President Obama first learned to drive in his grandfather's Ford Granada. (Photo Credit: CC BY-SA/Vectorportal/Wikipedia)

If you’re a fan of presidential car trivia, you’re in the right place. This concludes the look into the history of presidential cars. Part one: President Taft to President Kennedy.

Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969)

President Johnson’s long, white Lincoln Continental Convertible carried visitors on tours of his Stonewall, Texas, ranch. But it was his blue Amphicar – one of 3,878 and the only “civilian amphibious passenger automobile ever to be mass produced” – that was most notable.

Richard Nixon (1969-1974)

Much like President Johnson before him, President Nixon used a modified Lincoln Continental Executive limousine for official business. He had the one-piece glass roof of his X-100 replaced with a smaller glass roof with hinged panel. The car stayed in service until 1977, at which time it was retired to the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich.

Gerald Ford (1974-1977)

According to Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library archive specialist Nancy Mirshah:

“President Ford briefly used the 1961 Lincoln Continental in which JFK was shot,” she told the Times via email. “It was also used by LBJ and Richard Nixon. But the bulk of Ford’s presidential travel was in a 1968-1969 Lincoln Continental.”

Jimmy Carter (1977-1981)

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter bought their first automobile together in 1948, a Studebaker Commander Land Cruiser. As President Carter told Turning Wheels magazine in 1992:

“It turned out to be a superb vehicle – fast, smooth-moving, with never any repair problems … The Studebaker has always been our favorite automobile, partially for sentimental reasons but also because of its qualities in providing us enjoyable and dependable transportation.”

[Kennedy Mazda of Valparaiso, IN has enjoyable, dependable transportation for you!]

Ronald Reagan (1981-1989)

President Reagan used a 1952 Army Jeep, Model M-38A to get around on his California ranch. It bore the distinction of being a part of the “Reagan Protective Division. U.S. Secret Service.” This Jeep was “the first manifestation of the round-fender Jeep that would ultimately become available to consumers as the CJ-5,” said Jo Snyder of the Worldwide Auctioneers Group.

George H.W. Bush (1989-1993)

President Bush the first enjoyed the use of a modified 22-foot Lincoln Town Car. This presidential limousine, which can be seen at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Texas, features a D-pillar roof that bears a special “President Edition” decoration.

Bill Clinton (1993-2001)

President Clinton’s 1967 Ford Mustang convertible was a family affair, first purchased by his stepfather, Jeff Dwire. The white rag top and interior provided a stunning contrast to the Clearwater Aqua body. Unfortunately, as U.S. presidents aren’t allowed to drive themselves, Clinton had to give it up upon entering office. The former president claims it was the most difficult thing for him to leave behind upon moving into the White House.

George W. Bush (2001-2008)

President Bush the second rode to his second inauguration in a 2006 Cadillac DTS limousine. This sleek, black beauty was nicknamed “The Beast” by Secret Service, a reference to the latest on-board armor and security systems. Before “The Beast,” President George W. Bush rode a 2001 Cadillac DeVille.

Barack Obama (2008-present)

President Obama reportedly learned to drive in his grandfather’s Ford Granada. Now he owns a Ford Escape, which some conservative pundits off-handedly exclaim is what Obama has done, escaping rather than driving through policy. Joking aside, President Obama is an unabashed Ford man.

Sources

About.com Mustangs

Jalopnik: http://jalopnik.com/5881154/the-truth-about-presidents-and-cars

Los Angeles Times

New York Daily News: http://articles.nydailynews.com/2008-12-09/news/17913217_1_cars-armored-cadillac-dts

Presidential state car Wiki

Fill up here with some presidential car trivia. (Photo Credit: Public Domain/Executive Office of the President of the United States/Wikipedia)

Americans love their automobiles, including American presidents. From William Howard Taft to Barack Obama, each U.S. president has had a special place in his heart for his presidential car. Here’s some fodder for your next presidential car trivia contest, courtesy of the Los Angeles Times.

William Howard Taft (1909-1913)

The first U.S. president to make the shift from presidential horse and buggy to presidential car, President Taft used a luxurious Baker Electric car. For well-to-do consumers of the time, the Baker was popular because it didn’t require a hand crank to start. Being an electronic vehicle, it was largely maintenance-free.

Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921)

Patrons of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum in Virginia can feast their eyes on the first presidential limousine. President Wilson returned home from negotiating the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, and his luxurious Pierce-Arrow Limousine was waiting for him.

Wilson was huge on punctuality when it came to the availability of his rides, notes the Los Angeles Times. He had a standing order that all White House vehicles be ready for him within three minutes at all times.

Warren Harding (1921-1923)

The first U.S. president who knew how to drive a car before entering office, President Harding was also the first U.S. president to ride to his inauguration in a car. In Harding’s case, that was a Packard Twin Six, supplied by the Republication National Committee.

[Get the presidential treatment at Kennedy Mazda Valparaiso!]

Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929)

Bought while he was still vice president, Calvin Coolidge’s aluminum-bodied 1923 Lincoln Town Car sedan went heavy on the gasoline consumption, compared to modern, eco-friendly vehicles. “Silent Cal’s” car got about eight miles to the gallon.

Herbert Hoover (1929-1933)

President Hoover’s 1932 Cadillac 452-B V-16 Imperial Limousine was purchased late in his term, and it left the White House with him. The Fleetwood-bodied car sold for $87,750 in 2007 by Bonhams & Butterfields at an auction in Carmel, Calif.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945)

President Franklin Roosevelt had a 1939 Packard 12 in the White House garage. Its V12 engine provided a superb balance of power and smooth performance, particularly for its day. The car, which was retrofitted with bullet-proof armor and glass, became the first armored car used by a U.S. president. After Roosevelt’s death, the armored Packard was used for a time by President Truman, who made some adaptations.

Roosevelt’s Packard is currently on display at the Toyota Automobile Museum in Japan.

Harry S. Truman (1945-1953)

After he’d had his fill of tricking out Roosevelt’s 1939 Packard 12 – and following the passenger car production ban of World War II – President Truman got his hands on a 1945 Ford Super DeLuxe Tudor Sedan; it was the first civilian vehicle produced after the cessation. The moonbeam gray sedan was presented to Truman on August 29, 1945.

Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961)

The U.S. government had a stated official policy of not accepting corporate gifts during the post-war era, but that didn’t stop President Eisenhower from accepting two Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaetons, the first in 1952, the next in 1956. Labeled “The Detroit Car” and housed there to avoid any sense of impropriety, the cars were used to chauffeur visiting dignitaries.

John F. Kennedy (1961-1963)

President Kennedy’s 1961 Ford Thunderbird Convertible sported sleek “Bullet Bird” styling. It was the Indianapolis 500 pace car in the year of its manufacture. During the presidential inauguration, 50 of the vehicles were driven in the parade. On a related note, Ford executive Robert McNamara became Kennedy’s secretary of defense.

Presidential cars from President Johnson through President Obama.

Obama’s limo and other presidential car trivia

Sources

About.com Mustangs

Jalopnik: http://jalopnik.com/5881154/the-truth-about-presidents-and-cars

Los Angeles Times

New York Daily News: http://articles.nydailynews.com/2008-12-09/news/17913217_1_cars-armored-cadillac-dts

Presidential state car Wiki

There are plenty of ways to avoid speed traps and a ticket from the police. Photo Credit: Dwight Burdette/Wikimedia Commons/CC-BY-SA

Motorists everywhere are constantly in fear of being stung by a speed trap, where police lie in wait to ticket people for speeding. There are some ways for people to stay within speed limits and avoid speed traps and tickets.

The best defense is not speeding

It goes without saying, but the best way to avoid being ticketed by police is to not exceed the speed limit. However, that can be foiled by inconspicuously posted speed limit signs, a faulty speedometer or other mechanical factors making it difficult to accurately gauge vehicle speed.

[The speedometer on a new car from Kennedy Mazda will always work.]

There are some things that can be done to avoid speeding and falling into a speed trap. For instance, setting cruise control at the speed limit during highway travel is a way to ensure no speeding will occur. Asking passengers to keep watch for road signs, especially speed limits, can also help. There are also some technological solutions.

Get a GPS unit

Many satellite navigation units will alert drivers to changing speed limits. For instance, Garmin has speed limit indicators for most of its GPS units. One of the most economical is the Nuvi 30, which retails for $100.

TomTom GPS navigation units provide information about driving speeds, or in other words the average speed of drivers in any given area travel at, as TomTom downloads that information. TomTom also has its MapSharing function, where customers share information they’ve picked up during their travels.

National Motorists Association

The National Motorists Association, an advocacy group that has been among the loudest opposition to speed traps and red light cameras, has a speed trap sharing page on its website. People can alert other motorists to where any police are lying in wait to pounce on anyone daring to go even one mile per hour over the speed limit, which can happen at times.

Going mobile

There is also some integration with smartphones. According to the New York Times, Cobra, a popular radar detector manufacturer, has its new iRadar Community app, which lets users share information on speed traps. It connects to the phone via Bluetooth. Cobra’s iRadar unit and app costs $130.

Escort and Beltronics, Escort’s sister company, have an accessory called the SmartCord and an app called Escort Live, which performs a similar function and also connects via Bluetooth. It requires the user have a radar detector. The SmartCord costs $80 and users will have to subscribe to the service to use it.

There is also Trapster, which can be downloaded to Android, iPhone or Blackberry phones as well as TomTom or Garmin devices, for free. The app adds user-added alerts to maps, informing users via voice alerts of road hazards and speed traps.

Sources

New York Times

National Motorists Association

Trapster

Garmin: http://www.garmin.com/us/

TomTom: http://www.tomtom.com/

This man is in no condition to drive. Image: Helios/Flickr/CC BY-SA

We all know that driving after a few too many is a really, really bad idea. But how many hesitate to get in the driver’s seat when they are suffering from a cold or flu? A new study suggests that people who drive while they are sick are just as impaired as those who drive under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.

Reduced reaction time

The study was conducted by the U.K.-based car insurance company Young Marmalade, automotive retailer Halfords and the University of Cardiff. The data was collected using a black box in subjects’ cars. The boxes recorded speed, cornering and braking data.

The report concluded that drivers with colds have reduced reaction times, more frequent sudden braking and more difficulty concentrating — just like alcohol-impaired drivers.

Nigel Lacy, director of marketing for Young Marmalade, said in a statement:

“This small-scale trial provides a warning for motorists. A heavy cold can impair a driver’s mood, concentration and judgment.”

Four double whiskeys

The driving skills of cold sufferers are reduced by as much as 50 percent, estimated the report. The researchers likened the affects of driving with a cold to driving after downing four double shots of whiskey.

Published data not complete

However, the report’s lack of complete data has left some skeptical about its conclusions. Young Marmalade has not produced the complete study, despite a request to do so by ABC News.

Jaimie Dalessio of “Everyday Health,” referring to the four double whiskeys estimate, said, “We’re not sure how they measured those shots, but that sounds like a lot.”

Dr. Christopher Ohl, associate professor of medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, told ABC that he believed “the vast majority” of people driving under the weather are not as impaired as those under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.

A cautionary tale

However, Ohl conceded:

“Everyone knows that when they have a fever and flu symptoms they are not at their best physically or mentally. Those with illness with high fever should be staying home for a lot of reasons, including getting needed rest and protecting others from illness. Perhaps we should add safe driving to that list.”

ABC News estimates that there are about 1 million drivers with colds and flus on U.S. highways at any given time.

Sources

Everyday Health
ABC News
Autoblog

Don't criticize, and she'll do just fine. Image: xJason.Rogersx/Flicker/CC BY

Women have been the butt of bad driving jokes since the beginning of driving. But which came first, the criticism or the behavior? A joint study between universities on both sides of the Atlantic concluded this week that women drive worse when their ability to drive is questioned. It may seem a no-brainer, but confidence wanes when it is challenged, and confident driving is good driving.

Joint research

Researchers from the University of Warwick and from the University of Georgia asked 500 students to perform spacial tasks that are stereotypically considered to be handled better by men. The study was co-authored by Dr. Sydney Felker from the University of Georgia and Dr. Zachary Estes, of Warwick. It has been published in the journal “Archives of Sexual Behavior.”

Studies in spatial tasks

Dr. Estes said:

“Prior research shows that women tend to do poorly on tasks that require spatial awareness. That is borne out in the common jokes we always hear about men being better at parking and map reading than women. But we wanted to see why that was, so we manipulated people’s confidence in our experiments with spatial tasks. And it does seem that confidence is a key factor in how well women perform at this kind of task.”

The tasks were all performed on a computer, and involved the spatial movement of various models — tasks associated with activities like driving. When the women were left to their won devices, they generally performed as well as the men. However, when criticized they did worse. The ability to preform each task also improved after the subject’s skills were praised.

Confidence is key

Dr. Estes concluded that differences may not be so much in abilities, but in how those abilities are perceived and supported by others.

“Our research suggests that by making a woman feel better about herself, she’ll become better at spatial tasks – which in the real world means tasks such as parking the car or reading a map. So a little bit of confidence-boosting may go a long way when it comes to reversing the car into a tight parking spot.”

And it probably wouldn’t hurt in other areas of a relationship, either. A little romance advice from the Car Dealer Expert.

Sources

RAC
Telegraph
AOL Autos

Subaru wagons have proven to be reliable family cars. (Photo Credit: Public Domain/IFCAR/Wikipedia)

Spending a bundle doesn’t always ensure that you will have the most reliable car. Automotive endurance is a more complicated formula of engineering, use and care. Some vehicles just seem to have that something extra, however. Here are 10 cars that simply will not die, and many of them can be had at a reasonable price.

Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera (GM A-Bodies, 1984-1996)

During a time with sales were down, General Motors renewed its commitment to quality. The Cutlass Ciera benefited from GM’s exhaustive elimination of all the bugs from its predecessor, the X-Body.

Geo Prizm (1989-2002)

Geo Prizms during this period were built as part of a GM-Toyota joint venture called NUMMI. The move helped both automakers, as Toyota was able to get around restrictions placed on Japanese imports, while GM got a look at Toyota’s manufacturing techniques, the kind that have helped Corollas seemingly last forever. Value is spectacular with the Prizm as well, as well-tended vehicles in the line get 35-40 mpg.

Subaru wagons (1990-Present)

Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru’s parent company) builds truck-like fortitude into Subaru wagons. With standard all-wheel drive, they can handle heavy weather, which has made them popular as family cars.

Volvo wagons (Real-wheel drives, until 1996)

A kind of spiritual predecessor to Subaru’s line of station wagons, Volvo paid little attention to fashion, focusing its efforts on superior quality and safety. Rust resistance is generally attributed to the Volvo’s Scandinavian origins.

Ford Crown Victoria/Mercury Marquis (1992-2011, with gaps)

There’s a reason police departments and taxi companies use these vehicles in their fleets. The core components – a V8 engine, solid rear axle, body-on-frame construction – make for a highly reliable car, even if the standard consumer models don’t have oil coolers and souped-up suspensions.

Fiat 500 (Europe, 1957-1975)

While the Jennifer Lopez ad campaign has failed to boost new Fiat 500 sales in the U.S., the ultra-compact has a long history of success in Europe. Known in Italy as the “Cinquecento,” the Italian automaker made 3.4 million two-cylinder Fiat 500s during the production run. Many of them continue to dot Italy’s streets. What old Fiat 500s lack in power – it had a top speed of about 50 mph – they more than make up for in staying power.

Mercedes 300D/300TD (1975-1985)

These diesel marvels offered iron-clad reliability, thanks to strong inline-five engines born out of Mercedes Europe’s mastery creating with diesel trucks. Today, the 300D and 300TD are popular biodiesel conversion cars.

Honda Accord (1976-Present)

The anonymous Honda Accord sells. This is because of the kind of durability that comes from an automaker that values engines and engineering above everything else.

BMW 3-Series (1982-1990)

These BMW models may scream “yuppie” – the BMW 3-Series was the Lexus before there was Lexus – but there’s nothing pretentious about the 3-Series’ simply perfect engineering and wide array of available parts. Historically, it has kept them going like new.

Jeep Cherokee (1987-2001)

The first small crossover SUV in the U.S., the Jeep Cherokee sported a tough, straight-six engine. It also eschewed traditional body-on-frame construction. Europeans enjoyed a turbodiesel variant.

Consumer Reports on reliable cars

Sources

Automobile Magazine

Kiplinger

U.S. News and World Report

Ferrari uses aluminum for body panels, a maverick move that it believes is safer than carbon fiber. (Photo Credit: CC BY/Anthony Joh/Flickr)

When other automakers zig, Ferrari zags. Most believe that carbon fiber is the best material for making car components lighter, but the Italian supercar maker is standing behind its use of aluminum. Ferrari insists aluminum is superior for most cars, a stance that goes against the grain in the automotive industry.

Enzo preferred aluminum

Dating back to the 1940s, Enzo Ferrari used lightweight aluminum bodywork to wrap the steel-framed Ferrari sports car. Some experimentation with materials occurred in the 1980s, as stainless steel, Kevlar and carbon fiber began to be used alongside the traditional aluminum.

Carbon fiber was used most extensively in the 1995 F50 and 2002 Enzo super cars, primarily in the chassis. These road cars, which were in very limited production, used a pre-impregnated (prepreg) carbon fiber soaked in plastic resin. The process of assembling the carbon fiber into a chassis is both time- and labor-intensive, according to Ferrari engineer Patrizio Moruzzi. That’s fine if an automaker only wants to make one car per day, he said to Popular Mechanics.

Make more, lighter

Aluminum, on the other hand, is better suited for the level of production Ferrari requires, in excess of 30 cars each day. Aluminum is used in several forms by the automaker, said Moruzzi.

“It’s a multi-material technology,” Moruzzi said.

As an example, the Ferrari 458 Italia uses aluminum for castings, extrusions and sheet metal, along with other alloys. Using computer-aided design, Ferrari has been able to decrease the thickness of the sheet metal significantly, without sacrificing structural integrity. By using aluminum reinforced by ceramic fibers, Moruzzi predicts that Ferrari eliminates 20 percent of total vehicle weight.

Bend, don’t shatter

Beyond the low weight of Ferrari’s high-tech aluminum blends, Ferrari believes there is an advantage to using aluminum, rather than carbon fiber, for body panels. In the event of an accident, aluminum bends, while carbon fiber composites shatter. While it is more difficult to repair aluminum than regular steel – and lighter, stronger grades of steel are being introduced regularly – Ferrari believes that if a customer can afford a Ferrari, that person can afford the additional cost of repairing aluminum body damage.

Ferrari: An Emotional Drive

Sources

AOL Green Auto Blog

Autoweek

Popular Mechanics

(Photo Credit: High Gear Media; CC BY/DeusXFlorida/Flickr)

Do you find yourself craving the latest automotive news? If you’re like me, one website can’t satisfy. But when you have the power of seven professional automotive news and information websites working together, it’s like a seven-course meal. That’s what the High Gear Media network brings to the table for both gear-heads and casual automotive fans.

Premium, engaging content in High Gear

Based in Palo Alto, Calif., the High Gear Media vertical media company aggregates premium content from its family of automotive websites. Its experienced, professional auto industry journalists contribute to some of the Web’s fastest-growing automotive websites. The expert editorial staff and contributors have written for nationally known publications such as Car and Driver, AutoWeek, Automobile Magazine, Discovery News, NASCAR.com, SpeedTV and Wired. Currently, their work reaches more than 3.5 million users per month.

A top-of-the-line automotive garage

The websites in High Gear Media’s garage include a cross-section of the best the industry has to offer, from the cars that matter to the tips and tricks that can lube the chassis of any full-time gear-head or weekend grease monkey.

• HighGearMedia.com – The centerpiece of the High Gear Media network. Automotive news, information and opinion come together in a high-octane mix.
• TheCarConnection.com — The jewel in the High Gear Media crown, Car Connection reviews the top cars in the U.S. market, with an eye toward consumer deals and tips.
• SocialCarNews.com — An inside look at how online social media like Twitter, Facebook and more have changed the car-buying process for the better by making it more immediate, efficient and convenient.
• MotorAuthority.com — For the latest on luxury and high-performance vehicles, Motor Authority is the place. Auto show coverage, spy shots and more bring consumers with a taste for the extraordinary beyond the velvet rope.
• FamilyCarGuide.com — If you’re looking for a safe, high-performing family vehicle that won’t burst your fuel budget, check out Family Car Guide. Reviews and lists galore help you find the kind of vehicles that serve and protect your growing family in style.
• GreenCarReports.com — Hybrids, electric cars and future alternative fuel developments are the focus of Green Car Reports. The time to move beyond fossil fuels is now; Green Car Reports points out how to get there.
• AllCarTech.com — Gear-heads who love the latest automotive tech will love All Car Tech. Throw in the latest news on car-related video gaming, and you have all the car tech the futurist in you craves.

Mobile apps for users on the go

In addition to the High Gear Media family of websites, Car Connection and Motor Authority have iPhone apps that go wherever the road takes you. Version 2.0 of the Car Connection app brings users the kind of “under-the-hood” meta-ratings that help you make informed auto purchase decisions. Motor Authority’s app puts the elegance and luxury you expect from MotorAuthority.com in the palm of your hand.

Automotive writers and photographers wanted

If you know your way around the automotive industry, High Gear Media wants to hear from you. Whether you’re a writer, videographer or photographer, the veteran editorial team would like to know more about you. Visit High Gear Media’s website for more information.

High Gear Media’s advice on what to look for in a luxury car

Sources

All Car Tech

The Car Connection

Family Car Guide

Green Car Reports

High Gear Media

Motor Authority

Social Car News

No hitchhikers welcome! Image: Benimoto/Flickr/CC BY

We’ve all heard of vehicles with bugs that need to be worked out. But what do you do when those bugs come with six legs and sharp mandibles? It is not uncommon for insects to infest vehicles. Here’s what you can do to evict the squatting pests.

Ants

Automotive journalist Tom Torbjornsen recently wrote about Andrea Preziotti of Brooklyn, N.Y., who had an infestation of large carpenter ants in the heating and air-conditioning system of her 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV. Her documentation of the invasion on her personal blog proved the bugs were there when she bought the car, which led to her getting a brand new Hyundai from the automaker.

Ants are constantly on the search for food, and they can smell the smallest crumbs in your car. And if there is a way in, they will find it. Once a food source has been located, the bugs will set up a colony to collect it and bring it back to their nest.

Evicting ants

Preziotti’s Hyundai dealer initially suggested fumigating the car with a bug bomb. Preziotti was not comfortable with that solution, however, and rightfully so. Once a car is contaminated with chemical insecticides, it will be virtually impossible to clear out all traces of the dangerous and smelly residue.

Torbjornsen suggests baiting the scavengers with peanut butter laced with boric acid. The worker ants will carry the food back to their nest, killing the queen and all her subjects.

Spiders

Last March 65,000 Mazda6 cars were recalled after the automaker received 20 reports of yellow sac spiders infestations in the tiny rubber hoses linked to the fuel tank. The infestations likely originated at the assembly plant or from a parts supplier.

Most insects and arachnids will die in temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit or above 140 degrees Fahrenheit. But the trick becomes how to heat or cool an entire vehicle to those extremes. If one lives in New Mexico and it is summertime, the answer is simple. Park your car in the blistering sun all day. Of course, most do not have that option. The blog Living With Bugs suggests finding an auto body shop that paints cars and negotiating with them to let you park in their heated paint drying room for a while.

Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide is the gas that makes soft drinks fizz, and it is also fatal to most insects. Blogger Jack DeAngelis suggests an inexpensive method of delivering the gas to the pests. Dry ice, sold in many drug and hardware stores, is frozen carbon dioxide. Simply seal up the vehicle and place a pan of dry ice inside. As the ice melts, the gas will be released, killing the invaders.

Insurance coverage

Often, comprehensive insurance policies will cover extensive damage caused by pests. Torbjornsen wisely suggests examining a policy carefully before paying for any repairs out of pocket.

Sources

LA Times
Living With Bugs
Autos AOL

Lock down that 1994 Honda Accord, thieves are on the prowl. (Photo Credit: CC BY-SA/Ben Javelina/Flickr)

While some organizations release early reports of the most stolen vehicles, the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s list of the most stolen vehicles of 2010 is the official word. For the third straight year, the 1994 Honda Accord takes the crime cake. Weak security and in-demand parts attract many car thieves.

Thieves target Accord, Civic and Camry

According to FBI data, nearly 52,000 1994 Honda Accords were pilfered in the U.S. last year. The NICB says the 1995 Honda Civic was the next-favorite theft target in 2010, followed by the 1991 Toyota Camry. These model Hondas and Toyotas have been car thieves’ favorites since 2000, according to the NICB report. For the first time since 2002, more domestic than foreign cars made the top 10 most stolen vehicles list.

Via telephone, NICB spokesman Frank Scafidi told Automotive News that the black market for parts from these cars is red hot.

“A lot of times, those vehicles are stolen, and they’re worth more in parts than they are intact,” he said.

Built tough, stolen plenty

A well-constructed automobile will always attract car thieves, noted International Association of Auto Theft Investigators Executive Director John Abounader. Hence, such stalwarts as the 1999 Chevy full-sized pickup, 1997 Ford F-150, 2004 Dodge Ram and 2000 Dodge Caravan ranked high on the NICB list. Reliability and durability were both key factors.

“When they’re a well-made car, they’re going to be stolen,” said Abounader. “U.S. automakers have made advancements. People are noticing them finally.”

Good news for car owners

While a top 10 most stolen vehicles list generally does not inspire confidence in the average car owner, there is good news buried in the FBI’s figures, notes Automotive News. Vehicle theft numbers declined for the seventh straight year in 2010. Better still, the total number of thefts last year was the lowest recorded since 1967. So long as a car owner doesn’t live in California (which boasted eight of the top 10 regions for car theft), uses an ignition disabler in their car and has a manufacturer-installed tracking device like LoJack installed, the odds of theft decrease significantly.

The most stolen vehicles of 2010

Sources

Automotive News

Daily Finance

National Insurance Crime Bureau