I find that my 8 is slow to warm up in the winter. The problem is getting heat in the cabin in a relatively short time. To me, this is both a comfort and a safety factor. Of course, it will warm up slower in cold weather, but I don't have much heat after about 15 minutes (or more) of driving, and this seems excessive. It's much slower to warm up than most newer cars. I don't want to let it set in the driveway idling to warm up before driving - takes too much gas.

Has anyone observed the same?

I asked about this at my dealer last time in for service. They had my car warm up next to another 8 and both cars took the same time. The cars were indoors on an 80+ degree (F) day. So, sure, it would warm up pretty quick. They didn't know of any solution. The master tech is supposedly going to contact "Mazda engineers". They have received no other complaints. I don't hold out much hope for an answer from the dealer.

Any ideas or suggestions?

 

My experience from last winter was that driveway idling does very little to warm up the rotary (and as you mention it sucks gas like no tomorrow). My best results were from keeping the revs up while driving for the first few miles- not redlining or anything, but instead of shifting at 3 or 4k, leave it in the lower gear (2nd usually) so the revs stay at 4k or so. I drove to work dozens of days last winter that were below zero and used this method to get the heater going good. I just wish the seat heaters didn't cut off at such a low temp.

 

Ya I'm with you on the heated seat issue. Doesn't get too warm. You can cook eggs on the heat seaters of my old Passat.

 

What's a heat seater?

 

Must be a heated person in the seat? Or one with a preexisting hot tush.

 

Haha! I meant seat heater