From the review of the new Bentley Flying Spur in today's NY Times: "The Flying Spur is so user friendly, you don't need a key to enter. With the key fob in your pocket, this discerning car recognizes you automatically and unlocks the doors. " (full text at http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/14/automobi...=1&oref=slogin) Wonder where they got that idea?
Most cars have a keyless start feature nowadays. I believe Mercedes was the first to use it, their "Keyless Go". Circa 2000 or so.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SW03ES @ May 14 2006, 05:08 PM) [snapback]255380[/snapback]</div> Infiniti also has an SKS-type system. The Prius was far from the first car to have it, but it was almost certainly the cheapest car to.
Yeah, it is the cheapest. Still is.. until the new Nissan Versa comes along. I think SW was right. MB had it first with their Keyless Go! system. Then Lexus with their SmartAccess system on the LS. Infiniti brought their Intelligent Key system down to the FX35/45 price level then Toyota threw out the towel with the SKS on the Prius, complete with push button start (the LS and FX had reinforced ignition slot plastic)
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SW03ES @ May 14 2006, 03:08 PM) [snapback]255380[/snapback]</div> Where do you get your data from? I'd say it's exactly the opposite.
In Japan, the upper classses of Toyota Vitz (Yaris) and Missan March (Micra) have these. They are about 1.5Myen(US$13k) ranges. Ken@Japan
If I were paying for a Bentley I'd sure as heck want one of those SKS wrist watches included as part of the package. I'm thinking that the SKS will be pretty much available in everything in a few years...like remote keyless entry.
I am aware that the Prius isn't the only car or the first to offer SKS- I just thought that it was funny that in a review of a car that sells for $180,000 (when you include the gas-guzzler tax), the writer made a big point of what a great feature it was, as if it was unique to the Bentley. Now, here's a feature that I would like to see- a real "smart key." By that I mean some kind of transponder in the car and an indicator on the key fob that tells me what direction and how far to go to locate my parked car!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(larkinmj @ May 15 2006, 11:21 PM) [snapback]255624[/snapback]</div> Which means... If you lost the fob, someone will pick it up. Then, the person can identify your vehicle easily and steal it. Ken@Japan
Not to mention the March also has automatic climate control, sat nav, ABS, and a computer to greet you happy birthday.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ken1784 @ May 15 2006, 10:46 AM) [snapback]255645[/snapback]</div> Not if it had to be activated by a biometric thumbprint.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(larkinmj @ May 16 2006, 10:54 AM) [snapback]256037[/snapback]</div> Is that Keyless system? I don't think so.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ken1784 @ May 15 2006, 10:11 PM) [snapback]256048[/snapback]</div> Sure it is... no key, only a thumb.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SW03ES @ May 14 2006, 03:08 PM) [snapback]255380[/snapback]</div> So, where's your data to back up this assertion? Below are the top selling vehicles in the US year to date (up through April 2006) from http://yahoo.reuters.com/news/articlenews....02431549&rpc=44. [view the HTML to see it formatted properly properly] How many of them have keyless start? RANK VEHICLE 2006 2005 '05 RANK %Chng 1 Ford F-Series pickup 264,550 260,775 1 +1.4 2 Chevy Silverado-C/K pickup 203,062 214,396 2 -5.3 3 Toyota Camry 133,978 138,939 3 -3.6 4 Dodge Ram pickup 121,200 125,043 4 -3.1 5 Toyota Corolla / Matrix 118,442 115,994 5 +2.1 6 Honda Civic 109,738 90,812 7 +20.8 7 Honda Accord 108,562 112,606 6 -3.6 8 Chevrolet Impala 90,312 87,770 8 +2.9 9 Dodge Caravan 81,191 81,696 11 -0.6 10 Nissan Altima 80,804 84,337 10 -4.2 11 Chevrolet Cobalt 71,776 51,888 24 +38.3 12 Ford Taurus 66,501 72,377 12 -8.1 13 GMC Sierra pickup 63,201 67,955 13 -7.0 14 Chevrolet Malibu 61,503 62,604 17 -1.8 15 Ford Explorer 60,488 86,386 9 -30.0 16 Ford Focus 60,168 64,916 16 -7.3 17 Ford Escape 58,279 59,179 20 -1.5 18 Chevrolet Tahoe 58,242 42,988 34 +35.5 19 Ford Econoline 58,042 58,861 21 -1.4 20 Ford Mustang 56,560 61,820 18 -8.5
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cwerdna @ May 15 2006, 04:44 AM) [snapback]255570[/snapback]</div> Sorry I didn't get back to you within a time frame that you felt was appropriate. I must have been earning a living or spending time with my family and friends or something like that. I'm sorry, I'll focus more of my energy to this internet forum and specifically addressing your concerns with what I post from now on. However, if you feel the need to be a dick about it like you have been here, I'm not even going to waste my energy. Where is my data to back up my assertion? And you ask me again because I didn't respond quickly enough for you? Get over yourself. I'm far too busy having a life to worry about "backing up" an assertion that keyless start features are quite commonplace nowadays on an internet forum. You however obviously have a great deal more time on your hands. Good for you. Perhaps I should have said, "most vehicles over 30k have a keyless start feature nowadays"
