What's with Ferrari keys?

they look neat, but that's about it.... Ferrari is so shoved up their own ass, they can't follow techology (i say this as I wear a $40 Ferrari T-shirt...)

 

Well this is funny you brought this up, because I had an interesting revelation regarding keys a few weeks back. I also have been searching for a Stradale. When I stopped off at the ferrari/maserati dealer to check one out I went into visit my service rep. He was fiddling with a hunk of blue plastic and had a distraught look on his face. I said "whats wrong" and he looked up and showed me this blue hunk of plastic and said "you should be happy you car didnt come with this key." I had not paid attention before, but the Q'porte keys are like the ones you speak of (audi/vw like) with the flip out mechanism...only the flip out mechanism on this one was completely broken ie the key part was just dangling...my point is be happy Ferrari sticks to a simple key, because if they tried to do anything more complicated with the all important piece of metal that starts your car, you might not be able to get your car started! So later when the sales person brought out the key for the Stradale, he also mentioned that it was the Enzo key...after just seeing the broken Q'porte key, I was delighted to see a big red *normal* key!

 

Even Ford have figured out how to make a smart folding key that is relaible. I do agree that Ferrari should stay away from this area and leave it to the Germans.

rgds

 

I personally hate fold out keys..take a VW key for example, will all the unlocking buttons and what not it becomes soo heavy, further it easy to misplace as it doesnt really look like a key

 

Folding or non-folding, the key needs to be modernized. I am very disappointed to hear that on current CS, the alarm remote still hangs from a keyring like an installed aftermarket alarm. This just doesn't fit with the rest of this modern car. The new Lexus GS330 doesn't even have a key. You just this remote electronic module. The car unlocks its doors when you reach for the door handle and starts when you hit the "Engine Start" button.

Key or no key, folding or non-folding are personal preferences. But the key just need to be modernized to fit the image and functionality of a modern exotic.

Jim

 

The F430 key looks the same as the Enzo key. It has the alarm button on the other side so, the CS key is probably the same.

I will take a picture of the other side tomorrow.
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This is about the only key I have thougth was pretty nifty. A simply key made of one piece of solid Monel alloy. No stupid alarm functions, fobs, or other doodads.
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Sure, except that the Germans have overengineered their keys to the point they've become a problem. My Mercedes service guy said he wishes they would just go with a metal key that you stick in a lock. Their infrared 'SmartKey' system has been troublesome.

Leave it to the Japanese.

Those red Ferrari keys look very nice, IMO. Certainly worth $200K, especially if the car's included.

 

YLSHIH,

I am actually looking for a Stradale, can you tell me about yours, ie what was the asking price, color combination etc? I am sorta lost as to how much they are worth as prices are all over the place as I am sure you saw...any helpful advice would be much apprieciated! Thanks

 

Yeah, it has a single black button the same shape, but smaller than the emblem on the front side.
I didn't take a picture of it because I didn't think it would be of interest to anyone.

 

what car was that taken from.......

 

Judging by the "NSX" written on it, I'd say an Acura NSX

 

What a great anti-theft feature, if you drop your keys. "Look for the NSX in the parking lot and buckle up."

 

That Ferrari key is so big, there is no way you could drop it and not notice.

 

CS's key looks so silly, is so light, feel so cheap that I never show it to anyone. A lot of people have high expectation for the CS's key (as it is similar to the Enzo), but after seeing it for real, I bet 99% would think the same as me...ha ha ha. Love the car though...

 

Oh man, if Ferrari had a folding key, that would be the end. You'd have to constantly be bringing it into the dealership for adjustments; every 15K miles the mechanism would need a major service, you'd have to leave it there for two weeks... No thanks.

 

lol that's funny
later keys weren't like that. My 01 just had a black plastic thingy on the end with the Acura "A" on it..however the keyless entry thingy does say NSX. But' nobody knows what an NSX is!!! haha, and even better anti-theft idea . they're susposed to be made of titanium, but NSXPrime seams to have disproven that, but there is somekind of electronic immobiliezer thing in it, but most cars have that now too..
By the way I kinda like the CS and Enzo key. Have no idea what flip out keys look like but, hmm ok. Think it would be cool if the key retracted and by just pushing a button it would pop out, then again if Ferrari did it I wouldn't want anything to do with it. Simple things like that (and batteris) continue to baffel them.

 

the keys may be bad or may be good, depending on personal opinion. but isn't the only thing that really matters when the key is inserted and turned in the ignition, and that great red head starts to sing?

just my $.02

 

I have no identifying marks on my keys - especially since a girlfriend had her handbag snatched. Thieves simply walk through the shopping centre carpark with the electronic keys in their pocket pushing the buttons until the car identifies itself ready to be driven away...

 

Speaking of keys...IMO mercedes makes the best keys out. The VW/AUDI keys are cool but i would get sick of pushing a little button everytime i want to turn on my car and take the "key" out of the key. If that made any sence.

 

I love the old NSX key. Slim, solid and very attractive.

The only 'flip' key Ferrari should make is a floppy key like on the 80s cars.

Keep it SLIM I say. Fat keys feel like playschool toys.

 

When they work, they're cool. When they fail, they fail.

I had one of those made-in-China folding keys for my old SLK, with a cheapo little Benz/wreath emblem glued onto it (kept falling off). Yes, I did get tired of pushing the little button.

Once when I set the key down on a bar next to my phone someone said: "Hey I have a VW too. Which one do you have?" I said it was for a Mercedes. Next time I took a closer look at my sister-in-law's New Beetle key and yup, same one.

Frankly, the simple metal key that came with my 911, with plain metal Porsche crest, was nicer. And that red-topped Ferrari key is classy.