I have seen a couple sites advertise these things. What is the point of them?

 

To make you feel like you're in a real racecar!

 

Don't know which (new) ones you've seen but in the old cars (even as recent as early Spridgets, Minors and Minis through the mid 60's) initial component cost and inevitable maintenance made separate ignition and starter functions more appealing - some cars also had a starter button under the bonnet so one could turn the engine over when doing things like adjusting points and rockers.
In some race cars where high amperage was needed to turn the starter of a high-compression motor, the switch had to be by itself so as to avoid frying the rest of the harness with all those amps.

 

I have one in my 91 ford Festiva - connected to unused rear wiper switch and works great :smile
Not going to do this to my mini....

 

So, if the MINI had a push button start, then you'd have to insert the key. Turn it to the on position. Then press and hold the button until the engine fired. Right?

 

right ... that's the routine ...

 

Not a routine I want to take up...

 

What if it was one of the toggle switches instead of a button?

 

the new BMW 7 series has this- the key isn't a key at all it's just a square that inserts directly into the dash and then you press the brake (on the auto tran) and push the start button. to release the 'key' you push the same start/stop button and push in 'key' again and it pop out. very interesting- but the car is complicated to drive- none of the features are self-explanatory... i tried valet parking the beast the other day (dad's car- not mine) and the valet had no idea how to put it in park