After looking into the Skoda KESSY system and realising its not going to be as simple as walk up and walk away, I am seriously considering ditching it.

Also I took the decision not to add built in sat nav as I didn't like the idea of having to look down at the centre console all the time but since I found out it works via the maxi dot as well, I'm starting to think it could be worth while. However it would only be the Amundsen I would spring for as I really can't justify £1300 for the Columbus, even though it looks so good I would just never use it enough to convince myself on the outlay.

What are all of your opinions on this, does the KESSY actually make life any easier, is the Amundsen unit any good or should I just stick with the standard unit and if I did make a change is it likely to delay the build of my car?

Kessy is well worth the dosh.

Personally I havent bothered with kessy but have gone for amundsen and and sat nav

After looking into the Skoda KESSY system and realising its not going to be as simple as walk up and walk away, I am seriously considering ditching it.

Also I took the decision not to add built in sat nav as I didn't like the idea of having to look down at the centre console all the time but since I found out it works via the maxi dot as well, I'm starting to think it could be worth while. However it would only be the Amundsen I would spring for as I really can't justify £1300 for the Columbus, even though it looks so good I would just never use it enough to convince myself on the outlay.

What are all of your opinions on this, does the KESSY actually make life any easier, is the Amundsen unit any good or should I just stick with the standard unit and if I did make a change is it likely to delay the build of my car?

Kessy seems easy enough to me..  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHwOWgaSZX0

 

I have both Kessy and Amundsen on my order, but would not have got the Amundsen if my wife did not insist on getting it (her car) I prefer to use the gps on my phone instead

Kessy seems easy enough to me..  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHwOWgaSZX0

 

I have both Kessy and Amundsen on my order, but would not have got the Amundsen if my wife did not insist on getting it (her car) I prefer to use the gps on my phone instead

I like the idea of the KESSY but I'm not sure how practicable it will be in real life situations, i.e. if I go to the boot with hands full of shopping will I have to make a gesture on the door handle to open the car and risk scratching the paint or will it let me just go to the back and open the boot? Has anybody got this on their car and tried this?

I've never been a huge fan of in car sat nav's as I always found them too restrictive (can't change things with out stopping the car) and too far out of the line of sight (to be able to use very well if approaching a busy junction and your unsure what lane to be in). Was originally going to look for a good mount for the iPhone 5 and continue to use that or my other idea was to get and hard wire in one of the new Garmin HUD's.

I like the idea of the KESSY but I'm not sure how practicable it will be in real life situations, i.e. if I go to the boot with hands full of shopping will I have to make a gesture on the door handle to open the car and risk scratching the paint or will it let me just go to the back and open the boot? Has anybody got this on their car and tried this?

From the owners manual: Kessy: The vehicle is locked/unlocked when the key is at a maximum distance of around

1.5 m from the handle on the front door or from the handle of the boot lid.

From what I've read on here the KESSY opens when you touch the door handle so I can't see the boot automatically opening when your within a certain range.

I agree on the satnav thing. I do the same with my iPhone 5, since the new Google maps update I've also found it a lot more reliable than many others.

Opinion are like a**eholes tho.. We all have them :-)

Thank you all for the opinions, keep them coming if anyone else has any other experiences with these.

Dalelfc89, so true pal and made me laugh reading that but hey its surprising what insights you can gain from other people's point of view.

 

From the owners manual: Kessy: The vehicle is locked/unlocked when the key is at a maximum distance of around

1.5 m from the handle on the front door or from the handle of the boot lid.

 

 

Maybe that should really say that it's able to be opened or locked when the key is close by.

 

Believe me, it's not one to cross off the list!

Maybe that should really say that it's able to be opened or locked when the key is close by.

 

Believe me, it's not one to cross off the list!

So can I open it at the boot or does it have to be a front door?

I've always preferred not to spec KESSY as I like to lock the car and check that it is locked before I walk away, but can't get my head around the fact that with the key in my pocket I will never be able to check!

Amundsen is awesome, coming from Superb II with old Columbus unit, apart from the lower resolution screen, the new features of Amundsen are light years ahead with full integration with the fuel computer, etc. Mine came standard as I have Eleg spec but defo worth the upgrade on a vRS, not sure if I could stomach £1300 for Columbus but if you ditch the KESSY you would have a further £300 towards the Columbus, tempting???

the new features of Amundsen are light years ahead with full integration with the fuel computer, etc.

Aren't Amundsen and Bolero almost the same ting, except that Amundsen also have Navigation?  

So can I open it at the boot or does it have to be a front door?

 

You should be able to open the car 'normally' via either of the front doors.

 

However you can also open just the boot, at the boot. Closing the boot (without doing anything else) will also auto lock it. That's exactly like standard entry happens with the remote.

I don't really care for KESSY either way.

Yes, it's handy (Got it on the Nissan) but it's no biggy, you still have to do something to lock the car as you walk away.

What does it save?

3 seconds to start the car?

You should be able to open the car 'normally' via either of the front doors.

 

However you can also open just the boot, at the boot. Closing the boot (without doing anything else) will also auto lock it. That's exactly like standard entry happens with the remote.

That's not bad then, can deal with that.

So can I open it at the boot or does it have to be a front door?

As I have understood KESSY, the door or boot lid will unlock as soon as the key is in range (about 1.5 m) 

So yes it will unlock automatically but you have tom manually open the door/boot lid

 

If you stand behind the car, only boot lid will be unlocked.

If you stand besides the car, only the closest door will be unlocked.

 

(can be changed in setting, so all doors and boot lid unlocks when you are close to one of the three sensors)

I don't really care for KESSY either way.

Yes, it's handy (Got it on the Nissan) but it's no biggy, you still have to do something to lock the car as you walk away.

What does it save?

3 seconds to start the car?

I've never had it before but my thinking behind adding it was that I have a fairly large bunch of keys but I can't stand having them hanging from the ignition and jingling (unless it Christmas time lol) or scratching my car door if I open the car with keys in hand so I always have my car key separate. The down side of this is I'm always losing my car key so thought just being able to keep it on the "bunch" would be a plus.

As I have understood KESSY, the door or boot lid will unlock as soon as the key is in range (about 1.5 m)

So yes it will unlock automatically but you have tom manually open the door/boot lid

If you stand behind the car, only boot lid will be unlocked.

If you stand besides the car, only the closest door will be unlocked.

(can be changed in setting, so all doors and boot lid unlocks when you are close to one of the three sensors)

Thanks for the info pal.

Think the KESSY will be staying.

I just need to have a think about adding the sat nav or not.

Does anyone know if my car has been given a build date (still trying to get that info out of my dealer) and I make a change is it likely to put it back? I hate waiting lol.

Taken from the handbook........

 

 

 

"The KESSY system (Keyless Entry Start Exit System) enables unlocking and locking

of the vehicle without actively using the remote control key. The key must be

located at a maximum distance of about 1.5 m from the unlocking or locking

area » Fig. 15.

Unlocking

› Grab the door handle of the front door or cover the sensor 2 » Fig. 15 with the

whole palm of your hand » .

Locking

› Touch the sensor 1 » Fig. 15 with your fingers.

On vehicles fitted with automatic gearbox, the selector lever must be moved into

the position P before unlocking.

Unlocking the boot lid

› Press the handle of the boot lid » Fig. 20 on page 41."

 

you still have to physically touch the sensors

Edited 28 August, 201312 yr by panmat

For me, an inbuilt sat nav is the way to go.

Using your phone or a 3rd party device just seems a bit messy, window/vent mounts, power cables, having to stow it or carry it when you reach your destination, its just too much hassle.

That being said, up until my (counting the days even though its going to be many more weeks) order, I've never really used sat nav, a road atlas has always sufficed.

To be frank... Isn't KESSY just a gadget without much real practical use...?

 

What's the point? You still have to carry the "key"... Ok, you don't have to press the little button on it to open the door, and

instead of inserting it into a key hole and turn it, you press a button. But you are still stuck with a piece of plastic/metal/electronics in your pocket...

Or is it just me being too old...?  :think:

If people like it, buy it, but I wouldn't pay extra for a "key" only to be able to start the engine by pressing a button...

For me, an inbuilt sat nav is the way to go.

Using your phone or a 3rd party device just seems a bit messy, window/vent mounts, power cables, having to stow it or carry it when you reach your destination, its just too much hassle.

That being said, up until my (counting the days even though its going to be many more weeks) order, I've never really used sat nav, a road atlas has always sufficed.

TBH I can also probably count on one hand the amount of times I've used a satnav in the last 5 years or so. I'm still a bit old fashioned in I look at my route before I go and although I generally have satnav with me I find a little bit of prep, 99% of the time gets me to where I want to be.

Still going to think about getting the in built or to just get the Garmin HUD.

To be frank... Isn't KESSY just a gadget without much real practical use...?

 

What's the point? You still have to carry the "key"... Ok, you don't have to press the little button on it to open the door, and

instead of inserting it into a key hole and turn it, you press a button. But you are still stuck with a piece of plastic/metal/electronics in your pocket...

Or is it just me being too old...?  :think:

If people like it, buy it, but I wouldn't pay extra for a "key" only to be able to start the engine by pressing a button...

As I said above I can't stand having a large bunch of keys in the ignition so at the moment I have my car key separate but I'm constantly misplacing it so the idea was to not need it in the ignition and I could just put it on my keys.

I did look into things like "Tile" which is a Bluetooth tracking device you can buy (from Jan 2014) to attach to things but over the life of the car would cost as much anyway as they have to be replaced every 12 month and I also would need to use my phone and an app to find my key. Whereas with the KESSY all I need to know is that I have is my keys.

My original thought was that their wasn't a real place for KESSY but the more I've thought about it the more I think it would just make my life that little bit easier, the same reason I have Apple products. Not because they cost more, are flash or anything like that, just that they make my life easier and hey £300 for KESSY isn't even the price of a decent smart phone, Apple or not.

I suppose people must of said the same thing about remote central locking when it first appeared, "why would I need that when I have a key and a hand?" but it's mainstream now.

I want to thank everyone for their advice as I was genuinely unsure about getting KESSY or not but I do think it will be a thumbs up for me. I also can tell its not for everyone lol.

Thanks guys.

My scenic has keyless entry and ignition. It works really well. Go for it.

KESSY. Just something else to go wrong.