Does anyone know if the US is getting automatic climate control? There has been some disscusion about this but no real conclusion.

It should be standard, or at least included in the GT package. The Mazda 6s with an MSRP of $21740 includes automatic climate control, so why would the $27200+ RX-8 not have it? Then again, the BOSE package for the 6 includes the 6Disc changer, and the Rx-8's doesn't. Hmm... starting to sound like the RX-8 is not getting a lot of components standard which the 6 does. This doesn't make sense since they look designed to be shared with the 6. Even the difference in standard components between countries is making me wonder. Japan has auto climate control. Seems like the US is getting the shaft.

 

how automatic is the automatic climate control? to me, automatic climate control would be to press the up and down buttons to adjust the temperature in the car and keep it at that temperature...but while looking at the controls, i noticed 2 dials at the bottom: 1 to control how cold or hot (as depicted by red and blue zones) and 1 to adjust amount of air (1 - 5 i believe)...with this configuration, it doesn't seem like the climate control is automatic...also, if you look at the red LCD screen, to the very right it does show a temperature...but the RX-8 detects "outside ambient temperature" so that number may just be for outside temperatures (i read this standard option in the brochure)...

 

The "amount of air" dial only comes into effect if you switch the climate control off and revert to manual control. The system seems to work ok but it's hard for me to judge as my wife and I are always arguing about what temperature to have it in the car! I noticed in the manual that the back seat passengers get some air from under the front seats.

 

People seem to differ on this, but I actually prefer non-auto climate control. All the auto systems I've used don't do what I want them to do. They aren't bad, but I'd just as well adjust the fan and temperature myself. Admittedly, there's only 3-4 auto climate systems I've had longish exposure to, so maybe they're just bad systems.

 

For those who don't know, here are photos of the different controls.

Automatic

 

Manual

 

JSG, which do you have?

 

I have the first of the two you posted. It's pretty self explanatory. The mode button steps through the different places the air can come out, showing you on a display next to the temperature on the display at the top of the centre console. The buttons on the left and right of that control the front and rear demisting. In climate control A/C is on but can be switched off in manual. Bottom button is where air comes from (inside/outside). Push the right button to switch on climate, push the left to switch it off.

 

The new 8 brochure shows an interior picture with the manual.

 

BTW, am I the only one who thinks Mazda blew a really cool chance here to make these ***** rotor-shaped as well?

 

Watta goooood point. Why the heck? THIS would have been nice indeed! I didn't think about this before, too.

 

Rotor shaped ***** may not have flowed with the rest of the dash...or might have been overkill. It's like saying why didn't Mazda make the air vents rotor shaped? Or the instument guage cluster? I think the rotor accents they already added are awesome; they're definitely noticable without being overkill. JMO.

 

"rotor accents" are just that, no point ramming the rotor shape down the occupants throats everywhere they look, have some sublty.

JSG you say the internal/external switch controls AC on/off?

Can you have normal (external/internal) without the AC on?

 

True, but the twin ***** of the climate control just look like they're crying out to be rotor shaped (especially as a point of each rotor could be used as a position indicator...)

 

The automatic climate control must be available in the USA, either as standard or as part of the GT package.
My reasoning is thus:
Automatic climate control exists in Japan, therefore Mazda produces it. It is not listed as a separate option (like the CD changer, NAV etc) therefore it must be available in the USA without being an port or dealer option. Probably an undocumented part of the GT package as a standard AC system also exists.

 

I think you'll get climate control as part of the GT package in the US - but that's just my guess.

Rob: on the middle control: top button does AC/on off & bottom button is a rocker switch (left and right) to control where the air comes from (outside or recirc)

 

We don't get the white in the US either so I wouldn't be positive that we would get the Automatic climate control.

I think there is a 50% chance that just GT people are going to get it. They get heated mirrors and heated seats - why not auto climate control?

But don't be mad if it doesn't, it clearly says in the printable spec sheet that the climate control is "manual" and standard that way for all trim models.

-Mr. Wigggles

 

To let everyone know, it's final. From the book, "The climate control system for North America is a logic-control type; Europeans get a fully automatic system."

All I can say is "WTF!?!"

I don't understand this at all. Once again, Europe and Japan get Automatic Climate Control... The Mazda 6 has it.... Pretty much any new car over $25k has it... WTF? All the cars that Mazda compares it against have it. The RX-8 is supposed to be the brand image maker, but has lower quality features then the Mazda 6? Who is the genius that made this decision? I'm pretty ticked off. It's not a deal breaker, but how much more could it have cost them to put it in? Especially since its used elsewhere already. I'm starting to wonder what else we don't get.

Can one of you with contacts at Mazda ask them why we don't get the Automatic Climate Control?

 

Because we're perfectly capable of adjusting the controls ourselves? Perhaps they might have included it in the GT package, but I'm happy without it.

 

It's not about being capable, its about convience and having comparable component levels for the price.

 

I can roll down a window just fine, why do they have to make that power???

 

Given the design of the doors it would probably be more problematic to come up with a functional, crash-worthy manual window design than to just put in a window regulator and a switch...

 

eh, it's a matter of principle now...they get it, we don't...it's a matter of convenience as well...i'd rather set the temperature to a certain level and have the climate control adjust the heat/cold so i don't have to...the new 2003 Accord priced considerably less than the 8 has auto climate control for driver AND passenger...that's just sad...


i'm pretty sure he was being sarcastic...

 

This happened with the FC3S (2nd gen RX-7) in 1985 when it was introduced. The Japanese market got the automatic climate control, but this side of the Pacific didn't get it I don't see Mazda's reasoning of not including it on the US models. I mean the Mazda6 and the non-North American RX-8's get it, why don't we? Maybe they'll come to their senses and offer it as standard equipment in later model years. That won't help our cars, unforunately.

 

Was does "logic-control type" mean? It actually sounds better than "fully automatic system". "Logic-control type" is a pretty ridiculous term for "manual" climate control.

-Mr. Wigggles