New Fiesta...one key with remote = WTF?!

Centurion · 08-12-2008, 02:45 PM

Subject says it all. Bought a new Fiesta last week and surprise, surprise, the tight wads at Ford HQ decided to only sell it with one key that has the remote features! WTF?! Anyway, spoke with the dealer, explained my disappointment, they said, "No worries, new key $209 but with cutting and encoding comes to $290-ish".

<RANT>
Erm. What the f%#king f%#k are they talking about?! I had to replace a key for a Camry (similar embedded remote+key), $80. My old man bought a similar key for his Verada, $90. Friend in Sydeny had to replace a key for his Citroen, $90. So what on God's green earth are Ford trying to do?! A friend of mine in England bought a Fiesta outside London only 3 weeks ago and got 2 keys with remotes, plus the servicing key! Geez.
</RANT>

Ok, rant over, the dealer suggested importing a key myself from Europe/UK. Sounds like a recipe for ye olde "sorry mate, didn't buy it in Oz, we can't cut or encode it" kinda deal. Anyone gone this route? Would I be better off just copping it to the tune of $300 and getting a key from the dealer?

Cheers,

James

PS - The XR6T is no more... :( Long and sad story.

TEKILA · 08-12-2008, 02:53 PM

i would suggest the best thing to do is replace the key come time to you losing your existing key, otherwise it's money gone down the drain to be honest.

Centurion · 08-12-2008, 03:10 PM

Yeh considered that, but wifey and I share the car (the sad part about loosing my beloved XR6T) so having one key is a royal PITA. It's a kinda forgone conclusion we need another key, the question is what's the cheapest way ofn achieving that; given that Ford Oz want me to bend over and lube up! :P

Cheers,

James

big_waity · 08-12-2008, 03:37 PM

Seriously, you bought a cheap car, they had to make it cheap by cutting out some options. It is a bit that they didn't explain it before you bought it and 300 for a key is a lot of money. My mum needed to get another key for her X-Trail and it was something to the tune of 340 from memory.

Nappa · 08-12-2008, 03:49 PM

fiesta isnt the only car like this, other small cars have the same keys (1 remote 1 regular) our cars are also spec'd differantly to the uk fiesta's. They have some features we dont and we have some features they dont.

the 290 is about right for the price of the key so at least you know they arnt trying to hike the price on ya.

I'd say that the only way to get the key properley cut and coded is through the ford dealer.

BlackLS · 08-12-2008, 03:52 PM

Buy a key and fob from ebay, a good key cutter should be able to cut it, with the 2 keys you should be able to add the 3rd key into the group for both key encoding as well as pairing the remote control features.

Should finish up around $100.

Centurion · 08-12-2008, 05:21 PM

Fiesta is cheap...but I wasn't expecting only 1/2 a set of keys. This isn't the first "cheap" car I've purchased new in my life. *sigh* With my friend getting a UK-spec Fiesta which includes the trio of keys, I (incorrectly) assumed the Aussie version would be the same.

My bad. Just a bit ****ed the sales guy didn't think to mention it, otherwise I would've wrapped it up in the purchase price instead of having to stick it on my Visa card! Heheh - you live and learn I guess. I still think for the sake of consistency, the inclusion of what is generally considered a "normal" set of keys wouldn't kill their sales any more than the global finance excrement-fight has!

Thanks for the pointers, I'll try the eBay route and see where I get. Peace on earth and good will and all that stuff.

James

InTrail · 09-12-2008, 12:19 AM

Will be shopping for a new Fiesta come the new year.
Must remember to ask how many keys come with the new model.

photn · 09-12-2008, 06:43 PM

im supprised u didnt do much research. ALL fiesta's and Focii have been sold like that since 2000. if ud ask, im sure someone could have told you.

Imolator · 09-12-2008, 07:01 PM

Maybe you need to do more research. My new Focus came with one flip key and the second key has remote buttons as well. A step up from my old Fiesta.

Centurion · 09-12-2008, 07:23 PM

Hrm - is there an echo in here??

Smoke Pursuit · 09-12-2008, 08:11 PM

I dont know what the big fuss is.. I only ever use one set of keys for my cars, the other set are chucked in a drawer and left there till i trade in...

Nappa · 10-12-2008, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InTrail

Will be shopping for a new Fiesta come the new year.
Must remember to ask how many keys come with the new model.

New model (WS) will come with two flip keys as standard.

fairmont1998 · 11-12-2008, 08:32 PM

Buy the key off ebay, they are listed on there all the time.
$25 to get cut at a good locksmith.
As you still have the two original keys you can program it yourself. The procedure is in the handbook for programming the remote buttons and key transponder.