicle running to warm up.
• Park with your wheels turned toward the curb. Make your car tough to tow away. Wheels should also be turned to the side in driveways and parking lots.
• If your vehicle is rear-wheel drive, back into your driveway. Rear wheels lock on four-wheel drive vehicles, making them difficult to tow. Front-wheel drive vehicles should be parked front end first.
• Always use your emergency brake when parking. In addition to ensuring safety, using the emergency brake makes your car harder to tow.
• Don't leave the registration or title in your car. A car thief will use these to sell your stolen car. File the title at your home or office, and carry registration in your purse or wallet.
• If you have a garage, use it. If you have a garage, take the time to use it rather than parking outside where your vehicle is more vulnerable.
• When parking in a garage, lock the garage door and your vehicle. By locking both the garage and vehicle doors, the chances of deterring a thief greatly improve.
• Disable your vehicle when leaving it unattended for an extended period of time. Remove the electronic ignition fuse, coil wire, rotor distributor, or otherwise disable your vehicle anytime thieves may have extended access to it.
• Engrave expensive accessories. Engrave personal ID numbers on car stereos, cellular phones, etc., so the thief will have difficulty disposing of them.
• Replace T-Shaped door locks with straight locks. Some vehicle doors have lock assemblies at window level that flare out in a knob or "T" shape. A thief can use various tools to gain access inside the vehicle, grab and pull the lock. Straight locks prevent this.
• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Stolen cars/parts are more easily traced when vehicle VIN numbers have been etched on car windows and major parts.

Practice these simple steps and get into the habit of doing them time and again, and you won’t have to worry as much in being a statistic of car theft.

Greg Chapman of Greg Chapman Motors is a knowledgable and leading provider of used cars, trucks, and SUV’s. Since 1959, Chapman motors has supplied reliable used cars in Austin and the surrounding area. For more information please visit http://www.gregchapmanmotors.com.

How Volkswagen and Porsche Share Common Ties

While many of us know that the Volkswagen Beetle Car originated in Germany and was produced as the “people's car”, few know how its origins are tied in with Porsche. So what is the story, you ask?

It all started when Adolf Hitler had a vision of his countrymen being able to own a cheap car and that they would use these cars to travel on great networks of roads called autobahns. At the same time, a man named Ferdinand Porsche had just set up an automotive design company, which became known as the Porsche Büro. The company patented a sophisticated independent front suspension system, which consisted of transversely mounted torsion bars connected to two trailing arms on each side. At the time, this was lighter than most other common types of suspension. In 1931, a German motorcycle company, Zündapp, asked Porsche if he could design a suitable car for them, this was followed by the design of a streamlined two-door sedan, which had lines similar to the Beetle. It was designated the Type 12.

Hitler saw Porsche’s work and invited him to submit a design for this peoples car with requirements that it had to be cheap, economical, fast (all of 60 miles per hour) and to accommodate two adults and three children comfortably. So, in January 1934 Porsche gave Hitler a proposal for his car and by June that year work had begun.

While the idea of a people's car wasn't exactly a new one as before 1930 there were many attempts to design such a car, it wasn’t until Porsche that the concept was met. Creating such a car was much more than design and engineering, it also required finding a way to create the car in a way that an average worker only had to spend his yearly wage to buy it.

The production of the car went well until World War II when manufacturing had to have a military twist. Believe it or not Volkswagen came up with a military version of the Beetle and they were called the Kübelwagen and Schwimmwagen. Porsche also at this time produced several designs for heavy tanks but lost out to Henschel & Son in both contracts that ultimately led to the Tiger I and the Tiger II. However, not all this work was wasted, as the chassis Porsche designed for the Tiger I was used as the base for the Elefant tank destroyer. Porsche also developed the Maus super-heavy tank in the closing stages of the war, producing two prototypes.

By 1945 the Volkswagen factory fell to the British and Porsche lost his position as Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen. British Major Ivan Hirst was put in charge of the factory and Porsche was arrested for war crimes, but not tried. During his 20-month imprisonment, Ferdinand Porsche's son, Ferry Porsche, decided to build his own car because he could not find an existing one that he wanted to buy. He also had to steer the company through some of its most difficult days until his father's release in August 1947.

As time went by, both Volkswagen and Porsche car companies collaborated to make the VW-Porsche 914 and 914-6, whereby the 914-6 had a Porsche engine, and the 914 had a Volkswagen engine. In late 2005, Porsche took an 18.65% stake in the Volkswagen Group, further cementing their relationship, and preventing a takeover of Volkswagen, which was rumored at the time. Speculated suitors included DaimlerChrysler AG, BMW, and Renault.

On March 26, 2007, Porsche took its holding of Volkswagen shares to 30.9%, triggering a takeover bid under German law. On September 16, 2008, Porsche increased its shares by another 4.89%, in effect taking control of the company, with more than 35% of the voting rights. It again triggered a takeover bid, but this time over Audi.

While the history of a man named Porsche and a car called the Volkswagen have worked hand-in-hand, today each have their own unique meaning as well as their own unique looks.

Greg Chapman of Greg Chapman Motors is a knowledgable and leading provider of used cars, trucks, and SUV’s. Since 1959, Chapman motors has supplied reliable used cars in Austin and the surrounding area. For more information please visit http://www.gregchapmanmotors.com.

Car Suspension and Its Value

If you have ridden in an old horse-drawn wagon, you know how rough and bumpy of a ride it can be and maybe you have pity on the old pioneers and their mode of travel. Today, in our modes of travel, we have vehicles with what is called ‘suspension’.

Car suspension helps our travels become smooth and comfortable. Suspension also protects our vehicles from the jolts and bumps of the road. Without suspension, our cars might vibrate into pieces. Car suspension is usually comprised of two basic components. They are springs and shock absorbers. There are also a number of different types of suspension available for both front and rear axles. The main groupings are dependent and independent suspension types.

In order to understand the working of car suspension, you must understand the parts completely.

1. Suspension – Suspension on vehicles varies from front to rear, independent and dependent. Dependent systems – With these units, the front wheel's suspension systems are physically linked. There is only one type of dependent system and this is basically a solid bar under the front of the car, kept in place by leaf springs and shock absorbers. This type of suspension is still common on trucks and hasn’t been used on mainstream cars due to the shimmy it causes, the fact this kind of suspension weighs a long and because you can’t adjust the alignment of wheels. Front suspensions that are independent came into existence in 1930 and are sometimes called the MacPherson Strut. This is most commonly used in European vehicles. Other suspension units include: Double Wishbone Suspension Systems, Coil Spring; Multi-Link Suspension, Trailing-Arm Suspension, Twin I-Bean Suspension, Transverse Leaf-Spring, Solid-Axle Coil Spring, Beam Axle, 4-Bar, and the Rear Suspension Independent.

2. Springs - Springs are a major component of a car's suspension. Springs are available in three types: coil springs, leaf springs and torsion bars. The commonly known spring is coil spring. Almost all the heavy-duty vehicles had leaf spring since 1985. They appeared as metal layers, joined to axle.

3. Shock Absorbers - Along with springs, shock absorbers also play key role in the working of suspension. A shock absorber absorbs the shock. While driving car on a rough road, it dampens the induced vertical motion. The shock absorber has two major functions to accomplish. Firstly, it absorbs the shock caused by driving on a bumpy road by stopping the transmission of shock to the car chassis. Secondly, it manages the suspension in all road conditions. It makes the vehicle well planted on road. They are also known as dampeners or velocity-sensitive hydraulic damping devices. The working of the shock absorber is well conjunct with springs. The movement of the wheel is allowed by spring. Thus, lead to conversion of energy in road shock to kinetic energy of unsprung mass. Later, damper dissipates this energy. Damper performs dissipation by forcing gas or oil through a small hole or constricted valve.

Adjustable shock absorbers are also available in the market that allows modifications in the size of constriction. Smaller the size of constriction, stiffer will be the suspension. Nowadays, car manufactures are also offering different types of suspensions for both the front and rear axles. They are categorized as dependant and independent suspension types.

When you experience a wallowing motion on undulating road surface, it could mean that the suspension of the vehicle is going through excessive wear. This calls for immediate replacement, as it would not disable the car, but would lead to accident. Replacement of old worn out suspension with a new one will lead to enhanced handling, as it will minimize from end drive while braking. It also enhances safety and security of the vehicle by controlling body sway


4. Struts - A car's front suspension is also referred to as a struts which attaches directly into the front frame near the engine compartment. And a car's rear suspension system is also known as shocks, which ride independently.

Apart from your car's tires and seats, the suspension is the prime mechanism that separates your bum from the road. It also prevents your car from shaking itself to pieces.

Greg Chapman of Greg Chapman Motors is a knowledgable and leading provider of used cars, trucks, and SUV’s. Since 1959, Chapman motors has supplied reliable used cars in Austin and the surrounding area. For more information please visit http://www.gregchapmanmotors.com.

Buying A Quality Used Vehicle

In today’s economy, everybody wants to spend wisely and get the most for what they buy. Maybe this is why so many are turning toward purchasing used vehicles rather than new. If you have never purchased a used vehicle before, there are some easy tips to follow so that you can make a wise decision and can take home something of the best quality.

1. Matching Your Car To Your Lifestyle – Before you hit the sales lot in search of your perfect vehicle, make a list ahead of time sketching out your lifestyle and what type of vehicle would most fit it. Do you have children and car seats that need to be easily accessed? Are you adventurous and want something that can take you off road and through all sorts of conditions? What about color? If you live in a hot climate, black is probably out of the picture. What color appeals the most to you or is it important? What types of features do you really love in a car and can’t live without? Vehicles come with plenty of features such as: Cup holders, ashtrays, leg room, sunroof, sound, having everything automated, tires – figure out ahead of time what it is you absolutely love and what you can live without.

2. Are You Buying A Certified Car – If you are looking to buy a certified car, do your research ahead of time. If you see on a vehicle "certified used" or "certified pre-owned," it means that cars feature warranties that extend beyond the initial "when new" coverage. For a vehicle to qualify to be a “certified used" vehicle, the warranty must be backed by the original vehicle manufacturer. When the manufacturer backs the vehicle it is using its dealer network to inspect the car, determine if it is worth certifying and offer support for the vehicle for a period of time beyond the original warranty. Not all used cars can qualify for certified pre-owned programs, and terms vary from one brand to the next, but any true certified pre-owned program will include at least a 100-point inspection of the car. Make sure the manufacturer — and not just the local dealer — is offering the certification. That way you know the CPO car meets the manufacturer's stringent certified requirements, and you'll be able to have your vehicle serviced at locations nationwide.

3. Vehicle History – You have probably seen the commercials where the individual is selling their car that could have been ruined by a flood and yet rather than confess the damage, they comment that it has had miner water damage. To find out a vehicle’s true history, the best way is to use Carfax. To use carfax, you will need the vehicle’s identification number or VIN number. Carfax’ history dates back to 1986 when it worked closely with the Missouri Automobile Dealers Association, providing vehicle history reports to the dealer market. By the end of 1993, Carfax obtained title information from nearly all fifty states. With the largest automobile database, the company offered all consumers the same instant access to vehicle history reports that auto dealers, banks and other businesses were already subscribed to. Carfax can provide you with a ton of information on the vehicle you are looking at, letting you know whether it has been in a wreck or damaged then repaired, how many people have owned it, what types of major repairs it has had and more. While you never can be 100% sure about the accuracy of the Carfax information, it well may be worth $30 to find out what is listed. More information is always better when you are buying a car.

4. Check Your Credit Score – Before making a purchase, know how much you can afford. Check on your credit score or you can even call your bank and get preapproved for a loan. Knowing where you stand will give you a heads up on what kind of loan you can qualify for before you start shopping. Simultaneously, you will also want to weigh what kind of payment you can afford. Vehicle loans are typically for three to five years and interest rates vary according to your credit score. There are many online calculators to help you estimate what your payment might be based on estimated current vehicle interest rates and length of loan. Being prepared ahead of time with what you know you can afford will help you keep focused on what type of vehicles to look at and test drive. You certainly don’t want to get your heart set on something out of your budget and yet you want to buy something that fits your life style.

5. Do Some Price Comparisons – Before you even step foot on the car lot, do your homework on which car you might be leaning toward and what it will cost. This will give you a base idea of how to compare apples to apples. Good online sources for vehicle value are Kelley Blue Book Used Car Values or even local classifieds. Remember that these tools will give you only averages and will have to take into consideration the vehicle's condition, mileage, optional equipment and other factors.


Taking the time to do your homework will help you ensure that you are making the best decision when purchasing your next used vehicle.

Greg Chapman of Greg Chapman Motors is a knowledgable and leading provider of used cars, trucks, and SUV’s. Since 1959, Chapman motors has supplied reliable used cars in Austin and the surrounding area. For more information please visit http://www.gregchapmanmotors.com.