What MercGuy said. Cars always had starter buttons of some sort, starting with the key didn't happen for decades.

My mother had a 1950 Chevrolet. Three on the tree and always parked in gear until one of the kids stabbed the starter button on the dashboard one day and the car jumped forward a foot. Hand brake was used after that. Or so I'm told. The system was claimed to be an improvement over the start button on the floor next to the clutch.

-- Chuck

 

I don't recall seeing it on many cars in the late 90's, if any, so given this came out in 99/00 model year, my thinking is that the key and red push button start was reserved for race cars or high performance cars at that time. I did know it wasn't the actual "first" but rather first modern mass produced vehicle. It seems it is at the top of that list at minimum. Thanks for the responses guys.

 

I have distinct memories of a cousin older enough than me to have gotten her first car in 1961 and it was a 49-51 Mercury, and that was the first push-button start I recall seeing. I'd imagine that a side benefit could be that the ignition switch, something that used to be a common failure item on cars with a lot of miles on them, might be simpler inside.

That's logical, although I did a search and cannot find references to a Triumph 1800 actually used for racing... Might be fun for parades laps, with Miss Bridgehampton 1948 waving to the crowd from the dickey (rumble) seat...

 

Wifey's IS250 F-Sport has this keyless FOB, too. One word of caution. The FOB uses a kinda oddball sized coin battery. CR 1632. The battery that fits into most Honda FOBs is the CR 2025. Though both are 3-volt Lithium batteries... Of course the CR 2025 won't fit in the Lexus FOB.

Buy a few CR 1632 and keep one in your wallet or in her purse. Because if the FOB battery dies and you are on the road --- I'm not sure how to open and start your car.

 

Hold the fob right next to the start button and it will start as usual. You should still be able to use the key to unlock the door.

 

You don't need to have the FOB to start the car. The key's chip is a stand alone piece of the interlock system independent of the FOB.

 

Yep, the key itself has the RFID.

 

Good to know. Wife panicked when she got low battery warning. I had to drive around and find a battery. Went to several drug store camera sections, Best Buy... finally Fry's had it.

 

There is a chip in the FOB too for those "keyless" FOBS. Hold it close to the start button. It functions like the chip in our keys. The battery just lets it be farther away (like a purse or on you). Some FOBs have a hidden key to get in the door. Check your manual.

Frankly, I have wondered if I hid an extra key on the S, would the chip still register and allow someone to steal it with a fake/bypass key.

 

Chip in the key fob on a S2000? You can buy the keyless entry bobs new from the dealer or on Ebay. They work with all the cars with a minute of pairing to your car. A buddy just bought one on for his '02. Opens/locks the doors just fine. Got nothing to do with the ignition.

No fob or the battery is dead? Put the key in the door.

-- Chuck