Larger Exhaust on a D24 NA?

[v8volvo]

Yeah, indeed on all that. In fact just in my own personal immediate experience, two relatives of mine in the Puget Sound area had cars stolen that way in the last few months. Both of them older Subarus and both with manual transmissions, which really surprised me. I had always heard the saying that the best antitheft system available is a manual transmission, especially in the modern age where some single digit % of drivers on the road know how to operate one. But apparently the crooks have figured out how to get around that.

First was a ~2002 WRX that had been owned by a relative up Avalon Way in W Seattle on the north end. Car he had had forever and competed with in rally events all over WA, OR, BC, so attached to it. Had upgraded engine and differentials, suspension, etc..... Stolen and then found a few days later down on W Marginal somewhere full of drug gear and was totaled as a biohazard, just like you say. He could have bought it back as a salvage and probably replaced the interior and revived it, but was sad enough about it that he decided to give up and move on.

Second was a ~1999 Outback owned by my brother-in-law in Bellingham. Disappeared overnight from the parking lot in his apartment complex right under bright lights! Found a few days later nearby in Fairhaven completely full of computers, cell phones, tools, AND lots of keys to other vehicles. Fortunately minimal damage to the car itself and he got it back.... And installed a secret fuel pump disable switch in a hard to find location.

Also had a friend get a nice motorcycle stolen in W Seattle in the past year, don't think that one was ever found. Plus as I recall you have had some bike thefts.

Part of what is most unfair about that trend is apparently the thieves have realized older vehicles are easiest to steal, plus they are usually not stealing for the car's value but rather simply as transportation to commit other crimes.... So their targets are often 20yo-plus Subarus and Hondas and the like. Thus the victims are less likely to be folks of means with newer vehicles that are probably covered by comprehensive insurance; instead more likely someone driving an older car with no theft insurance and not with enough cash lying around to easily absorb the loss of a major asset, plus their transportation to work, etc. This was certainly true in one of the two cases above.

It's a mean world eh?

Sorry for the thread hijack.