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I agree with Supergeek. It's a big key - I use four of those keyrings, you know the kind that have a ring on each end and detach in the middle?
I strung them all together, with car keys on three ends, and office/home keys all bunched up on the fourth end.
That way, the car key is alone when stuck in the ignition.
THe key position needs to be moved. Us Americans apparently have bigger thighs than Europeans. I have accidentally turned my car off in traffic at least eight times. Today it scared me. My son who is seven, was in the passenger seat and I was tickling him. He jerked, hit the key and turned the car off as we were turning onto a highway. I sat there trying to get it into neutral to start the car and cars were coming from both directions. This is a safety issue that the NHSTA needs to be aware of.
The real safety issue is tickling your son when driving your car.
I do agree however, that the position of the ignition switch is in a bad location. It's only one of the many oddities of the design of this car. Some of them are good but many are inexcusable.
You mention that Americans have bigger thighs than Europeans - well, if it isn't due to muscle mass then it isn't just the car that has issues. Unfortunately there is more of a misfit between the smart and Americans than just thigh size too.
Saabs have had keys on the floor for years... no issues. It's down there for safety, as a matter of fact.
I'm 6'2, 215 lbs, and a fan of squats... my quads are decently sizable, and I come nowhere near touching the key, even when tossing this thing around to the pount of ESP activation.
I also don't have any excessive keyrings (which are IMO a huge hazard)... in fact, I have 5 keys, 1 RFID fob to get into my apartment/garage, and that is it.
Saabs have had keys on the floor for years... no issues. It's down there for safety, as a matter of fact.
I'm 6'2, 215 lbs, and a fan of squats... my quads are decently sizable, and I come nowhere near touching the key, even when tossing this thing around to the pount of ESP activation.
I also don't have any excessive keyrings (which are IMO a huge hazard)... in fact, I have 5 keys, 1 RFID fob to get into my apartment/garage, and that is it.
Only happened to me once. Now I kep my hands on the steering wheel. Once you are aware of it happening, you shouldn't do it again.
My Goldwing has a loose key retaining pin on the ignition lock. Driving down the highway, the keys fell out and landed on the motor. Luckily I stopped and found them before they fell onto the road. Now I keep them in a storage pocket in the dash after I start the bike.
THe key position needs to be moved. Us Americans apparently have bigger thighs than Europeans. I have accidentally turned my car off in traffic at least eight times. Today it scared me. My son who is seven, was in the passenger seat and I was tickling him. He jerked, hit the key and turned the car off as we were turning onto a highway. I sat there trying to get it into neutral to start the car and cars were coming from both directions. This is a safety issue that the NHSTA needs to be aware of.
I'm sorry I missed this thread till now...
1. Stop tickling your son... especially while your driving. Pretty much kills all credibility to your argument.
2. Eight times??? Seriously??? I'm 6'4 and probably 350+ and I haven't once had the key shutoff on me... Like NC1701 I've shifted into neutral several times but that's not the car's fault... I'm just clumsy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ativan
It is a big key, then when you add other key fobs and keys onto it, it sits there between the seats and just a little bit of pressure hitting it will move it and shut the car off. I hear of people taking hard left turns hitting it when they slide to the right and turning the car off.
If you have your seatbelt on you don't slide... and it's not like your drifting... As for the FOB, clip it on your other keys and take it off when you use it... put the rest of the keys in the glove box.
When you are behind the wheel of any vehicle, you should not being tickling your son. If you are, then why did you not stay home? You are definitely one of the reasons why accidents happen. Same with those that drive with a cell phone surgically installed to their ear. DON'T DO IT! When driving you are putting ALL OF OUR LIVES AT STAKE! Key is fine. Hell, I have seen some huge ppl driving these cars and they don't have a problem at all. You would have to be so friggin big that your FAT is rolling over the damn seet and hitting the key. If that is what is happening, then you would of noticed this before you bought the car and changed your mind. Sheesh. I like the key spot and it also makes it harder for one to hot wire your car.
When you are at the computer you should not put forth a bunch of verbal rubbage SMARTHHO equals SMART*ss
Aw comeon... it wasn't just him... I should get some credit too. And if you think it's because I'm on my laptop then feel free to stop by next time your in Florida... I'll be more than happy to tell you that tickling your son while operating a car is STUPID to your face.
Today
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