Push-button-to-start ignition...like it?

[Miramonti]

I had a 2016 VW Jetta rental for a few weeks recently that sported the push-button-to-start ignition. Hated it. I had to take the keys out of my pocket when getting into the car anyways to unlock the doors, so using a push button seemed pointless and only made me worry I set the keys somewhere in the car and not back in my pocket (which I did a few times.)

And without needing to take the keys out of the ignition, a couple times I left the car running when getting out. Perhaps it's just the 'breakin period' of getting used to something different (or my ADD), but I much prefer the traditional key-in-ignition method.

 

[quikah]

You get used to it very quickly. My wife's prius will unlock just touching the door handle, so don't need to take the key out at all.

 

[Miramonti]

You get used to it very quickly. My wife's prius will unlock just touching the door handle, so don't need to take the key out at all.

I would definitely have enjoyed that feature and perhaps been able to get used to it quicker and appreciate it more.

 

[Jumpem]

I love it. The key never has to come out. Just walk up to the door and it unlocks as you pull the handle. Then press the button to start the car when you sit.

 

[herm0016]

I love it too. Keys never come out for our volt.

 

[Miramonti]

I didn't realize the 2016 Jetta was so ghetto lol (in regards to this feature.) Otherwise, I loved it.

 

[boomerang]

I would definitely have enjoyed that feature and perhaps been able to get used to it quicker and appreciate it more.

It may have been an option in a menu somewhere.

My car has a button incorporated into the door handle. Push it and the door unlocks. It will also lock it. Depending on menu choice, it can affect all doors or only the drivers door.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I had a 2016 VW Jetta rental for a few weeks recently that sported the push-button-to-start ignition. Hated it. I had to take the keys out of my pocket when getting into the car anyways to unlock the doors, so using a push button seemed pointless and only made me worry I set the keys somewhere in the car and not back in my pocket (which I did a few times.)

And without needing to take the keys out of the ignition, a couple times I left the car running when getting out. Perhaps it's just the 'breakin period' of getting used to something different (or my ADD), but I much prefer the traditional key-in-ignition method.

I had the same complaint about the Audi we rented back in March. What dumbfuck at Audi thought that was a good idea? Every freaking car made since 2005 has had sensors in the door handle that allow you to lock and unlock without touching the keyfob but not Audi or VW apparently. I swear, there were so many stupid little gripes I had about that car. I don't know why ANYONE buys Audis quite frankly... it's not like they're reliable either.

That said, every car I've owned recently has had push button start and I don't mind it at all. It would feel strange getting in a car and having to insert a key to start it at this point.

Come to think of it, the Buick I rented a month or so ago you also needed to push buttons on the keyfob to unlock or lock the doors but it had keyless start. Good job Buick... your cars suck as much as Audi/VW.

 

[RockinZ28]

I like the PB as well. So much more convenient. Unfortunately only get to use them on my business trips.

How do the touch door locks work? Guess I'm old school fiddling with the fob buttons still.

If you forget the key in the car, will it allow you to lock it? Or if it's left in the car by accident, anyone can walk up and unlock it?

My method has always been to use the fob to lock doors, which ensures I never lock myself out or leave the keys in the car.

 

[Stopsignhank]

What are these keys that you speak of?

BTW, on the Mercedes and BMW the keyless start and keyless entry are 2 different things. On our C300 there is the Keyless Go which is the push button start. Then the Keyless access was an extra charge. It might be the same on Audi's and the the rental car did not have the keyless access. I have not had to use a key to open the door or start the car for 3 1/2 years now and there is no way I would go back to a key.

 

[tweakmonkey]

After living with a keyless entry and push button start, I DREAD going back to cars without this. You shouldn't have to dig into your pockets for keys if it has proximity or the little button on the handle and turning a physical key?? Lol, what year are we living in??

 

[Riverhound777]

I've been living without having to unlock things the past two years and can't go back. My car has touch sense locks and push button start, and my house has keycode to open, so I never have to pull out my keys. I never thought it was useful before I had it, but it's like having a second monitor, you can't go back. Now when I drive someone else's car and have to use keys it's very annoying. Total first world problem.

On a related note, I look forward to the day they make an integrated lock system where I can either just use my fingerprint or even a single device to authenticate with my car, my house, office, whatever. Maybe a simple RFID type chip embedded in my finger or something. Would be even better if it could be a credit card/ID/insurance/etc as well so I don't need a wallet.

 

[basslover1]

I like the PB as well. So much more convenient. Unfortunately only get to use them on my business trips.

How do the touch door locks work? Guess I'm old school fiddling with the fob buttons still.

If you forget the key in the car, will it allow you to lock it? Or if it's left in the car by accident, anyone can walk up and unlock it?

My method has always been to use the fob to lock doors, which ensures I never lock myself out or leave the keys in the car.

The Ford intelligent access won't let you lock the keys in the car with the button on the door handle. It knows when the key is inside the cabin or outside. If I leave the keys in the hatch with the other doors locked it'll pop the hatch back open if I close it.

 

[pcgeek11]

I have a traditional key for my truck. Screw a push button, smart key and a chipped key! More trouble than they are worth.

 

[Pandasaurus]

Every freaking car made since 2005 has had sensors in the door handle that allow you to lock and unlock without touching the keyfob but not Audi or VW apparently.

Just going to assume you mean "since 2005 with a push-button ignition", since I don't think there was a single car in the "econobox" (a Nissan Juke being the "high-end") segment when I was shopping for 2015 models had one. For that matter, I think the Juke I test drove had push-button ignition, and didn't have a door sensor...

Or it was just intentional hyperbole, and you can ignore me. Either way.

 

[yh125d]

My Focus unlocks when I grab the handle (actually even before then, as soon as my fingers start to go inside the handle), push button start, I can lock it by double pressing the button on the handle, or the fob, or if I just walk away it will auto lock. It's pretty awesome.


Only thing I'm not a huge fan of is if I leave it running and hop out for a second to run back in the house or something, it will honk a couple times at me

 

[LTC8K6]

It may have been an option in a menu somewhere.

My car has a button incorporated into the door handle. Push it and the door unlocks. It will also lock it. Depending on menu choice, it can affect all doors or only the drivers door.

Our Jeep has a button on the door handle, and on the liftgate handle, but it's for locking the doors.

They unlock when you touch/pull on the door handle and you have the fob on you. No button pushing to unlock.

 

[AdamK47]

I like to start my Commodore and then wipe it down while it warms up while having the key fob in my pocket. I can hear the nag system inside the car beep louder or quieter depending on my proximity to the car.

 

[RockinZ28]

The Ford intelligent access won't let you lock the keys in the car with the button on the door handle. It knows when the key is inside the cabin or outside. If I leave the keys in the hatch with the other doors locked it'll pop the hatch back open if I close it.

That's pretty sweet.

Actually something I sorely miss from my prior employer company vehicle is remote start. Sucked ass not having that during Wisconsin winter. It did make you insert the key into ignition in order to drive though.

 

[Kaido]

My car has proximity sensing. The key is inside a fob that stays in your pocket, when you walk up it unlocks, you get in, press down the brake, push the start button, and drive away. The fob lets you lock, unlock, and remote start the car, plus it has a system that lets you start it anywhere using a smartphone (although it uses Sprint, which gets like zero bars in my area & never works, haha). It's a breeze getting in & out of the car...you think it's so dumb at first because it takes what, three seconds to take your key out? But you get used to the convenience real fast, haha.

I have a similar system at my house, a Schlage lock that takes a key, a pin code on a touchpad, or can be unlocked via smartphone (there are systems that use RFID keys, proximity systems, and even Bluetooth on your phone for proximity available from other vendors as well). I don't touch any keys all day, it's awesome! Also never have to worry about being locked out because I can just use my cell to unlock anything (or the keypad on the house lock). Stuff is getting too easy these days...

 

[Kaido]

That's pretty sweet.

Actually something I sorely miss from my prior employer company vehicle is remote start. Sucked ass not having that during Wisconsin winter. It did make you insert the key into ignition in order to drive though.

My car has remote start plus a pushbutton start. So you remote start it using the keyfob or smartphone, and once you get in (it has to detect the presence of the keyfob, as well as your foot on the brake), you press the start button to "unlock" the car to drive (even though it's already started). Really nice setup.

Mine does the same thing as well with keyfob detection...I left it in the backseat in my jacket the other day & couldn't figure out why the doors weren't locking, then realized the key was still in there & it was stupid-proofing the system for me by not letting me lock myself out

 

[Midwayman]

Its one of those features that sounds kinda stupid before you try it. Then once you have it you can't imagine having to go back to a car without it. So nice not having to dig keys out, especially if you're carrying stuff or you have gloves on or something.

 

[SearchMaster]

Its one of those features that sounds kinda stupid before you try it. Then once you have it you can't imagine having to go back to a car without it. So nice not having to dig keys out, especially if you're carrying stuff or you have gloves on or something.

I never really thought it sounded stupid but did agree that it seemed like "another one of them damn electronic features that will break in a few years" (old man voice) until I used it in my dad's Altima (and subsequently my neighbor's Altima). It's something I probably wouldn't pay a lot of money for (more than a few hundred) if it were an option but wisely the manufacturers seem to be putting it in standard in a lot of vehicles.

I wouldn't care about having it if I had to take the damn key out to lock/unlock it either, but as stated earlier most cars are not that way. Never having to take the key out of your pocket is definitely the way to go (until a better system is developed).

 

[desura]

It is nice, but I worry about the reliability. I also do not like the replacement cost.

Still, one car my family had had a key cylinder go bad. That cost like $1k to fix, and you needed two keys, one for the door and another for the engine, to run it.

So traditional keys aren't foolproof either.

But it isn't a priority.

I did have a scare not long ago where I lost the key fob while hiking on a trail. Boy o boy that was bad.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I like the PB as well. So much more convenient. Unfortunately only get to use them on my business trips.

How do the touch door locks work? Guess I'm old school fiddling with the fob buttons still.

If you forget the key in the car, will it allow you to lock it? Or if it's left in the car by accident, anyone can walk up and unlock it?

My method has always been to use the fob to lock doors, which ensures I never lock myself out or leave the keys in the car.

Lexus, Toyota and Mercedes won't let you lock the doors if the key fob is in the car.