Aston Martin leather key pouch - worth it?

[dhallworth]

As per my other thread, last week I bought my first Aston, a V8 Vantage which has come with an absolutely immaculate crystal key.

I keep looking at the leather pouches that you can get for them online.

https://www.astonstore.co.uk/product/aston-martin-...

Are these worth the £118 asking price for them?

Would be grateful for anybody's thoughts.

Thanks,
David.

[Simpo Two]

It's the culmination of a bad design IMHO. The whole glass key thing seems to have been designed from 'Let's have a sexy glass thing we can push into a slot' - and the rest followed from there. It's easy to drop because you can't put a fob on it. If you drop it you're facing a £900 bill. (Could have been acrylic - it would look exactly the same but not break). If you put it in a ludicrously priced leather thingy then you have to take it out of the thingy to use, and put it back in the thingy afterwards, and have a thingy to put somewhere in the meantime. Furthermore the buttons are the wrong way round, increasing your chances of dropping it as you turn it round to shove it in the slot. It's so expensive that they give you a nasty-looking plastic one to use instead - but the markings rub off the buttons so you can't see them (if anyone has an answer to that let me know).

All it needed was a proximity key - unlock the car, put the key in your pocket, get in the car, press the Start button. But that's not ultra-luxury!

[996Type]

I used the valet key day to day and ordered a few low cost pouches for the glass one for when I did take it out.

Tried to only use it sparingly, just as it was such a risk dropping it for little benefit!

[996Type]

I also refurbished the valet key with after market buttons so I could at least see the functions!

[BlackTails]

I hated the cheapness of the valet key that I bought a second glass key and moved the valet key innards into it.

Both glass keys have a leather pouch. The key comes out of the pouch and goes back into it while I’m in the car. Not while I’m standing next to it. The pouch provides a bit of scratch protection while the key is in my pocket.

[LooneyTunes]

BlackTails said:

The key comes out of the pouch and goes back into it while I m in the car. Not while I m standing next to it. The pouch provides a bit of scratch protection while the key is in my pocket.

Same for mine. Don’t fancy dropping and chipping the key.

Put a small carbine clip on the pouch’s ring and it joins my house keys when taking the car out.

[Simpo Two]

996Type said:

I also refurbished the valet key with after market buttons so I could at least see the functions!

Ooh, how did you do that? I have a spare unused Jaguar fob as a button donor but don't fancy opening the plastic key to see how to fit them.

[Minglar]

dhallworth said:

As per my other thread, last week I bought my first Aston, a V8 Vantage which has come with an absolutely immaculate crystal key.

I keep looking at the leather pouches that you can get for them online.

https://www.astonstore.co.uk/product/aston-martin-...

Are these worth the £118 asking price for them?

Would be grateful for anybody's thoughts.

Thanks,
David.

Hi David, the simple answer is probably no, it’s not worth paying £118 for one. But it fits properly and there is little doubt the glass key needs some form of protection if you want to use it and carry it around regularly, so despite my opening line I bought an Obsidian Black AM pouch as soon as I got my car. Compared to the other expenses involved in running an Aston Martin it’s fairly insignificant, and as you probably know a replacement glass key is not cheap. Even repairing one is hassle and pricey. Other pouch versions are available of course and it is worth looking on eBay or checking the AM Facebook groups, as used AM ones do come up for sale now and then. BRM.

[geresey]

Simpo Two said:

996Type said:

I also refurbished the valet key with after market buttons so I could at least see the functions!

Ooh, how did you do that? I have a spare unused Jaguar fob as a button donor but don't fancy opening the plastic key to see how to fit them.

There have been a couple of posts about this a couple of years back, I did mine after seeing them, and still working fine. I’ll let you figure out the search

[996Type]

It might have been my post!
Just found the spares on eBay and the key came apart easily. Think there might be a you tube video I followed that described the process…

[Jay_Davis]

My problem with the plastic keys is that the buttons wear out and collapse. I think I went through 4 of them in 5 years.

[bennno]

dhallworth said:

As per my other thread, last week I bought my first Aston, a V8 Vantage which has come with an absolutely immaculate crystal key.

I keep looking at the leather pouches that you can get for them online.

https://www.astonstore.co.uk/product/aston-martin-...

Are these worth the £118 asking price for them?

Would be grateful for anybody's thoughts.

Thanks,
David.

Search online, I had some handmade leather ones come from Canada for about £15 each.

[EVR]

Simpo Two said:

All it needed was a proximity key - unlock the car, put the key in your pocket, get in the car, press the Start button. But that's not ultra-luxury!

From 2019 onwards it's like this and to be fair, the convenience is very much appreciated.

But also to be fair, I loved the crystal key as an object. I had it in the pouch and kinda liked the little dance you did to take it out from it, insert it in the dash and turn on the engine. Added to the charm.

I only used the crystal key, said pouch was really good at protecting it. I see as using the valet key as saving a small piece of the experience for the next owner and not yourself.

Edited by EVR on Wednesday 11th March 08:28

[Minglar]

EVR said:

Simpo Two said:

All it needed was a proximity key - unlock the car, put the key in your pocket, get in the car, press the Start button. But that's not ultra-luxury!

From 2018 onwards it's like this and to be fair, the convenience is very much appreciated.

But also to be fair, I loved the crystal key as an object. I had it in the pouch and kinda liked the little dance you did to take it out form it, inserti it in the dash and turn on the engine. Added to the charm.

I only used the crystal key, said pouch was really good at protecting it. I see as using the valet key as saving a small piece of the experience for the next owner and not yourself.

I would tend to agree EVR. If my memory serves me well the glass ECU was introduced with DBS and then rolled out in to the other models in combination with updates to the dash/centre console. It’s quirky for sure and as with so much from that Gaydon era, possibly over engineered for purpose, but it is so much more tactile than the keys which are now standard across the range. Don’t forget this was well before LS got involved and the “ultra luxury” tagline started. David, my advice would be get yourself an AM pouch, particularly if your key is pristine. If you drop it and chip it you’ll never forgive yourself for not getting one. BRM.

[scampbird]

I got a relatively cheap pouch, I refused to pay the Aston tax for the official one. It was this, although that seems to be US import now - I'm sure there must be other good options:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B075QZ1BWM

[Philip0]

Are you particular about the colour? I may have a spare leather pouch in "Chancellor Red" (CG43-83-11351) available, less than half price, hardly used.

Edited by Philip0 on Wednesday 11th March 09:47

Edited by Philip0 on Wednesday 11th March 09:53

[BiggaJ]

Have a search on Etsy ... I found all manner of things for AM car keys. Bought some covers for the tracker fobs and car keys to match my car interior at a fraction of the price. Yes it took a little longer to arrive but quality has been first rate.

[Simpo Two]

996Type said:

It might have been my post!
Just found the spares on eBay and the key came apart easily. Think there might be a you tube video I followed that described the process

Bingo! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF3DKe3DDS4

Was that the one? The sellotape seems a bit of a bodge.

This guy has turned the plastic key into quite a thing: https://phoenixbespokekeys.com/product/aston-marti...

Edited by Simpo Two on Wednesday 11th March 12:16

[embdenb]

Simpo Two said:

It's the culmination of a bad design IMHO. The whole glass key thing seems to have been designed from 'Let's have a sexy glass thing we can push into a slot' - and the rest followed from there. It's easy to drop because you can't put a fob on it. If you drop it you're facing a £900 bill. (Could have been acrylic - it would look exactly the same but not break). If you put it in a ludicrously priced leather thingy then you have to take it out of the thingy to use, and put it back in the thingy afterwards, and have a thingy to put somewhere in the meantime. Furthermore the buttons are the wrong way round, increasing your chances of dropping it as you turn it round to shove it in the slot. It's so expensive that they give you a nasty-looking plastic one to use instead - but the markings rub off the buttons so you can't see them (if anyone has an answer to that let me know).

All it needed was a proximity key - unlock the car, put the key in your pocket, get in the car, press the Start button. But that's not ultra-luxury!

I completely agree. It’s a classic example of “”It seemed a good idea at the time “