The first of the 2008 Super Duty trucks just got here this weekend (yes, '08) and the whole truck has been redesigned. Including the keys. In the past, the SD keys didn't have PATS, but this new key is big enough to have it. (I'll check the owner's manual)

Anyway, these keys are a MUCH better quality than the current Ford keys and are made of a hard textured plastic. If these are PATS keys, I'm replacing mine as soon as they come out.

(sorry the pic isn't too goo. Had to use the work camera)

 

Thought we were suppose to be getting the FOB integrated keys in 08 like the Fusion etc.

At least those new SDuty keys are tougher
The crap we got looks like a dog went to town on them after a month in your pocket.

 

Those are almost identical to the keys for my dad's '87 Taurus which had a very early version of PATS as well.

His new Zephyr has the integrated fob key like the Fusion and I'm not a big fan of it either. My favorite so far has to be the 2006 Mazda MPV's (test drove one one time) switchblade key. It was like a regluar square fob but the key popped out of it with the push of a button. Pretty cool.

 

Yeah, guy at work has that on his Mazda6

I think those would be awsome for Ford to start using.
VW etc have been using those for ages

I thought even BMW had them...with lights, so you could see where you are putting the key

 

Pardon my ignorance, What are PATS? This is what I get for driving older Ford trucks.

From the rocket ranch

BB

Semper Fi

 

?? The keys look exactly like the PATS keys I received with my new '07 Mustang.

 

Passive Anti - Theft System...they have the "chip" in them...

 

?? My 2006GT has the passive anti-theft chip in the key...

 

It's hard to tell from such a crappy picture, but trust me, these new keys are 100 times better than the 05-07 keys. They are much more like the previous generation PATS keys... 96-98, I think. You know the ones that had the "hole" offset to one side.

EDIT:
Just found a few pics.
1. Old SD Truck keys (no PATS)
2. 96-98 Mustang (and most other Fords) keys
3. 05-07 Mustang Keys

 

The previous gen keys went from 1996 (I think) to 2004. My key is 7 years old and it still looks great. It's not scratched or scraped up like I've heard the new keys are prone to doing.

 

When we went to Italy, we rented a pretty new VW. There was no key in the metal and groove sense. It was a big fob that you slid into a hole in the dash, then pressed the key to start the car. It was really cool.

It also had an electronic button that turned on the handbrake.

 

Of all the thousands of keys I have used over the years, I really must be a genius because I never had any problem figuring out how to work any key unless the lock was broken... Personally I believe the 07 SD keys opened the doors and started the truck just fine.

 

I don't understand how people's keys get so mangled Maybe if a girl has 4 keys and 37 keychains it might....Mine still looks new after a year of not giving two ****s about what kind of key I have....

 

All I do is put mine in my pocket (with my other keys, of course) and it looks like a dog got hold of it.

 

I have used my spare once and it looks like both my dogs played tug of war with it, but it starts the car thats all i care about, until car show judges judge my keys then i will be ****ed at ford

 

Yep, I've got all 3 types here! Actually the No-PATS keys are not just for SD Pickups. They are used if you do not have PATS on the vehicle. That includes the commercial duty vans and trucks, as well as the P72 taxi cabs and P71 Police Interceptor.

The middle keys were used on Fords with PATS for several years. Keys are keys so I can't complain. The old Ford keys used to look like house keys. The rounded top meant it was for your doors and trunk, and the squared top meant it was the ignition key. Yeah, remember the old days when you had to carry 2 keys for a car? Nowadays, the ignition is keyed alike with the trunk and DOOR (singular, as in driver's door).

 

Yeah, Metroplex your comment about the single door lock reminds me that about 2 months after I got the car I was in a parking lot and a guy was looking at the car. He looked confused, so I hung around for a few seconds. He finally said "can I ask you something, does this only have one door key hole?" I was like "ummm...I dunno." then I looked, and realized there was no key hole on the pass. side. I couldn't believe I didn't notice for 2 months!!!

 

The key I had with my 05 was mangled. The keys that came with my 06 after more than a year are not. It seems like the plastic is harder on the key that came with my 06.

 

Here's another option I found. To bad he doesn't offer one's with the GT or pony logo.
http://partscheap.com/scottdrake05.htm

Scroll down to "key cover"

 

I noticed this as well. The keys on my former '05 scratched very easily. Those on my current '06 do not, although they look the same.