Comments on: Ford MyKey allows parents to control speed, audio limits

By: nitinsharma1000

nitinsharma1000 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:34:02 +0000

OK so (assuming i HAVE kids) I set my kids focus to lets say 55mph. WTF does that do when the speed limit is 25 on a city street. And the volume S#!T is BS.

By: NipponRules

NipponRules — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:51:55 +0000

LaCaLover, my son is in the market for a car and Focus was one model on his list. You say buying A Focus will put him off driving. What do you mean by that comment? Will it be a lemon? Is it unsafe? Is it hard to drive? Please elaborate!

By: gitcypher

gitcypher — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:16:44 +0000

I’m all for it. I think I’m a considerably better driver than what I could have been had I not had a limiter. Granted, it was nothing this complex. I was limited to a baby **** yellow ‘84 Crown Vic. As you can imagine, I wasn’t speeding ANYWHERE. And my radio… HA! Volume was not a consideration.

All in all this is a good idea.

By: beatusmongous

beatusmongous — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:26:45 +0000

My insurance agent once told me, “They sell cars, and WE sell insurance. We don’t try to sell their cars to you, so THEY shouldn’t try to sell our insurance.”

Although, if Ford could negotiate such a thing, the insurance company would have to ensure that the “MyKey” controls are enforced in order to offer reduced premiums. As good as it would be for customers, I’m not sure the insurance agencies would be willing to “take our word for it.” As for me, personally, well, my driving record is the only way I keep my premiums low, and that basically means: don’t get caught!

However, as I always like to say, this is just another step toward the horrid future of driverless cars.

By: NipponRules

NipponRules — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:28:34 +0000

RTT10 I own a couple Fords ie. a Ford 04 Tbird and a 03 Taurus. You say Ford’s are unsafe and now I’m concerned. What is the problem with them? I don’t want my wife and family to be driving in an unsafe vehicle. Please elaborate.
theColbertNation you say ford doesn’t make quality vehicles. To date I haven’t had any problems with these vehicles. What can i expect to go wrong with them? Can you elaborate on your comments?

By: NipponRules

NipponRules — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:53:11 +0000

What a great idea from Ford!
Ford should pursue utilizing this as a carrot for lowering insurance premiums for young drivers. Would be a great added selling feature. What you think beatusmongous?

By: mulletmaster

mulletmaster — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:09:26 +0000

Probably not a bad idea, had my parents bought me a new car, let alone a Ford which they would not do either, it would have prevented me from doing dumb things for sure.

Team ford parts, they dont need to bring it to a dealership, the settings are controlled through the trip computer the article states.

By: theColbertNation

theColbertNation — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:59:28 +0000

ok, i will avoid ford-hate for the moment and pose a logical argument (for a change this is probably a good idea, as most of you are right that inexperienced drivers have irresponsible driving habits. however, ford will probably see a backlash from kids who grow up and remember how annoying the Ford nannies were when they were young. it’s the ideal example of someone being perfectly happy to sit in the same place for hours, but not shackled down. the fact that these people may never have actually HIT a limiter may not matter psychologically. i DO think that those same kids will buy Fords for THEIR kids for the same reason, but let’s face it: the portion of the adult population who buys new cars for their kids is miniscule compared to the rest of the market.

Also, Ford (and parents) may be able to set the speed limit to 60mph or 55 or whatever, but what happens when the kid bumps the limiter going around a 15mph bend? there is no substitute for training and experience, folks.

(and teamfordparts, other than my capitalization, my grammar is perfect

By: teamfordpartsdotcom

teamfordpartsdotcom — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:25:50 +0000

I do not think this is going to be that easy to hack without the help of a Ford Tech. If you have access to what we call a NGS, PDS, or IDS machine then it will be as easy as waiting 10 minutes to get into the ODBII security system and changing the options. Just like programming a PATS key.

Remember, there will be many options depending on the parents wishes, which means they will bring it to the dealer to program these options.

By: RaineMan

RaineMan — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:22:10 +0000

More electronic nannies…

The only thing like this I want to see in cars is some kind of electronic interference field that prohibits cell-phone use while the vehicle is in motion.

HANG UP AND DRIVE PEOPLE!

By: Stinky007

Stinky007 — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:45:17 +0000

Wow, this is bad news
Why teach your kids to be responsible drivers when you can tie them down

By: HappyG

HappyG — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 05:14:56 +0000

Good Idea though… I would pay for this technology from another manufacturer

By: HappyG

HappyG — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 05:14:17 +0000

and to think my dad accomplished the same the same speed limit control with a block of wood under the accelerator…. of course my dad wouldn’t have bought me a new car… or a Ford

By: Lawnchair88

Lawnchair88 — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:26:32 +0000

Texting is a much bigger problem than audio limits

By: justagigilo85

justagigilo85 — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:31:37 +0000

Great idea. I have to drive with all these assholes everyday on the road.

A better idea would be to disable cell phones in the vehicles of women drivers.

By: JoshyLofty

JoshyLofty — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:25:51 +0000

I’m 22 and even i think this is a good idea.

By: beatusmongous

beatusmongous — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 23:43:43 +0000

I used to own a ‘92 Escort when I was in high school. I loved it, and chicks dug it, too. Good times, good times…

By: tyler_is_aero_tt

tyler_is_aero_tt — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 23:22:15 +0000

Like any kid will want to be seen in a Ford unless it’s a Mustang or Sports Trac.

By: beatusmongous

beatusmongous — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 22:19:26 +0000

I’m such a lead foot, I’d have to use this on myself…

By: JerkStoreAssistantManager

JerkStoreAssistantManager — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:00:09 +0000

I can’t imagine how easy it will be for a young driver to google “Ford MyKey override” and go along his way with the parents stewing in a false sense of security and control.
I bet a quick battery cable tap would do the trick.

By: Madcapp

Madcapp — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:55:34 +0000

Its about time these features were offered.

By: HoosierHero

HoosierHero — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:45:21 +0000

Astonman12- I never got a new car in HS, so I would have taken anything new!

On subject- This sounds okay to me because it’s allowing the parents the option. If the parents want to, then they can. Same thing with computer programs that limit sites that have porn, etc.

By: teamfordpartsdotcom

teamfordpartsdotcom — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:43:14 +0000

@ rtt10
Ford has some of the highest quality cars on the market and more 5 star rated cars/trucks than any other automaker. (Also, where the hell did you go to school? You had at least 10 spelling and grammar errors in only 41 words)

@ theColbertNation
Same thing. Ford quality is leagues above what it was just a few years ago. Maybe you should use spell check or something.

I am all for it. Kids will actually like this as well. They will probably get to drive mom and dad’s car more often with the parents knowing they have some control over the situation. This will spread along other vehicles, not just the Focus. Who is kidding who? You don’t want your 16-19 year old taking your new Mustang GT out and driving 100+ MPH with no seat belts on the stereo at full blast.

By: erok247

erok247 — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:33:21 +0000

RTT10 what r you talkin about? Ford has more five star ratings than any other car company. And this feature actually is not a bad idea. The majority of kids who just get their license act like a^^holes on the road. They think everyone wants to hear their sh^^ty music, they drive 10 over no matter what and they generally think they are invincible. This could save a lot of kids from messin up their own life or someone elses.

By: yarddog82abn

yarddog82abn — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:26:41 +0000

Hay is not my kid RIGHT!!!!!!
Most parents,… don’t know what our kids are up to, remember the $#it you were up to at that age, you thank your kids are not doing smiler or worst things, the day my kids are of age to dive they will get a my old Jeep that can’t go 50mph and I will rigg a Lo-jack on to it so that I know where the car is at, because if they end up doing the type of $#it I did at that age…..dam, I better have a Lawyer on call…

By: yarddog82abn

yarddog82abn — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:13:45 +0000

Ya like a teen blasting there music and doing over 90mph as they are texting is not a threat to any one, no… That’s why i drive a lifted 4×4, so when they hit me, I will walk away…..

By: RTT10

RTT10 — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:52:09 +0000

fords are unsafe already so this really makes no sense what so ever..this isnt gonna help kis drive better its jsut gonna piss em off and make em drive worst… the only thing that makes em a better driver is experience..

By: yarddog82abn

yarddog82abn — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:28:17 +0000

I know for a fact that any Ford dealer can reprogram the speed governor, most commercial trucks get the treatment when we sell them, but you need to use the Ford program, I know you can buy an aftermarket programmer and change it and just set it back when you take it in for service but when you hook up a laptop with the factory program for a diagnostic check-up it will read the history of performance and the car will tattle-tale, this is what happen to one of my customer, he had to pay for repairs and he fired the operator of the truck, Ya I know, Bummer……..

By: yarddog82abn

yarddog82abn — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:27:53 +0000

WOW… The U.S. Senate try to makes this a Law back in 2001, to be standard in all car by 2002. Remember the big illegal street racing craze, well It did not pass then, mostly because it called for all new cars to have it standard, but with Ford making it standard in there entry level car that is targeted to the young buyer it just may come back to the Senate floor.

By: autonut

autonut — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:06:29 +0000

I hate to see Ford doing parenting of children. None of Fords came out OK, now THAT family will bring values home? Ford should invest in keys to protect investors from their own execs. That would be an achievement!

By: inspire

inspire — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:59:55 +0000

Not surprising to see those who say “big brother”, etc. However, those who are parents who care about their kids should realize … this will give parents some reassurance that their children will not excessively speed on highways. It won’t make up for common sense and good driving habits — that is something you got to teach your children, regardless of “MyKey” or any sort of technological interference.

I’m surprised that other companies have not looked into this type of technology. Adding this tech isn’t that hard considering how many gadgets are programmed into the onboard computers. I’m sure once a set of geeky kids get their hands on these keys, they will look into circumventing this technology. (Just like the iPhone, aftermarket ‘tuners in Japan when the R35 GT-R came out, etc …)

By: LaCaLover

LaCaLover — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:51:26 +0000

Just buying the Focus is enough to put your teen off driving for life.

By: jonmiles

jonmiles — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:29:03 +0000

Genious. This will sell a buttload of vehicles for ford.

By: Scarface03

Scarface03 — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:22:19 +0000

I agree this is a good idea. The first year of driving is probably the most dangerous time for a teenager ever. Something like five times as many teenagers die every year than the total number of U.S. soldiers who’ve died in the Persian Gulf since the war began in 2003.

You can graduated-license this, extend probationary driving terms that, you can send your kid to specialty driving schools, and all of that is good, but there is no replacement for seat time. Teens don’t become the drivers they should become until they’ve spent years behind the wheel. In the meantime, whatever you can do to gradually move them into full responsibility sounds good to me.

By: acoats

acoats — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:08:21 +0000

This is a really good plan, because it gives the option to the parents, not the government. The overwhelming majority of kids do not have the experience necessary to fully control their vehicles. That coupled with a sense of invincibilty lends itself to dangerous drivers. This coupled with a mandatory driving school to attain your license would go a long way in clearing our roads of unsafe drivers.