CWS

Please define "a while". 2 minutes? 20 minutes?
And, are you sure a wash attendent didn't turn it off?

kensteele

No I think a lot of us agree that there is a better implementation out there than the one Lexus chose.

Fortunately if no one ever tries to steal your car or you do not habit leaving your car running unattended, this minor difference will go pretty much unnoticed to you. I can't say that I would change my habits if this BMW implementation were made available to me.

Buds

A key is a key. If you were to go outside and warm up a car with a regular key someone could easily steal the car. The smart key is not advertised as a safety/theft deterrent. Like Javier said, if the key dies or somehow gets thrown out the window while on the highway, you car would turn off and you'd be SOL.

ABC

Damn, i didn't know this. I thought our system worked like the M5's. Too bad, i like how they have it setup on theirs.

Cornellian

I go for the Lexus method. Just because next time some fool is away from his car and it is "ON". I'll be there to jack it....

ES350Bob

I just checked my ES350 to see if what you posted applied to it, and it sure does, just drove a mile and a half roundtrip with no key FOB in the car, put it in the house after starting the car all it did was have an asterisk flashing along with no key detected.

I did a thread on ES350 about having a passenger with the extra FOB and driver exiting without locking the car door being a potential risk since someone could jump in and drive off as long as any one FOB held by a passenger is somewhere in the car, and now this seems as strange.

kensteele

If you tried to lock the door with a passenger inside the car with a key FOB in his pocket (LOL LOL), you wouldn't be able to lock your door. If you leave your vehicle unlocked, you chances of theft rise. If you leave a key an unlocked car, even higher.

ES350Bob

Yes you can lock the door with another Key FOB inside the car, you simply use the key FOB itself to perform the locking function, not the door handle button.

I was not talking about leaving another key in the car, I was referring to a scenario like this: Husband and wife each have a key FOB, or man and his teen son or daughter each do.

kensteele

Sure; I am aware you can lock a key within the car.

This is what you said "....having a passenger with the extra FOB and driver exiting without locking the car door being a potential risk since someone could jump in and drive off as long as any one FOB held by a passenger is somewhere in the car, and now this seems as strange." So I guess I have no idea what you are referring to as strange?

Basically it's not a real problem. The IS system is not perfect and can sometimes get confusing at first but later you'll learn it is highly functional, very reliable, secure, and more than adequate for your day to day needs. Nothing strange about it.

I wish it had the similar to BMW feature but since I never leave my car running unattended, it's a moot point for me.

IS350jet

I think the implementation of the smart key on the IS is awesome. Let's face it, it is not designed to be a theft deterrent device. If you leave your car running, then get out of the car with fob in pocket and somebody steals your car, that's your own fault, not Lexus'. BTW, in my car, if I get out of it while it's running and take the fob with me it yells back at me "Hay, Idiot! You left me running and you took the key with you!" Actually, it just beeps until you return with the key. A great feature, indeed.

ES350Bob

Originally Posted by kensteele
If you tried to lock the door with a passenger inside the car with a key FOB in his pocket (LOL LOL), you wouldn't be able to lock your door. If you leave your vehicle unlocked, you chances of theft rise. If you leave a key an unlocked car, even higher.

I didn't say it was a problem. I simply pointed out that some may consider the need to be sure and lock the car when exiting, e.g., if you are leaving passengers in it while running a quick errand if any one passenger has a key FOB.

Bichon

It ought to be. It's not like it requires an expensive piece of hardware to implement the feature as BMW did -- just a couple lines of code in the software.

Making a car harder to steal is better for everyone: remember that your insurance premiums are based in part on the loss history for the particular make and model you drive.

lobuxracer

iTrader: (2)

Which would you prefer - car jacker pulls you out of car at gunpoint, then jumps in and the car dies right in front of you, or car jacker pulls you out of the car and drives away only for the car to be disabled for next start?

Sorry, I get the idea of having the engine die and at first glance it sounds like a good idea, but if you push the envelope just a little, you can see why they might have designed it the way they did.

SolaraToIS

Here's the first practical post in this thread. No car is worth risking your life for.
Very good point made here.

ES350Bob

My reason for mentioning it is people accustomed to key required ignition in the past may have stopped at an ATM or grocery, turned off the car leaving passengers sitting in it while driver ran a quick errand......remaining passengers--- one of which may have had an extra key but nobody could just jump in with passengers left in car, start it immediately and drive away with them in there as could be done now as long as any one passenger has an extra key FOB.

It is something to be aware of, that you must lock your passengers in the car if they are staying behind for any errand if one of them has also has a FOB.