can smart key be added later ?

Im kinda curious myself...what is the smart key and what does it look like? How does it interface with the car? Not like your standard car key im sure. And what is a FOB?

 

it would cost soo much that it wouldnt' be worth it. There are sensors in every accesible door and handle. The door is a proximety. The handle is a static touch. Inside the cab there are more. there is the computer system that controls it too. I'm sure you can order any of this from toyota.. but iw ould cost thousands. It's better off just paying the price for everything, then upgrading from there. IMHO

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Hopeful Future Prius Owner @ Aug 22 2006, 09:14 PM) [snapback]308056[/snapback]</div>

First of all, the fob is the black thing that you stick in the "key" slot to start the car. For most car owners, the fob is what they use to lock and unlock their car doors remotely. BTW many people mistakenly capitalize it thinking it's an acronym, but the word "fob" is a noun and used to mean a small ornament hanging from a pocket watch chain (or kind of like a charm on a charm bracelet).

Smart Key on the Prius means that you never have to take the fob out of your pocket or purse and press a button to lock or unlock the car, or even to start it! That's why some people think it's one of the coolest features on this car! A car with Smart Key will have little black squares on the driver and passenger door handles and on the hatch. That's what you press to lock the car. There is a sensor on the inside of the front doors that will automatically unlock the doors when you touch it (on the hatch, you actually have to press the black grip area on the underside) to unlock the car instead of just touch it.

You can tell if you have a "Smart" fob or a "dumb" fob by the color of the logo on the back--black is dumb and silver is smart. You can still pull out the fob and lock and unlock the doors that way if you have Smart Key on your car, but I can't think of a reason why anyone would do that!!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(auart @ Aug 22 2006, 11:11 PM) [snapback]308051[/snapback]</div>

If you really have a package 3 in your 2006, as noted, you already have the smart key. To my knowledge, it was included in all Priuses except for the base package.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(auart @ Aug 23 2006, 12:11 AM) [snapback]308051[/snapback]</div>

SmartKey allows one to enter the vehicle and start the vehicle without ever removing the key from one's pocket, purse, etc. The vehicle detects that the coded key is in the appropriate vicinity. Very handy when when carrying groceries or anything else to the car, etc.


It's as if the car recognizes its owner It allows the owner to enter the car and start the vehicle without pulling out the key.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mcbrunnhilde @ Aug 22 2006, 09:27 PM) [snapback]308071[/snapback]</div>

They also make a Smart Key wristwatch that'll do the same thing. It costs about $400, and I don't know if it works with the Prius.