GS - Smart Access is WAY COOL!
#1
Driver
Thread Starter
GS - Smart Access is WAY COOL!
I mentioned in my post about the GS ECT that I just took delivery of my 06 GS300. I feel like a kid on Christmas morning!
The Smart Access system is really cool! If you already have it on an LS the cool-factor may have worn off already, but for those (like me) who have not experienced it before, Lexus has done a bang-up job on this aspect of the car. Also, as Rockville and some others have mentioned, the lighting effects are really impressive with all of the white LEDs.
I think that both of these features come together at night. Having heard something about this I went out into my garage - the Smart Access Key Fob was in my pocket - It was night and I kept the lights off. As I got within 4-5 feet of the car the interior LEDs (Bluish White) came on along with the LEDs that illuminate down from the side mirrors. The car takes on a bluish-white aura that just looks too cool. If you reach out and touch the door handle - any handle - after about a half of a second that door unlocks. It actually detects the presence of your hand - and you need to at least have a few fingers on it to get it to work. (There is probably a capacitive sensor on each door handle and when you touch it you become part of a capacitor plate and the sensor can tell that you are there. Kind of like those lamps that dim when you touch them).
Is it just me or is this a neat touch?
Ps - one other comment about the interior lighting: as cool as it looks it isn't very bright inside as there is no real "dome light". The LED spots light up certain areas but otherwise it is pretty dark inside. Even with both front vanity mirror lights on it isn't the normal kind of lighting you get with a dome lamp. With that said, who cares! The white LEDs look awesome!
The Smart Access system is really cool! If you already have it on an LS the cool-factor may have worn off already, but for those (like me) who have not experienced it before, Lexus has done a bang-up job on this aspect of the car. Also, as Rockville and some others have mentioned, the lighting effects are really impressive with all of the white LEDs.
I think that both of these features come together at night. Having heard something about this I went out into my garage - the Smart Access Key Fob was in my pocket - It was night and I kept the lights off. As I got within 4-5 feet of the car the interior LEDs (Bluish White) came on along with the LEDs that illuminate down from the side mirrors. The car takes on a bluish-white aura that just looks too cool. If you reach out and touch the door handle - any handle - after about a half of a second that door unlocks. It actually detects the presence of your hand - and you need to at least have a few fingers on it to get it to work. (There is probably a capacitive sensor on each door handle and when you touch it you become part of a capacitor plate and the sensor can tell that you are there. Kind of like those lamps that dim when you touch them).
Is it just me or is this a neat touch?
Ps - one other comment about the interior lighting: as cool as it looks it isn't very bright inside as there is no real "dome light". The LED spots light up certain areas but otherwise it is pretty dark inside. Even with both front vanity mirror lights on it isn't the normal kind of lighting you get with a dome lamp. With that said, who cares! The white LEDs look awesome!
#2
i totally agree, add in w/ the push button start...totally cool...
one thing i don't like is that let's say 2 people walk up to the car, you have to either 1) reach into your pocket and press unlock or 2) push the unlock button in the car or 3) program the locks to always unlock all the doors. wish there was a way to detect someone at the other door and unlock.
one thing i don't like is that let's say 2 people walk up to the car, you have to either 1) reach into your pocket and press unlock or 2) push the unlock button in the car or 3) program the locks to always unlock all the doors. wish there was a way to detect someone at the other door and unlock.
#5
Driver
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by PandaGS430
with that being said....what if an attacker was creeping up on the passenger side and the passenger door detected and unlocked the door for him?
I wonder if there is some way of making this more workable??? Like maybe setting the default to opening all of the locks but in a "safety concern" situation you can use the fob to only unlock the driver's door????
#6
Originally Posted by frebay
i totally agree, add in w/ the push button start...totally cool...
one thing i don't like is that let's say 2 people walk up to the car, you have to either 1) reach into your pocket and press unlock or 2) push the unlock button in the car or 3) program the locks to always unlock all the doors. wish there was a way to detect someone at the other door and unlock.
one thing i don't like is that let's say 2 people walk up to the car, you have to either 1) reach into your pocket and press unlock or 2) push the unlock button in the car or 3) program the locks to always unlock all the doors. wish there was a way to detect someone at the other door and unlock.
#7
Lexus Test Driver
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: 808
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My dealer had one (whoa) on the lot; a red 300 RWD; got to see the features and I must say that the SmartAccess and push start/stop is WAY cool! Touch the door handle, it opens. Step on the brake, press the button & release, and the steering wheel comes down and the engine starts quickly. Impressive!!
As far as the funds go, I think I need to wait for the new IS...
As far as the funds go, I think I need to wait for the new IS...
Trending Topics
#8
Driver
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by NeverSatisfied
My dealer had one (whoa) on the lot; a red 300 RWD; got to see the features and I must say that the SmartAccess and push start/stop is WAY cool! Touch the door handle, it opens. Step on the brake, press the button & release, and the steering wheel comes down and the engine starts quickly. Impressive!!
As far as the funds go, I think I need to wait for the new IS...
As far as the funds go, I think I need to wait for the new IS...
I hear that the new IS will be a killer car. I think that all of the new Lexus sedans and going to have similar styling cues and look to be cut from the same cloth. If you don't need the extra room of the GS for family or business the IS will probably be an even better enthusiast's car.
I have not kept up with any of the other forums on this site. If there are any good links that show real spy photos of the IS I'd appreciate being directed to those. I have seen what Edmunds is showing and don't know if that is the actual car or not.
#9
Driver
Thread Starter
R.T.F.M. - Read the F^@&%* Manual
Originally Posted by spwolf
actually thats an big plus for me... I was concerned about that, great thinking Lexus!!!
As for the Smart Access System, I guess it is time I got out the Owner's Manual and start reading. I wonder how many interesting things I will find??? I hope there is a way to deal with the need to open both front doors without doing what Frebay described.
#10
Lexus Test Driver
Smart Acces Contd.
Try locking your key fob in the car Sandman. You can't. Try tossing it in the trunk and close it with the doors locked. It will open. Have you gotten used to the timing of the unlocking? If you don't rush it will open at a natural pace. Now as Frebay described, you can reprogram it to open both of the doors on one side when you touch either handle. Lastly, you can program all four to open when you touch any door. Let me describe a few scenarios when you might want to change it. If you are going on a date or with you spouse it might be chivalrous to open her door first and walk around the car and get in. If you plan on going out with the crew or another couple then you might want to reprogram it for the evening to unlock all doors on one touch. If you like to carry a briefcase or valise and like to put that in the backseat then put the Fob in the case. You can program it to open both the doors on one side and as you open the back door to put in your jacket and valise, you shut the door and get in the driver's door and put your foot on the brake and push the magic button. Voila! The other doors on the opposite door are still secured.
On the subject of the lights inside, have you tried the maplights? They're pretty bright to me and there are two of them which you can add to the triad of pencil beam spotlights. The hidden spotlight on the steering wheel is my personal favorite. It is kind of cocktail lounge lighting. Have you looked into the Bluetooth phone feature yet? I'm not a phonafile like many of my customers but some phones are more compatible then others. BTW, if you ever walk away from the car and it starts beeping you have left something undone. The car might be running or unlocked....
On the subject of the lights inside, have you tried the maplights? They're pretty bright to me and there are two of them which you can add to the triad of pencil beam spotlights. The hidden spotlight on the steering wheel is my personal favorite. It is kind of cocktail lounge lighting. Have you looked into the Bluetooth phone feature yet? I'm not a phonafile like many of my customers but some phones are more compatible then others. BTW, if you ever walk away from the car and it starts beeping you have left something undone. The car might be running or unlocked....
#11
Driver
Thread Starter
Fun With a Key Fob
Originally Posted by Rockville
Try locking your key fob in the car Sandman. You can't. Try tossing it in the trunk and close it with the doors locked. It will open. Have you gotten used to the timing of the unlocking? If you don't rush it will open at a natural pace. Now as Frebay described, you can reprogram it to open both of the doors on one side when you touch either handle. Lastly, you can program all four to open when you touch any door. Let me describe a few scenarios when you might want to change it. If you are going on a date or with you spouse it might be chivalrous to open her door first and walk around the car and get in. If you plan on going out with the crew or another couple then you might want to reprogram it for the evening to unlock all doors on one touch. If you like to carry a briefcase or valise and like to put that in the backseat then put the Fob in the case. You can program it to open both the doors on one side and as you open the back door to put in your jacket and valise, you shut the door and get in the driver's door and put your foot on the brake and push the magic button. Voila! The other doors on the opposite door are still secured.
I took my own advice and RTFM tonight. The Owner's Manual is a toe-breaker - don't drop it! And it is pretty aparent that someone whose first language was Japanese wrote the sucker. Especially the section about how to operate the Smart Access System. Hope no one has a brain hemorage trying to understand what they are saying! (I nearly did and I have read some pulpy stuff in my years). It is really cool how you can change the behavior of which doors open with the electronic key. Too complex to repeat here, but basically just hold a few buttons on the fob for 5 seconds and you toggle to the next combo (driver only, 1 side only, 1 door only, all doors). The Multi Display Thingy (can't remember the proper name) even tells you what mode you have just selected - so you don't have to remember the beep codes. I like the scenarios you mention. I find that on different days different scenarios apply and it would be very easy to change between the options if you cared to.
And here is some good news! Should make Frebay and PandaGS430 happy: there is a way to handle both security and opening multiple doors. Now maybe this isn't perfect but here is what I tried. Set the system to always open all doors no matter which handle you touch. Assuming that you frequent mostly safe areas this method will take care of 99.99999% of the times you get in the car. So when you touch the driver's door handle all doors unlock and all passengers can get in. Now if you are alone at night and there are suspicious characters lurking about, as you near your car just push the unlock button on the fob just once - this opens only the drivers door and disables the Smart Access settings for that opening. So you can open the driver's door safely and the other doors stay locked!! (What do you think?).
#12
Driver
Thread Starter
This Car Has a Soul and I Can See It!
Originally Posted by Rockville
On the subject of the lights inside, have you tried the maplights? They're pretty bright to me and there are two of them which you can add to the triad of pencil beam spotlights. The hidden spotlight on the steering wheel is my personal favorite. It is kind of cocktail lounge lighting. Have you looked into the Bluetooth phone feature yet? I'm not a phonafile like many of my customers but some phones are more compatible then others. BTW, if you ever walk away from the car and it starts beeping you have left something undone. The car might be running or unlocked....
I'm probably destined for a cellular-phone- induced brain tumor as I use my cell phone about 3000 minutes each month! But for some reason I have not purchased a BT enabled phone yet. Maybe soon. I understand that you have to carefully select a phone for compatibility.
Ya, this car beeps alot (LOL)!
#13
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Bucks County, PA
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Sandman
Yes Lexus always thinks about security. I don't know of any other make that provides knee airbags for example.
Had a brief drive in the GS300 last week - much better than the old model. Enough performance for me at my advanced years (and I didn't even use PWR mode) and the interior was simple, uncluttered and gorgeous. A big to Lexus for this vehicle - perhaps it is time to move back to the fold after a brief affair with Infiniti (G35) and Acura (MDX) - I used to have an IS300 and an RX300 which I loved. Still need to test MB E350, A6 3.2 and of course M35/M45.
Last edited by pelucidor; 02-26-05 at 10:25 AM.
#14
Driver
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by pelucidor
I test drove a $53k BMW 530i (no NAV or CD changer or anything else) and mentioned to the sales guy how it seemed a bit pricey for the minimal content. He said 'but look at the safety - which other car has a knee airbag?'. My response was 'a $16k Scion tC and most Lexii...'.
Had a brief drive in the GS300 last week - much better than the old model. Enough performance for me at my advanced years (and I didn't even use PWR mode) and the interior was simple, uncluttered and gorgeous. A big to Lexus for this vehicle - perhaps it is time to move back to the fold after a brief affair with Infiniti (G35) and Acura (MDX) - I used to have an IS300 and an RX300 which I loved. Still need to test MB E350, A6 3.2 and of course M35/M45.
Had a brief drive in the GS300 last week - much better than the old model. Enough performance for me at my advanced years (and I didn't even use PWR mode) and the interior was simple, uncluttered and gorgeous. A big to Lexus for this vehicle - perhaps it is time to move back to the fold after a brief affair with Infiniti (G35) and Acura (MDX) - I used to have an IS300 and an RX300 which I loved. Still need to test MB E350, A6 3.2 and of course M35/M45.
Glad to hear you enjoyed the GS300! Yes, enough performance for me too. Age has a way of mellowing one and making you appreciate the big picture.
#15
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally Posted by pelucidor
I test drove a $53k BMW 530i (no NAV or CD changer or anything else) and mentioned to the sales guy how it seemed a bit pricey for the minimal content. He said 'but look at the safety - which other car has a knee airbag?'. My response was 'a $16k Scion tC and most Lexii...'.
Had a brief drive in the GS300 last week - much better than the old model. Enough performance for me at my advanced years (and I didn't even use PWR mode) and the interior was simple, uncluttered and gorgeous. A big to Lexus for this vehicle - perhaps it is time to move back to the fold after a brief affair with Infiniti (G35) and Acura (MDX) - I used to have an IS300 and an RX300 which I loved. Still need to test MB E350, A6 3.2 and of course M35/M45.
Had a brief drive in the GS300 last week - much better than the old model. Enough performance for me at my advanced years (and I didn't even use PWR mode) and the interior was simple, uncluttered and gorgeous. A big to Lexus for this vehicle - perhaps it is time to move back to the fold after a brief affair with Infiniti (G35) and Acura (MDX) - I used to have an IS300 and an RX300 which I loved. Still need to test MB E350, A6 3.2 and of course M35/M45.