Usually, unless we’re talking about race cars with a dedicated panel or modern, software-intensive vehicles that are connected to the cloud, cars come with keys. Keys on their own can get easily misplaced, so there’s a good chance you’re rocking some sort of keychain or lanyard on the key ring of at least one of your vehicles. The question is: What sort of keychains are you rocking, how did you come to own them, and are you happy with them? I’ll start.
Admittedly, I haven’t always been a key chain guy, partly because many of the car I’ve owned have featured a separate fob for the remote locks from the physical key, and that’s been enough to keep things from getting lost. However, I now own two cars with integrated fobs, so key chains have become necessities, and here’s what I’m rocking.
On the ring for the fob on my 3 Series, I’ve got a keychain with an orange E30 M3 printed in it that I got from One Hell Of A Town. It’s been durable, and there’s some greater meaning to it too — not only do I love E30s, this one’s a depiction of the one on the cover of Frank Ocean’s Nostalgia, Ultra and that’s one of my favorite mixtapes ever. This one’s a 10/10 keeping forever sort of scenario.
Now, my Boxster’s key is attached to an actual chain with a lovely metal Porsche pendant on the other end. It came with the car and I believe it to be period-correct, although I’m not entirely sure whether or not it’s an actual Porsche accessory. It’s a little worn from decades in pockets, but that sort of patination feels like an honor rather than a burden.
So, what stylistic accessory lives on your key ring? It could be a key chain, it could be a lanyard, it could be a jet tag, whatever the case, I want to know all about it in the comments below.
Pete piping in … I’d also like to know how you’re keeping your keys findable at home. Are you a key-hook person? More of a key bowl fan? I really like this miniature amp setup as shared by Shitbox Showdown author Mark Tucker:
Meanwhile, ya boy Stephen! Walter! Gossin! favors this fantastic Time Machine key-keeper, which is clearly getting a workout:
I’m a fan of this very clever and fun Lego setup. It’s easily DIY-able, you definitely don’t need the official boxed item.
To the comments!
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I drive a 2017 Nissan Micra (Shoosh, I love it) and sport an old school, brass Garfield keychain because my son loves Garfield and a retro plastic (acrylic, I assume?) “Metro Toronto Zoo” keychain because I used to work there when I was a teenager before they dropped the “Metro”. I’m one of them nostalgic, sentimental types.
We repurpose those silky microfiber sunglass pouches for each of our key fobs. The fobs stay nice and they’re easy to find in the purse. House keys go on a keychain. I need a new one, so thanks for the ideas.
As an MR2 enthusiast, I only rock these high quality hard enamel keychains I designed… http://www.seanmrtwo.com
No keychain because my OEM key fob is as big as a chicken egg.
I have a little keychain of oguri cap from the anime uma musume, content that no one will recognize it as anything but an anime girl. We got a weird porcelain surf board forever ago from my cousin’s arts and crafts so we all let our keys hang 10 in there.
The truck (my current DD) has a small rechargable flashlight. The wife’s RAV4 fob is the keychain, with a small multi tool attached. The Miata’s fob is from the “credit card” fob era, so attaching anything breaks the corner off. One of the campers has a key chain from the 1998 Nagano games (a gift – we didn’t go) and the other is just a jumble of keys for the various doors and storage compartments.
They all hang on one of those skeleton key shaped keyring holders your grandma used to have. It came with the house, but is overloaded and in desperate need of an upgrade (like a lot of the rest of the house).
Snagged this really neat 5 speed gated shifter keychain this guy was hawking from the hood of his car at SoCal Radwood 2022.
“Drive safe, I need you here with me. Love Bear-Bear” (my dog)/
Cars – nothing, toss the fob straight in my pocket
Mailbox Key/House Key – the key ring that the our house builder gave us, though the little house emblem has fallen off so it’s just a ring with a little ball on it at this point. Also I don’t know why I carry my house key since we go in through the garage and have a keypad on our front door anyways.
Work keys (LOTO, cabinets, locker, etc) – Maxim 70 from Schlock Mercenary “Failure is not an option – it is mandatory. The option is whether or not to let failure be the last thing you do”
My truck: The discount membership tag for the liquor store. I haven’t been to it in over a year, so I could take it of, but then I’m sure I’d end up going there without it.
Wife’s car: a clip so that she can clip it to her wallet.
My motorcycle (scooter): a paracord braid that a coworker made for me.
Each keychain only has that vehicle key on it. We enter the house through the garage, and the house door has a keypad lock on it.
I keep my truck key on the top right corner of my desk, along with my wallet and small pocket knife. My wife keeps her key clipped to her wallet in her purse. Both of our vehicles use proximity keys with push button start. My scooter key is currently sitting on a file cabinet next to my helmet and title, awaiting me to get around to selling it.
I keep my keys in a copper bowl my day made as an apprentice.
Each car set has the car key and a house key on it and nothing else.
Motorcycle keys have a small clip that holds a house key, garage key and a bike lock key, I disconnect the other keys and keep them in my pocket while riding, so the tanks don’t get scratched.
I also have a “bicycle” key set which is a house key, garage key and a lock key.
All the spare keys are on one massive keychain with all the decorative keychains I keep getting given and have no use for.
I’ve never lost my keys but my other half keeps losing hers. We have a secure space by front door for her keys which really cuts time from a key hunt because the keys are never, ever in that box.
Prius – none, since it’s a fob that just sits in my pocket.
Alto Works – UPPU Crab keychain from opposite-lock
Silverado – Handle from a 1-cup measuring cup and the keys to the topper and trailer tool box
Miata – Blue ziptie
Saabaru – A cool eagle-shaped thingy a friend gave me years ago
500e – none