Could these be the differences? Limited and touring have a blue needle, that’s it?
For me (even having owned a push button start car for two years) it is easier with a keyed ignition to know it is off. Also it is easier to get to ACC mode no matter which mode you were in prior. It is also certain when the car is off. I'd actually love a version where you could keep the key in your pocket but had a switch for Off, ACC, On. With a rental I did forget to turn the car off until I had exited and still heard the engine. People have done this in enclosed garages with disastrous results. That is my take on it. Push button start definitely has some advantages, but there are these drawbacks.I am just curious why you like a keyed ignition over push button ?
1)actually a lot of new keys have electronics in them and can't get wet. I'm pretty sure my bare bones 2005 Xterra key even says not to submerge in water.I prefer a key because:
1) Less can go wrong if they get wet.
2) They're less bulky in your pocket.
3) Even if the electronics are totally shot I can still get into the car.
4) I can get a plain metal (zero electronics) key for just the doors and glovebox cut at the local hardware store and take that out on the water with me while leaving the real key locked away in the glovebox, whereas the little emergency keys in fobs are tiny and hard to use (and easy to lose) and usually laser-cut so you can't go get a regular one made easily.
5) I can easily leave the car running but locked to keep the AC going for my dog while I pop into a store if necessary, again taking my hardware-store-cut key along. Some of the fob systems seem to freak out whenever you try to leave the fob behind, not letting you lock the doors with them inside and such. I'm not really sure what Subaru's behavior is for that.
It's super annoying that Subaru makes the keyless access / push-button start required on higher trim levels. Make it the default all you want, but give me the option to "downgrade" to normal keys please!
Inside of each key-fob there is a mechanical key that you can use to unlock the door. If you are doing something were you are going to get wet then leave the electronic key in the car and take just the insert mechanical key.3) Even if the electronics are totally shot I can still get into the car.
4) I can get a plain metal (zero electronics) key for just the doors and glovebox cut at the local hardware store and take that out on the water with me while leaving the real key locked away in the glovebox, whereas the little emergency keys in fobs are tiny and hard to use (and easy to lose) and usually laser-cut so you can't go get a regular one made easily.
5) I can easily leave the car running but locked to keep the AC going for my dog while I pop into a store if necessary, again taking my hardware-store-cut key along. Some of the fob systems seem to freak out whenever you try to leave the fob behind, not letting you lock the doors with them inside and such. I'm not really sure what Subaru's behavior is for that.