I wrote this to Mazda:

"This is my 3rd Mazda in 7 years and all three of them have this horrible built-in feature. When you turn on the defroster, you only get a choice of air conditioned fresh air. I know that is the most efficient way to defrost the windshield, but that is not all I use those vents for. For instance, say I am defrosted in the winter and don't want to run the air conditioner all the time. I can use fresh outside air and maintain a clear windshield. If some smoker is in front of me and I want recirculating air, it would be nice to vent recycled air conditioned air through the defroster vents so as not to freeze my passengers. I can only assume that Mazda does this to avoid lawsuits from morons who don't understand how to properly defrost windows when needed. In any case why can't you do like my friend's honda and make it automatic but able to override by toggling off the air conditioner. Please make the cars more driver friendly and not moron friendly. Sincerely, Mazda fan."

If any of you hate the way their Mazdas do this, please write to them to try to make a difference.

 

In Mazda's defense, it also causes people to run their compressors regularly which is supposedly good for them.

 

I've heard that on some of the new hondas you can turn it off, but it REALLY doesn't do anything - it was put in there to appease people!