[mini63]

I can tell you that some makers spend a LOT of money and time designing and styling their keys and FOBs. Others don't.

For the caliber, namesake and image Lotus puts forth, I do think a little time and effort spend on the key design is a pretty realistic request. I'd much rather have that than the model designation stitched into the seats/carpet.

Thank G*d Lotus DIDN'T spend "a LOT of money and time designing and styling their keys and FOBs". They concentrated on the important stuff that actually matters.

 

[RoadDad]

I haven't had any troubles with my fob (range -- about 50 feet without touching the antenna; looks -- stays in my pocket 99% of the time, etc.). I agree with xtn about it nicely fitting into and coming out of a pocket.

 

[buzzy]

I think its a good way to 'poser proof' the brand!

 

[ChrisB]

That uni-key requires the transmitter from your old key fob, so the distance will be identical. It's pretty easy to increase your range though, its about an hour job, or you can pay a shop $50-100 to do it.

Absolutely! BTW, it will only take an hour if you count logging on to the forum here, finding and printing out the directions for the mod, checking your e-mail while you're on here, getting a beer, then going out to the garage to work on the car.

A lot of people add wire to the antenna, but you don't need to unless you want to operate it from a football field away. I just pulled the wire out of the bundle, pointed it up towards the windshield and buttoned everything back up. 15 minutes, tops. That took my range from about a foot away from the car window to about 35 feet. Those with the Touring Pack may require 5 - 10 minutes longer fighting with the sound-deadening foam block and sharp aluminum edges.

The Cobra installation manual clearly states that the antenna wire should NOT be bundled in with other wires. I guess the Lotus manufacturing engineers didn't read the installation manual. :wallbang:

 

[Dragon]

Absolutely! BTW, it will only take an hour if you count logging on to the forum here, finding and printing out the directions for the mod, checking your e-mail while you're on here, getting a beer, then going out to the garage to work on the car.

A lot of people add wire to the antenna, but you don't need to unless you want to operate it from a football field away. I just pulled the wire out of the bundle, pointed it up towards the windshield and buttoned everything back up. 15 minutes, tops. That took my range from about a foot away from the car window to about 35 feet. Those with the Touring Pack may require 5 - 10 minutes longer fighting with the sound-deadening foam block and sharp aluminum edges.

The Cobra installation manual clearly states that the antenna wire should NOT be bundled in with other wires. I guess the Lotus manufacturing engineers didn't read the installation manual. :wallbang:

Hrm.. I'm going to have to find where everything is mounted on my car... Mine is Right hand drive and the same as the UK version with the dash etc... It's been raining here everyday for the last 2 1/2 weeks and having to stand right next to the car in the rain to unlock it is kinda pissing me off a bit..

 

[Blacktan]

and the story goes on ......

steering rack becomes from OPEL/VAUHALL Corsa 1992
indicator stalks from the same car .....

 

[pla_time]

and the story goes on ......

steering rack becomes from OPEL/VAUHALL Corsa 1992
indicator stalks from the same car .....

I think I finally figured out where the stock horn comes from. I was in the airport a few months ago, and heard one of the motorized carts that carries old and handicapped passengers honk as it went through the terminal. I could have sworn is was the same weak sound as the one on the Elise.:shrug:

 

[Blue Devil]

I like the goofy key fob, just adds to the Elise's quirkyness.

 

[demarco]

It all matters.

Thank G*d Lotus DIDN'T spend "a LOT of money and time designing and styling their keys and FOBs". They concentrated on the important stuff that actually matters.

Yes they spent a bunch of time on the important things. But the truth is that everything matters.

its the little stuff that nobody notices that is very important. It shows that you cared about every single piece of the product.

 

[kestrel74]

I was gonna buy an Elise....but THAT's the exact thing that stopped me. The ugly key fob. I would never be seen driving around with one of those dangling from the steering column !!
EDIT: and no cup holders either !!

 

[mini63]

Yes they spent a bunch of time on the important things. But the truth is that everything matters.

its the little stuff that nobody notices that is very important. It shows that you cared about every single piece of the product.

I don't think that the key fob matters. Lotus cares enough about performance to concentrate on that and little else. I am grateful everyday that there is an auto manufacturer out there that places performance over everything else...and doesn't spend time dealing with the insignificant stuff. If not, Lotus would not be a special marque.

There are plenty of wonderful and beautiful key fobs out there that are "attached" to average cars.

 

[codymac]

If all we're complaining about is the "key fob," then the car is SPECTACULAR.

But we already knew that.

Yeah - it's a little like bitching that your supermodel girlfriend had a filling.

Ever see some the F-car keys? Some of those are flat out atrocious!

 

[Randy Chase]

The Lotus/Cobra fob is not ugly. It is just meh. That Ferrari key is hideous.

I love the BWR Unikey. Extrusion. Carbon fiber.

 

[falcon]

I wonder how many emails to cobra it would take to convice them to develope a key/fob combo for lotus that we could buy, and I wonder what the cost would be.

 

[Randy Chase]

Just a note about Lotus and understanding the car company and how they historically do things. I think it makes sense when you do know the company better. And yes, they do have moments when style matters. You see it on the car. But function and purpose are always in the front. That is Lotus.

Lotus is also about using whatever thing they can get, preferably made by someone else, that does the job. If they can't source it, they make it or get it made. But otherwise, if they find a part that works... well, move on then. It is FAR cheaper to use existing bits than to design something new and bespoke. And even if the part is a small thing, it all adds up.

Lotus historically has used a "parts bin" approach to engineering the bits on the car. The parts come from here and there. A great example of ingenuity and something that really displays this, is the headlight reflector housing. This is the chrome bit that surrounds the lower beams. What is it? I looks perfect for the job. Now take off the headlight surround and peak at the back of it. WTF? Yes... that is a plastic distributor cap that has been chromed. I love that about the car.

 

[xtn]

Yes they spent a bunch of time on the important things. But the truth is that everything matters.

its the little stuff that nobody notices that is very important. It shows that you cared about every single piece of the product.

One need not care about every dingle piece of a product. One need only care about those parts of a product that the primary target market will care about.

Lotus probably figures that a nicer fob probably wouldn't help sell the two additional cars it would take to pay for custom fob design/development. And they're probably right. I mean look at the rest of the product. It's got a very select and focused target market. People either crave one very strongly, or they don't care for it and never will. So key fob design isn't going to change anybody's mind about the purchase one way or another.

xtn

 

[charliex]

Why do you need to unlock your car 50 feet away? There will be a new breed of fast footed car thieves who'll jump in and hot wire while you make that last 50 feet.

Lost your car in a car park? get a brighter colour!

 

[demarco]

One need not care about every dingle piece of a product. One need only care about those parts of a product that the primary target market will care about.

Lotus probably figures that a nicer fob probably wouldn't help sell the two additional cars it would take to pay for custom fob design/development. And they're probably right. I mean look at the rest of the product. It's got a very select and focused target market. People either crave one very strongly, or they don't care for it and never will. So key fob design isn't going to change anybody's mind about the purchase one way or another.

xtn

Where i work we care about every single thing on the product. Admittedly its software/hardware and not an entire car.

But every little thing is looked at.

Personally i don't care about the key fob. Its really unimportant to me, but i do wish lotus spent more time on other things.

I still love the car, but its far from perfect.

 

[loanshark]

Why do you need to unlock your car 50 feet away? There will be a new breed of fast footed car thieves who'll jump in and hot wire while you make that last 50 feet.

Lost your car in a car park? get a brighter colour!

Keys are for chumpsrotfl

 

[Ken Wright]

Idiots at Lotus were too dang busy working on the chassis and other stupid stuff.

Looks to me like they got the whole thing just right.

ken