Brrrr! How are people keeping their feet warm in a 2014 Mazda 3?

[dups]

the heads-up display was totally worthless (at 6 foot tall, I couldn't adjust it upward enough to see the HUD without slouching or lowering my seat);

I hate to say I can't offer anything helpful regarding cold feet. I had that problem big time in my 2005 Mazda 6 with my feet always freezing. I haven't noticed the issue with my MZ3 sGT hatch though. Though I will say I'm not in as cold temperatures as you are.

I found your comment interesting though about the HUD - you sure you didn't adjust it correctly in the infotainment? There is settings in there for its height. I only mention it cause I'm 6ft as well and have no problem getting the HUD adjusted to a useful spot for me. In fact, I absolutely LOVE the HUD.

 

[WildMidwest]

I hate to say I can't offer anything helpful regarding cold feet. I had that problem big time in my 2005 Mazda 6 with my feet always freezing. I haven't noticed the issue with my MZ3 sGT hatch though. Though I will say I'm not in as cold temperatures as you are.

I found your comment interesting though about the HUD - you sure you didn't adjust it correctly in the infotainment? There is settings in there for its height. I only mention it cause I'm 6ft as well and have no problem getting the HUD adjusted to a useful spot for me. In fact, I absolutely LOVE the HUD.

I didn't do anything with Infotainment. I figured that would be something to try on a warmer day, along with iPod / VBR mp3 playback, to find out what a Hungarian user interface looks and sounds like. My dealer suggested I manually adjust the HUD, and I moved it forward and backward multiple clicks but I could never get the HUD it to rock back far enough to come into view without adjusting my seat downward, slouching, or reclining backward more than is comfortable. I thought this was strange because there was a good 3-4 inches between the top of my head and the moonroof and I have long legs & average torso. I'll look for that setting in Infotainment next time I try a sGT. I read that 25.xx changed HUD behavior, and the car I drove probably did not have the latest firmware.

Does the HUD height setting "stick", or do you have to readjust it every time? I expect lots of Mazda Infotainment usability issues, which is probably a good bet after the pain experienced by MyFordTouch and Lincoln owners, though Mazda seems to be pushing updates faster than Ford. I read MZ3 Infotainment software is now up to v27.

Regarding manual transmission 2.5L sGTs, cars.com locates one with a VIN number outside Chicago. I have my doubts that it really exists, as some Chicagoland dealers routinely link fleet vehicles or cars-on-order. It seems like a bait and switch maneuver, and I won't do business with dealers who play bait and switch. This particular dealership is not one I visited before. Maybe they have an actual 2.5L MT on the lot.

 

[Young-nyc]

WildMidwest
DO NOT adjust your HUD manually or should I say physically. That is not how it's done and sorry to say your dealer is very unknowledgeable for telling you to do it this way.
I'm surprised it hasn't broken.
Go to the settings menu on your navigation screen and there should be an option for display.
After that, go to HUD settings and adjust the height.

 

[WildMidwest]

The salesman, who I know has been with this dealership since I visited there three years ago, admitted he had never been in a 3 sGT and didn't really know much about the car. He must know how to sell cars sufficiently to keep his job, or maybe he is a relative of the owner and doesn't need to know cars. Frankly he's no worse than many others in the business and not pushy or irritating like some.

 

[dups]

The salesman, who I know has been with this dealership since I visited there three years ago, admitted he had never been in a 3 sGT and didn't really know much about the car. He must know how to sell cars sufficiently to keep his job, or maybe he is a relative of the owner and doesn't need to know cars. Frankly he's no worse than many others in the business and not pushy or irritating like some.

This doesn't surprise me. I was incredibly well informed about the tech of the car as that really appealed to me so it was something I played with immediately. The salesman at my dealer said it looked like I was more comfortable with it than he was. They really should know better about the hud though. The owners manual very clearly says not to touch the hud at all. It is meant to be adjusted in the settings of the infotainment.

In the settings it is referred to as AD-DS or something like that. It also does remember and maintain height. It's a set it and forget it setting. You'd be surprised what other settings are in there for the vehicle as well.

I'm not sure what all exactly the latest v27 update fixed but I have had it for 5 days no and have not encountered any issues.

 

[CXVille]

On the slow warm up issue. After reading this thread, I checked my car tonight and watched the temperature as displayed on a Scan Gauge from the OBDII port. After less than a mile it was up to 141 F and heat was just starting from the vents. About this time I reached a stoplight. The temperature dropped to 135 or so. I sat at the light for over a minute and the temp went down, not up. Once I started moving and got back up to 60 mph, the temperature continued on up.

I suspect the cars are very efficient and don't require much cooling at idle, and the heater core was pulling all the heat from the engine that it made at idle. So, if you find it slow to heat up, I understand why. Not sure there is much you can do, besides drive it harder!!

 

[brandini]

You were attempting to warm the car up while running frigid air through a heat exchanger... it's been covered.

Leave the fan off until you reach 170 or so and it will make a world of difference.

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

my cx-5 doesn't really start to heat up until the oil temp light (blue) has disappeared and oil is at operating temp. once it's going I usually end up turning it down because it gets too hot.

 

[ZOOMazda]

In Scandinavia we have a extra electrical heater, so its blowing warm air instantly. (the same on 6 and cx5)

 

[CXVille]

You were attempting to warm the car up while running frigid air through a heat exchanger... it's been covered.

Leave the fan off until you reach 170 or so and it will make a world of difference.

And how would you know when it reaches 170? Mine has never gotten above 184 and normally runs 174 according to the OBDII readout. I have never seen a car so slow to warm, especially at only 30 F ambient. While I have not repeated this at 170, and idling, I will see if the situation arises. I suspect it will slowly cool down, since I believe it has very little thermal mass.

my cx-5 doesn't really start to heat up until the oil temp light (blue) has disappeared and oil is at operating temp. once it's going I usually end up turning it down because it gets too hot.

The blue light on my MZ3 goes off at between 130-135. It then blows warm air, but when I stopped immediately after that, the temp started decreasing. If I keep the load up, just driving, not stopped, the heat continues, and as you said, gets very hot and I turn it down.