"Smart" keys

[Mide]

I know that the Prius, some Nissans, Lexus, and the CX-7 has this feature, but are there cheaper cars other than the Nissan that has it? It's one of those "spoil yourself" features I'd like to have in a new car.

 

[DivideBYZero]

You mean the ones that you just have on your person and the car opens like magic?

Renault.

 

[Mide]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
You mean the ones that you just have on your person and the car opens like magic?

Renault.

Yup. Oh, unfortunately Renault is not sold in the US.

 

[DivideBYZero]

I know, but you may see it in cars like the Nissan Versa. The Versa uses the same platform as my GF's latest gen Clio, and she has full smart key access. I don't need to use the key at all, it just needs to be in a pocket or bag.

 

[Zenmervolt]

I wouldn't ever use a car that depended only on RFID for the key. I don't like not having a mechanical fail-safe. What do you do when your battery dies?

ZV

 

[mooseracing]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
What do you do when your battery dies?

ZV

Rig that shit up, just like people with shaved handles.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I wouldn't ever use a car that depended only on RFID for the key. I don't like not having a mechanical fail-safe. What do you do when your battery dies?

ZV

Usually the car also comes with a standard key as a backup

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I wouldn't ever use a car that depended only on RFID for the key. I don't like not having a mechanical fail-safe. What do you do when your battery dies?

ZV

It has a mechanical backup key secreted in the card. You have to pop a cap off the door handle to use it, i.e., they're not expecting it to be used every week.

 

[DarkManX]

i hate my smart key! my infiniti g35 has it and its just a keyfob that goes on your keychain, you stil lhave to start the car as if there is a key in there. there was several times when i droped the keys under the seats, and twice when i left the ignition on enough to kill my battery just because i didnt turn it allll the way to off.

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I wouldn't ever use a car that depended only on RFID for the key. I don't like not having a mechanical fail-safe. What do you do when your battery dies?

ZV

It has a mechanical backup key secreted in the card. You have to pop a cap off the door handle to use it, i.e., they're not expecting it to be used every week.

Yeah, BMW's the same way. Those smart keys are so convenient, they just stay in your pocket the entire time. Cars unlock when you reach for the handle, and pushbutton start/stop. Keyhole is still there if you run out of batteries, but it's rarely ever used.

 

[Squisher]

Love the Smart key on my Prius. I sometimes sit in my F150 for a second before I remember I need a key to start it.

I'd pay $300 to put it on the backdoor of my house.

 

[Atty]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I wouldn't ever use a car that depended only on RFID for the key. I don't like not having a mechanical fail-safe. What do you do when your battery dies?

ZV

I'm not sure about the other cars but my Prius has a smart key and you can pull a normal key out of it to use in case your battery dies. It just slides in and locks in place and the end has the key ring attachment.

 

[RGUN]

Corvette has it, but thankfully you can deactivate the automatic lock/unlock feature.

 

[AdamK47]

My C6 has it. If the battery dies in the car or in the FOB you can pop the hatch with a key near the license plate and pull a cord from inside the trunk.

 

[Baked]

Seems more trouble than it is. Same w/ remoted starter. But then I like on the west coast where there are no snow, so I don't need the remote starter than. I rather like the spring-loaded key fob that looks like a zippo though. Very slick.

 

[aphex]

We have it in my wife's Murano. Neat feature, but sometimes a pain. My wife just throws her keys in her purse, then when we get home she has to spend 3 minutes trying to find them before we can get in.

 

[caspur]

We get a lot of problems with the Audis and Cadillacs because people have a habit of pulling on the door handle to make sure the car is locked. The smart keys unlock them automatically. A terrible feature for the general population.

 

[CptCrunch]

I think it would be a neat option, but my fear is, down the road 8 years or so later, what if the system fails, then what? Have to replace it and I can only imagine what that would cost.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: caspur
We get a lot of problems with the Audis and Cadillacs because people have a habit of pulling on the door handle to make sure the car is locked. The smart keys unlock them automatically. A terrible feature for the general population.

In all fairness, this is clearly operator error, and surely anyone can learn not to do this. I love my BMW's Comfort Access, and it had essentially no learning curve.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: CptCrunch
I think it would be a neat option, but my fear is, down the road 8 years or so later, what if the system fails, then what? Have to replace it and I can only imagine what that would cost.

You wouldn't really HAVE to replace it - you could just continue to use the car as though it didn't have the feature. I think all cars that have this also have the ability to use the keys as conventional keyless entry fobs and ignition keys.

 

[Horsepower]

In most cases the inner key will only open the door, so you still need the "system" to operate the vehicle. I once delivered a vehicle and the customer called me back about some continuous beeping. I found that she had put the second key in the glove box
Horsepower aka Antonio Linguini

 

[ponyo]

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone

Originally posted by: CptCrunch
I think it would be a neat option, but my fear is, down the road 8 years or so later, what if the system fails, then what? Have to replace it and I can only imagine what that would cost.

You wouldn't really HAVE to replace it - you could just continue to use the car as though it didn't have the feature. I think all cars that have this also have the ability to use the keys as conventional keyless entry fobs and ignition keys.

C6 doesn't have the holes for conventional key entry or ignition. If the FOB system fails, you're screwed.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: Horsepower
In most cases the inner key will only open the door, so you still need the "system" to operate the vehicle. I once delivered a vehicle and the customer called me back about some continuous beeping. I found that she had put the second key in the glove box
Horsepower aka Antonio Linguini

I know my BMW doesn't work that way - the entire fob fits into a socket alongside the steering column and acts as the key. Obviously it's possible that system will itself fail, but that can be said of pretty much any modern car, because they all have immobilizer keys that require an electronic sensor to validate the key before the car will start.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: Naustica

C6 doesn't have the holes for conventional key entry or ignition. If the FOB system fails, you're screwed.

Wow - that is dumb. GM makes disappointing engineering decisions all too often . . .

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone

Originally posted by: Naustica

C6 doesn't have the holes for conventional key entry or ignition. If the FOB system fails, you're screwed.

Wow - that is dumb. GM makes disappointing engineering decisions all too often . . .

The later Renault system, on my GFs car, is the same. There is a slot for the card, but it's just for safekeeping if she's driving in her bikini or something. It has no impact on starting the car. There is no traditional 'key' slot and just an 'Engine start/stop' button.