It is smooth so you don't have scars on your right knee. Superbly engineered.

 

You can get a uni-key from Blacwatchracing.com if you think the keyfob is ugly.

P.s. I have no answer as to why the keyfob is ugly.

 

Just because it's lightweight doesn't mean it's beautiful.

 

Lotus uses existing, off the shelf parts wherever possible, rather than custom design something, to keep the costs down. The key fob is just one of those items. The drive train is another, and the mirrors, and...

Who cares anyway, the car is for driving, not staring at the fob.

BTW, I do believe the '08s use a different fob...probably a completely different alarm system (hopefully connected to the key door lock system).

 

Because it comes from a car like this:

The wing mirrors came from this:

The indicator stalks came from this:

All in all, they are made with parts from some pretty crappy cars from the 90's but like the say "the whole is greater than the sum of the parts"

 

This is why I got the Uni-Key, and replaced my indicator stalks with the EliseParts aluminum ones (as well as most other stuff in the interior). The wing mirrors I approve of at least, I think they look good on the car (altho I know many disagree).

 

You forgot rear view mirror, off of a Vauxhall Astra as well..correct ?

 

Because it's not a "Lotus" key fob... it's a Cobra key fob that you would get if you bought any other Cobra alarm.

 

LOL this is hilarious

 

small price to pay for such a great car. And of course everything can be changed out.

 

This perplexes me. When I bought this car, or any car for that matter, I never gave or give the fob a second thought. It's merely an instrument to gain entrance and put the car in motion.

I can't imagine a fob in any way being a criteria in a decision to buy a car.

I smell troll.

 

I don't care if you smell troll or not, but when did I say fob is giving me a second thought on buying an elise? If you are going to bash me, at least read my post.

If I didn't like lotus, I wouldn't even bother talking about it's damn fob.

I just think key and fob should at least look little more attractive for the price and history of the car. It's such a little thing, but it can give owners whole lot of different ownership feeling.

 

In that same line of thought, many people consider cars as just an instrument to get them from point A to point B, and would never consider the design or style of it as a factor in purchase.

Of course it matters, just the degree to which it matters varies greatly from person to person.

 

I still smell troll.

 

Funny that, because I've just joined today and read this very thread first, only to almost walk away because I thought 'it's an American site, but the Lotus buyers out there can't be that lame?!

These replies have restored a bit of faith at least!

 

Well, when you're used to BMWs and Porsche, the Lotus key fob is kind of a 'culture shock' so to speak


Having an ugly key doesn't bother me, but having a NICE one like the '08s sure sounds tasty

 

I wish Lotus paid little more attention on their $45K car with a decent looking key fob instead of molding a fob with face of an alien.

the whole car looks like the face of an alien, so why not?:shrug:

 

Why is it ugly???

What would be good looking???????

It’s just a fob, as long as it doesn’t hit my knee or swing around annoyingly when driving its OK with me.


Kevin

 

the fob probably just came from cobra.

 

Yes. If you look at the Cobra website, it's just their standard design. Why waste time redesigning a perfectly competent piece?

http://www.cobravehiclesecurity.co.uk/default.asp?docId=12463&rnd=7802283758680855

 

I'm in the market for an Elise and key fob is so damn gross IMO.
Does MY08 have better looking key fob?

I'm just curious what other people think about their key fobs and if there's any way to swap out the fob.

I wish Lotus paid little more attention on their $45K car with a decent looking key fob instead of molding a fob with face of an alien.

Maybe with a Lotus logo on it so if you drop your keys it'll be easy for someone to find the car...afterall it'll probably be the only Lotus in the lot.

this is silly...

 

Maybe with a Lotus logo on it so if you drop your keys it'll be easy for someone to find the car...afterall it'll probably be the only Lotus in the lot.

Ah, there's the truth. The guys in the UK are very clever, the fob is actually an additional security feature. No one would ever think it's for a gorgeous car like ours because (1) it's ugly and (2) it doesn't give you a clue what kind of car it's for. rotfl

 

I love how everyone defends every Lotus decision like it's the best thing since sliced bread & if you'd don't agree, you "just don't get it".

The key and fob for the Elise are crap. There are no other cars out there (that I know of, anyway) that have been made in the last decade at or near this price that have a less desirable key or fob. Like the logo on the steering wheel, the key and what's attached to it are part of the theater of driving a piece of work like the Elise. Imho, it SHOULD be as interesting as the car. Stamp a logo on it at least, for f***'s sake.

Would it sway my decision? Not in the least, but every time I look at that key sitting on my coffee table, I wish it weren't so generic for such a special car.

 

It is evil. Should be ugly, as a warning.

 

You could paint the Cobra from GI Joe symbol on it to make it more cool..

 

Just buy the lotus key ring

A lot of us don't want the brand advertised on the key itself, generic is just fine.

 

This is what i got. Not really ugly.

 

Is the working range of this simular to the one that comes with the car? I've been thinking about getting it...

thanks

 

I find the post with the photos of the cars that Lotus sourced parts from to be really cool!
Maybe a new thread with photos of "Lotus sourced parts" on their original cars would be interesting...

Oh, and I have no problem with the FOB, except my wife and I refer to it as "the dogs bollocks!" as it "hangs". Hahahaaaaa
Cheers,
Skottoman

 

It's amazing seeing the engineers come out in here.

Making something look good (and more importantly, making it look like it belongs with the rest of the car) for a BRAND whose image, styling and performance are all key selling points, is something worthwhile.

They *could* have done an entirely custom FOB for their cars for a few thousand dollars in design fees and 10-15k for mold making and manufacturing. Which would add up to an extra dollar or three on the sticker price. It's not even enough money to be worth "diverting to performance", nor does it add weight, or complexity (they could have easily used the Cobra internals and just done a shell).

You don't go buy a $4,000 suit and then go wear a pair of 20 dollar tennis shoes with it. You'd want a pair of shoes that MATCHES the style, quality and image of the suit.

 

You don't go buy a $4,000 suit and then go wear a pair of 20 dollar tennis shoes with it.

No you don't. But the fob is not like the shoes; it's more like your collar stays. Some people get nice silver-plated ones, but the standard plastic ones work fine and nobody sees them anyway.
And the Lotus is not a $4000 suit, it's a $1200 suit that performs like a $3000 suit. You'll like the way you drive - they guarantee it.

 

Then you buy a marque that caters to that market, its just that simple. You always find a lot of techies on lotus forums for a good reason.

They could have done a lot of things, but thats not part of the lotus design philosophy, in the words of Mr Simkin, its a $50,000 chassis.

I'd say lotus people buy it for perfomance, and styling then maybe image if at all, there are a lot of anoraks explaining about their norfolk turnip farmer chassis and why its not got a V8.

 

well, it would also be nice if the thing actually worked from more than a 1/2 foot from the car. I think the whole central locking/immobiliser on my 2007 Elise to be quite lame, and i do own three other cars from hethel/cheshunt (they aren't perfect either, but i do love the lotus philosophies). it was very clearly a complete afterthought in a market where more forward thinking ought to take place. i hope the fob on the SC is a bit better. all of this is indeed a minor point, but when looking at it in the face of real world competition, this is a lame showing.