My 2003 Toyota Hilux twin cab ute has no computer, no electronic door locks and a spare set of keys from Bunnings was twelve dollars odd.

It's also manual, so in the event of starter failure or a flat battery, it can be push-started, which is a big consideration in a country vehicle.
No crank handle unfortunately but, if in dire straits, a back wheel can be jacked up and used to start the engine.

Well spend under ten thousand on a car, Suzuki 4x4 usually, have spent much more when working
Keys, yes get the plain type every time the others are too high priced
Indy yes understood your distance troubles bit hard to take the key and car back if it does not work Hasbeen interesting and understand you loving that car ex workmate long time ago completely restored one and drove it with pride until he died

It is heartening to hear your collective stories, and most of all, your reluctance towards new cars.
Firstly you are all correct that the govt is in concert with the big car companies, from the taxes to the registration fees.
I forget the tax component of cars these days, but I can only compare with what I know, and that is two of my cars are Rollers and a Range Rover. Well I can confirm that I would have to be one of the wealthiest men in Australia or brain dead to buy a new Rolls.
The top of the wazza is over one million dollars.
The top Rangey is over two hundred thousand.
Now I know that the Roller lands in Aus fro around six hundred odd the other six hundred is mostly import agent mark-up, the tax component is nothing compared to these greedy bastards.
What people are not told, and is very worth knowing, you will look at your new car in a different light after this, is, the price you pay has nothing to do with the cost of the car, it has everything to do with these bastards simply judging what the most the buyers of that car are prepared to pay for it, in other words, extortion.
Cars all have the same basic component structure,ie; an engine, transmission, four doors, four wheels, and interior.
Where they differ is in the bling and toys.
Now these days even those things have become common pace so that nearly every car has them, thereby bringing the cost of the cars back into a level playing field.
So what makes the prices so different and varied to some rediculous extremes.
The importer and how much he thinks he can screw out of the buying public, not the cost of the car plus a mark up.
The word extortion is appropriate.
In the recent govt review into second hand car imports was severely compromised and influenced by lobbyists, one of the companies was Porsche, because they are one of the biggest thieves in the market.

cont...............

It becomes more obvious when one considers that our so called, 'luxury cars' are all common cars in their country of origin.
Heck, in some countries the Mercedes Benz is used as taxi's, not just in Germany.
Merc's, BMW's, Jaguar, and the list goes on, they all cost at least two thirds what they cost here.
And totally slap anyone in the face if they suggest that it's because of the shipping cost because we are so far away.
Lies, all lies!
Apparently money justifies all manner of lies.
The car industry is at the head of the dishonest list.
As for the key saga, the excuse given is that the keys are coded to the car and are in essence a mini computer, so because of this they are more susceptible to failures than the old fashioned no electronic keys.
The joke about all this is that apparently these new tech savvy kids today can now get into and make off with your car with a computer or similar electronic device.
Once upon a time a thief had to get their hands dirty to steal a car.
Not any more.
I can only shudder at the thought of what we are heading into with the introduction of the ELECTRIC car.

A mate of mine checked on the price for a replacement key for my model car in US & found that my $900 key in Australia costs $65 Us over there.
Pretty hefty postage to Australia ? Nah, sounds more like taxes & middlemen to me.
It literally has become blatant extortion here.
We really should re-start our own car industry again instead of being slaves to the importers of deliberately over-computerised vehicles that provide them with on-going fees income.

indy even ebay is worth trying I have used online shopping to buy parts and it is very cheap
Clutches near half of prices asked in shop
Also import radio gear from all over the world save hundreds