Customer Reviews

The Original Club Steering Wheel Lock - Red

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

The Club is not an invincible magic bullet.
Yes, if the thief comes equipped with a saw and is prepared to sit in the car hacking away on the steering wheel, it can be defeated. Either way, that takes time, which is something a car thief hates; and lets not overlook the fact that most car thieves are punk kids who aren't exactly 'well equipped'.

What the club is is a target hardener. It's not going to defeat the hard-core professional car thief, but that guy only steals maybe 5% of cars. The other 95% are stolen by punks and butthead kids, who steal cars as targets of opportunity. This is the group the club is for. A clubbed wheel makes it just *that much* more difficult for them to steal your vehicle, which for butthead kids, is all that's really needed to cause them to move on to the next poor schmuck who's car isn't Clubbed. If you have a car of unusual desirability- where you may face prepared and experienced thieves who come equipped and are willing to take the added risk- then yes, additional anti-theft measures above and beyond just the Club need to be taken.

Look at it like this...
Do you have locks on the front door of your house? Bolt locks, knob locks, etc? Of course you do.
Well, all those can be defeated, too. They can be picked, they can be overcome with brute force. Still, they serve a very defined and relevant purpose. This is in the same philosophy as the Club.

My own anti-theft package is pretty simple.

I lock my doors. Functional security Layer 1.
My radio has a detachable faceplate. Functional security Layer 2.
I Club my steering wheel. Psychological and functional security Layer 3.
I have a bluff light installed on the dash that blinks red, so the car appears alarmed. Psychological security layer 4.

If all that fails- if I run into that bound and determined thief who is willing to go balls out and give it a shot in the face of all that, they're not going anywhere without the battery link disconnect key, which I remove every night. That's the last (and most difficult to overcome) security layer...

Cars are very expensive.
For those of us who must live in places where they're regularly stolen, adding target-hardening elements is crucial in making our cars a less desirable target for theft. For a mere $30, adding an additional (and meaningful) security layer to help protect them is a perfectly sensible thing to do.

The only real practical advice I can give on the unit itself is to replace it every so often. Good rule of thumb, when you get a new car, get a new club. The locking mechanism can wear down over time and the extension bars can get sloppy with wear. Also, make sure to put your spare club key on your spare car key ring in case your main set gets lost.

I have to preface my review by saying that I think my experience with The Club was unique, but nonetheless it was an awful experience. I bought The Club because I park my car on the street and rarely drive it. I didn't want my car to become a target, so I thought purchasing The Club was a great idea. Before putting The Club on my car, I read the directions and tested the keys. The directions were simple and the keys worked, so I went ahead and locked my steering wheel. I left my car on the street for 3 days, but on the fourth day I needed to move it for street sweeping. I went to unlock The Club and my key would not work! I tried the other key and it also didn't work. My key just stood jammed in the lock unable to move or turn. After fiddling with the keys for 15 minutes, I had no choice but to leave my car on the street. Consequently I ended up receiving a $48 parking ticket. While at work, I googled different solutions to my problem and I got a few suggestions. I came home and tried the various tricks I read about, like pushing in the ends while turning the key, and still the key would not turn. I even had a few other people trying unlocking it, hoping that it was just me. But after two people also failed, I had no choice but to call a locksmith. The locksmith came and tried unlocking it as well and even he was shocked that the key would not work. The locksmith ended up having to cut The Club off my car. And sadly, the locksmith cost me an extra $200. Admittedly my car did not get stolen during the 3 days I had The Club, but having a product that also prevents you from driving your car is hardly helpful.

My 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander ES (base trim) already came with an active car alarm (together with engine immobilizer), so it wasn't necessary for me to get the Club. But I sometimes park it in a not-so-good neighborhood and putting the Club on makes a kiddie thief think twice about breaking into my car. The Club is solidly constructed and it's very easy to use - no key needed to extend and lock it on the steering wheel. Many people tell me a thief can break it in 30 seconds, but a couple mechanics, and the cop living across the street from me, says it's quite an effective deterrent.

I don't give it five stars because when it's installed on an airbag-equipped steering wheel, it's placed horizontally, and because the handle is long and heavy, it puts a lot of weight on the right side of the wheel. I just don't know if this is going to cause long-term misalignment of the steering wheel. Not a big deal, and I'll just turn my steering wheel so the Club sits vertically, but it's a concern. Second, the instruction sheet is terribly written, likely by a non-English speaker. Third, the guarantee is only for $500 and only good for the first 12 months, plus you must return the registration cutout within 5 days of purchase (I got it from Amazon via overnight shipping).

All in all, I think the Club is a good visible anti-theft device *in addition* to an active alarm system or another, more advanced anti-theft system. Get this original club as copycat locking clubs (one of which I used before on a Geo) definitely don't work.

The Club works very well to deter amateur would-be car thieves. It's easy to use: just place it over the steering wheel and pull. It locks automatically when it's at the right length for your steering wheel. I like the red colored Club because it makes the Club stand out; and when it's easy to see thieves may well think twice before trying to steal your car.

The keys work well for years; and although some reviewers say their Clubs didn't last so long, mine is over two years old and going strong.

The downside to the Club is, at least I'm told, that a professional car thief can cut through it somehow pretty quickly and steal my car anyway. However, I would still recommend this device as a deterrent to car theft; it can't hurt and together with a car alarm system your vehicle should be as protected as it ever could be!

Overall, the Club is well worth every penny you spend for it. Mine still works great after years and the red color make the club stand out. The Club is particularly effective when used in conjunction with a car alarm system.

I am using my second Club, now. I tossed my first one because the rubbery red plastic had aged and was nearly all peeled away. When decluttering my house for sale, I came across the keys to the old Club and thought I would try them on the new one. They fit like my glove goes on over my hand! I wonder how many different sets of keys there are, if any..?

I bought this exact model lock for my steering wheel less than a year ago from a well known auto parts store chain. Last week, while locking down my steering wheel with this lock, the entire locking mechanism broke off from the shaft. After it broke, I was lucky that I was able to remove the club from my steering wheel. Whats worse is that I took good care of the steering wheel lock. I do not recommend this very poor quality product.

Somewhere in the mid-80s I purchased "The Club" (original model with bright-red handle). I was worried about getting my car stolen. I live in a high-theft area (San Diego) and I park daily on large parking lots and in large parking garages, the preferred shopping areas for car thieves according to the local police. I read several articles about "The Club" and bought it. I've since used it with two Datsuns (280Z, pickup), two Toyotas (pickups) and a Honda SUV. All were prime theft material according to police reports. Well, after 25+ years in a high-risk area, none of my vehicles were stolen and none showed any signs of an attempt. Was the record due, at least in part, to "The Club?" Perhaps.

I was an amateur locksmith in my youth and I tried to open "The Club" sans key. I couldn't. The device is made of hardened steel so sawing seemed unlikely. Sawing the steering wheel would probably be easier. "The Club" rendered the cars useless. I'm certain there are people who could remove a "Club," but it would probably take time and specialized tools. Most thieves would probably shop around in the large lots and garages and go after easier marks. Employing "The Club" probably makes a theft more complicated and riskier. Hence, they probably move on to elsewhere. At least, that's how I view it.

About five years ago, I dropped "The Club" on a concrete driveway and broke the key off in the slot making the locking mechanism unworkable. Dismayed, I began thinking about buying another. Then the thought came to me that the real value of "The Club" was as a visual deterrent and that would hold true even with the lock broken. A thief would have to break into the car to discover the broken lock, and he might not notice it even then. So, I've been using it that way ever since. So far, so good.

A product like this is hard to rate. Is "The Club" totally effective for me, or am I just lucky? Or is it a little bit of both? If anyone has any worries about auto theft, I wouldn't hesitate telling them of my experience with "The Club." I think that deserves five stars.

Gary Peterson

My car happens to be in the top 5 list of stolen vehicles in California- 3 times stolen proves it. I bought this club as a low-cost, anti-theft system and I have to say it worked pretty well. People have tried to saw through it even and weren't successful!

The disappointing part is one really hot afternoon, I tried to unlock the club ...and the entire lock fell out. Jeez! after all that it had made it through just for the heat break it. Oh well it was good for fifty bucks.

I have been using the 'original' Red Club lock on all my vehicles since this anti-theft device was first introduced in the 80's. I've used it in conjunction with traditional car alarms (which I would recommend you do).

I have never had a single vehicle stolen from me. Coincidence? Maybe yes, maybe no. I have parked in various locations, city streets at night, large parking lots in the day, not-so-good neighborhoods in the day.

The deterrent effect of this device is significant. Put yourself in the thief's shoes. Why go through all the trouble/hassle of having to saw off the Club Lock or cut through/remove the steering wheel? Once the thief sees the Club Lock on, he will more than likely move to some easier target vehicle and save himself the trouble.

My only additional recommendation is that once bought, you use it consistently. Even if you are leaving your vehicle for 'just five minutes'...that's all the time a thief needs to take your car. The Club Lock goes on easily in a few seconds, no stress.

This is a high quality product which I would recommend to you. There are some cheap imitations out there but they are not of the same quality and strength of steel.

After a month the key and lock froze up. Tried everything WD-40 trying to take pressure off the lock . Ended up cutting it off with a hacksaw.
I was surprised how easy the metal cut. Not sure what to buy next.