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My reaction: Great! Reproducing these keys costs hundreds of dollars and a trip to the dealer. Maybe it can finally be affordable again. I'm less concerned abo

My reaction: Great! Reproducing these keys costs hundreds of dollars and a trip to the dealer. Maybe it can finally be affordable again. I'm less concerned about someone stealing my car. The local police department takes it seriously, no less because stolen cars are used to commit other crimes.

gambiting 7y ago
Wait, what are you advocating? Return to keys without an immobiliser??? You do realise that that's the feature that has single-handedly destroyed car theft that was so rampant by the 90s? That is what made cars so difficult to steal, but also what makes keys cost what they do and require an approved dealer to code the keys. Return to the old keys where you only had the key and nothing else would be......crazy, really.
- Dylan16807 7y ago
  Yeah, if they're overcharging then it would probably be better to go after that directly. It doesn't need to cost more than $20.
- taeric 7y ago
  I wouldn't be surprised to find car thieves also diminished since the nineties. Akin to why violent crime is down. Could be other confounding circumstances. Is almost certainly a combination of things.
OrgNet 7y ago
For my Honda, I purchased a 5 dollar keyfob on Ebay and programmed it myself... no hacking required (the instructions are available online).
VectorLock 7y ago
How would the dealer be able to trick you into buying key insurance if they didn't threaten to charge you hundreds of dollars though?
bonestamp2 7y ago
> Maybe it can finally be affordable again. I like how some Chrysler products handle this. You can buy a $50 fob online and program it to your car yourself. The catch is, you need two key fobs to do it. This is so the valet attendant (who only has 1 of your key fobs) can't make his own copy. So, you just have to plan ahead and do it asap when you get a vehicle and always keep 2 in storage in case you want to make another.
- solarhoma 7y ago
  That is very forward of Chrysler. I just wish some of the more reputable brands would follow suit.
  - bonestamp2 7y ago
    Extreme programming also came out of Chrysler (Kent Beck). They were the first to build and pilot EV pickup trucks and minivans. The 2020 RAM pickup beat BMW and Mercedes for "Luxury Vehicle of the Year". From consulting work I've done there in the past, they have many small groups that function like internal startups. They are surprisingly forward thinking despite many of the other products that actually make it into production, although that seems to be changing. The new infotainment system looks second to none.
    - solarhoma 7y ago
      My old coworker bought a 2019 RAM pickup. I was floored by the inside. It was closer to a spaceship than a truck. Glad to see they are turning things around (at least when it comes to infotainment electronics) but I wish I could trust the engine.

gambiting 7y ago

Wait, what are you advocating? Return to keys without an immobiliser??? You do realise that that's the feature that has single-handedly destroyed car theft that was so rampant by the 90s? That is what made cars so difficult to steal, but also what makes keys cost what they do and require an approved dealer to code the keys. Return to the old keys where you only had the key and nothing else would be......crazy, really.

Dylan16807 7y ago
Yeah, if they're overcharging then it would probably be better to go after that directly. It doesn't need to cost more than $20.
taeric 7y ago
I wouldn't be surprised to find car thieves also diminished since the nineties. Akin to why violent crime is down. Could be other confounding circumstances. Is almost certainly a combination of things.

OrgNet 7y ago

For my Honda, I purchased a 5 dollar keyfob on Ebay and programmed it myself... no hacking required (the instructions are available online).

VectorLock 7y ago

How would the dealer be able to trick you into buying key insurance if they didn't threaten to charge you hundreds of dollars though?

bonestamp2 7y ago

> Maybe it can finally be affordable again. I like how some Chrysler products handle this. You can buy a $50 fob online and program it to your car yourself. The catch is, you need two key fobs to do it. This is so the valet attendant (who only has 1 of your key fobs) can't make his own copy. So, you just have to plan ahead and do it asap when you get a vehicle and always keep 2 in storage in case you want to make another.

solarhoma 7y ago
That is very forward of Chrysler. I just wish some of the more reputable brands would follow suit.
- bonestamp2 7y ago
  Extreme programming also came out of Chrysler (Kent Beck). They were the first to build and pilot EV pickup trucks and minivans. The 2020 RAM pickup beat BMW and Mercedes for "Luxury Vehicle of the Year". From consulting work I've done there in the past, they have many small groups that function like internal startups. They are surprisingly forward thinking despite many of the other products that actually make it into production, although that seems to be changing. The new infotainment system looks second to none.
  - solarhoma 7y ago
    My old coworker bought a 2019 RAM pickup. I was floored by the inside. It was closer to a spaceship than a truck. Glad to see they are turning things around (at least when it comes to infotainment electronics) but I wish I could trust the engine.