I didn't know our window switches were designed with a safety feature
 

The reason you have to pull up on the switch to raise the window is so that a child can not accidentally close the window on his neck. This is a safety feature not all cars have. Now you know the rest of the story.

ooo, whatcha know...all this time i thought it was just to annoy the hell out of me..hehe.

I found it odd at first, but have learned to actually like pushing/pulling up the switch and I commend Mazda for actually paying attention to the little details. For those of us that have kids, we wish all vehicle manufacturers would follow suit. Just my $0.02 cents.

The safety of the window is the reason there is no Auto-up feature on windows or Auto-close on sunroofs.

My friend has a Jetta with auto UP windows. I tried it with my hand in the way and once it made contact it retacted. My Mini Cooper had on touch close for the sunroof to with the same kind of safety feature.

Personally I'd love to have auto down and auto up on both windows. Hell, I'd be happy with just auto down on both.

The reason why you have to pull up on the switch is so no child or even adult can accidentally hurt themselves if they rest their arm or hand on the switch, while having their head out the window. Not to mention it is common sense to pull UP on the switch to close the window and down to open it. I don't consider that a safety feature. Toyotas have a feature to make sure the windows wouldn't be able to pop a balloon. Thus, not life threatening to children or pet with head/hand out the window.

maybe it is me but I don't find the window switches intuitive at all. When I first got the car I was always doing the opposite of what I wanted to do, even now I still make the window go down when I want it to go up sometimes. At least now I know why.

Hell yes. Anyone have any ideas about installing autodown on the passenger window (from the drivers door)?

I don't know the nuts and bolts of how the autodown window switches actually work, and I'm probably just fantasizing here, but maybe just purchase an extra drivers window button and replace the current passenger window button?

I would love to have at least auto-down on the passenger as well.

Yes, I was wondering that when I got the car. I would always pull up to raise the window down. I thought I have seen it on Subaru models as well but I may be mistaken.

now every time I use the window I'm gonna think of some kids neck getting stuck in it

LOL

My UK 8 has auto up and down on the drivers side.

My old BMW 5 series had auto up and down on every window and on the sunroof.

I imagine that we could just purchase two of the driver's side auto up and down switches from the UK and replace ours. Anyone know for sure? I would be interested. I had auto up/down on my BMW and my wife has it on her Audi. I miss it. I will do my best not to let my kids climb all over my 8 when I get them and my dogs don't get to ride in my car.

I would rather be required to hold the buttom to make the window go up then have it stop going up or worse go down if something gets in the way. to me that seems like a hazard if someone is trying to reach into your car and grab you or your stuff and the window stops and worse opens back up... then what??

Then you pull out your automated intruder immobilization device (or gatt if you will) and blast the fool in the face.

My wife's 2001 Volvo S60 T5 has auto-down AND auto-up on both front windows, even after you turn off the key (but not remove it from the switch). As soon as it detects an intrusion, it reopens. I made them demo this with the Volvo reps head before I would believe it.

You get pretty used to it.

Look, it's not a safety feature. It's a cheapy feature. My old A4 had auto up/down for all windows and the sunroof.

It would cost more to make the auto up/down and the system needs to automatically open if it detects something in it's path.

Overall I love my 8, I just find some of the detail execution on the cheap side....
1) The stupid rod to hold up the hood.
2) The auto down on the drivers window only.
3) The switches feel alittle on the chintsy side as does the
center console.

My old A4 and my current Audi Allroad feel like tanks. The RX-8 feels much cheaper.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy Mazda put their money into engine and suspension development.

What ever happened to "rolling down" or "rolling up" the window. I kinda miss the exercise. No safety issue then either.

Great idea as a safety feature, but MAN do those switches kill me...

Still, my switch fumbling is worth saving a life.

Probably not a big deal, but here would be the ultimate window upgrades for our cars:

• Power for all four windows
• Auto Open for all four Windows
• Auto Close for all four Windows
• Anti-Pinch (Auto Retract) on all four Windows
• All Open/All Close by using key in Door Lock (like VW)

How do you get auto up and auto down for the back windows? :confused:

I don't have any problem with it...pull up for up, push down for down.

I *do* wish the windows had auto up as well as auto down (on both sides). Other car manufacturers do it (such as Infiniti and Audi), and I haven't heard of any crushed heads or whatever as a result.

OK, smart Aleck; I reworded it, but I betcha knew what I meant. :p

I thought maybe you had a special "8" with rear roll down windows or something. ;)

That would be sweet, but not worth the extra weight or expense or complexity. Which comment perhaps applies to my whole list. :( (One reason I avoided the GT package.)

True. This is my first car in a very long time with power windows, so I find it funny that so many people complain about not having "auto-up/down" because it's too much of a bother to hold a button down for an entire second :p