What is that?

Get a Fob for your tesla. The tesla fob is sweet.

Pretty soon this is going to be regular posting in r/FuckImOld https://www.reddit.com/r/FuckImOld/

My Nissan Leaf had a horribly designed one, where the keyring could accidentally push the ‘open charge port’ button when it was in your pocket. Another design oversight was that the button also worked while the car was driving. It took me a while and some calls with the dealership to figure that one out.

And I must admit doing dumb summon from the garage using a fob is a better experience, at least with my car.

Lmao at typing out the entire URL! That is r/FuckImOld territory.

Those are flip phones...or the automotive equivalent.

What does it do that would make carrying a fob around worthwhile?

Hey! I see my minivan’s key in there. And , also, model s owners with key fobs would like a word


My Tesla has a key fob but no Bluetooth connectivity. https://preview.redd.it/hn8ya24yhgmg1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8777b709dcce37c32a49c497b1a97bd0143f2fee

After I got my Tesla, I decided to also have smart locks put in. I now no longer have a keychain. I could never go back.

This picture of fobs with a description describing “kids who grew up in Tesla households” not knowing what a key fob is might legitimately be the most Tesla circlejerk post I’ve ever seen on this sub.

I still purchase a key fob for each Tesla. I rarely take it outside of the house though, but it’s useful because: 1. I don’t like to be attached to my phone at home. If I need something from the car, the key fob is near the garage door  2. Dumb summon on the key fob is superior to the phone. For whatever reason, the car will try to use Wi-Fi for summon. My connection in the garage isn’t as great as cellular.  3. For Model X, remote door operation is faster via key fob than trying to get the app open. It’s faster than Apple Shortcuts too.  4. I can let anyone take the car out without needing them to download the app, make an account, or fumble with a key card.  For whatever reason, people get militant about why it’s stupid to own a key fob. It’s less than $200. Not like the key fobs of old where you need to purchase it and pay for the service center to program it.

💀

I paid the expensive ass price for one, then it fell out of the shitty rubber and I lost it. Truly a stupid design

I don't have one, but I imagine the benefit is not having to pull out your phone, open the app and wait for it to sync before performing an action. Probably can use it while it stays in your pocket without looking

So that’s going to be a very expensive frunk opener then lol

We got our '26 MY first and then a '20 MS for me; I thought the key fob would be annoying at first but it functions in nearly the same exact manner as the phone key it's just an additional thing to carry. Door handles pop out when I walk up to the car, I can grab the trunk and push the underside lever to open it. It does serve as a faster mechanism to dumb summon, lock/unlock, and pop trunk/frunk over opening phone and going to app.

Keys and FOBS are archaic. That said - since electric vehicles are subject to dead batteries 🪫 - need key or alternative manual opening option.

Considering we used our Tesla key fob all the time... yep.

Old ass Model S

🤣🤣🤣🤣 so true but it still runs great and I have free supercharging and premium connectivity.

And my kids dont need my phone to get stuff they left in the car out.

Lucky bastard. How’s the battery doing? Have you had to replace it?

Do you also keep your phone key turned on as backup? Or solely use the fob so you don't forget it anywhere?

Same. So liberating!

I had that happen while doing 70 on the highway. That was a surprise

I have a 2017 75D so my battery isn't at full capacity anymore and supercharging is slow but it is still the original battery. I'd guess I'm getting 85% of original capacity.

How many miles do you find you get?

Original was 256 at 100%. Last time I charged to 100%, the range was quoted around 225 miles.

Have an 'S' with the fob and a 'Y' and use the app... Much quicker/convienient to tap the fob to open the frunk or trunk.. even through clothes (I don't even pull out the fob... just press thru my clothes) Cold day; pull out the phone, wait for sync, maybe the screen will detect what I'm pressing while I'm carrying multiple items in my hands, while cold and raining - yes... I'm cursing not having a fob.

Again I understand with frunk, but with trunk just press the button at the frunk door, or stay there for 3 seconds of your hands are full.

Same! And I don’t even carry a wallet anymore. So now instead of checking for my phone, wallet, and keys before heading out, I just check for my phone. Hell, I don’t even need the phone, my Apple Watch is also a key!

I never have that problem, I just walk up to my car, open the door and hop right in. The only time I need to “open” the app is for the frunk, and wouldn’t you need to get the fob for that operation too?

I open my app to open the trunk/frunk and to preheat/cool. But I'm not sure if the fob can control climate

I love not even needing a fob. One less thing to keep track of.

What about ID?

It’s between my phone and the phone case, but whenever I go for a run and only carry my watch then I’ll stuff it in a pocket somewhere

I don't actually use my keyfob. It stays in my pocket. My 2015 Nissan Altima has buttons on the front driver and passenger door handles that you can press to lock and unlock the whole car (once just for that door, a quick second time to open all the other doors)

Back in my day, there was no fob. Unless you had one of those newfangled remote starts or a car alarm.

Looks like some ancient tech

In France we have digital ID, digital driving license and digital car registration documents thanks to "France Identité". It has the same validity as the physical counterpart. You can literally walk out with just your phone.

Same. I've had smart locks for a while so no front door key, although I do have it on my keychain just in case. But when I traded in my Toyota and picked up the Tesla one of my first thoughts was "ok..now wtf, I don't really need a keychain anymore..." That said, I do have a small flashlight and USB drive on my "keychain" so I'll probably carry it just for that. Also a very strange feeling to get out of the car without turning anything off.

Huh, that's awesome! That would be really nice. I could leave without the majority of what's in my wallet, but I would still need my ID/drivers license. I know a lot of people use the phone cases with card slots these days, but I'm not a big fan of them for my daily routine.

I'll chime in too. 2015 70D with 276,000km on the original battery and motors. Still going strong. Had to replace the driver's side rear door actuator last week ($600). Last winter was the battery heater ($400~) and a few winters ago was the cabin heater ($1200). I run it a lot as I drove quite a bit and live in some colder winters up here in Canada. I've considered "upgrading" vehicles but can't find what I want that does the same the S does, the same way. After lots of test drives I'll be going with a '23 etron Sportback or EV6. But, until I need to I'll be driving this beast. My degradation was around 14% when I tested a year or so ago. It does exactly what I need so I don't really care to be honest.

That's just because nobody wants a tesla owner at a key party anyway :D

Nice, that's a good idea. I did that for a while when I'd go to bars or any place I didn't want to bring my whole wallet. Then it kind of ruined my phone case lol. It sort of deformed it and the case wouldn't stay on very well anymore, so I stopped. Now I just have a super slim card wallet I'll take those places instead.

Is there a particular reason one would opt to buy a Tesla key fob?

I really don't understand the need for one *at all* unless you frequently give away your vehicle to someone without app access. And even for that the card is more than enough. I can only imagine older people who are just used to fobs prefer them.

Does your watch work consistently? Often it does t recognize my watch key, or takes extra time to register it. And more often than not it won’t let me start the car with it.

When I leased my first MS Plaid I was given two key fobs. When I returned the lease to pick up my 2nd leased MS Plaid they only asked for the portable charger back so I kept my key fobs. I was never billed or asked to return them so I keep them as a reminder or if I need to let someone drive my current MS Plaid.

We still have the wife’s old 1999 Volvo that has long since not had its FOB so when I drive that. I open the door with a key, like a peasant.

Don’t need to open the app if you use the widget!

If I use it everyday, it works flawlessly. But if I go more than 2 days without using it, I have to open up the Tesla app and unlock the car. Only then will it recognize my watch for the rest of the day and the following day.


That’s fantastic. My 2018 M3 started around 250 at 100% and now is about 200 at 100%

I can’t wait to one day show my kid a car that uses a “key” not fob, keys and lock cylinders. Manual shifter, AC that just has a red and blue slider.

I use a magsafe popwallet. ID, debit card, and Tesla keycard in it, can take off the popwallet whenever I want and just throw it in a pocket or something.

Those are keys to older-style cars that have a longer range, can fuel up almost anywhere, and it only takes 2 minutes to fill an empty tank. I say this as a current Model 3 owner for almost 7 years. Just because we have future tech in our vehicles, doesn't necessarily make them superior in all the ways that "count" to most drivers.

not that old.

not all of them have app access, not all of the ones that do have app access make it convenient, and the cards only work in the 3 and 2021+ S/X, if you have a 2020 or older S/X there isn't a card. So plenty of tesla do need the fob.

That seems like a great way to do it too. I gave one of those a try a few years, but I really didn't like the feeling of using my phone with the wallet on the back. It doesn't help that I'm used to using a pop socket, so I was not only adapting to not using a pop socket, but also adapting to having a "thicker" phone. It was a difficult adjustment lol. I ended up switching back after a few months.

lol i have 2021 sr model 3 and its showing 206 miles at 100%

So how many actual miles do you get, like 115?

Sadly, pretty accurate. I just changed up to 88% to drive 105 miles and I'm arriving with 17% despite the 221 mile range. I used to do this drive using just 50% of the range. The temperature is 86F with a light wind but several hills.

I specifically buy fob. The cards are ugly. Phone is helpful.

Hmmm that must be why. I have my phone on me 90% of the time so it's not often that I need the phone key. But that 10% of the time it's annoying af that it doesn't work.

This has a pop socket on it,[apparently theres a new version that also becomes a stand](https://www.popsockets.com/en-us/p/magsafe-wallets/black-%E2%80%94-magsafe-kick-out-popwallet--and-stand/809345.html?cgid=magsafe-popwallets), so there's still adapting to the added thickness but the pop socket part helps getting used to it.

Bad post is bad

Haha I got one just in case I need it

I bought a fob because my phone wasn’t that reliable. Does everyone exist without it these days?

This confuses my coworkers and I work at a car dealership. Because they see teslas come in on trade and always had the keycard or fob if it’s an older model and they would always come up to me and tell me how it just must be annoying to have to use a keycard every time I want to drive a new Tesla. I tell them “nah, my phone or watch is my key” and they just don’t comprehend it.

Thank god I didn’t grow up in a Tesla household

With my gv60 I can unlock with my face and start the car with my finger. You guys have to use a phone?!? What is this 1950?!?

https://preview.redd.it/ngizjal8uimg1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=75751ff00c4c1993cd75275cef198d6ad8a395fa nu uh. It came with the car!

i’m in the same boat as you. 2017 p100d free super charging free premium connectivity, and no where near as much mileage as it says but it’s only like 30-45 minutes for a full supercharge and their are plenty around where I am in texas

Actually, these are what us old people used to use to get inside cars. (We did use what OP posted, but much later in life. Lol) https://preview.redd.it/v8eo82jzyimg1.jpeg?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2604dd62851d0f4e3f7ca8b80d7ae91015cad5c5

When you say full supercharge, do you mean 20 to 80% or more? If more, I'm impressed.

Right? Legacy Model S stand up! You can also buy fobs for the other models if you wanna burn some cash. Personally, I’m holding out hope for a phone key retrofit…

20-100. the v4’s are nice but unfortunately i can’t really charge over 150 because it’s old.

Wow, I'm impressed. My 85 - 100 would be at least 30 minutes.

interesting. ik it slows down as it tops out because battery’s just be like that but that seems extreme. Maybe in there is a lithium lottery going on or it’s just that mine is far less used. What’s your odometer at?

I'm at 75k miles. I'm definitely not a high mileage driver.

Mine just passed 50. i wonder if that has anything to do with it.

I actually have no idea.

I bought the Tesla fob tho. Love it. Especially with mechanics and vallets

I figured if I included the URL then I wouldn't have to follow up with a LMGTFY link. :) https://gprivate.com/6k5v8

You can still get away with it by just leaving those in your glovebox.

Unfortunately I do need my ID a fair amount beyond for driving. Like going into government facilities and other secure facilities for starters. I wouldn't be allowed to enter most of them without an ID. Plus just buying anything alcoholic anywhere. Which a good amount of the time I'm not driving. I for sure need it on my body to make sure I have it all the time and I don't forget it.

Phone works car and can buy stuff. If only we could have digital driver's license/ID we could eliminate the wallet as well.

I still carry Tesla key fob, card key and phone. Just in case.

Those things can preheat the vehicle without you needing to open an app or even look at your phone. Handy.

Exactly. But in hindsight, what I meant was that I needed to pull my phone out of my pocket and tap the icon on the widget. It even has a cool little fan icon for preconditioning the cabin. I wonder if the fob has that.

Tesla key fobs have blue tooth

I still habitually check my pocket for my keys before I leave the house. I wonder how long that will last?

Why do you buy one for each car instead of transferring it to the next one?

I own multiple cars. A single key fob can be used for multiple Model 3/Y, but you need to walk to the drivers side RFID sensor to make the key fob control the car.