Do you have a remote start for your car?

[robinb]

Is a 2-way start really necessary? I will use it primarily to start my car in the driveway and I can't see the car. I figure, what's the worst that can happen with a 1-way remote? I'll come out and find the car cold?


The 2-way unit is $80 more and only *one* of the remotes is 2-way. The other one is 1-way so I'm paying $80 for a single remote to be 2-way. I was all-in for the 2-way until I found out I was paying more for only one remote to be 2-way.

 

[tvguy]

I can't answer your question. Leaving an unoccupied car idling is illegal here, although some do it during the summer to get the inside cooled off. Just never understood the need. My family in Canada all have plug in engine block heaters and electronic interior heaters, so they just start up while they are in the car and take off.

 

[nene0182]

I have a two way remote. I wouldn't say it's necessary. Nice but not necessary. To me though, auto start is necessary (at least where I live)

 

[Cantw8]

Yes I do and I love it. I only use it during the winter months. Warm it up about 10 minutes before I leave the house. The ice is melted, the interior is warm and I'm ready to go.

 

[low-key]

no, but I like going out and starting my freezing *** car, and driving it for 10 minutes untill I feel heat

 

[aprilgail2]

I have a two way remote. I wouldn't say it's necessary. Nice but not necessary. To me though, auto start is necessary (at least where I live)

Mine is old and one way- works fine for me. I wouldn't have a car without it! Its great to be able to start your car 10 minutes before leaving for work and having the windows defrosted and the car warm in the winter and then starting it before leaving work in the summer and having it nice and cool!

 

[chamonix]

If your car is in the driveway and you can see it, you only need a one way. You would probably hear it too.

I've had remote starters for years (always one way) and never had any issues.

 

[PeterPanic]

What does that mean... 2 way? My last car had an auto start but I have no idea if it was a 1 way or 2 way. It was a nice feature up in Vermont.

 

[endy]

I have a 2 way remote and love it. I can start from my desk and work and know it has started. I used to have a 1 way with a short distance and had to go to a window to see if it started. It can get so cold here at times that starting your car and driving away is not possible.
For an $80 difference I would get the 2 way. If you use it in your driveway then chances are you live where it can be cold and you'll use it leaving the grocery store or work.
I bought a new used suv in Aug and wouldn't pick it up until the remote was installed.

 

[Albort]

Well, its also an alarm right? 2 way alarms are definitely nice.

 

[mommasita]

I am not sure what a 2 way is either? If it is an alarm, then no..

We have starters on all our cars, use them faithfully in the winter months.. Haven't seen a block heater in 20 years .. at least in this area.

When it goes down to -20 and below I start it so it goes off every hour for 5 minutes..

 

[Handbag Lady]

We have no use for such a thing here. Do you not have garages everywhere else?

 

[mommasita]

We have no use for such a thing here. Do you not have garages everywhere else?

Yes, but we don't stay at home 24/7. We work, shop, visit others, etc..

And some of us have more cars than our garages would hold..

 

[robinb]

Sorry I wasn't clear. A 2-way remote starter shows that your car started on the remote. It beeps or flashes letting you know it started. A 1-way remote starts the car but doesn't let you know that it started.

We have a very small detached garage that is not heated so my car sits in the driveway. It gets quite cold in Wisconsin and the windows get covered in ice and snow. I drive my DD to school every morning and I am sick and tired of bundling up to run out and start the car and coming back in to finish up with breakfast, etc.

The starter I am looking at has no alarm, just the starter and a rear window defroster based on temperature.

I've read that you should get a 2-way remote starter if you can't see you car. Unfortunately, my car is very quiet (a hybrid) and I can't see tell if it's on from inside my house. But, I'm not sure what the worst case scenario would be? The car will still be cold when I go to get into it? I'm just not sure that $80 is worth it to have one of the remotes a 2-way remote.

 

[skuttle]

My car has a one way starter. I can always tell if it's on because the lights also come on with remote start.

 

[mommasita]

Sorry I wasn't clear. A 2-way remote starter shows that your car started on the remote. It beeps or flashes letting you know it started. A 1-way remote starts the car but doesn't let you know that it started.

We have a very small detached garage that is not heated so my car sits in the driveway. It gets quite cold in Wisconsin and the windows get covered in ice and snow. I drive my DD to school every morning and I am sick and tired of bundling up to run out and start the car and coming back in to finish up with breakfast, etc.

The starter I am looking at has no alarm, just the starter and a rear window defroster based on temperature.

I've read that you should get a 2-way remote starter if you can't see you car. Unfortunately, my car is very quiet (a hybrid) and I can't see tell if it's on from inside my house. But, I'm not sure what the worst case scenario would be? The car will still be cold when I go to get into it? I'm just not sure that $80 is worth it to have one of the remotes a 2-way remote.

Personally, 80$ for that no.. Like Skuttle, I see it with the light.. Sometimes when it is very sunny, it isn't easy to tell, but I then just see the engine running.. I have never really had an issue telling or not telling, and it has been 13 years for me.. I see you can't see yours, so it is different..

 

[Tozzie]

I had to google a 2 way remote and personally I don't think it is worth it. I have a remote start in my car and I was able to start it the other night from work I was on the second floor and the car was downstairs and across the street. I often start my car from my house and I have never had it not start.

Save the money I think a 2 way start is rediculous and a money grab for the company

 

[suzimar57]

We have a 1-way starter for our Jeep - it's been a blessing during the winters, to warm up the engine, and heat the interior - have detached garage, we park in driveway - a nice convenience to start the car from kitchen window

 

[indimom]

I have a one-way. It works from the second floor where I work. The parking lot is across a small (two-way street) and sometimes I'm parked in the second or third row of cars. I do go to a window to start it. I've never actually tried to start it from anywhere else. May have to test that theory...

I have to park my car out in the elements for 8-12 hour shifts. It can be completely frozen over and snow covered in that time. The last thing I want to do after a hard day's work, is go out in the freezing cold, spend precious minutes trying to get the door open, just to start the car, go back inside, wait 15 minutes for the windows to thaw, then go home. Or worse yet, stand in the cold scraping windows while the car warms just to shave 5 minutes off that 20. Pass.

Love, love, love my remote start. Worth every penny and I will never own another car without it.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I used to have one when I had the Impala. It was a very nice feature in the winter. I had to get on Youtube to find out how to work it. Something like unlock, lock, hold down the arrow.

It would start and run, but you had to have the key in the ignition and turned on before you could drive the car. It would also shut itself off after like 10 minutes.