A&Q about Lotus
Q:
Well, i personally never driven a car with start button... And i think its a rather pointless gimmick, but anyway, there are some other problems with it
A:
I used to have starters buttons on my Austin Sevens, and the very early Minis had starter buttons too - on the floor. But they all had keys, and so does the Elise - it's not keyless, so what's your point?
A:
Val,
I think this applies to keyless ignition systems-the kind that allow the user to start car remotely. Ours is just a goofy way to start the car once the key is inserted in the ignition, rather than simply turning the key one more postion forward. However, interesting article!
Tom
A:
Yeah, making the starting procedure MORE complicated seems counter to the Lotus philosophy.
A:
Erm, well, i never knew how Fed elise works, so dont blame me
Still, very disturbing! at least i though it was harder then that!
Then question arises - WHY??? I mean, get the key in then push the button??! Instead of just 1 action, you have to do 2??!!! Hmmm....
A:
I personaly think the start button is cool. Just like other "exotics" out there. A buddy of mine who races frequently said the start button is designed to save you a few seconds re-starting the car if you stall the car after a spin.
A:
Hey Val, when the Elise stalls (and it does in certain situations) you can use that Start button and get GOING much faster than with a key. That can save you from being rear-ended by a Hummer H1 in the middle of Wilshire and Sepulveda Blvds.
and
We have a pretty efficient anti-theft concept on our cars.....
Anybody lost an Elise to these guys?
A:
Originally Posted by LARRY22331
Hey Val, when the Elise stalls (and it does in certain situations) you can use that Start button and get GOING much faster than with a key. That can save you from being rear-ended by a Hummer H1 in the middle of Wilshire and Sepulveda Blvds.
To be honest, never had a problem
A:
Originally Posted by my1st2seater
I personaly think the start button is cool. Just like other "exotics" out there. A buddy of mine who races frequently said the start button is designed to save you a few seconds re-starting the car if you stall the car after a spin.
How is it quicker to push the button again instead of turning the key that's already in the ignition?
I dunno... I'm not a huge fan of the button either. I think they should have just kept it conventional key or went to the completely keyless method that most new luxury cars use.
A:
You will. And when it happens a big grill appears in your rear view mirror and you see the letters HUMMER in your rear view mirror as that big monster the size of a small house hits the horn and sends your brain into "Oh Sh*t" Land. And you reach for the starter button and you are off like a rabbit zipping past the oncoming cars.
Start button?
Yeah, I'll keep it.
And it's ALOT QUICKER than that stupid key turn.
A:
Originally Posted by Val
Then question arises - WHY??? I mean, get the key in then push the button??! Instead of just 1 action, you have to do 2??!!! Hmmm....
Marketing. The Honda S2000 has it. "Ricers" modify their standard ignition to add a Start Button (in the Miata world it's commonly referred to as the "Big Red Button". It's there for the "cool factor".
All they did is to move the wries from the "start" position on the key switch to the separate button.
It's a gimmick, and I'm used to it now, but I would have been just as happy to have simply used the key. It does one have one advantage however - it's different than the starting procedure of my other cars, so I have learned to insert the key, wiggle the shifter to make sure it's in neutral, press the start button. Since we don't have the starter interlock, this makes sure I don't start it in gear...
A:
Originally Posted by Bane
How is it quicker to push the button again instead of turning the key that's already in the ignition?
I dunno... I'm not a huge fan of the button either. I think they should have just kept it conventional key or went to the completely keyless method that most new luxury cars use.
PS
Keyless cars like the Infinity my wife drives use
a starter button!!!!
A:
Originally Posted by LARRY22331
And you reach for the starter button and you are off like a rabbit <...> And it's ALOT QUICKER than that stupid key turn.
Depends. For me, my first reaction would be/is to go for the key. Thirty plus years of driving has ingrained into me to turn the key to start the car, not fumble around on the side of the dash for a button...
A:
You want to talk about gimmicks....ever since the car community decided to "Pimp their Rides," the height of wheels and tires has grown to enormous proportions.
Every new car has or will have these HUGE wheels and tires, at least 19" or 20" or larger -- the new Jaguar looks idiotic with those wheels and tires.
Another gimmick we don't need - but there they are, for the silly buyers who
don't know what they really need or don't need.
A:
Originally Posted by LARRY22331
You want to talk about gimmicks....
<...>
Every new car has or will have these HUGE wheels and tores, at least 19" or 20" or larger
Yep. Try getting "performance" tires for older cars with 13 inch rims...
I bought a set of DOT legal R compound tires for my Elan since the only other real choice was to get econobox "high mileage", rock hard tires...
It's even getting harder to find 14 inch performance tires for my Miata...
A:
Originally Posted by Bane
How is it quicker to push the button again instead of turning the key that's already in the ignition?
I dunno... I'm not a huge fan of the button either. I think they should have just kept it conventional key or went to the completely keyless method that most new luxury cars use.
Most modern tunrkey ignitions require you to turn the ignition to the off position then back on to start. This prevents people from starting a car that's already going. The start button saves you this step.
A:
Originally Posted by pafable
Most modern tunrkey ignitions require you to turn the ignition to the off position then back on to start. This prevents people from starting a car that's already going. The start button saves you this step.
ding ding
A:
Originally Posted by pafable
Most modern tunrkey ignitions require you to turn the ignition to the off position then back on to start. This prevents people from starting a car that's already going. The start button saves you this step.
The downside of our starter button is you can grind your starter if, for some reason , you accidentally touch the starter button when the car is running. I thought a cool starter button would use the technology a friend of miine has on his front door. His deadbolt is activated by a fingerprint reader. The starter button could read your fingerprint and start the car...no key involved at all. Our starter button is nice in that it relieves some of the twisting force on the ignition system, a common failure point on my old car.
Tom
A:
Originally Posted by Val
Erm, well, i never knew how Fed elise works, so dont blame me
Still, very disturbing! at least i though it was harder then that!
Then question arises - WHY??? I mean, get the key in then push the button??! Instead of just 1 action, you have to do 2??!!! Hmmm....
I love it, it makes it feel like the race car that it is designed to be. i swear every time i get in my MR2 spyder, i turn the key and feel for the button, oh yeah, i have to press in the clutch. same same, just using hands for the button, feet for the clutch pedal.
A:
I don't like it. It's for posers, yo! If there were no keyed ignition. Or at least the ignition only had an "on" position instead of the now-defunct "start" position.
It should be possible to re-wire the key-ignition switch so that it starts the car in addition to the start button... Not a permanent mod, I would think...
'Greg