Electronic keys! Rant....

[jazzlover]

A friend of mine who is a new car dealer candidly told me that the whole electronic key thing is a hidden "profit center" for the car companies and dealerships. The electronics in the key cost only a few bucks, and the programming can generally be done in a couple of minutes. Of course, the manufacturers charge the dealerships a ton of money for the programming hardware and software, and the dealers put their high markup on top of that. The car companies have also gotten much more sophisticated in making sure that only their dealers have access to their electronic key technology--to shut out any third-party discounting of the "service." And, of course, the car companies force the dealers to charge the dictated price for keys and programming under threat of losing their franchise if they don't.

[tijlover]

A very wise saying: Nothing succeeds like excess!

Small wonder the millennium generation, the smarter generation, is averse to owning a car, and seek work in cities with the best mass transit system.

The car manufacturers, dealerships, auto mechanics will forever think: a car is a necessity, they'll have to pay! No pay, no go!

Wrong! Go ahead keep thinking that!

I did a 2 week experiment this summer, living without a car, and I passed with flying colors! As a result, I now take the bus to work 2 out of 4 nites now and loving every minute of it, all that time to read! At this point in time, it wouldn't take much of a push (like being charged $800 to replace a Fob to my car) to go completely car-less!