I actually did this once. Got in my accord. And it turned out it was another accord parked right behind mine and I was like wait, wtf. They had left their shit open.
I got into my Camry with the remote but then the ignition key wouldn’t work …??? Looked around, realized there was strange stuff in the console, the passenger seat …??? Not my Camry! (Just happened to be unlocked. Good thing the key was different or I woulda carjacked some poor sob!)
I did this with a HOUSE once. My cousins had moved out couple months before and I just blanked it. Opened the front door, walked in, announced myself 'Hey Darce, its me.' Sat down on a couch I didn't even clock wasn't theirs or even in the normal spot. Someone I've never seen before comes out and looks blankly at me and I stare back, I quickly explained and apologised and we laughed and I left.. Lucky I live in Australia and not the US or I coulda had a much worse time.
I came out of a store once to a cane tucked between the seat and center console. Also had a lady open the rear door to my car as I was sitting in it. She sat her purse down and as she was closing the door she saw my daughter in her car seat. She screamed, got her purse and walked across the parking lot in the opposite direction and got into a completely different car. Different make, model, and color.
Happened to me once with a Ford Taurus from the 90’s. I thought someone had stolen all my stuff and then I passed my own car on the way out of the parking lot
Similar experience here. Got back to my car and was fucking mortified that someone had side-swiped it. Huge white gash from the back door to the back bumper and the bumper dented in. No note on the car, no one around. As I was about to call my wife to talk about my shit luck I found my car parked on the far side of it. Same make/model/color.
My brother did this in an apartment complex we lived in. Went partying in someone else's taurus. Didn't realize until next morning when he brought it back next morning. Definitely on the list of fuckups to avoid while black. Luckily he survived. The owner must have been an early sleeper and late riser
I do the Jeep version where we all get different aftermarket body armor, bumpers, bead lockers, grill inserts, rock sliders, and fenders and nobody has the same combination.
Stickers on my windows…dangly shit on the rear view. Lots of white paint job (insert make and model) in my area, haven’t seen a single other one with sailor moon giving the bird from the passengers window though lol. Works for me!
Happened to me with my VW Jetta. The guy whose car it was was walking behind me to his car and started laughing when he saw my key work on his car. He parked next to me because we had the same make, model, year, and color.
Friend had a car, we went in to get a pizza, came out and got in the car and went... something is wrong here. We look around the car, something hanging on review mirror, babyseat in back... get out. A big box truck had pulled in between, we were parked 2 spaces over. Yeah there were only 8 different keys for that make and model, predated electronic keys.
I went into the gas station to grab some snacks. When I came back out, some guy was gassing up my truck. I stared at him confused. He suddenly steps back and takes a better look at the truck, then back at me, then just drops his head in silent defeat. He’d put $15 worth of gas in my truck by the time he noticed.
I've done this when I had a '94 Honda Accord. In my buddy's apartment complex there were three of us parked next to each other. All the same color. I got into the wrong car and it took the key not turning in the ignition for me to realize that something was wrong. Thankfully no one else saw me do it.
So fucked up. I've gotten into the wrong car by mistake after a double shift and little sleep. Was just tired as hell and made a silly mistake. The owners laughed it off and I apologized and we went our ways. That's how it should be.
I drive a brown sun that looks exactly like every other brown suv. I once pulled the door handle on one that isn't mine. Wasn't even the same make, too. Luckily everyone around here locks their doors when in shopping center parking lots.
days after that story, I knocked on the back of a van that looked exactly like mine, the hatch opened and his family's looking back at me. I was 2cars down. We had a laugh and yeah that's how it should be. but... it's scary now
One Christmas, we were on the way to visit my aunt at her new home. Dad pulled into the driveway and started unloading gifts. My mom and sisters and I went to the door and walked right in because we do that. The living room was full of people we didn't know. We all thought, 'Must be church friends,' and just started staying hi. Soon enough, we asked where Shirley was. They pointed to the kitchen just as a woman came out. "There she is!" Wrong Shirley. Wrong house. We laughed so hard afterward.
Luckily, it ended up being the home of my cousin's in-laws, so they got a kick out of it, too. The right Shirley, my aunt, lived one house up the hill.
I got in my 1995 green Saturn SL1 back in 1999, out in front of my apartment. Thought to myself, "wait, I don't have a dreamcatcher hanging from my rearview." Turns out those cars only had like 50 different key versions, and someone with the same make, model, and key version parked two spaces down from my own car.
Parents had a 1988 Toyota Corolla. When I was younger, we got into the car to go home from the store: but noticed that there were things missing and some weird bags in the back seat. Turns out, it wasn’t our car. But the key opened it up just fine! Weird.
that would ruin the fake tiktok video. woe is me I hath entered the wrong car on accident and realized I HAVE A SKY WINDOW THAT I NEVER KNEW ABOUT. plz subscribe for more totally real scenarios
Christ .. her car has two doors, and no frame around the door windows. The other car has four doors, frames around the windows AND NONE OF HER STUFF IN IT. She had time to get her phone out and start taking a video of a button her car doesn't have that opens a sunroof her car doesn't have before she noticed. This person shouldn't be allowed to operate machinery.
Thank you for your eloquent and thoughtful comment. Might I suggest you find a better word to use than sanctimonious - one that doesn't imply hypocrisy (none was exhibited) or moral / ethical concerns (ditto).
When someone spills a drink do you tell them they shouldn't operate heavy machinery. When someone's kid falls over do you tell the parents they shouldn't be allowed children. When someone writes a typo do you tell them they shouldn't be a doctor. When someone walks into a pole do you tell them they shouldn't operate heavy machinery. Have you heard of the concept of human error? The woman made a silly mistake, we all do, so yes you are sanctimonious for saying she shouldn't operate machinery
As you are the very definition of "someone who thinks they're morally superior to other people. Your failure to recognise her simple mistake as just another example of the fallibility in us all but rather immediately jump to saying she shouldn't be allowed to drive at all as though she's somehow dangerous, implies you think she's not like you. She is. Be kinder.
You seem to be accusing me of an awful lot of wild things that I haven't said or done. A typo precludes someone from practising medicine - where did that come from? Settle down, princess.
I accidentally put my 71 Corolla key in my boyfriend’s 75 Corolla ignition - whoops they look alike - and… all good, started the car and off I went lol
Dad tells a story of when he was a kid; they came out of the store and got into their Pontiac station wagon to drive home. Made it a few blocks before everybody realized something was wrong. Drove back and found their actual Pontiac wagon a row over, and the owners of this car standing there wondering what the hell? Identical paint and trim. Keys worked in both cars' locks and ignition.
My dad was a mechanic and had one of them 1980s Ford commercial Econovans and lost his keys one day. His buddy also had an Econovan and his key also unlocked and started my Dad's van. It was fucking weird.
Years ago, a friend of mine came along to help me check out a used car. Seller said he'd meet us in a commuter parking lot. We found the car, but the owner was missing. My friend said "This is a Chevy, I have an old Chevy door key. 20% chance it will fit." And it did! So we checked out the car, and found it had an obvious valve leak. Few other issues. We called the owner when we got home (pre-cell era), and he said, "So the valve is bad, huh? I knew it...!" Never asked how we got in the car.
Fun fact: those same companies program the safety and security features today with the same dedication and focus! Minus the 40 additional years of cost-cutting/saving, grinding down the people who actually execute the quality of work, and undermining every support structure of our society like housing policy, commercial zoning policy, transit policy, parking policy, public transits existence, workers' rights, consumer rights repair, etc!
I had an '02 Liberty that was dark blue. As I was working as a service advisor I just happened to look out of the window and saw someone driving away with it. I was able to catch up and blocked 'em from leaving the lot just in time. So... There was another blue '02 liberty that a wholesale dealer was picking up that also had the same key as mine! What are the odds? Same year, color, model, and key. That was a strange situation.
I had a silver Ford Focus that was pretty popular in the aughts. I’ve done this not once, but twice. I immediately realized it upon sitting down both times though and wasn’t thinking my car spawned a whole moonroof.
Ford was really bad about this in the 90s we walked around a dealership just trying the door locks with a set of keys to an f150 and how many opened was kinda scary
Happened to my grandparents. Grandfather drove the wrong car home. Grandmother figured it out when he gave her someone else’s mail from the front seat. Small town so they knew each other, and just agreed to swap cars the next day.
My neighbors across the street had the same blue Buick that my mom had. We went out to the grocery store, got in the car, and it wouldn't start. Looked around for a few minutes, realized it was our neighbor's car, and got back to our car with the neighbors trying to start it. It was surreal.
I drive a semi for a living. All of our fleet keys are identical for the same model we have on our lots minus the peterbilts that have I think 3 variables? I have 5 keys on my ring and I have access to like 400 trucks. It was similar when I was over the road. My 2009 freightliner key worked in a bunch of people's doors, I remember a guy locking himself out of his truck at a flying J and flagging down a few of us, by like the 3rd key he was in.
Wasn't exact same car, that was a four door with a sunroof, the one she went to was a two door with no sun roof because her car is a convertible. Either staged or she is definitely too drunk to drive.
It happens a lot. When I was on a beach detachment for my ship while it was deployed, we had a hurricane warning. A bunch of the deployed sailors sent their car keys to us to move them to a safer spot. I got in a Pontiac when GM ignition keys were different from door keys, and the ignition key wouldn't start. turns out I opened the wrong car. Half an hour later, I found the correct car and moved it to the safe spot
We have 4 Chevy trucks at my shop. Different years, different trims, different models. 3 of them open with the same key. A lot of manufacturers only have so many key codes so they just mix and match at random and hope no one finds out. If you take your car keys to a parking lot I guarantee you'll be able to open someone else's car. Just look for the same make as yours
The other comments in this post explain it: the keys work on multiple same model cars, allowing them to unlock the doors but not necessarily start the engines. Apparently only a limited number of key patterns were produced for each model.
The key fobs are limited in frequency, power, etc so across many cars the same lock codes get reused. Same goes for key locks and pin combinations. For both to be the same on two cars could happen but should be super rare. Unless manufacturers have been cutting corners again....
No... it's not an easy mistake to make. Stop accepting mindless actions by people who shouldn't be out and about, nor voting, nor having kids. It's not where they parked, it's not the same reg, it's not the same model. All the houses in a row look the same but you don't just walk into the neighbors.
Her car was literally only 4 spots over. And her car is identical to the one she got into. Driver's side view mirror and colour is exatly the same. Very easy mistake to make. Tell me: Do you have you VIN memorized? Do you check your license plate every time you get to your car? Yeah, I didn't think so.
In the 1980s, the US Department of Defense had a contract with Chevrolet for a fleet of light-duty trucks known as CUCVs (Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicles). These diesel-powered vehicles were based on the C10 and C30 pickups and the K5 Blazer. If you had a key to one of them, you could access all of them. The logic (at the time) was that, in a pinch, if you saw one and you had a key, you could use it to drive to safety.
I make plenty of mistakes, but I don't forget where I parked and then get into another car just because it is the same brand as mine. They aren't even the same model of car, and her's is ratted while the mistaken one is clean.
It's extremely easy to get 2 identical cars mixed up if left in close proximity. I know of an incident 35 years ago someone's child was pulled out of their car while they were waiting for parents to return from the shop, because the person doing the removal was mistaken - they parked 1 row behind and both cars were identical, with really unusual combinations of customised features and both had white bonnets from scraped cars after damage, on metalic green bodies. Mistakes happen even today.
Infact I watched again to make sure I wasn't tripping: they don't even have the same number of doors. The cars look nothing alike other than having four tyres and a steering wheel.
But they aren't identical cars, that's my point, they have different regs, they are different models of car, and hers has extensive body damage that the other car doesn't have. If they WERE identical I would be closer to understanding.
nah. She's just imperceptive and probably easily distractable. Dont ask her to find her keys but I bet she could do math and explain her hobbies just fine
And the steering wheel is almost completely different other than the Lexus logo. How is that not the first thing you notice? Also I'd certainly notice that the seat wasn't adjusted to my liking, as soon as I sat in it.
No. Both it, and my car, had a sun roof. Also, I have no idea the difference betwixt a Sun roof and a moon roof. At night, does my sun roof become a moon roof?
Not even close to accurate. Your keycode has six digits, the first two are typically always the same, the last four will vary, that's a metric fuckton of variation, not to account for the digital RF code on your key fob.
I didn't say keycode, I said key... as in a physical key. There are still many models around using keys, so it's entirely possible that a physcial key will unlock the door.
That's how physical keys are cut, by a code. The code signifies how it's cut, the depth of the groove and position of the tumbler. Source: I've worked in auto repair for over 20 years.
Some makes use a much more limited set for doors, then have a much more complex key for the ignition. Ford/Lincoln/Mercury notoriously use fewer pins and have separate door & ignition keys; the door keys don't use transponder chips. With 5 pins & 8 positions, that's max 390,625 combinations, and they certainly don't use all possible combos. Thus, while not highly probable, it's possible for someone to unlock the door, but not start, someone else's nearly identical vehicle.
Buddy of mine did that once on accident went to bed next morning he came back to his car the whole interior was stripped out and only the interior Notting else was removed
Worked with a guy in the Air Force, had one of those fobs that let you just open a door in proximity. Accidently dropped it inside and just never bothered to find it. Anyone could take off with it if they wanted to. Too lazy to care.
A friend once locked his keys in his car when visiting our place. They were gonna call a locksmith when my roommate as a joke put the key for his car in the door and it just opened. We then spent 30 minutes trying every key we could find. Every one that would fit in the lock would open it, and most would start the car.
I had an old one. I left it unlocked out of fear that someone would cut the roof to get in. Replacing that roof would cost more than the car was worth.
I don’t because I don’t have or leave anything worth stealing in there and I prefer that some asshole not bust one of my windows to find that out. But otherwise, yes. It’s good practice.
10ish years ago a bunch of cars on my street had their windows busted. Mine they just opened the door, dumped my glove box and found nothing of interest.
In SF people are just leaving windows down or trunks open to show that there’s nothing in there. My ex GF had almost nothing (an empty purse out of sight) in a Turo and motherfuckers broke the window and were gone immediately. Walked out the next day and there was window glass from 10 cars on the street evenly spaced out.
SJBSavageInk
I actually did this once. Got in my accord. And it turned out it was another accord parked right behind mine and I was like wait, wtf. They had left their shit open.
StepRightUp
I got into my Camry with the remote but then the ignition key wouldn’t work …??? Looked around, realized there was strange stuff in the console, the passenger seat …??? Not my Camry! (Just happened to be unlocked. Good thing the key was different or I woulda carjacked some poor sob!)
frozencloud
Was expecting at the end for her to check if her car actually had a moon roof and for that to be a bonus punch line. xD
ahorseelbowdeepinme
Heh, happened to my wife when she had a rental
SilkyAvenger
I did this with a HOUSE once. My cousins had moved out couple months before and I just blanked it. Opened the front door, walked in, announced myself 'Hey Darce, its me.' Sat down on a couch I didn't even clock wasn't theirs or even in the normal spot. Someone I've never seen before comes out and looks blankly at me and I stare back, I quickly explained and apologised and we laughed and I left.. Lucky I live in Australia and not the US or I coulda had a much worse time.
buttondick
I came out of a store once to a cane tucked between the seat and center console. Also had a lady open the rear door to my car as I was sitting in it. She sat her purse down and as she was closing the door she saw my daughter in her car seat. She screamed, got her purse and walked across the parking lot in the opposite direction and got into a completely different car. Different make, model, and color.
awesalots
Happened to me once with a Ford Taurus from the 90’s. I thought someone had stolen all my stuff and then I passed my own car on the way out of the parking lot
MelfsAcidArrow
1990 ford Taurus here. Yup. Heck, I could even pull the keys out of the ignition while the car was running and it would keep going happily.
Snooj
Similar experience here. Got back to my car and was fucking mortified that someone had side-swiped it. Huge white gash from the back door to the back bumper and the bumper dented in. No note on the car, no one around. As I was about to call my wife to talk about my shit luck I found my car parked on the far side of it. Same make/model/color.
danomyces
it started with your key?
awesalots
It did! It was so strange. I went back and parked it where I found it
mossom
i do not repair minor cosmetic damage because i'm bound to damage that area again
infiniteflux
My brother did this in an apartment complex we lived in. Went partying in someone else's taurus. Didn't realize until next morning when he brought it back next morning. Definitely on the list of fuckups to avoid while black. Luckily he survived. The owner must have been an early sleeper and late riser
awesalots
Woah - when did he realize?
infiniteflux
He claims not until he got back next morning.
lalalalsblablabal
Years ago I thought someone damaged my car while it was parked. Called police and everything. Realized It was not my car.
Aksuuuh
fadingtheory
This is why I just do severe cosmetic damage to all my vehicles so they're easily recognizable.
dudethisbetternotbetaken
I do the Jeep version where we all get different aftermarket body armor, bumpers, bead lockers, grill inserts, rock sliders, and fenders and nobody has the same combination.
lovingspace
I do it to any other car that looks like mine.
counterintel
"OK sweetheart, since this is your first car, first thing you gotta do is tear the front bumper off"
MapleSyrupMafia
Meanwhile I just do that... if someone has an identical car, we have some copyright infringment bs going on!
skippieelove
Stickers on my windows…dangly shit on the rear view. Lots of white paint job (insert make and model) in my area, haven’t seen a single other one with sailor moon giving the bird from the passengers window though lol. Works for me!
BrockEffingSamson
Jandegrote
She misses the fact that the car she got in to first has 2 extra doors i doubt a scratch is gonna be noticed by her.
PacMan4Life
Was expecting snek
NotAHugeSpider
I was expecting a spider to come out the a/c vent.
YoungRascal
This lady used the wrong car for two weeks! She had rented a car so wasn't familiar with it and accidentally stole someone else's car for weeks! She even complained it was messy when she tried to return it to the rental company! https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/ontario-woman-becomes-accidental-car-thief-after-key-fob-mix-up-1.4009145
GrandPubabofMoldistan
Happened to me with my VW Jetta. The guy whose car it was was walking behind me to his car and started laughing when he saw my key work on his car. He parked next to me because we had the same make, model, year, and color.
JesaraB
Friend had a car, we went in to get a pizza, came out and got in the car and went... something is wrong here. We look around the car, something hanging on review mirror, babyseat in back... get out. A big box truck had pulled in between, we were parked 2 spaces over. Yeah there were only 8 different keys for that make and model, predated electronic keys.
TreasonousCheeto
I went into the gas station to grab some snacks. When I came back out, some guy was gassing up my truck. I stared at him confused. He suddenly steps back and takes a better look at the truck, then back at me, then just drops his head in silent defeat. He’d put $15 worth of gas in my truck by the time he noticed.
DmNerd
I've done this when I had a '94 Honda Accord. In my buddy's apartment complex there were three of us parked next to each other. All the same color. I got into the wrong car and it took the key not turning in the ignition for me to realize that something was wrong. Thankfully no one else saw me do it.
Fargus57
Oldenoughtoknowbetterbutdont
And...It was 4 door.
WhenInDoubtC4
meh, details
retchsweeny
I get it. Happened to me on Maui years ago... 2 identical cars parked in a restaurant lot. Key worked & everything.
raineryuzaki
Moon roof???? It’s a sun roof in blighty.
toolzgalore2
That's hilarious, and terrifying if the other owner wasn't cool
TheHappyHermit
a couple of women were shot a few months ago after getting into the wrong car: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/texas-cheerleaders-shot-wrong-car-practice-rcna80366
MisterLemons
Imagine owning weapons and looking for every excuse possible to use them on other people. "There's someone in my car so I started blasting"
Burgernoisenow
So fucked up. I've gotten into the wrong car by mistake after a double shift and little sleep. Was just tired as hell and made a silly mistake. The owners laughed it off and I apologized and we went our ways. That's how it should be.
mikeatike
I drive a brown sun that looks exactly like every other brown suv. I once pulled the door handle on one that isn't mine. Wasn't even the same make, too. Luckily everyone around here locks their doors when in shopping center parking lots.
TheHappyHermit
days after that story, I knocked on the back of a van that looked exactly like mine, the hatch opened and his family's looking back at me. I was 2cars down. We had a laugh and yeah that's how it should be. but... it's scary now
Hendlton
I've never done that, but someone did it to me while I was sitting in the passenger seat. I just laughed it off, but the guy was so embarrassed.
mustbethedragon
One Christmas, we were on the way to visit my aunt at her new home. Dad pulled into the driveway and started unloading gifts. My mom and sisters and I went to the door and walked right in because we do that. The living room was full of people we didn't know. We all thought, 'Must be church friends,' and just started staying hi. Soon enough, we asked where Shirley was. They pointed to the kitchen just as a woman came out. "There she is!" Wrong Shirley. Wrong house. We laughed so hard afterward.
mustbethedragon
Luckily, it ended up being the home of my cousin's in-laws, so they got a kick out of it, too. The right Shirley, my aunt, lived one house up the hill.
Evergrey
I got in my 1995 green Saturn SL1 back in 1999, out in front of my apartment. Thought to myself, "wait, I don't have a dreamcatcher hanging from my rearview." Turns out those cars only had like 50 different key versions, and someone with the same make, model, and key version parked two spaces down from my own car.
SimonHK
A moon roof? That's what they're called over there? Damn yanks always got to be different.
GrepenJapon
I believe sun roofs open and moon roofs do not
SimonHK
Thank you for elucidating.
WeatherWiz
Parents had a 1988 Toyota Corolla. When I was younger, we got into the car to go home from the store: but noticed that there were things missing and some weird bags in the back seat. Turns out, it wasn’t our car. But the key opened it up just fine! Weird.
zortroz
I mean, wouldn’t you rather have the moon roof though?
Bugguts1957
Not me
SuperPickle17
No, they are prone to leaks after the seals get old.
doubledoubleanimalstyleandfries
Why people don't be locking their doors and shit I'll never know
cybercry
So we don't come out to a car with broken windows
pickinganameistoomuchpressure
so people don't break in
domillomew
that would ruin the fake tiktok video. woe is me I hath entered the wrong car on accident and realized I HAVE A SKY WINDOW THAT I NEVER KNEW ABOUT. plz subscribe for more totally real scenarios
slayston
Ive never locked my house or car (except in super sketchy place)....hell I leave my keys in the car when it's at home.
Hendlton
I literally never lock my house, car or bicycle either. But I live in a quiet town. I guess the people downvoting you live in much bigger places.
doubledoubleanimalstyleandfries
Lmk how that works out for ya
AliensProbably
Christ .. her car has two doors, and no frame around the door windows. The other car has four doors, frames around the windows AND NONE OF HER STUFF IN IT. She had time to get her phone out and start taking a video of a button her car doesn't have that opens a sunroof her car doesn't have before she noticed. This person shouldn't be allowed to operate machinery.
CitizenPrime
And the smell. Like it or not cars have distinct smells
otiumCatulli
Christ alive what a pile of sanctimonious shit.
AliensProbably
Thank you for your eloquent and thoughtful comment. Might I suggest you find a better word to use than sanctimonious - one that doesn't imply hypocrisy (none was exhibited) or moral / ethical concerns (ditto).
otiumCatulli
Christ alive what a pile of sanctimonious shit
otiumCatulli
When someone spills a drink do you tell them they shouldn't operate heavy machinery. When someone's kid falls over do you tell the parents they shouldn't be allowed children. When someone writes a typo do you tell them they shouldn't be a doctor. When someone walks into a pole do you tell them they shouldn't operate heavy machinery. Have you heard of the concept of human error? The woman made a silly mistake, we all do, so yes you are sanctimonious for saying she shouldn't operate machinery
otiumCatulli
As you are the very definition of "someone who thinks they're morally superior to other people. Your failure to recognise her simple mistake as just another example of the fallibility in us all but rather immediately jump to saying she shouldn't be allowed to drive at all as though she's somehow dangerous, implies you think she's not like you. She is. Be kinder.
AliensProbably
You seem to be accusing me of an awful lot of wild things that I haven't said or done. A typo precludes someone from practising medicine - where did that come from? Settle down, princess.
WilliamHuskerAdama
My brother in Christ, if the driver doesn't even recognize their own vehicle I, too, would fear for my life.
allthingsgreatandsmall
Happened with me in my orange 1973 beetle. Got in, started the car then realized the mess inside was not mine.
Dazzledent
I accidentally put my 71 Corolla key in my boyfriend’s 75 Corolla ignition - whoops they look alike - and… all good, started the car and off I went lol
discotheque42
Dad tells a story of when he was a kid; they came out of the store and got into their Pontiac station wagon to drive home. Made it a few blocks before everybody realized something was wrong. Drove back and found their actual Pontiac wagon a row over, and the owners of this car standing there wondering what the hell? Identical paint and trim. Keys worked in both cars' locks and ignition.
Ghlargh
SAAB 900 and earlier were known for their locks wearing out, you could often start them with a screwdriver or ice cream stick.
quantumlooping
Same for an 83 Mustang (the crappy one) my door key opened an identical black one but the ignition did not work. Mine was in mildly better shape...
Hexidimentional
same thing iwth my dad and a ford escort, tho we realised before we left the lot
Ironblitz
My sister once used her 2000 Honda Civic key in my 2002 Acura RSX ignition and it worked.
BIGMEAL
Upgrayedd!
Ikwilstroopwaffels
That was VERY common for GM cars in the 70s and 80s.
plainoldfool
My dad was a mechanic and had one of them 1980s Ford commercial Econovans and lost his keys one day. His buddy also had an Econovan and his key also unlocked and started my Dad's van. It was fucking weird.
Mamaof2QTs
The key to my old house unlocks my new house.
punkwalrus
Years ago, a friend of mine came along to help me check out a used car. Seller said he'd meet us in a commuter parking lot. We found the car, but the owner was missing. My friend said "This is a Chevy, I have an old Chevy door key. 20% chance it will fit." And it did! So we checked out the car, and found it had an obvious valve leak. Few other issues. We called the owner when we got home (pre-cell era), and he said, "So the valve is bad, huh? I knew it...!" Never asked how we got in the car.
Slashenaar
Fun fact: those same companies program the safety and security features today with the same dedication and focus! Minus the 40 additional years of cost-cutting/saving, grinding down the people who actually execute the quality of work, and undermining every support structure of our society like housing policy, commercial zoning policy, transit policy, parking policy, public transits existence, workers' rights, consumer rights repair, etc!
Slashenaar
Oh sorry, the expiration date says 2001, oh hey I won a ticket to see Shrek in theaters!
LuLuPennyAndOdium44
Hey fucking thanks man
Samwall85
I had an '02 Liberty that was dark blue. As I was working as a service advisor I just happened to look out of the window and saw someone driving away with it. I was able to catch up and blocked 'em from leaving the lot just in time. So... There was another blue '02 liberty that a wholesale dealer was picking up that also had the same key as mine! What are the odds? Same year, color, model, and key. That was a strange situation.
ThatHappensToMeSometimes
I had a silver Ford Focus that was pretty popular in the aughts. I’ve done this not once, but twice. I immediately realized it upon sitting down both times though and wasn’t thinking my car spawned a whole moonroof.
SlightChungus
Ford was really bad about this in the 90s we walked around a dealership just trying the door locks with a set of keys to an f150 and how many opened was kinda scary
PrincessBride1
1986 blue Delta 88. Was backing out & sister asked was the bottle of cola on the seat mine. Both door & ignition key matched up to mine.
MoonyT
My family Aerostar Van's keys worked in my aunts Aerostar as well.
empire161
Happened to my grandparents. Grandfather drove the wrong car home. Grandmother figured it out when he gave her someone else’s mail from the front seat. Small town so they knew each other, and just agreed to swap cars the next day.
Spudd86
My Dad had a Mini with a "magic" key. His key opened most other Minis, but the other car's keys wouldn't open his.
Lonecoon
My neighbors across the street had the same blue Buick that my mom had. We went out to the grocery store, got in the car, and it wouldn't start. Looked around for a few minutes, realized it was our neighbor's car, and got back to our car with the neighbors trying to start it. It was surreal.
pjm82
If you have the key to a Mazda b2200, you have the key to all of them
mratio
Searching eBay…brb
veedubfreak
It's not theft if you have a key, right?
GreaseMonkeyOfLove
Same with Ford fleet spec’d vehicles….
pjm82
I may be wrong but I believe for the 80's and 90's version I'm talking about the b2200 and Ford ranger are the same truck underneath
xcelita
That happened to me with a work van and around 2012. My co-worker drove someone else's van for us to load up. Not even the same kind of van.
GreaseMonkeyOfLove
GM had like 9 ignition key patterns, and similar amount of door keys……. for millions of their cars. This used to be a common occurrence.
rusrsdude
Always profit over safety, lol..
PiccPicceringtonVonChesterburgElderberryTheThirdEsquire
I drive a semi for a living. All of our fleet keys are identical for the same model we have on our lots minus the peterbilts that have I think 3 variables? I have 5 keys on my ring and I have access to like 400 trucks. It was similar when I was over the road. My 2009 freightliner key worked in a bunch of people's doors, I remember a guy locking himself out of his truck at a flying J and flagging down a few of us, by like the 3rd key he was in.
ChaoticAtmosphere
Well it is the exact same car. Easy to make a mistake. I'm just wondering how she unlocked a car that's not hers.
STINKPICKEL
Wasn't exact same car, that was a four door with a sunroof, the one she went to was a two door with no sun roof because her car is a convertible. Either staged or she is definitely too drunk to drive.
GreaseMonkeyOfLove
The car wouldn’t have started though, the RFID in her key wouldn't match the registered id numbers in its ECU.
AfterTheRainComesTheRainbow
I had a VL Commodore years ago, the key opened one i mistook for my own, apparently older cars can do that
cosonfused
new ones too
VosperOfAntarctica
It happens a lot. When I was on a beach detachment for my ship while it was deployed, we had a hurricane warning. A bunch of the deployed sailors sent their car keys to us to move them to a safer spot. I got in a Pontiac when GM ignition keys were different from door keys, and the ignition key wouldn't start. turns out I opened the wrong car. Half an hour later, I found the correct car and moved it to the safe spot
Peekari
Ford Ka keys can unlock other Ford Kas. I found that out when I accidentally took my exes daughters boyfriends car to work one night
Nillies
That is a 4 door and hers is a 2 door. They look nothing alike from the side...
WienerFart
I'm more confused how she got a notification on her phone that the moon roof was open
captainpizza
It was a notification on the car display presumably
WienerFart
Oh that makes sense. I forgot how fancy cars are now. I'm still driving my 2005 civic
munkis
I opened my car with a teaspoon from the office when I locked my keys in
lostinamapfactory
Went in through the moon roof?
ActionJohnnie
Unlocking achievement unlocked.
70m4h4wk
We have 4 Chevy trucks at my shop. Different years, different trims, different models. 3 of them open with the same key. A lot of manufacturers only have so many key codes so they just mix and match at random and hope no one finds out. If you take your car keys to a parking lot I guarantee you'll be able to open someone else's car. Just look for the same make as yours
ctotheg2
The other comments in this post explain it: the keys work on multiple same model cars, allowing them to unlock the doors but not necessarily start the engines. Apparently only a limited number of key patterns were produced for each model.
Ultratoxic
The key fobs are limited in frequency, power, etc so across many cars the same lock codes get reused. Same goes for key locks and pin combinations. For both to be the same on two cars could happen but should be super rare. Unless manufacturers have been cutting corners again....
1TrueKingInTheNorth
She didn't, it's fake
mt77932
Companies reused key variations to save money. One key could open several dozen cars.
cinecito360
50% of women can only tell cars apart by color...
bigblindguy
No... it's not an easy mistake to make. Stop accepting mindless actions by people who shouldn't be out and about, nor voting, nor having kids. It's not where they parked, it's not the same reg, it's not the same model. All the houses in a row look the same but you don't just walk into the neighbors.
ChaoticAtmosphere
Her car was literally only 4 spots over. And her car is identical to the one she got into. Driver's side view mirror and colour is exatly the same. Very easy mistake to make. Tell me: Do you have you VIN memorized? Do you check your license plate every time you get to your car? Yeah, I didn't think so.
daddydeezy
They have a different number of doors. He’s right. Also, who the hell wouldn’t know if they had a moonroof for 5 years?!
robnorrisradio
In the 1980s, the US Department of Defense had a contract with Chevrolet for a fleet of light-duty trucks known as CUCVs (Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicles). These diesel-powered vehicles were based on the C10 and C30 pickups and the K5 Blazer. If you had a key to one of them, you could access all of them. The logic (at the time) was that, in a pinch, if you saw one and you had a key, you could use it to drive to safety.
gailforcewinds
Found the one who has never made a mistake ever! 🍀
bigblindguy
I make plenty of mistakes, but I don't forget where I parked and then get into another car just because it is the same brand as mine. They aren't even the same model of car, and her's is ratted while the mistaken one is clean.
SlightlyDodgy
It's extremely easy to get 2 identical cars mixed up if left in close proximity. I know of an incident 35 years ago someone's child was pulled out of their car while they were waiting for parents to return from the shop, because the person doing the removal was mistaken - they parked 1 row behind and both cars were identical, with really unusual combinations of customised features and both had white bonnets from scraped cars after damage, on metalic green bodies. Mistakes happen even today.
bigblindguy
Infact I watched again to make sure I wasn't tripping: they don't even have the same number of doors. The cars look nothing alike other than having four tyres and a steering wheel.
bigblindguy
But they aren't identical cars, that's my point, they have different regs, they are different models of car, and hers has extensive body damage that the other car doesn't have. If they WERE identical I would be closer to understanding.
AsABiologistWhoIsNotFunAtParties
Um her car has 2 doors and she got into one with 4 doors.
TheBraveLittleBroster
datelessbowl
And hers is a retracting hardtop convertible as well. That's a grade A moron there.
PriscillaTheMoonDaemon
nah. She's just imperceptive and probably easily distractable. Dont ask her to find her keys but I bet she could do math and explain her hobbies just fine
Hendlton
And the steering wheel is almost completely different other than the Lexus logo. How is that not the first thing you notice? Also I'd certainly notice that the seat wasn't adjusted to my liking, as soon as I sat in it.
danishjuggler21
I had that happen once - my key worked on another car that was the same model as mine. I was so confused.
BillandTedsUnremarkableTripToCostCo
For me the key turned but jammed. That was when I realized it wasn’t my car. Briefly panicked but was able to dislodge it with some force.
duelpersonality
My mom and Aunt used to have keys that worked in each other's vehicles, and I don't even think they were the same make
lostinamapfactory
Did it have an unexpected moon roof?
danishjuggler21
No. Both it, and my car, had a sun roof. Also, I have no idea the difference betwixt a Sun roof and a moon roof. At night, does my sun roof become a moon roof?
starrs3
Moon roof pops out and doesnt slide back. Sun roof slides back i think and can pop out.
lostinamapfactory
The sun roof is hotter and has more gravity
Shifuede
Many manufacturers only have a few specific key variations to save money, so it's definitely possible.
Ohyesireallydidthat
Bullshit
Azzyryth
Not even close to accurate. Your keycode has six digits, the first two are typically always the same, the last four will vary, that's a metric fuckton of variation, not to account for the digital RF code on your key fob.
Shifuede
I didn't say keycode, I said key... as in a physical key. There are still many models around using keys, so it's entirely possible that a physcial key will unlock the door.
Azzyryth
That's how physical keys are cut, by a code. The code signifies how it's cut, the depth of the groove and position of the tumbler. Source: I've worked in auto repair for over 20 years.
Shifuede
Some makes use a much more limited set for doors, then have a much more complex key for the ignition. Ford/Lincoln/Mercury notoriously use fewer pins and have separate door & ignition keys; the door keys don't use transponder chips. With 5 pins & 8 positions, that's max 390,625 combinations, and they certainly don't use all possible combos. Thus, while not highly probable, it's possible for someone to unlock the door, but not start, someone else's nearly identical vehicle.
alcamar
So many people just never lock their car, even with purses on the front seat. It's disturbing
EricPisch
Insurance won’t payout here if a cars not secured or you leave the keys in it
bronsonmills9
I grew up in the hood. The only way to keep from getting your windows busted is to leave the car unlocked and empty
anitabieror6
where I live many people don't lock their cars so if someone really wants to steal they don't break the windows
cybercry
Yea.. I never lock my doors anymore, someone busted my windows to take my cd keeper..
AllHailMegtaron
Must be an american thing. I never seen someone leaving his car unlocked in europe.
astrangehop
There are some communities inalaska where you legally have to so people can hide from bears.
yeaniaaeon
Buddy of mine did that once on accident went to bed next morning he came back to his car the whole interior was stripped out and only the interior Notting else was removed
SlyMrFox
Worked with a guy in the Air Force, had one of those fobs that let you just open a door in proximity. Accidently dropped it inside and just never bothered to find it. Anyone could take off with it if they wanted to. Too lazy to care.
Snooj
When my locking cylinder fell out of my VW Cabrio for the second time I stopped locking it. Nothing of value in it. Including the car.
mikeatike
*walks out of store* Fuck, the car is still there.
Mistruths
It sure is a striking thought that your car has at least double the value with a full tank
somnif
I had a car that didn't lock, some asshole still broke the window to get in to it. Nothing but a couple empty redbull cans in there...
mikeatike
A friend once locked his keys in his car when visiting our place. They were gonna call a locksmith when my roommate as a joke put the key for his car in the door and it just opened. We then spent 30 minutes trying every key we could find. Every one that would fit in the lock would open it, and most would start the car.
HotCarle
I had an old one. I left it unlocked out of fear that someone would cut the roof to get in. Replacing that roof would cost more than the car was worth.
ILovedUnicornsFirst
I don’t because I don’t have or leave anything worth stealing in there and I prefer that some asshole not bust one of my windows to find that out. But otherwise, yes. It’s good practice.
veedubfreak
Thanks for the F shack. -Dirty Mike and the boys
ILovedUnicornsFirst
They’re not the first. Ha!
RandAIFlagg
10ish years ago a bunch of cars on my street had their windows busted. Mine they just opened the door, dumped my glove box and found nothing of interest.
nomunnywunnytilugetthebunnyhunny
I don't want them to take my car.
ILovedUnicornsFirst
I don’t think driving an automatic makes mine theft proof or anything but it definitely cuts down on the threat. But it’s always possible.
MechanicalRomance
Not really a thing that happens too much. Its far more profitable and less risky to smash and grab then sell to a chop shop.
nomunnywunnytilugetthebunnyhunny
We live in very different areas.
CocaineAndSelfPleasure
In SF people are just leaving windows down or trunks open to show that there’s nothing in there. My ex GF had almost nothing (an empty purse out of sight) in a Turo and motherfuckers broke the window and were gone immediately. Walked out the next day and there was window glass from 10 cars on the street evenly spaced out.
Asadsadsadclown
SF is the car smash and grab capital of the world by a wide margin. Everyone else lock your shit. SF leav it open and obvious