Just bought a new 2006 RX8. Love the car - except for the large rectangular credit card sized "advance" key. I almost did not buy the car because of the key.

Why do I dislike the new "advance" key so much:
1. It 's absolutely huge.
2. It will not fit on on my key ring and I need to cary multiple keys.
3. It's fragile. Don't sit on it.
4. I tried to get a regular key coded at the Mazda dealership and it seems that there is no way to make a just a coded key without buttons.

What would be nice:
1. To be able to have a regular chipped key that will fit on a key ring - No buttons. No keyless entry. Just a key that will unlock the doors and start the car.

Is there a way to program a regular non-keyless entry key so I don't have to carry the "advance" key around?

Thanks, TJK

you could have gotten a non gt;)

aside from carrying muliple keys and wearing the ignition....

just use the key in the card.

No Gt for me - its a Shinka.

Yep, thought about the liitle key inside the card but it has no hole to allow it to be clipped to a key chain (and I don't think drilling a hole would be a good thing). Maybe I can find some aftermarket gismo to attach to the little key so it has an attachment hole. No idea where to start looking.

No Gt for me - its a Shinka.

More or less the same thing.

Geez...what a small thing to complain about. Can't you just keep it in one of your front pockets? Seriously!?! Drill a hole in the little key or use some double stick tape or super glue to ghetto-rig the key from your sweet-@ss Shinka.

If you can't toss this thing in a wallet and sit on it it's a piece of crap. Why would they design it to be like a credit card if it's not supposed to fit in your wallet? There are much better shapes that are more condusive to fitting in your front pocket.

So the new system is not backward compatible and able to be programmed to recognise the earlier keys? That sucks. Doesn't the new system come with a valet key of some kind?

haha i asked that same thing 2 days ago- apparently you use the card for valet but take the key out of it

^ that would suck, cuz the valet dude can damage the card.

I don't think keyless is ready for prime-time yet. This CNET article doesn't make it look like a secure alternative yet Gone in 60 seconds--the high-tech version (http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-3513_7-6516433.html)

Excerpt:
"Last fall the authors of a study from Johns Hopkins University and the security firm RSA used a laptop equipped with a microreader. They were able to capture the code sequence, decrypt it, then disengage the alarm and unlock and start a 2005 Ford Escape SUV without the key; they even provided an online video of their "car theft.""

Trade in your 06 for an 05 and save some cash. You get the switchblade key and pretty much all the same features as the 06. Just a thought ;-)