I just did a search online and I found a bunch of B5 VW's claiming they won't start and want to sell the car because of a lost key fob? They're made of platinum or something and cost an arm and a leg? The ignition can't be bypassed? What am I missing?
The fobs are programmed to the car, if you lose the fobs, they break or you let the batteries die, you're dorked until you replace the fobs/batteries or find the special valet "emergency" key that some cars have.
Basically, call AAA and tow the car to the dealership, give them the fobs and have them reprogram/replace the fobs.
Makes me appreciate my old F150 that would start with any key.
These things are the most egregious of technology overreach. I will keep my old cars until I can't drive aanymore.
N Sperlo said:Makes me appreciate my old F150 that would start with any key.
My old RX7's ignition was so worn out, I could stick any flat piece in there to start it.
stroker said:I just did a search online and I found a bunch of B5 VW's claiming they won't start and want to sell the car because of a lost key fob? They're made of platinum or something and cost an arm and a leg? The ignition can't be bypassed? What am I missing?
VW people are too cheap to spend the $200 or so to get a key made and programmed.
That, or the engine has a really bad rod knock/trans won't shift/the dash is a complete Christmas tree and they don't want you to be able to start the car.
TurnerX19 said:These things are the most egregious of technology overreach. I will keep my old cars until I can't drive aanymore.
Huh, I like being able to walk up to my car and not fumble with a key to unlock or start it.
I keep a spare at home and if the battery starts to die on one, I replace both batteries.
Seems like you may not understand the technology and how much pressure the manufacturers are constantly under to get a handle on vehicle theft and removing the standard, easily defeated and picked key was one of those solutions found.
Stefan said:
Huh, I like being able to walk up to my car and not fumble with a key to unlock or start it.
I keep a spare at home and if the battery starts to die on one, I replace both batteries.
Seems like you may not understand the technology and how much pressure the manufacturers are constantly under to get a handle on vehicle theft and removing the standard, easily defeated and picked key was one of those solutions found.
I'm not so sure it's being done to combat theft, or if it's done as part of an effort to create new features to attract buyers. Personally, using a small key is easier and more convenient than fumbling with a big honkin' fob that takes up all the space in my pocket, and then having to figure out which button to push to make it work. Plus, there are no batteries in my key to go dead. 
At some point all the new car ads stopped talking about performance and started talking about infotainment systems, that's when I lost interest.
In reply to stuart in mn :
Oh, it's to combat theft. Same for doors with no keyholes - it removes the "avenues of entrance", so the insurance companies prefer it.
RealMiniNoMore said:N Sperlo said:Makes me appreciate my old F150 that would start with any key.
My old RX7's ignition was so worn out, I could stick any flat piece in there to start it.
Funny you mention the RX-7. When I went to buy mine, my friend somehow locked the only key the guy had in the car. I'm like "Crap, I guess we need to call a locksmith." Right before I do that, I figure it wouldn't hurt to stick the key to my 626 into the lock. Sure enough, it opens right up.
Knurled. said:VW people are too cheap to spend the $200 or so to get a key made and programmed.
That's cheap get one for your MINI!
My theft deterrent is that my car has a key hole in the door so it's obviusly too old and valueless to be worth stealing.
At least I hope that's how it works.
The third pedal is a secondary in some of them.
Knurled. said:In reply to stuart in mn :
Oh, it's to combat theft. Same for doors with no keyholes - it removes the "avenues of entrance", so the insurance companies prefer it.
Yeah no E36 M3. I went to the passenger door of the Versa upon new ownership and damn near keyed the paint. Wtf? 
I was annoyed three years ago when a Ford dealership said they can't make keys beyond a certain number of years. Maybe ten? It was for an '02. 
I had a key cut for the 94 firebird last week. The key cost 3 dollars and the charged me 40 dollars to get the codes from GM.
Same job at another chevy dealer a decade ago for my z28 was 300 dollars.
150 to pull codes, 1 hour labor to cut key, and 50 for a key
stuart in mn said:Stefan said:
Huh, I like being able to walk up to my car and not fumble with a key to unlock or start it.
I keep a spare at home and if the battery starts to die on one, I replace both batteries.
Seems like you may not understand the technology and how much pressure the manufacturers are constantly under to get a handle on vehicle theft and removing the standard, easily defeated and picked key was one of those solutions found.
I'm not so sure it's being done to combat theft, or if it's done as part of an effort to create new features to attract buyers. Personally, using a small key is easier and more convenient than fumbling with a big honkin' fob that takes up all the space in my pocket, and then having to figure out which button to push to make it work. Plus, there are no batteries in my key to go dead.
At some point all the new car ads stopped talking about performance and started talking about infotainment systems, that's when I lost interest.
well, it's not even about finding a button. My GTI unlocks just by touching the door handle, assuming the fob is in my jacket pocket, or my bag, or whatever. I literally never take it out of my jacket pocket from the time time walk out the door in the mornign to the time I walk in at night.
That said, at least mine (2018 GTI) has a flip-out key in it in the event the fob stops working, That said, not entirely sure how I'd actually UNLOCK the car to get in, since I'm not aware of any place to use the key on the doors. IDK, maybe there's some hidden thing someplace.
The talk about performance I assume is because virtually all new cars perform so well, it's almost a moot point. A cheap $15k econobox Civic can beat my 1988 Porsche off the line lol, and probably outcorner it as well. Even fairly low-end "sporty" cars can do things that exotics could only dream of a couple decades ago. And on increasingly crowded public roads with ever-increasing enforcement, what is the real difference between having a 230hp GTI and a 450hp M3? not much. All the M3s I see in my morning commute get there exactly the same time I do. The majority of the populace never "opens it up" on the winding middle-of-nowhere roads that are usually used in car ads on TV,...
Then the younger demographic doesn't even care about going fast or pulling 1g in corners. As long as their phone syncs smoothly with the ICE, that's more important. Hell, my GTI has all that stuff and I actually love almost all of it. I get mildly annoyed when i'm towing the racecar in my 2005 Sequioa and have to manually plug in an iPod to a Kenwood stereo to listen to music (I even have a bluetooth-enabled tablet fitted in my 88 Porsche so i can stream Spotify). And I'm 42, so I'm in manufacturers' prime demographic for sales....
I do distinctly remember when I bought this car, the sales guy's most notable piece of advice when he handed me the fobs was "don't lose these, they are super-expensive"
a co-worker had her MB refuse to start a month ago. They fobs were fine, it was the sensor that died.
To address the supposed theft resistance of fobs, I can buy a $139 device on alibaba that will unlock more than half of cars made between 2005 and 2015. No lock picking, no carjacking, no breakin windows. Its a ease-of-use feature occasionally marketed to users and insurance alike as 'security'. Insurance looks the other way as 'no eveidince of intrusion' clears them to thefts they might otherwise have to cover, much like bump-keys.
I see ads online for generic fobs. Are they any good?
I had ~400 in a new 335i comfort touch key and programming at a buddy discount...
Is stick shift still the best theft control device? My Versa falls in that '05 to '15 bracket and whilst you'd have to be loony to steal it certain places of the world like Belfast it'd be stolen by a 14 year old for a joy ride. Of course in Belfast a stick shift wouldn't stop the little bastard. If I ever get carjacked I'll probably be able to recover it at the next stop sign. 
Nugi said:To address the supposed theft resistance of fobs, I can buy a $139 device on alibaba that will unlock more than half of cars made between 2005 and 2015. No lock picking, no carjacking, no breakin windows. Its a ease-of-use feature occasionally marketed to users and insurance alike as 'security'. Insurance looks the other way as 'no eveidince of intrusion' clears them to thefts they might otherwise have to cover, much like bump-keys.
I have insurance so I don't have to worry about it.
This also assumes you broke into my garage first to steal it. 
stuart in mn said:Stefan said:
Huh, I like being able to walk up to my car and not fumble with a key to unlock or start it.
I keep a spare at home and if the battery starts to die on one, I replace both batteries.
Seems like you may not understand the technology and how much pressure the manufacturers are constantly under to get a handle on vehicle theft and removing the standard, easily defeated and picked key was one of those solutions found.
I'm not so sure it's being done to combat theft, or if it's done as part of an effort to create new features to attract buyers. Personally, using a small key is easier and more convenient than fumbling with a big honkin' fob that takes up all the space in my pocket, and then having to figure out which button to push to make it work. Plus, there are no batteries in my key to go dead.
At some point all the new car ads stopped talking about performance and started talking about infotainment systems, that's when I lost interest.
Like irish mentioned, fob stays in my pocket. I touch the door handle it unlocks, I get in the car, press the brake and hit the start button. No fumbling, no key dangling off the steering column, etc.
I hate the new keyless systems. Bulky expensive keys, plenty of eletronic bits begging to fail or be hacked, and how much does all this add to the price of the car? Yes its "standard" like all the other nonsense you can't delete. No wonder I can't afford a new car.
Last straw is the lack of security. Walk up to your car, doors automatically unlock, allowing anyone to jump in and drive away while you are loading the trunk. If you're real lucky they'll back over you during their get away....
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