JohnC6
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We're considering changing the car for an SUV. We were considering a 'mild-hybrid',too. It doesn't need plugging in.
I had a Prius that was hybrid and really liked it. My wife had it provided to her by her employer so I bought it from them when they gave my wife a new one. I eventually sold it because, one night, in the early hours, the cat converter was stolen. The car was on the drive. It would have cost me £1350 had I gone to Toyota but I managed to get it done with so-called 'after market' parts. New, but not made by Toyota. It cost £700 fitted. I had to put the car into our garage which meant making room by taking down low shelving..a pain ..literally, getting in and out of it .Garages aren't what they used to be re size. The thieves would just wait until I got a new cat converter and steal it again which is what happened to a chap in London that I read about. He collected his Prius at 2.00pm from the garage and the thieves returned that very night and stole it. He had no off-road parking .The thieves get about £400-500 for them It's big business. They sell them abroad,too. They will hold up traffic in a street ,too whilst they do it.Takes just a few minutes , if that and anyone brave, or foolish, enough to confront them will be met with threats of violence .I saw CCTV of one man trying to stop them and he was threatened with an iron bar by one of the gang who was the look-out.
So.. My understanding was that the manufacturers of the vehicles most at risk, the Prius, the Honda Jazz, the Lexus for example, have since taken steps to make the cat converter inaccessible. Goodness knows how much one for a Lexus would cost to renew. Toyota has incorporated a catlock and improved serial number etching to assist tracking.... after the theft.
Honda has put a tray under the chassis and improved security on certain models..eg Lexus.The thieves use a jack and a small hand-held, powered metal cutters. Youtube video below.
I googled it to see how things are. I won't be buying a hybrid nor a mild hybrid.
gapinsurance123.co.uk
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkNMCzzwrI4
I had a Prius that was hybrid and really liked it. My wife had it provided to her by her employer so I bought it from them when they gave my wife a new one. I eventually sold it because, one night, in the early hours, the cat converter was stolen. The car was on the drive. It would have cost me £1350 had I gone to Toyota but I managed to get it done with so-called 'after market' parts. New, but not made by Toyota. It cost £700 fitted. I had to put the car into our garage which meant making room by taking down low shelving..a pain ..literally, getting in and out of it .Garages aren't what they used to be re size. The thieves would just wait until I got a new cat converter and steal it again which is what happened to a chap in London that I read about. He collected his Prius at 2.00pm from the garage and the thieves returned that very night and stole it. He had no off-road parking .The thieves get about £400-500 for them It's big business. They sell them abroad,too. They will hold up traffic in a street ,too whilst they do it.Takes just a few minutes , if that and anyone brave, or foolish, enough to confront them will be met with threats of violence .I saw CCTV of one man trying to stop them and he was threatened with an iron bar by one of the gang who was the look-out.
So.. My understanding was that the manufacturers of the vehicles most at risk, the Prius, the Honda Jazz, the Lexus for example, have since taken steps to make the cat converter inaccessible. Goodness knows how much one for a Lexus would cost to renew. Toyota has incorporated a catlock and improved serial number etching to assist tracking.... after the theft.
Honda has put a tray under the chassis and improved security on certain models..eg Lexus.The thieves use a jack and a small hand-held, powered metal cutters. Youtube video below.I googled it to see how things are. I won't be buying a hybrid nor a mild hybrid.
Hybrid Car Owners Beware: Catalytic Converter Theft Surges Across the UK in 2025 | Blog | GapInsurance123
Catalytic converter theft is rising sharply across the UK, with hybrid vehicles being the primary target. Discover the most stolen models, why hybrids are at risk, and how to protect your car from costly damage.
gapinsurance123.co.uk
