Cars with Keyless Entry

Fr0dders · 11 Jun 2008 at 21:01

Whilst looking around for a new car, ive been supprised as to how many cars dont have this.

Renault have been doing this since 2002 as a £250 option when they introduced the meagne (or thereabouts, googling was a little hazy)

But it seems that for just about every other manufacturer, unless you're buying the 2007/2008 model year, its not even an option. Ford introduced the S-Max as a brand new car in 2006, and this doesnt have it either as recently as 2006 !

I think the only other brand i could find that offered it this long ago was Mercs. How come everybody else has been so slow to catch up ?

The new mondeo (introduced end of last year) has it, but its been out less than a year, and it would be financial suicide to buy an 6 month old mondeo titanium X as the depreciation will be epic.

[TW]Fox · 11 Jun 2008 at 21:04

It's becuase its a gimmick most people don't want.

Fr0dders · 11 Jun 2008 at 21:06

just me that likes the idea of my doors unlocking automatically and never having to take your key out of your pocket then :/

Darryn · 11 Jun 2008 at 21:06

Weird, this something im going to really miss when i upgrade my car.

My poxy Suzuki Swift has Keyless entry and Keyless Ignition, which is great... I never have to take my keys out of my workbag to get in, start and then lock afterwards. My next car is a much more expensive car and I need the keyfob to unlock it and key in ignition to start, even though it uses a push button Start... kind of a step backwards.

cymatty · 11 Jun 2008 at 21:06

[TW]Fox;11870722 said:
It's becuase its a gimmick most people don't want.

It would annoy me as well.

How could you tell if it was locked? everytime you got close it would open again. :confused:

[DOD]Asprilla · 11 Jun 2008 at 21:07

I've never really seen a use for it, and my Mother-in-law who does have it thinks it's pretty pointless.

You've got to get the key out to start the car (in most cases) and you've got to have a free hand to open the door or the boot so what's wrong with remove locking and unlocking? At least that means you are sure the car is locked - you can tell that I've never really trusted it.

I can't think of a scenario where it would regularly be usful to me.

spaz · 11 Jun 2008 at 21:10

Have it on my clio and think it's excellent. Able to just leave it in my pocket, walk upto the door, open it, foot on clutch, press start button and off you go...aware there's not many other steps when using a key but it saves fumbling about, lock it by pressing the button on the door handle.

Had it not been standard though I probably wouldn't have plumped for it, if a car I was to buy had the option for it though would certainly want it to have it.

MeAnBoY · 11 Jun 2008 at 21:14

Darryn said:
Weird, this something im going to really miss when i upgrade my car.

My poxy Suzuki Swift has Keyless entry and Keyless Ignition, which is great... I never have to take my keys out of my workbag to get in, start and then lock afterwards. My next car is a much more expensive car and I need the keyfob to unlock it and key in ignition to start, even though it uses a push button Start... kind of a step backwards.

The system in the Suzuki is great, i still dont understand the system you mention where you have to put the fob in then push the start button. You might aswell use a damn key!

Firestar_3x · 11 Jun 2008 at 21:14

Used it on a few cars, never been a fan, fail to see the point.

Gerard · 11 Jun 2008 at 21:20

cymatty said:
How could you tell if it was locked? everytime you got close it would open again.

The way Vauxhall have it you get a little fob for your keychain, it will only unlock the door if youre in range and pull on the door handle. afaik on vauxhalls (with the keyless option) they autolock again after 5 minutes, so you can be in range just dont pull the handle and it'll obviously remain locked.

233 · 11 Jun 2008 at 21:21

yeah i had this on my xr2 in the late 90's

it was called not bothering to lock the damn thing As i stayed out in the sticks with no one for 5 miles either way

Darryn · 11 Jun 2008 at 21:21

MeAnBoY said:
The system in the Suzuki is great, i still dont understand the system you mention where you have to put the fob in then push the start button. You might aswell use a damn key!

I worded it badly, as you say the Suzuki system is great though... My next car will be a new CTR, you need the keyfob to disable the alarm and unlock the doors, and then the key in the ignition, before pressing the Start button... makes having a Start button kinda pointless.

SoliD · 11 Jun 2008 at 21:21

Stupid gimmick to me, I test drove a suzuki swift sport and coundlt get on with the thing, was like is it locked isnt it etc etc, in the end I dont think it ever was but ohwell. Nothing wrong with a good old key.

Scottland · 11 Jun 2008 at 21:22

The idea intrigues me, but if I had it I think I'd be constantly paranoid about it being locked all the time

Rilot · 11 Jun 2008 at 22:05

The system is works perfectly well and there is no doubt whether the car is locked or not. I've had it on my Audi A8 and now on my Lexus GS. Your milage may very though as I've only used the systems on these cars.

This is how it works:

Walk up to car and touch the door handle, it unlocks the car.
Sit down, press starter button
Drive
Press stop button
Get out of car
Press button on door handle, car locks.

How you can not know whether the car is locked or unlocked is utterly beyond me. I guess those complaining have never really had a car with that feature before.

thepharcyde · 11 Jun 2008 at 22:06

Nissan Micra had it back in 2002

thepharcyde · 11 Jun 2008 at 22:07

Rilot said:
The system is works perfectly well and there is no doubt whether the car is locked or not. I've had it on my Audi A8 and now on my Lexus GS. Your milage may very though as I've only used the systems on these cars.

This is how it works:

Walk up to car and touch the door handle, it unlocks the car.
Sit down, press starter button
Drive
Press stop button
Get out of car
Press button on door handle, car locks.

How you can not know whether the car is locked or unlocked is utterly beyond me. I guess those complaining have never really had a car with that feature before.

have you got pics of your GS, do you prefer it?

Scottland · 11 Jun 2008 at 22:08

Rilot said:
How you can not know whether the car is locked or unlocked is utterly beyond me. I guess those complaining have never really had a car with that feature before.

I suppose it's a bit like checking the fridge light goes off when the door shuts

Rilot · 11 Jun 2008 at 22:09

thepharcyde said:
have you got pics of your GS, do you prefer it?

No pics on my PC at the moment.
Prefer it to what? The A8?

In terms of the drive and general feel, no. The A8 is nicer.
In terms of the reliability and general service quality from Lexus. It's miles and miles ahead of any of the German brands. The service from Lexus is unbeliveably good. The German brands should really be ashamed of themselves letting Toyota upstage them.

Lashout_UK · 11 Jun 2008 at 22:09

Corvette C4s came with this after 1993

Called PKE, 'Passive Keyless Entry'. Working by proximity, a battery-operated key-fob transmitter sent a unique code picked up by a receiver in the Corvette through one of the two antennas (in coupes, antennas were in the driver door and rear deck; in convertibles, antennas were in both doors).

The transmitter required no specific action by the owner; approaching the vehicle with the transmitter would unlock the doors, turn on the interior light, and disarm the theft-deterrent. Leaving an unlocked vehicle with the transmitter would lock the doors and arm the theft-deterrent. The PKE could be turned off completely and transmitters were programmable for locking and unlocking just the driver door, or both driver and passenger doors.

Transmitters for convertibles had a single button for programming and driver/passenger door unlocking; transmitters for coupes had an extra button for rear hatch release