GTI PERFORMANCE

[Snoopy]

Keyless was a poor electronic design to start with. Having something transmitting all the time is simply stupid and as people now know results with battery needing change every year. At least merc has now cottoned on to what a decent E&E R&D engineer would have from the start and costs pence to add to the cost of a key. The new merc keys only transmit when they sense movement and for 5min after movement has stopped. Meening that it makes it harder to relay a signal from your home at night for example with the added benefit of much longer battery life.

[Jim_mk7.5]

VW Keyless and what they put on other VAG cars are not always the same. My Audi A4 has 'keyless' but it does not unlock the doors (it just allows the engine start button to work once the key is present inside the vehicle). Thats the key difference (groan) - on a Golf 'keyless' allows the doors to be opened once the key (or the signal from the key) is within close proximity the car - highly undesirable and a significant factor in car crime IMHO.

On your Audi, as with BMs for some years, the basic version is they have a button start rather than key with remote unlocking and then they charge you extra for full comfort access. I always thought having to get the key out to unlock but not needing it to start was a PITA to be honest.

[ar899]

Disadvantages of keyless;

Car more likely to be nicked
Where do you put your keys? (yes, I know the Golf has many cubby holes but mine are all accounted for)
Runs down battery (possibly?)
When pulled into the driveway (and have managed to find my keys)....now is the darn thing off or on?
Costs money (option or increase in RRP)

Advantages of keyless;

Eh......eh..........

[mcmaddy]

It's not more likely to be nicked if you take some minor precautions - Faraday Pouch.
Keep your keys in your pocket - why would you want something rattling around while your driving.
Runs down what battery? In the fob? So does a non keyless fob.
What's off or on? Your car? Maybe shouldn't be allowed out if you can't tell your car is off or on.
Only costs you money if you spec it.

[ar899]

McM;

Having to buy a Faraday pouch - nor exactly an advantage.
Don't like anything in my pockets, esp when driving. Inevitably get chucked on pax seat and end up goodness knows where.
Battery - car battery (based on what others were saying above - no personal evidence hence my '?')
Currently have stop/start & keyless so yes, I do have to think about whether I've switched the engine off. I'm usually distracted by trying to find my darn keys. (I'm often in command of a larger, much heavier a/craft that happens to be keyless as well so I think I'm ok to be let out now and again - only just).
Money? yes, that was my point.

So what IS the advantage of keyless?

[neepy7.5]

So what IS the advantage of keyless?

Don't you know how much effort it requires to pull a key out of your pocket to press a button to unlock your car and then put the said key into an ignition and turn it to start the car!?!

Yep, absolutely no advantages to keyless. Just a gimmick.

[ar899]

neepy - glad someone agrees with me. Thought it was just me....

[Jim_mk7.5]

I do think it is handy. Not the basic version but the full keyless version. I'm personally happy with a key but the missus has a Toyota with keyless and works fine and don't worry about the key, it just stays in your pocket, not rocket science really. One thing though with keyless though is you don't get to take advantage of the coming homes lights at this time year as nothing lights up until you grab the door handle.

[Dre1973]

I'd rather not have the keyless. A friend of mine has twice had postman knock on his door to tell him his car was running on the drive after he though hed turned it off but it was the stop start that had cut the engine.
Saying that it was a ford

[ar899]

Dre1973 - perhaps I'm not as doddery as mcmaddy thinks I am then......(incidentally mine was a Ford too).