The one that got away

[itr97-356]

In Jan 1998 my buddy bought 1997 itr #356.
When he drove round to take me on a testdrive I was blown away by a 5800rpm virtecual paradigm shift!

A year and a half, an aem long cold-air, TE37's and two tickets later, he informed me that he was going to part company
"What!!! How much?" I croaked.
"I dunno? It's got 19k on it...how about $19k?" came the reply.
"Take a cheque?" I mumbled through the itr inspired prescient moment.
The next day I was driving away on my new white arab mare....
then I hit 5800rpm, my head was thrown back into the waiting red-stitched headrest. My new horse roared in delight and carried it's amazed
rider into a new world of high rpm histeria. I slowed , pulled over, got out and looked at my new ride with a growing respect...

Since then I have been using 356 as my dd. As some one who started out in the UK with an 850cc mini, 'cos I couldn't afford an "S", and then modded the @$%@#
out of it so it could take an "S" (up to 80mph anyways), I have to say that the '97 itr is the pinnacle of the original Issigonis dream (designer of the first transverse fwd car)!
150K, a new transmission, koni yellows and some expensive services later, 356 is faster than ever!
She does fit me like a glove now. I've frightened ferraris, s2ks and the rest many a time.
Once you get a car this fast and well mannered it's up to the driver, huh?

Anyways back to the "The one that got away" bit.

Last friday, after 9 years of marital bliss with 356, I went to stay with a friend in San Francisco and parked out side his house. ("What" they all shout. "The idiot")
When I came out in the morning, 356 was gone! "Oh no! This is worse than loosing that blond in the valley!" I was heard to sob.
It was a sorry man that drove his rented Kia home that night. What did I expect, parking a '97 itr on the street in SF?

Three days of interneting through a bevvy of 6speed V6 Accords and feeling like "once u turn itr there's no going back" my cellphone rang.
It's the CHP. They've found 356....joy....I actually tell the CHP lady she's brilliant!
AND...... 356 is back unharmed...just as fiesty as ever!

She is "The One That Got Away!"

I say drive it(r)!
All race cars need servicing. My chassis has done 150k but the mechanics haven't. The car is still the perfect drivers car!
AND....Practice makes perfect

[coolhandluke]

<-

I'm very glad the car was recovered. Rent a car next time, it is not worth the insurance hassle and the loss of your car. Glad to see you have gotten 130k+ of enjoyment to this car. These cars are built very well, so don't expect anything less than another 130k out of her. Rock on and keep heR safe!

[Doespike]

Glad to hear she was recovered in good condition. Pretty great that you've had so many years and miles of fun with heR Don't park heR on the street like that again....never lucky a 2nd time..

Post some pixors of #356!

[itr97-356]

thx guys for the good vibes.

I had a call from my insurance co. suggesting I invest in an immobilizer.
Any suggestions out there?

Also, getting 356 back has made me want to cosset her.
Anyone know where to get a couple of '97 specific bits?
1 - Gearshift knob in black leather with red stitching
2 - Original diagonal black/Grey carpets (I already bought 2000 spec ones)

The black fabric on the original seats is beginning to fade to blue/black,
but I found a local upholstery shop who will custom the front and back for
$1500. I wonder where to get '97 JDM/Acura cloth?

[Bbasso]

For the seat skins, Acura did sell them I don't know prices but it would be a DIY project.
Call up some dealers and ask if they still have the seat skins and how much. I strongly suggest shopping around for the best price.

[Doespike]

Some dealer always has the gearshift knob for sale on ebay.
The checkered floor mats pop up for sale regularly...not available at the dealer anymore.

As for security..

From "wrx-killer-sti-eater" over on Honda-tech in the Security forum. He is a professional installer in Cali and among the best.

Sad to say that you have one of the best post in this thread. And that bs if they want it they will get it is straight b.s. Most of the cars stolen have been of poor security from the start. And all this flat bed talk that it was towed because I had mad security and tons of kill switches are a joke. If all your mad security is not done right. Then its not going to work from the start. I seen this over and over. I picked up plently of customers and members cars from tow yards out here To repair them. The ones that just lost there cars for rims, stereo and bolt ons. We get there and there alarms are still in the car. Siren ripped out. Kill switches still on. Plug the car battery back on and what do you hear. The dam alarm going off. How did they drive it off? Hot wire the car from under the hood. You have everything there to start the car. Battery, starter and ignition. Who cares if you have a ignition kill in the car. The dizzzy is under the hood. Bypassed. You have a starter kill in the car. Push start it.Bypassed. I got a fuel kill. Rip up the back seat and run 12 votls to the fuel pump from the cig lighter.Bypassed. I got the factory immoblizer, I'll be safe. Ecu swap.Bypassed. Ill kill power to the ecu. T-tapped from the cig lighter to the ecu.Bypassed. So what am i to do? Go back to the saying if they want it they will get it.
If your alarm looks like this

your in trouble.

trouble
And this is a receint members car that I just redid. Yes its a "R" and a safe one. I dare you to touch it

oMg can you say cut the siren


If your car has any of the symptons above you need to check yourself and your car.

So what can you do? First. Buy a alarm system. And everything that it takes to install the alarm system correctly. Ie dei 520t back up battery, mini siren, relays. And gps tracking. Not that dam cell phone thing- But if its all you can afford then its better then nonthing. I tested it out against my clifford 210c tracking and my clifford performed it in every way. Range, accuracy. Yes they work. And they will work if installed right.

What does it take to keep any honda from starting and keeping it from driving away?.................... has anybody sat down and looked at a helms.... Or a honda wiring diagram? hell I pulled up over 50 threads about it. Dou, its the main relay. Every honda car that f-i has one. And what does it do?........ It kills the fuel pump, part of the ecu and the best thing in the world....The fuel injectors. With out it the car is dead, done, no heart, duck in the water. And what part of a car that can not be hotwired? ..............The injectors. You name one person in the world that can hotwire a injector. Nobody. So take that out of the equation and your good. No start period.

The best thing you want to do is keep the theif in the car. Sounds stupied huh. But the longer he or she is in the car the best chance he has to be busted. Nobody want to take 15 min to steal a car. Especilly one that they can not shut the siren from blaring. Lights from flashing. How can you kill this siren?


You don't

Owell I just reach under the dash and grab the brain


No you won't, and the problem for you is that this "R" is calling its owner to alert him 15 sec after you tripped the warning or full trigger. Its all good. I just pull the battery and that will be it. Sorry the alarm has a back up battery and back up battery just for the gps. Plus a hood pin for a early trigger.

There are other small things that you can add like swapping out to door handels to rear 4 door models, unplug the door lock switch and open indercator, detach the lock rod from the door. But this makes it pia if you lock your keys in the car and will require a brick to open it up. Also a brick will bypass the lock bypasses. also a spark plug will to and quietly

I see the big problem is that most go for speed and other mods and put the ideal that it can not happen to me. It can happen anywere and everywere. If you have a bb or cc install I would look at it closely. I had a member that had a "r" that he bought from the east cost. We pull off the fender to start on his install and what do I find. A switch to turn off his alarm. Yes a switch. I not going to put anyone on blast so I will let him decide if he would like to. So check your alarm. And stop putting your dam plates on the net and fourms. Its cool to post pics and you can do it safely. But not with your dam plates. I can get any addy to any calie plates and so can other theives too.

I have other stuff that I like to keep to myself for security reasons that i do. So if your serious about security make a thread in the a/s/v, pm me, shoot me a text to the number below or what ever. Its not hard to keep your car and keep it safe.


If Your hardheaded like my grandma says hang out with the guys that qoute "if they want it they will get it" Make a song or something. All of them have no ideal what a security system is not just some alarm install.

[koji126]

Where is the link to that thread? That's actually my car, haha. I knew there was something wrong with my alarm, had it installed by a shop in SF (pm me for the shop name), so when I was down in LA I brought it to this dude. He said it was probably one of the worst installs he's come across. I'm pretty happy now with his install and have no worries whatsoever. The only thing missing would be a wheel boot.