Excellent. Thank you. I wasn't aware of it but it does just what I want. I'm ordering tonight. Thanks again.
I'm not getting it across well but what I'd like is a system like the current Mazda3. Then when I forget to lock the door it won't matter because it will have done so for me. The unlock function is great as is on the Prius.
The smart key system is one of the best features on the Prius. It allows you to open the car and lock the car without ever taking the key fob out of your pocket. All the "controls" are on the door handle, meaning you have to initiate the unlock and the lock. The car can't read your mind. I don't think mazda has this system?
JC, the OP is referring to the way the Mazda 3 works. Take a gander at this page and you will get a better understanding. Long story short, works on proximity. My M3 can lock the door walking away, why can't they unlock walking to - 2004 to 2014 Mazda 3 Forum and Mazdaspeed 3 Forums
With the Mazda3 you don't ever have to touch the fob if you don't want to. It has the usual buttons on it but depending on how you program the settings it will do everything by proximity and/or touching the door handles. Both driver/passenger front doors have a small black button where your thumb naturally falls as you pull the handle. When you walk up to the car with the fob in your pocket you press the button with your thumb, hear a beep and the door is unlocked. When you exit the vehicle you can immediately press the button and lock the car. If you do not do so then when the fob gets 3-5 feet away from the car it will automatically lock if it is so programmed. There's a matchbox size pad on the liftgate you can press and it will unlock and open with fob proximity as well. Basically your car is always locked to the world and unlocked to you with no real input other than light pressure where your thumb naturally falls when you want to get in and none when you leave.
My fob never leaves my pocket. The only time I even touch it is when my wife will reach her door before I reach mine. (I wish you could get 3door SKS without leather)
I think we all understand the OPs goal is to have an option for the Prius to lock all doors based on proximity. I think this thread is making it seem like a bigger deal than it is, all he's asking for is an option. I don't think having to touch the door handle to lock the Prius is a big deal, but I get tired of having to wait for my wife to gather her purse, etc., and get out before I can touch the door handle to lock the Prius. Yes, I know, I could teach her, but you don't know my wife. A proximity-based system done the right way could solve that and might be something I'd use. Her fob is in her purse and I could move knowing the car would lock when she moves. The M3 system requires drivers to wait for all doors to close before they can move more than 5' away, but AFAIK they don't check to see if anyone is still in the car. As I've said before, I see that as a safety concern. However, there is no reason Toyota can't do it better. There are already seat belt sensors in the seats, so there is no reason the car can't be programmed to prevent proximity locking if someone is still in the car.
I have shades on my rear windows attached with suction cups. I don't need a passenger (or me) hitting a button dropping the window and taking the shade inside the door with it. The suction cups on one shade don't stick as well so that shade popped off. The other shade's suction cups really stick. The second time the shade was pulled into the door the suction cup was torn from the shade and had to be picked out of the door. My passengers are a lot older than 30. (I also don't want them "closing " the hatch.) Based on what we have to complain about we are truly blessed.
Why is the fob in your hand instead of in your purse or pocket, you don't need it our of your pocket to lock or unlock it.
That can be applied at any level of "advancement". I'm idly wondering if there'd be a net gain in going right back to a key in a mechanical locking mechanism, with any pushbutton functions on a separate fob, considering: 1. The advent of "amplifiers" that thieves are starting to use. 2. The preposterous cost of smart key replacement.
I don't know. I think at least part of the idea of the window lock disable switch is to use it in specific situations. Such as having little children in the vehicle, and/or pets that might accidentally open a window at an unsafe area or time. So IMO you've got to make that an All or Nothing switch. Conceivably, if you want control, you could always switch it on, adjust your window, then switch it off. But if you are going to use it? I have no problem with it being a "Every Window Switch Is Off" scenario when used. I think this is how it is on most every vehicle. And we are talking window lock out...not Door lock out? That's a totally different horse, in a totally different race.
Yes, the window lock. When I was a kid, the Lincolns of the 60's had a window lock. It deactivated the windows on 3 doors so I couldn't open a window regardless of which seat I was in but the buttons on the driver door still worked every window so my dad/mom could work them all. That's how I'd prefer to have it, so I could keep passengers from operating the windows unless I "authorized" it by releasing the lock but I can crack the windows an inch or two for heat escape while parked without having to push the lock button each time. I solved it by leaving all windows unlocked all the time since I don't have passengers anyway. Just an item I think would be improved a different way.
