USA Today reports that criminals across the country are stealing airbags out of relatively new Honda models for apparent resale online or to black market repair shops. It’s a trend that has caught the attention of law enforcement agencies in cities like Miami, New York City and Washington D.C. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) estimates that around 50,000 airbags are stolen each year.

In Miami-Dade County, thieves stole 875 airbags in 2017, up from just 13 in 2013, according to police records obtained by USA Today. In the Virginia suburbs outside Washington D.C., thieves recently smashed the windows of 10 Hondas at an apartment complex to steal the airbags. Second Lt. Jonathan Bryant told the local Fox affiliate that stolen Honda airbags often end up in chop shops and can command between $300 and $500 each.

A quick search of eBay listings for Honda steering wheel airbags turns up results being sold for as high as $700, though most are listing for hundreds less than that. New replacement versions purchased from dealerships approach $1,000. Many dishonest repair shops install the stolen airbags as new and charge the owner or their insurer full price for the replacement, a version of insurance fraud.

Last year, police in Coral Springs, Fla. published an alert on the neighborhood social networking site Nextdoor urging residents who own a Honda or Acura to park in a garage or well-lit area, “or if you have another vehicle, pull it as close to your driver’s side door as possible,” they wrote.

“We have seen an increase in airbag thefts, primarily in Acura and Honda models,” the posting added. “The suspect(s) often disarm the alarm by cutting the battery, punch the driver side door lock or smash the window. It is believed these criminals take approx. 5-10 minutes to steal the airbag.”

One theory for the apparent rise in airbag thefts is that a spate of airbag recalls in recent years — including the ongoing recall of nearly 50 million potentially explosive Takata airbag inflators that left suppliers scrambling to make new parts — may have boosted demand for replacements.

Most of the vehicles involved are late-model Honda Civics and Accords, but it’s not clear exactly why Honda is being targeted. Honda was heavily affected by the Takata airbag scandal, with nearly 12 million Honda and Acura vehicles subject to recalls to replace the defective equipment and 20 of the 23 known deaths related to the problem occurring in Honda vehicles. But there’s no clear linkage to the later-model vehicles mostly being targeted in the thefts, and the NICB isn’t tracking the numbers to establish trends that could help determine why thieves are targeting newer Hondas. A Honda spokesman told USA Today there “should be no linkage” between the Takata recall and the current wave of airbag thefts.

The post Honda airbags are being stolen appeared first on Top Car Rental.

The 2019 Porsche Panamera GTS and Gran Turismo GTS will predictably get Porsche’s 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, but this time with 453 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque. That’s not a whole lot more than the V6-powered Panamera S with 440 horsepower, but significantly less than the Panamera Turbo that produces 550 horsepower. As before, however, the Panamera GTS stands above the rest in the handling department.

It sits 0.39 of an inch lower than other Panameras, and comes standard with the Porsche Adaptive Suspension Management system. Porsche totally recalibrated the system with “enthusiastic driving in mind.” Larger brakes are fitted all around as well. It still has the eight-speed PDK transmission, which rockets both the normal and Sport Turismo Panameras to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds. The base Panamera has a top speed of 181 mph, whereas the Sport Turismo tops out at 179 mph.

As in other GTS Porsche trims, a whole bunch of optional equipment on other Panameras comes standard on the new GTS versions. Highlights from that list include the Sport Chrono package, sport exhaust system and Sport Design package. A bunch of black trim including 20-inch black wheels and black Alcantara throughout the interior are the key parts of the design package. We’re already in love with the slick-looking green Gran Turismo seen in pictures here. The GTS-specific seats look plenty bolstered to hold you in for some spirited driving, too.

Porsche took the opportunity to announce that every Panamera trim will now be available with an optional head-up display, granting you yet another Porsche option box to tick. You can order both the Panamera GTS and Gran Turismo GTS now, but Porsche says they won’t be arriving in dealerships until the second half of 2019. The Panamera GTS starts at $129,350, including destination, while the Gran Turismo GTS goes up from $135,550. That slots it in nicely between the 4S and Turbo models for those keeping track of the ever-expensive Panamera lineup.

The post Porsche Panamera GTS returns! appeared first on Top Car Rental.

No. What we are saying is that consumer knowledge of accident damage is in itself “skewed”. Lot’s of the time small cosmetic damage will not affect resell value. What we need to understand when buying a pre-owned cars is that, yes; surprise, they have been used…

Skuffs and scratches happen, it’s only normal. Bonnets get a little chipped sometimes. Bumper bashing’s are a thing. A dented fender or damaged bumper is not the end of the world, and when these things are repaired; paint is involved. These are minor accidents, or “cosmetic” accidents and they shouldn’t deter you from a good deal when buying, however you should definitely dot your i’s and cross your t’s in these cases, as with any buying decision.

Get someone that is experienced to look at a potential buy, differentiate between structural, and cosmetic damage repairs. Cosmetic repairs are nothing to be stressed too much about, especially when you’re getting a good deal and typically consist of minor touch ups on a bumper or fender. Structural damage is a little harder to see however, and an expert’s eyes may need to be consulted for this. When you notice that door bolts have been tampered with, it’s time to start asking serious questions.

A repair invoice can help identify what has happened in a case like this. And here it’s important to know that a R100 000 repair bill, can also be okay: with a headlight, bonnet and front fender replacement costing around this amount for a minor front end bumper bashing. If you are to buy a car with a history like this, make sure it’s been disclosed to you exactly what has happened as well as having a copy of the repair invoice, this will help with resell later on down the line. When buying from a reputable dealer, these will be handed and explained to you without your asking.

With the above being said, there’s a fine line between accident damage and ACCIDENT DAMAGE. A major accident can have things like chassis bends and you’ll notice then when driving the car. It won’t drive perfectly straight. This should be your que to: “Uhhh, let me sleep on it…” and find a new car consider.

Until next time, stay on brights!

-Matt Bradshaw of Topgear Auto

The post Paintwork? Run! (Not always) appeared first on Top Car Rental.