Collecting VIN numbers, why some like it :), Not sure why those that don't, don't .... Options

[Mueller]

Just wanted to start a separate thread on this subject.


A car pops up for sale or is seen at a show and many times in the thread the subject comes up about whether or not the person grabbed* the VIN?

Many posters will be like the idea of seeing if the VIN is in the database, others get bent about it as if it is a violation of ones personal space.


Being these cars are getting more rare everyday I think it's a good thing to document these numbers.

Sooner or later we are going to see duplicate VINs or a rare car pop up for sale that is a known totaled or destroyed car.

*as if stealing a soul, hahaha

If you think this is odd, I have a Curta calculator that is in a database that I have no problem with my calculator being a part of.

http://www.curtamania.com/curta/code/type_..._your_curta.php

No. 516139 if you want to see it.


Back to the VIN, I cannot find a single thing where someone was injured, killed or robbed due to someone having access to a VIN number. There is way more information to get found from a license plate.

^edit, did something on snopes which has some credibility

http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/vin.asp

Still for a 40 year old car I don't see getting a copy of someones key that easy at the Porsche dealership.

[2mAn]

I dont think anyone will be trespassing on peoples properties just to get a VIN off another 914, but if they are seen in the wild, its usually a big deal so its cool to keep a log of them.

Im always trying to find history on all of my cars and if I could find a previous owner that would be great.

[Chris914n6]

I dont think anyone will be trespassing on peoples properties just to get a VIN off another 914.

This is why the VIN topic is posted once again. A member did that, took a bunch of pics, and posted one that showed the house address with the statement "might be for sale I will let you know if the owner ever contacts me."

Personally I like the VIN database and I've put all the cars I've owned in there. But, I feel if a car is seen in the wild a note inviting the owner to World and encouraging them to add to the database is more appropriate than rushing to do it yourself for a pat on the back.

The database is more of a census than anything else. Very few people here know my last name or address (mostly tshirt sellers) so there is no concerns. Posting a $5k stereo build on CarDomain is a different story.