Credit Card type proximity key for a car

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Credit Card type proximity key for a car

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Fred99

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#1063704 11-Jun-2014 22:30

Satch:
Fred99: "Prox keys suck and this is why"

There's about a zillion comments on that page, vehemently arguing the supposed pros - yet obvious cons.
Hardly a mention of the ludicrous NZ$500 cost for replacement keys - which pays for a few cents worth of moulded plastic, a few dollars worth of components, and a few minutes to program in to your car.
They are a gimmick - along with the "start button", designed to appeal to - and thus make us prisoners of - the child within.

Are you serious???

I'm semi-serious. Sure that article may have been a little over the top, but some valid points are made.
There is a "paradigm shift" between the key / lock relationship which we intuitively understand, and the consequences of not adapting to that change could be extremely inconvenient.
Then the example given above of the 2 years old, hand in hand, and you can open the door without the keys. I've been there. I've done that. Believe me that if there was some life-changing technological advance I would have wished for - keyless entry to my car wouldn't have even been close to top of the list. Some kind of robotic mind-control implant for 2YO would have been good - so it got into it's child seat automatically when it was tired, a massive air volume activated carbon filter would have been nice at times, automatically deploying projectile puke deflectors, whole cabin noise cancelling systems, I'm sure there's stuff I missed. Not once did I think that not having to reach for my car keys would change my life in any significant way at all.
I don't want a lot of this stuff in my car. It doesn't last, it doesn't improve my user experience, and it's extremely expensive to fix when it inevitably fails.

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nakedmolerat

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#1063716 11-Jun-2014 22:35

graemeh: ...A proximity key will not be a deciding factor for me with my next car and I won't actively avoid it but I won't be seeking it out either.

Same here!

Just sold my car with proximity key... I found it a nuisance! (keep losing it!)

ScuL

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#1063798 12-Jun-2014 08:33

jonathan18:

On related matters - with keyless starting, is it possible to switch the engine off but retain the AC power? It's frustrating to lose the car stereo, especially when listening via Bluetooth as it takes a while for the stereo to re-connect to the phone. Similarly, with start-stop technology, is it possible to switch the car off without re-engaging the motor (when it has 'stopped' itself)? It's irritating the motor starts up again just so switch it off.

with my car (Renault) there is a keycard slot in the central console. You don't have to put your card there in order to operate the vehicle, but if you put it there whilst the engine is off it will turn on AC power. It will then keep on running for 10 minutes or so and then it switches off again. To restart the electronics you need to open and close the door and the 10 minute cycle starts again.

Haere taka mua, taka muri; kaua e wha.

graemeh

2078 posts

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#1063841 12-Jun-2014 09:50

blakamin:
jonathan18: <snip>
No problems - it's probably true that many wouldn't bother reading the manual, so a fair question! But given the amount of technology in the car (adaptive cruise control, start/stop engine management, blind-spot monitoring etc) I thought it was important to read it. It's a 2013 Mazda 6 Ltd. The start/stop isn't working all the time as I'd expect so will take up this and my other questions (including when the @#$@# are they going to sort the terrible iPod integration!) with the local dealer...

With Toyotas you turn the car off without being in park and the radio keeps going. No idea with a Mazda, but might be worth a shot. Or, if the engine is off, press start without your foot on the brake.

With Toyata GT86 your passenger can turn the car off while you are driving by repeatedly hitting the "Start/Stop" button. I assumed that the "Stop" function would be locked out while the car was moving, my wife proved me wrong.

I wonder how long before someone in the US crashes and sues because their idiot child turned the car off while they were driving.

jonathan18

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#1064276 12-Jun-2014 17:57

blakamin: With Toyotas you turn the car off without being in park and the radio keeps going. No idea with a Mazda, but might be worth a shot. Or, if the engine is off, press start without your foot on the brake.

Huh! Well, it's apparently the same for Mazdas! Tried this tonight and it worked perfectly (namely, not having the transmission set to park; pressing start without the foot on the brake turns the engine off). Thanks for the hint.

Personally, I'm really happy with keyless start; mine does the beeping if I try to leave the car without the keys. The biggest problem I have is trying to reach for the start/stop button on the other car (which takes a key!).

jevvv

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#1064683 13-Jun-2014 09:26

I think our little el-cheapo Mazda Demio 2005 has a prox key - will have to check with daughter as she has it.

If so then it's not just expensive cars

<- don't ask me where I am - I haven't a clue: its a tech thing ;)
Housewife computerer: not particularly great at either.
And don't take me too seriously.

ilovemusic

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#1064793 13-Jun-2014 11:41

a double pox on prox keys and starter buttons !

modern cars do so much to isolate the driver from a physical driving experience that inserting and turning a real key is about the only tactile event left for the driver !

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