Car Talk

[andyg]

2 hours ago, Tobster said:

As a quick fix if you don’t have a Faraday pouch or box, you can leave you key(s) in the Microwave. Probably the most shielded item in your house.

Until your son comes home a bit tipsy and decides he wants a snack. Been there done that lol...ended up an expensive night for the old boy...

[addicted]

We were very reluctant to have a car with keyless entry but having found the car of our choice  came with that as a standard thing  we bit the bullet and  did so. It's always kept in a locked garage when not in use except when on the marina, but I must admit it' s a bit of a concern. 

 

Carole

[annv]

Hi Carole you could have a good quality steering wheel lock,its visible through window and will deter potential thieves, that's what i have when i leave mine in vulnerable spots. John

[grendel]

I found my new car locked the doors 30 seconds after starting to move, now i dont like feeling that i might be locked in the car so quickly found and turned off that feature, but do understand that some might find that reassuring too.

[Smoggy]

I've never found keys that hard to use but would find needing to hide one away in a rf proof box a right pita, think we'll stick to the battered old skoda and not have to worry.

Seems to be yet another gimmick that makes things worse, I thought it was only Microsoft that did that.

Almost as daft as the front running lights on modern cars that leaves lots of people driving around with no tail lights because they think the lights are on.

[Popeye]

Somebody correct me if I am wrong but would an ordinary tin can with a lid be quite adequate for keeping your keys safe? 

Personally I would not like that feature on a car, keys or a clicky thing on the key fob is quite adequate for me.

Cars are getting far too complicated these days. 

[grendel]

I personally dont find it too onerous to press a button as i walk over to the car, i cannot conceive why the manufacturers would think that pressing a button is something that needs doing away with, when it leaves the security in a state where it can be bypassed when your keys are still in your house, sounds like a feature i would want disabled as soon as possible

[annv]

Its a pity they dont ask mister average about these,  they are quick to make seats, leg room etc for mister average, seems mister average is only consulted  when it suits them, MONEY it seems is the deciding factor . John

[Bikertov]

2 hours ago, grendel said:

I found my new car locked the doors 30 seconds after starting to move, now i dont like feeling that i might be locked in the car so quickly found and turned off that feature, but do understand that some might find that reassuring too.

I actually quite like that feature, as it stops people from just opening your passenger door in traffic and pinching your jacket/bag etc that's on the passenger seat, or even the driver's door and nicking your phone from the holder.

[Mouldy]

48 minutes ago, Bikertov said:

I actually quite like that feature, as it stops people from just opening your passenger door in traffic and pinching your jacket/bag etc that's on the passenger seat, or even the driver's door and nicking your phone from the holder.

Good point.  I guess like most things, maybe the benefits of some features aren’t realised until you’ve had them, or missed until you change your car again and the latest one doesn’t have them.  I’d never wanted an automatic, but in 2007 bought a car with an auto box fitted.  It was only when I sold it and returned to a manual transmission that I realised that I missed it and returned to an auto when I changed again.

My wife’s new (to her) car has keyless entry and ignition.  It’s not something that we looked for when we bought it, but it was fitted and having used it and got used to it, I now wish my car had it, but miss the heated front screen that my car has, but the wife’s doesn’t.  So much more civilised than having to use a scraper when it’s frozen. 😁

 

[Bikertov]

1 hour ago, annv said:

Its a pity they dont ask mister average about these,  they are quick to make seats, leg room etc for mister average, seems mister average is only consulted  when it suits them, MONEY it seems is the deciding factor . John

Is that not the case with most product manufacturers ?

I mean phones, computers - most people use not even 10% of the functionality, yet you have to constantly upgrade software. Then the hardware can't cope with the new software, so you have to upgrade that. So they upgrade the software because they can, etc etc.

[RS2021]

9 hours ago, Oldspice said:

It worth checking that if using a Faraday shielding pouch that it works after a period of time ...

Just checked mine and guess what its stopped working. Thanks for the tip.

[Bikertov]

11 minutes ago, Mouldy said:

Good point.  I guess like most things, maybe the benefits of some features aren’t realised until you’ve had them, or missed until you change your car again and the latest one doesn’t have them.  I’d never wanted an automatic, but in 2007 bought a car with an auto box fitted.  It was only when I sold it and returned to a manual transmission that I realised that I missed it and returned to an auto when I changed again.

My wife’s new (to her) car has keyless entry and ignition.  It’s not something that we looked for when we bought it, but it was fitted and having used it and got used to it, I now wish my car had it, but miss the heated front screen that my car has, but the wife’s doesn’t.  So much more civilised than having to use a scraper when it’s frozen. 😁

 

I had an auto box on my very first car that I owned (not parents) - a Ford Capri 2.0L. Moved to manual for a few cars, incl an Escort XR3i, but then back to Auto - currently an Audi A4 Cab.

Whilst a manual box can be 'fun', and drinks less petrol, the auto is just so much smoother and easier especially in traffic. I also find my driving is slower, as I don't feel the need to rev through the gears.

[Oldspice]

1 hour ago, RS2021 said:

Just checked mine and guess what its stopped working. Thanks for the tip.

No worries... glad it helped ... all the pouches are vulnerable to damage as the key is slid in and that then removes the protective film/coating... I was gobsmacked when I first realised mine wasn't working.

[Victoryv]

I bought myself a new car a few months ago, its german, I was quite surprised to find it still had a sort of key( its kind of car shaped)  being used to keyless entry I was quite shocked having to press a button to get in ,but to be honest I was more concerned as to the most important feature of all, heated seats, I cannot conceive of a car without them, and as an extra bonus, heated steering wheel

[grendel]

I still have a key on my car, its a blob of plastic, but it goes in a hole on the dashboard, for the doors the metal part can actually be disengaged and used in the door lock.

[CeePee1952]

2 hours ago, RS2021 said:

Just checked mine and guess what its stopped working. Thanks for the tip.

Brenda has had her Faraday pouch for a couple of years (and two different cars) and having read the initial post regarding the issue that can happen with these pouches, I promptly took it outside to test it.  No problems, it worked fine, I even tried it with the top open on the pouch, next to the car and it still shielded the key!!  Perhaps we're just lucky with the quality of the pouch!?

Chris

[ZimbiIV]

!!Next thing you lot will telling me, is cars don't have a starting handle!

My car has keyless starting but is kept in a locked garage overnight. I know garages are not meant for cars but it keeps the driveway clear for walking down after the pubs shut.

paul

[BroadAmbition]

We've had a pair of Faraday boxes for a while now, one ready use kept upstairs where we can easily find it in our bedroom and another one with the spares in hidden out of the way.  Both Trevor Transit and MrsG's Q5 have the press button function type keys but I'm not taking any chances.  Besides it has got us into the habit of never leaving car keys downstairs.  Purdey dog is the best house alarm ever, plus cctv and movement sensor LED floodlights, oh and I changed our house / garage locks for the non-snap type, fitted a 'Patlock' to the conservatory doors.   So far so good, fingers crossed.  If all the above fails - Then there is my arsenal of guns of course, trouble is I can't get to them quickly (But neither can anyone else).  I do have a large metal box bar kept in t bedroom, never had to use it, hope I never do.  I can do no more.

Griff

[Popeye]

19 hours ago, Bikertov said:

I actually quite like that feature, as it stops people from just opening your passenger door in traffic and pinching your jacket/bag etc that's on the passenger seat, or even the driver's door and nicking your phone from the holder.

Forumites may have a feature on their cars as I have on mine, an 07 Vauxhall Vectra. I would need to refer to my owner's handbook for how I did it as I have forgotten but I can click once on the fob and only the driver's door opens. Two clicks opens the whole car including the tailgate. This feature stops scum from nicking your gear on the road and also stops anybody with bad intentions getting in the passenger side before you move off, possibly with a knife  when you get in the car. Have a look in your handbooks, the feature may be on your cars.  

[StillCruising]

Same arrangement on my Rover 75's and as soon as you do more than 4mph the doors lock. 

[tim]

18 hours ago, Bikertov said:

Whilst a manual box can be 'fun', and drinks less petrol, the auto is just so much smoother and easier especially in traffic. I also find my driving is slower, as I don't feel the need to rev through the gears.

I've had an auto for years, and will never go back to a manual especially as I travel from Kent to Essex every weekday and have to use the Dartford crossing!

However, just bought Mandy an auto, her fuel consumption has gone up!

That's probably because the car drives itself better than she does!  

[oldgregg]

1 hour ago, Popeye said:

Forumites may have a feature on their cars as I have on mine, an 07 Vauxhall Vectra. I would need to refer to my owner's handbook for how I did it as I have forgotten but I can click once on the fob and only the driver's door opens. Two clicks opens the whole car including the tailgate. This feature stops scum from nicking your gear on the road and also stops anybody with bad intentions getting in the passenger side before you move off, possibly with a knife  when you get in the car. Have a look in your handbooks, the feature may be on your cars.  

A lot of cars have this feature. My old Corsa had it, our Focus had it and my current Honda has it too. Very handy.

I think on Vauxhalls of that generation most of the options are set with some combination of the trip counter button and the indicators, with the engine off and the ignition in a certain position.

[RumPunch]

1 hour ago, oldgregg said:

A lot of cars have this feature. My old Corsa had it, our Focus had it and my current Honda has it too. Very handy.

I think on Vauxhalls of that generation most of the options are set with some combination of the trip counter button and the indicators, with the engine off and the ignition in a certain position.

Sitting in the seat and pressing key and door buttons for single press unlocking or anti hijack

[BroadAmbition]

My lad has just this week taken delivery of his brand new company car, his previous Audi A4 estate was getting high on mileage and three years old.   He had a limited choice, to my surprise he opted for a   'Tesla model 3 dual motor long range'   to give it's full title. 

On the road a cool £50k  price tag.

His company have installed a charging point at his house (They are picking up the elec charge costs) He's just taken me out for a spin.  I have to say it's impressive and stuffed full of clever technology, I bet the owners instruction manual comes in lots of volumes.

It reads the road and steers itsen around corners, there is no dashboard, just a large centre led display panel where everything is controlled from.  It displays the road, pavement, junctions other vehicles, hazards, even wheely bins on the pavements. It reads road speed signs, reads traffic lights and displays the lot.  Not only gathers information but it reacts to the  information it is gathering as it drives along - pretty impressive  It has a full glass roof too.  He opted for 'Black on Black' that is black exterior paint with a black leather interior - It does look good but will be a pain to keep the outside spotless

He can view anyone approaching his car via his iphone when away from the car, (recording to the onboard computer) and talk to them no matter how far away his he is, pretty much like the Ring doorbell systems on houses only this has multiple cameras with all round vision.  The days of other vehicle owners damaging cars in supermarket car parks and the like then buggering off without leaving a note are numbered.

It drives beautifully the only noise you can hear (If you mute the sound system) is tyre noise on the road, no wind noise and of course no propulsion system noise.  The acceleration from rest is phenomenal, pins you to the seat and dinks your napper onto the headrest if you're not ready for it.   0-60mph is in the mid 4 second territory, that's supercar performance levels.   4wd means its impossible to lose traction or spin the wheels on take off.  This is a rocket, I can't see any normal cars on the road matching it unless they are in the supercar bracket too, of course my Mighty Tiger will still be able to show it a rear number plate.  Cornering / braking and grip levels are just simply amazing, the Mighty Tiger won't match those.  Running costs are tiny compared to a dyno fuel vehicle, he'll save a fortune on company car tax and personal use costs

Apparently I'm to be added onto the insurance (Along with MrsG) like his previous company car.  I can see me enjoying this and begin to appreciate elec vehicles somewhat more

Griff