how not to lose key?
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 15
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From: TX
how not to lose key?
Hello - new owner of a RX350. Purchased vehicle for my mother who is a senior citizen. Still very capable, but she is sometimes forgetful.
This will be her first time with a keyless start. I am afraid she will lose the key, as having to stick physical key into the ignition was her way of remembering where it was.
Any suggestions on how to help her to not lose her key or leave it in the car when she gets out? Thanks in advance to all who have encountered this problem and solved it.
This will be her first time with a keyless start. I am afraid she will lose the key, as having to stick physical key into the ignition was her way of remembering where it was.
Any suggestions on how to help her to not lose her key or leave it in the car when she gets out? Thanks in advance to all who have encountered this problem and solved it.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 811
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From: CA
If she takes her purse with her when she is driving, then she can just leave the key in an interior pocket in the purse and never touch it. I also find that the key fits in the small key pocket on all jeans and many casual pants. I put the key in the little pocket and rarely touch it when I am out. The important thing to remember in this case is to always check for keys when doing the laundry.
Last edited by UCSB; Jan 5, 2012 at 07:59 PM.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 29
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First thing first, Caring for parents - you are doing an awesome job 
She should not really have a problem as she can keep in her purse all the time and does not have to take it out. Also, the car will not lock and have an audible signal when she tries to lock the car from the door handle but the key is inside the car.
She should not really have a problem as she can keep in her purse all the time and does not have to take it out. Also, the car will not lock and have an audible signal when she tries to lock the car from the door handle but the key is inside the car.
No, I don't play soccer!
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,652
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From: NJ
Welcome TexasDave. Nice car for mom
I keep mine in a zippered side pocket in my pocketbook. I rarely have to remove it except for remote start or for service. Now remembering no key to insert into the ignition is another story. Takes some time getting used to.
I keep mine in a zippered side pocket in my pocketbook. I rarely have to remove it except for remote start or for service. Now remembering no key to insert into the ignition is another story. Takes some time getting used to.
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Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 15
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From: TX
Thanks for all the suggestions!
The pocket won't work because women's clothes are just different from men's. Most of her clothes don't have pockets!
The purse is a good idea ... except she often doesn't carry one.
In terms of beeping and doors not locking, I'm not sure that they will actually register with her. She's the type who will just park, get out of the car, and walk away - sometimes locking, sometimes not. Drives me nuts because I'm a little OCD - I lock twice and stare at my car to make sure it flashed.
I really like the lanyard idea - maybe I can make it into a nice necklace. At $385 a pop for a key attached to a $40,000 car, it's a pretty expensive accessory!
The pocket won't work because women's clothes are just different from men's. Most of her clothes don't have pockets!
The purse is a good idea ... except she often doesn't carry one.
In terms of beeping and doors not locking, I'm not sure that they will actually register with her. She's the type who will just park, get out of the car, and walk away - sometimes locking, sometimes not. Drives me nuts because I'm a little OCD - I lock twice and stare at my car to make sure it flashed.
I really like the lanyard idea - maybe I can make it into a nice necklace. At $385 a pop for a key attached to a $40,000 car, it's a pretty expensive accessory!
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From: la
hi dave and welcome.
kuddos to you for the purchase for mother and for your concern about her well being.
although i'm not quite a senior citizen yet, i have my senior moments and struggle finding my key when i need to lock my cars. i try to make every effort to put it in a front pocket of my purse but often i'm in a hurry and place it someplace that i can't remember.
you've gotten some really good suggestions here. i can only add, be patient , hopefully the placement of the key will become habit and she'll easily find it when she needs to.
good luck!
kuddos to you for the purchase for mother and for your concern about her well being.
although i'm not quite a senior citizen yet, i have my senior moments and struggle finding my key when i need to lock my cars. i try to make every effort to put it in a front pocket of my purse but often i'm in a hurry and place it someplace that i can't remember.
you've gotten some really good suggestions here. i can only add, be patient , hopefully the placement of the key will become habit and she'll easily find it when she needs to.
good luck!
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 39
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From: AB
It's a bit pricey even from Sewell ( be sure to lower your price with your Club Lexus discount) but have you considered the Lexus Smart Card key ? It works exactly like the key fob to "authorize" use of the keyless start and door un/locking.
Here is the link: http://lexus.sewellparts.com/accesso...2010/2557.html
It's the size of a credit card and she could carry it in her wallet (which i imagine she would always have along when driving or is out running errands).
Perhaps a consideration.
Here is the link: http://lexus.sewellparts.com/accesso...2010/2557.html
It's the size of a credit card and she could carry it in her wallet (which i imagine she would always have along when driving or is out running errands).
Perhaps a consideration.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 781
Likes: 101
From: PA
Put the key on a ring that has a picture of you attached to it? Afterall, you got her the car and are the best, right? 
If you are paranoid about her not choosing to lock you can point out she doesn't have to use the keyfob, she can just touch the front of the door handle (there is a slight indentation) and it will lock. Kind of cool and gives her the tactile feel of really locking the door.
If you are paranoid about her not choosing to lock you can point out she doesn't have to use the keyfob, she can just touch the front of the door handle (there is a slight indentation) and it will lock. Kind of cool and gives her the tactile feel of really locking the door.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Aug 2011
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Kudos for caring for your mother! I did the same, until I lost her a few months ago. Anyway, I have a little Brighton keychain which has a 'clip' on it - I keep it clipped inside my purse. Except when I take it to go inside the Post Office to check my mailbox - I take the key fob and my heavy set of keys inside (not my entire purse). I'm telling you this to let you know how very smart my Lexie is. A couple weeks ago, my mailbox contained a piece of mail which had postage due. There was such a large amount of mail, I decided to carry it all out to my car, get the money I needed, then go back inside to retrieve the mail from the desk clerk. I was in a hurry, and tossed my set of keys inside, held on to the key fob, locked the door with the door switch, and slammed it shut. Only then did I realize that I had not tossed my keys inside - but I'd tossed the key fob inside and was standing there staring at my keys (minus car key) in my hand. Just as my stomach rolled over and I felt faint (was trying to get out of town for the holidays) with the realization of what I'd just done, I heard this little "chirp chirp chirp" from Lexie. Smartie that she is, she realized what I'd done, and unlocked the doors for me. LOVE LOVE LOVE this car! :-)
Lead Lap
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 580
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From: manitoba
Let me ask a question? if there was a physical key, how would she deal with that? I would imagine it would be on a key ring with some other keys that she has. If this is the case, then clip the remote onto that set of keys (probably the house key on there somewhere) and all is good.
I have the smart card key and it is awsome. The only issue that i have found is that I leave the house, lock the **** and then find I dont have a house key. I have had to put a key in the garage and put a coded door lock on the man door as a work around for my blonde moments. I am too young to have senior moments.
I have the smart card key and it is awsome. The only issue that i have found is that I leave the house, lock the **** and then find I dont have a house key. I have had to put a key in the garage and put a coded door lock on the man door as a work around for my blonde moments. I am too young to have senior moments.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 15
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From: TX
Let me ask a question? if there was a physical key, how would she deal with that? I would imagine it would be on a key ring with some other keys that she has. If this is the case, then clip the remote onto that set of keys (probably the house key on there somewhere) and all is good.
Thanks for all the helpful responses! I'm going to suggest all of them and see what sticks. Mom should be happy, because the RX is a beautiful vehicle.
