Catalytic converter theft

[angrydicky]

I’m worried about the cat getting nicked off my Rover 620 (petrol, Honda engine)
It’s currently parked in a car park in a shit part of London and will be parked there overnight.
As it’s an Indian area, there’s a few other older Japanese cars in the same small car park, Yaris, two Civics and a CR-V. All early 2000s. So at least it’s not the only target there but it’s still of concern. Old Japanese cars seem to be targeted over other cars as the cats are both valuable and accessible.
A bloke on the Rover 600 fb page reckons the genuine cat is now worth £800-1200. Is this nonsense or is it really worth that kind of money?
Are they still as sought after by metal thieves as they were a year or so ago?
Are there any aftermarket cats that actually work and will get through an MoT emission test?

[Old Wrinkly]

.My tame mechanic reckons an after market cat is usually good for two or three mot's.

[panhard65]

The aftermarket ones are getting a bit better as I have a scenic that used to get through one every couple of years and the last one has done 3 years now. They are still making strong money and the CRV will be a target as they were at least 400 quid and as I am getting more people in asking to buy cats so I suspect the prices are on the up. It might be worth putting an aftermarket on and keep your original somewhere safe if you plan on keeping the car long term. One of my customers does this with her MGF, she has a stainless with cat delete that she uses all year and we stick the original back on for the test each year.

[DodgeRover]

Does doing a cat bypass cause the engine management to have a hissy fit or doesn't it have a post cat sensor?

[panhard65]

Does doing a cat bypass cause the engine management to have a hissy fit or doesn't it have a post cat sensor?

The MGF was an early one with no post cat sensor. If it did have one it would flag a light up. I am sure it wouldn't be too hard to program out the post cat sensor or at least make the ecu think it has one.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Get it off and a cheap shit one fitted. For MOT's fit the proper one.

Cat prices have bombed lately. There are too many in the system for not enough cars built, but vermin will nick anything.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Would the average Romanian scumbag even know what a Rover 620 was, let alone that some used Honda engines ?
On the off chance that some might, maybe put a diesel badge on the back of it, years ago a friend put a V8 badge on his Tdi Discovery when Pikeys were helping themselves to Land Rovers locally, to put them off.

[AutoshiteBoy]

I wouldn't worry about the Albanians targeting a 620, but if youre taking it off, just fit a cat by-pass. it'll still pass its MOT.

[angrydicky]

I think I’ll get a cheap aftermarket one on there and keep the original for MoTs. Once I replace the front pipe and put new nuts and bolts in it will be easy to remove and refit. Thanks all.

[SiC]

What about welding in a metal box/cage around it?