Huh? Car keys are a problem?

[mbarker]

I'm fascinated. We traded in our old car recently, and Mitsuko looked at ALL the new crop before deciding. She does the most driving, so I insisted that we get a car that she wanted. And she looked at little ones (no), big ones (no), and various other things. She decided that a Toyota Axio was the right car. But there were two things that particularly caught her attention.

The first was a new "no-key" system. You carry a widget, and pushing the little button on the door or sliding your hand in unlocks it. And pushbutton starter for the engine. She really wanted that -- almost got a Rumion because the one on the lot had that feature, until we sorted it out and found out that it was available on the Axio, too. I have to admit, I hadn't realized that getting keys out of her purse was quite so bothersome, but she assured me and the salesman that this was a GREAT feature for women.

The second was a reverse vision camera? So that when you put the car in reverse, the car navigation shows what's behind you. She says this is a present for me -- I hadn't realized that I was having trouble, but she assures me that I really need it. Not sure why, but we'll see. I do complain that the Japanese parking spaces are very narrow, and in most cases you back into them, so maybe this will help. And it definitely provides a better guide to avoid backing too far -- hum, I have had to ask her to get out and tell me how far to back up. Maybe that's why I need it?

That "no-key" door opening, though, was the thing that she really, really wanted. Frankly, I think she was waffling about whether to trade the car in or not, but once she saw that "no-key" option, it was decided. Kind of interesting -- I don't think the salesman understood that this was a real sales point for women. Bet he thought it was a gadget for the guys before that.

Are keys in purses really that difficult? I guess if your arms are full, and you have to open the purse, dig out the keys, put it in and turn it, now yank the door open -- and probably dump your purse in the process? Hum . . . okay, a ring of keys on the belt is a lot easier to handle. A wireless car fob that just needs to be somewhere in your purse or pocket is a big improvement.

So a "no-key" system is a winner. Just stick your hand in the handle and . . . beep, beep, it's open. Or press the button on the handle and . . . beep, it's locked. Start the car? Foot on the brake, press the button . . . vroom. Car fob -- can't get in without it.

Comments

[dialyn.livejournal.com]

What keeps another person from getting into the car if you don't want them to? One of the things I don't like about my car is that all the doors unlock at the same time. I guess I just live in a state of paranoia, but that seems too convenient to me. I think what would be a selling point to you would be a discouragement to me (but then I live in a neighborhood where carjackings and car theft are common).

I do, however, like the idea of a rear view camera. I feel very insecure about backing...especially in my HHR which has round edges so it's hard for me to determine where I am in relationship to other objects (okay, that's an excuse...I would have trouble backing a box).

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Luckily, Japan is still pretty safe. I agree -- if I was still living in Boston, I'd be especially bothered by the fact that all the doors unlock. I think I've had a system where one click unlocked the driver's door, while two unlocked everything. But this one is probably okay here in Japan.