People Watching - Remote Central Locking

[ToothbrushMan]

People are a funny old bunch so its more a case of having a grumpy old man moment rather than anything more visceral here - looking out from where I live I have started noticing recently more and more drivers with remote locking fobs getting out of their cars and walking some distance away nonchalently looking anywhere (it does tend to be the younger generation with amongst other things, baggy pants only just hanging onto bony hips, throwing litter away in a devil may care attitude or girls with their cheeks stuck to a mobile phone etc...) but in the direction of their car almost doing a Stevie Wonder head movement, then after 20 or 30 yards the arm comes up (still not looking at the car) and the fob is pressed and you see the hazards light up to confirm the car is locked.....its quite amusing to watch. Not sure what the thought process is here. Reminds me of an Alan Partridge scene where I think Alan spins around in a James Bond fashion aiming the fob at his Lexus. Ive even seen people walk 30 yards from their car then up 3 flights of stairs and along a 30 yard walkway and plipped their RCL from over at least 100 yards away I kid you not! Be great to nick it in the 20-30 seconds its owner is out of sight.

Whenever I extricate myself from my car I press the fob straight away not 30 yards away. Ive seen half as many people do a double back to get the nearer to their cars as they dont think theyve locked them so then they are pressing the fob again to check. Idiots.....

[PAULJ5555]

I bet you never see someone do it with a W202 C class the IR remotes were rubbish.

[zed4]

PAULJ5555 said:

I bet you never see someone do it with a W202 C class the IR remotes were rubbish.

Or my TVR! IF the fob isn't pressed up against the windscreen it doesn't work!

[Pebbles167]

My dad was able to do this on an old nissan primera from over 100 meters!

Mind you I was 9 and it was my idea, purely out of curiosity rather than a desire to look "rad" like some.

I suspect the reason so many cars have their contents nicked is because of silly billies like this

Might be cool in the movies, but not in real life, and certainly not in the UK.

Edit: Think there is a scene in hollowman where kevin bacon's character does this.

Edited by Pebbles167 on Tuesday 22 April 13:28

[Hoofy]

If you get in it while it's unlocked, would opening it from the inside disable the alarm?

[Who me ?]

One of these days, those doing this will have a panic moment .It only takes something like a delivery wagon /HIAB using an operators remote to render most keyfobs useless.

[Hoink]

The range of my remote increases if I hold the fob against my head whilst pressing the button

[HumbleJim]

Hoofy said:

If you get in it while it's unlocked, would opening it from the inside disable the alarm?

Some cars deadlock, anyone inside won't get out.

[Fantuzzi]

The James Bond thing's very fun to do, less so when people are watching...

[RizzoTheRat]

I quite often lock it from the other side of the car park as I can't remember if I locked it when I got out

[C.A.R.]

Since having our little girl and having to get her out of her car seat and remove the buggy from the car and get her seated in that etc etc. I often find myself unsure of whether or not I've locked the car too.

I certainly don't think it's an unusual sight!

[james_gt3rs]

ToothbrushMan said:

Reminds me of an Alan Partridge scene where I think Alan spins around in a James Bond fashion aiming the fob at his Lexus.

I think it's a Rover in that scene

[Blib]

Years ago it was demonstrated on Top Gear that if you hold the key fob to your head, the effective 'locking range' was greatly extended.

I tried it and it works. So, on occasion, I see how far away from the car I can get.

[p1esk]

Blib said:

Years ago it was demonstrated on Top Gear that if you hold the key fob to your head, the effective 'locking range' was greatly extended.

I tried it and it works. So, on occasion, I see how far away from the car I can get.

ISTR that the handbook for our Pug 406 says something to the effect that if you try to do the remote locking from too far away, it cocks something up and might stop working. We've now had the car for 13 years and not yet got into trouble on that account.

[mini1380cc]

Blib said:

Years ago it was demonstrated on Top Gear that if you hold the key fob to your head, the effective 'locking range' was greatly extended.

I tried it and it works. So, on occasion, I see how far away from the car I can get.

Also a wrist works too.

[Patrick595]

I have remote locking and global close of windows etc operated by the fob.

When I took it to a show last year, 4 young chavvy types were gazing in awe at the car. The drivers window was half way open.

One of them remarked about the window being down so I told him to walk up to the car and speak to the car saying , " Doors lock and windows close"

Chavvy made some smart arse comment and his mate goaded him into doing it. As he spoke the words, I used my remote in my pocket out of sight.

Click click, doors locked, whirr whirr, windows closed. 4 chavvys with jaws on the floor. They couldn't believe it. Cue much mirth on our cub stand.

Patrick

[Triumph Man]

I don't have RCL

[MC Bodge]

Patrick595 said:

One of them remarked about the window being down so I told him to walk up to the car and speak to the car saying , " Doors lock and windows close"

Chavvy made some smart arse comment and his mate goaded him into doing it. As he spoke the words, I used my remote in my pocket out of sight.

Click click, doors locked, whirr whirr, windows closed. 4 chavvys with jaws on the floor. They couldn't believe it. Cue much mirth on our cub stand.

Patrick

Swoon..... Hang on, are you actually Alan Partridge?

[Zoon]

Patrick595 said:

I have remote locking and global close of windows etc operated by the fob.

When I took it to a show last year, 4 young chavvy types were gazing in awe at the car. The drivers window was half way open.

One of them remarked about the window being down so I told him to walk up to the car and speak to the car saying , " Doors lock and windows close"

Chavvy made some smart arse comment and his mate goaded him into doing it. As he spoke the words, I used my remote in my pocket out of sight.

Click click, doors locked, whirr whirr, windows closed. 4 chavvys with jaws on the floor. They couldn't believe it. Cue much mirth on our cub stand.

Patrick

I remember doing something similar on an Audi back in 2003. Would have thought global closing would be pretty common in 2013, even to chav people who can't afford cars or know how they remotely work.