Maybe I don't understand all about the keypad entry on some Ford doors, but I've watched a short video about it. In this day of Smart Key / Entry, the keypad seems archaic: Who would want to stand outside their door, pushing numbers into a keypad? Do you need an electronic key in pocket for the number pad to work? If no key is needed, could some stranger get lucky and unlock your door if they happened to get the code right? If there is a remote keyfob, why wouldn't one just press the unlock button as opposed to number codes? Man, it just seems so archaic. Is any other mfr. even bothering with this or is Ford just lame?
yes, a thief could get lucky. but i haven't heard of any problems. my 94 year father has it on his 1990 town car. leaves the key in the ignition, loves it. never owned a fob in his life.
I like the keyless lock system in my 20 10 Prius, but I also like the keypad lock system in my 11 F150. The Ford keypad setup is great when two or more people need separate access to the Fords interior without the need for 2 or more keyfobs. We often park at days long antique or classic tractor / car shows, it's nice to be able to enter the pickup from the keypad to get something in / out of the cab with only one keyfob taken along on the trip. When driving the Ford, sometimes I miss the ease of locking / unlocking by just touching a door handle like the Prius. On rare occasion when brother is off somewhere else and I would like to get into the Prius, I wish it had a keypad like the Ford I wish both had the one touch lock / unlock, push button start / stop and the keypad on the door.
The only problem I have with Toyota's keyless (NOT key-free) setup is that your car becomes a 3200 pound parking lot statue if somebody steals your purse or key fob thingy. Getting a gym bag stolen is bad. Having to wait while somebody gets the other fob to you might be inconvenient if you're out of town. I've read some pretty interesting accounts of people dashing off with the fob in their pocket at the airport...or being stuck with a rather hefty tow bill and several hundred dollar repair following the loss of their fob. Here's what I do. I took the battery out of the other fob and placed it in the car. Then I zip-tied the keylet to a non-disclosed exterior location on my car. That way if I'm working three counties away from my house at oh-0dark-thirty, I can get back into the car if one of the office electronic locks separates me from the primary key (happened once) or something else happens to the primary fob. This is 2015. If Toyota wanted to impress me with technology that's less than 15 years old? Three Words: Secure Pass Phrase. Or? Just one.... Biometric. Of course......you cannot gouge customers for a $250 key fob with a Passphrase system.....or a secure token on a phone.....biometrics system....etc. Advanced? YMMV.
No fob or key required for the keypad. At times, this makes it more convenient than a fob based system. I use it often to get to the air compressor in the Sable's trunk. I'll also use it when somewhere that I think it would be wise to leave the keys in the car, like the beach. Water and fobs don't mix, so something as to be done with them. There is also the occasions mentioned where leaving the keys behind would be better than losing them elsewhere. Yes, a thief could get lucky, but smashing a window is faster. Unless you left the keys out in plain site, most likely they are just after what is in the car, not the car itself. Only Ford uses it, but that is likely because no one wants to pay them licensing for it.
I just remembered that one year my 1996 Taurus made the top ten of most stolen car in two lists. One was just based the total number of a model stolen, and the other took into account the number of registered cars for the model.
I have both a 2011 F150 Ecoboost and a 2015 Lincoln MKZ hybrid with the keypad on the door. I love that keypad on both rigs. Often my brother and I attend outdoor shows and other things where I might need to put in or remove something from either rig while brother is off somewhere else with the key fob in his pocket. By punching in that simple 5 number code I can unlock the door and do what I need to do, then do a manual relock. I often wished that the F150 had the Prius one touch lock or unlock system, plus the keyless start button, and I wished the Prius had the Ford locking key pad I am happy to see that the 2015 Lincoln has the door key pad, the touch the handle door lock / unlock and the keyless start system of the Prius, so the Lincoln has the best of both cars. I wish the F150 Ecoboost had the Prius ECO button to remap the gas pedal for slower throttle opening and better fuel economy, as those Ecoboost engines make so much low rpm power so easily, and would make better fuel economy with the gentle Prius ECO throttle control.
Our Outback has a hidden keypad on the tailgate. Comes in handy for those with an active lifestyle who want to purposely lock the FOB in the car. We, umm, aren't so active but we do use this feature to keep a backup FOB in the car when we park at the airport while on vacation.
