Replacement Keys?

[GrizzlyBear]

Noticed that a few of the key cutting shops (the ones you normally go to for house keys) now also cut car keys, it appears much cheaper than going to a dealership.

Anyone had experience of these, are the keys the same as you would get from a main dealer or do they break or fail?

Main dealer price seemed a bit... well, extortionate if I am honest, I plan to keep the car for years, so am I better of going to a dealer (and selling a few vital internal organs to pay for it)?

I have the spare but we want to have two keys, just in case we misplace it again.

Before anyone asks, Yes, it is my fault, and I still can't work out how and where I lost it. Rung round everywhere (shops and petrol stations) I have been, but nothing so far.

Any downsides to the key cutters?

[Spangles]

What car? The physical key cutting bit is a doddle, it's getting the immobiliser to recognise the key that's the tricky bit. Some cars are easier than others, some can only be done by the main dealer or somebody with very expensive hardware.

[R8VXF]

Spangles said:

What car? The physical key cutting bit is a doddle, it's getting the immobiliser to recognise the key that's the tricky bit. Some cars are easier than others, some can only be done by the main dealer or somebody with very expensive hardware.

When I got a replacement key for my corsa, I got it cut by an independent then got the AA to take it to the VX dealer who coded it for free (I lost my only key so car wouldn't move).

[Quattromaster]

Im trying to get a new key, and get it "matched" to the van, for a 62 reg VW crafter, rang 3 dealers, 2 times each, none of them have got back to me with a price.

And all the mobile guys can't help as its past 2011 which it seems is harder to match.

A guy I rang earlier on, who came very highly recommended said, at 3.30 pm in the afternoon, that he was to tired to talk to me, had a frozen shoulder so wasn't sleeping well, could I ring later in week, then put the phone down.

Bless.

[nickofh]

I created a topic about my experience on Timpsons in the Subaru section.

Here is the link if anyone is interested

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...