[Wavytone]

On both of our cars (recent Mazda and Honda) if I disconnected the battery the car would be immobilised so it's not really a viable option. In the case of the honda which has a CVT, this also erases the CVT gearbox programming which means no driving till that's fixed too, at a cost of some $500. I found out the hard way once with the Honda's battery going flat as it is driven very little, and I also asked our Mazda dealer about the mazda 3 we have.

Lightning usually strikes the highest point of an object. The analogy to a Faraday cage is valid if the lighting strikes the car body, but not valid if the lightning scores a direct hit on an exposed wire connected internally inside the body - and a car antenna is one example, I mean the sort that stick up from the car roof as our Mazda 3 has, as well as many other cars.

If the lighting scored a direct hit on the antenna it would probably destroy the sound system and possibly the CAN bus it's connected to in the dash, and anything connected to that. Probably a good idea to keep your hands clear of the electronics if your car also has a rooftop antenna.

Some cars - as our Honda - have the antenna embedded in the windscreen or rear window - sensible place as lightning will hit the body first.