Smart keys

[Pat-inCO]

What the heck ever happened to the "dumb" keys, for your car?

Remember back when the car key would allow you to open a lock or turn on
the ignition? In fact, many of the older models had one for the door/ignition
and a separate one for the trunk.

Now look at what we have. One "key" that doesn't even require you to put
it in the lock. It has a "panic" button to toot the horn and blink the lights,
in case someone decides to attack you near your car, locks and unlocks the
doors and opens the trunk, if you even have a trunk. :roll:

Then think about the cost of replacing one. Thirty five to sixty dollars, just
for a "key" to get you in your car. Remember when you could get one cut
for less than a dollar?

Don't get me wrong, I am for convenience, but is this actual convenience
or just complexity in the name of having more "features" to show on the
dealer's list?

Ain't it nice to be old enough to whine about things like this?

 

[crewdog05]

Not only the cost of the key, but the dealer will charge an hour of labor to match the key to the car, a real money maker for them as it only takes a few min to do. If you have one that uses a separate fob to lock and unlock you can get them from any one of several places online and program it yourself, the instructions are avail, just do a search for it.

 

[Bull Barrel]

A locksmith will make the key for about the price mentioned in the OP. I need one. A local smith has a sign advertises them for $75.
I went to a smith in Suffolk, VA and he didn't make them.

Remember when you didn't need a key to roll down the windows?

 

[wwb]

It's another case of what engineers call "Rampant Technology"...... we can, therefore we will. Nobody ever stopped to ask if we should.

If there is a true benefit from some whizz-bang technology, it's worth doing (unless the cost vs. benefit is way out of whack). In the case of these keys, they were supposed to make car theft more difficult..... it took far less than a year before the professional thieves had that plan beat, so there is no advantage to them any longer. The disadvantages are still with us, though.... increased cost and complexity, and decreased reliability.

Count me as another who would like to see them go away.

 

[ronto]

Ever try to buy a key for a late model Toyota? We're taking in the neighborhood of 200 bucks! You can have a key made at your local hardware store but all it will do is open the door, it won't start the car because without the transponder in the key the fuel pump is cut out. It will crank but won't start. I yearn for the days of the "dumb" key.

 

[Mobuck]

Just something more to go wrong at some time.

 

[Bullseye57]

Just something more to go wrong at some time.

Make that a "most inopportune" time.

On the plus side, your car won't randomly turn off with a smart key fob because you have five pounds of other keys, or the entire "Simpson's Family" key chain characters attached to it.

R,
Bullseye

 

[coach]

Don't forget about finding your car in the mall parking lot or airport garage when you didn't pay enough attention to where you parked with the panic button. To be honest, I'd just as soon be able to buy $2 keys when needed.

 

[Kevin]

Yeah dont lose one of those keys. They can be 200 or more. Forget 35 to 60.

 

[caryc]

Never had a smart key, I'll stick with my stupid ones. The more electric crap you have the more crap you have to fail some time.

 

[Pat-inCO]

I yearn for the days of the "dumb" key.

That's one of the reasons I keep my old Pathfinder (Nissan) around.
ONE dumb key does everything. 8)

 

[RoninPA]

What about the key that you don't even have to put it in the lock to unlock the car, you just need to be beside the car and then pull on the door handle. Then you get in as long as you are sitting in the drivers seat you press on the brake and press a button to start the car, your key can stay in you pocket the whole time.

 

[toysoldier]

I won't stop with criticising the key.

How about electric locks and windows, that won't work if you go into water?

Rear-view mirrors that incorporate electric adjustment, turn signal light, and heater---and cost hundreds to replace when someone clips your vehicle in a parking lot.

Carpeted floors---only a bathroom might be a worse place for carpeting. You can buy rubber floor mats to protect the carpeting---why not rubber floor mats in the first place?

Halogen or LED headlights tucked behind plastic covers that break, haze and yellow. I haven't had to replace a sealed-beam headlight on any vehicle I owned for 30 years---and they melt off ice and snow. Plenty of illumination, too.

How about it? What would you add to the list?

 

[caryc]

I won't stop with criticising the key.

How about electric locks and windows, that won't work if you go into water?

Rear-view mirrors that incorporate electric adjustment, turn signal light, and heater---and cost hundreds to replace when someone clips your vehicle in a parking lot.

Carpeted floors---only a bathroom might be a worse place for carpeting. You can buy rubber floor mats to protect the carpeting---why not rubber floor mats in the first place?

Halogen or LED headlights tucked behind plastic covers that break, haze and yellow. I haven't had to replace a sealed-beam headlight on any vehicle I owned for 30 years---and they melt off ice and snow. Plenty of illumination, too.

How about it? What would you add to the list?

Cruise control. I have it on both my vans and never use it. I think a driver needs a certain amount of things he has to do to keep from falling asleep, working the accelerator is one of them.

 

[vortecMax]

How about going back to headlite dimmer switch on the floor.

 

[huntsman22]

I dunno....I'm kinda partial to electric wipers. The old vacuum ones sucked.

 

[RugerHound]

I dunno....I'm kinda partial to electric wipers. The old vacuum ones sucked.

THAT is a fact...

 

[caryc]

How about going back to headlite dimmer switch on the floor.

Yeah, when I got some inconsiderate jerk coming at me with his brights on it always seemed to make me feel better to "stomp" on that switch while hollering "Take that you "$#@%^&$%".

Just pulling back on that little lever with one finger doesn't quite give me the same satisfaction.

As I remember, those switches were pretty tough. Never heard of one failing.

 

[ArmedinAZ]

As I remember, those switches were pretty tough. Never heard of one failing.

You never lived in the east dragging slushy muddy snow in your truck for months every winter. They fail.

Never had a stalk mounted dimmer fail.

 

[exavid]

Yep, I went through two floor dimmer switches on my '50 Chevy. I LOVE CRUISE CONTROLS! My Goldwing had one and my '95 K1100LT will soon have one. Lovely things on a motorcycle, lets you rest your right hand on the superslab.

 

[Poco Oso]

One key for the truck,(I hang it up and it never tries to do anything. I don't think it's a smart one ) It's a '79 F150. Two each ( door, trunk, glove box) and ignition, for both cars. Everything old was not exactly, simple either. If anyone out there has figured out how to keep the stock (key word) headlight doors and power windows running, without replacing the whole mess, on a '67 Thunderbird...shoot me a PM! I have recently been told, I've inherited my wife's old '88 Grand Prix...A little new, with too many electric gee-gaws, for me. :wink:

 

[Colonialgirl]

My Volvo has an old fashioned key; Smooth on both edges with the :hills and valleys (don't know what you call them) running down slots on both flat sides. Got a push button thingamabob to electronically lock and unlock the doors but never use it. I DO like the Cruise Control, especially on long drives as your right foot tends to get tired and cramp up a bit.

 

[Bull Barrel]

Yep, I went through two floor dimmer switches on my '50 Chevy. I LOVE CRUISE CONTROLS! My Goldwing had one and my '95 K1100LT will soon have one. Lovely things on a motorcycle, lets you rest your right hand on the superslab.

Cruise on a m/c? Blasphemy!
We ride moorsickles to get away from gadgetry!
The only gadget my bikes have is the GPS...Gluteus Positiong System, aka the seat.
Try twisting on a couple Dell'ortos all day...

 

[Acorn]

We had one of our company cars stolen. It had a key with the remote door lock control buttons. It was stolen also. Toyota quoted me around $400 for the key and $95 to program it.

 

[coach]

I had an old VW way back that could be opened with a Popsicle stick. I did it more than once.
Now that's low tech! I prefer a key fob, but it was handy at times.