Ford Keyless Entry & Start. Reliable?

eamon234 wrote:

They've been used in Renaults for a while now and are prone to sensor problems to be honest I think it's all a bit much. I prefer to have a normal key with remote central locking if you're going for extras on the Focus get the voice recognition it's great and works well with bluetooth phones

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the Renault card is the same thing. It still requires you to press the Unlock button on the card, and then put the card into a slot under the radio before pressing Start.
This Frod system requires absolutely no user input. You just leave it in you pocket, and the car senses your arrival (within a few feet of the car I guess), and the car unlocks itself.
Then you sit in, again it senses the card is inside the car, and therefore allows you press the Start button to get going.

The Bluetooth and Voice activated controls (for Phone, Radio and Climate control) is also part the package for €500. Also includes dual electronic climate control (which is also voice controllable, not sure how though), bigger alloys, and rear electric windows, among other smaller things.

wyndham wrote:

How do you lock the car? If it locks as you move away from the car, it would drive me mad as it would unlock again if i went back to check that it was locked. Could never really be 100% sure that it's locked as i'm walking away from it

The lights flash when it locks, as you walk away (only a few feet away from the car). It works perfectly fine, and your problem would never be an issue in reality.

Incidently, this Ford card also has buttons. I think you can use them to set how many doors unlock (i.e. Drivers Door only, or all doors).

zilog_jones wrote:

What would happen when the battery goes on these remote control things? Or does the Ford one not use batteries?

dunno to be honest.

They might work like the swipe cards in an office, where the battery is in the receiver (the car in this case), and the card is just magnetic.

In a few years time the key will be confined to history, so might make it easier to re-sell in a few years if these extras are on it.

ninty9er wrote:

The Zetec isn't really worth the extra money with the level of standard spec on the LX

It has fully coloured body and handles. fogs. rear elec. all its missing really is the air con.

The rest i.e the suspension and seats aren't really worth it imo

Absolutely couldn't disagree more

If anythying, the bad value is with the Ghia spec. All you really get is a Sunglasses Holder and a Cooled Box between the seats (seroiusly!), with the addition of horrible alloys, that look too much like the LX ones.

Heres the LX 'Freedom' Spec:
15" steel wheels with 7-spoke wheelcovers
Remote control central locking
Electrically operated and heated door mirrors
Front seatback stowage pockets
Centre rear head restraint (4/5-door and wagon only)
QuickClear Heated Windscreen
Aluminium-finish interior door handles
Centre stack bezel in Antares finish
Steering column remote audio controls

Heres whats added to the Zetec:
Key features additional to Zetec LX:
BlueTooth® hands-free technology with Voice-control functionality of the Radio, CD, satellite navigation** and Dual zone Electronic Air Temperature Control** (DEATC) and mobile phome***
KeyFree System
Stylish 17" 5-spoke alloy wheels
Body colour door handles, mirror housings and side mouldings
Power Rear Windows with Global Closing on all windows
Trip Computer and Leather Steering Wheel
Duel Zone Electronic Air Temperature Control







Focus Zetec €21,825*
Key features additional to LX:
16" ‘Sport Design’ wheels**
Air conditioning
Unique sports suspension
Electrically operated and heated door mirrors, with body colour housings
Body colour door handles
Chrome grille surround
Dark headlight surrounds
Front fog lights
Sports-style front seats
Aluminium-finish handbrake release button
Satin aluminium-finish instrument cluster rings
Trip/fuel computer
3-spoke leather-trimmed steering wheel



Thats a lot for 2.5k extra I should think; and makes it much easier to sell on in a few years.

Heading for test drive today.

Incidently, the 23,270 seems to be a pretty rigid price (and believe me I can haggle with the best of them.) Will try again for 23,000 today.

Called 3 garages in 3 counties. All same price.

Quick Update:

'finally' picked up the car on Friday last.

On first impressions, the Keyless Entry and Start is a gem.

You walk to the car, and when you go to pull the door handle it checks (in a few milliseconds) if the Fob is in the proximity of the car(in my pocket), and the door just opens as normal. Sit straight in and just press start. Couldn't be easier.

For locking, there is a small button on the drivers door, passenger door and on the boot, just press it before you walk away.

(the fob also has lock/unlock buttons if you are so inclined)

When getting out of the car, it allows you to check if the car is locked by pulling the door handle. However if you give it a good pull, or do it a 2nd time, it assumes you want to get back in again and unlocks. Handy for your sanity for the first few days until you trust the car, that it is actually locked.

Other than that the car is excellent. the 1.6 is good so far, so can't wait until its loosened up a bit.
17" Alloys, with Chrome pack and Panther Black metallic make it look good from the outside.
Inside the trim seems good quality, the plastics don't sound hollow, quite the opposite; and are kinda 'soft-feel'.

The voice controls work well (for Radio, CD, Phone, Climate), but work best with the Phone. (will have to give the lady a name )
The bluetooth is the best i've seen, and there is no delay between telling the car to 'answer', and the call coming through the speakers. This was always my bug-bear with Bluetooth. The car defaults to searching for my phone every time you start the car, but its easy to get it to search for other (pre-set) phones. i.e you don't have to do anything for your calls to be taken/made using the car (just have your handset bluetooth switched on).

EDIT: forgot to mention, also got an extended warranty: FOUR years full warranty/4 yearly services/4 years AA, for an additional €900 (was originally 2 years warranty, no services). Hard to beat, especially if we trade it in 3 years time, with 1 year warranty (and free service) remaining

your right, its not a starter button, on re-reading I was a bit confusing. Its a 'fake' key thats positioned where your ignition would normally be (right hand side of the wheel). It acts as a steering lock (by clicking it in and out), and then turn it (like a key) to start the car. It cannot be removed.