Locate an Auto Repair Shop in Mt Baldy, California

They do not come one unless headlight sw is on. Well let’s say when I first start the car for a trip and the sun is not out I remember to turn on the Headlights then I stop for gas. It beeps at me to turn off the lights. The Sun is out. I continue on my trip with Headlights OFF since w/sunlight I can read the dash. Then a cloud blocks the sun, I drive past a MT or hill and the car is now in the shade. I can not read the Speedo. A sign appears 25MPH. and I’m actually going 70MHP. Do I quickly take hand off wheel, fumble switch, take eyes off the road to turn on the headlights? Do I jam on the Brakes and get rear ended. Do I guess my speed is safe and end up in the ditch or in a HEAD ON COLLISION?

I just looked at the 5 minute video included in the full Media Kit (available via link above). A few things I noticed: * The center stack looked richer than on the current sedan. * The back seat folds FLAT, with the seat bottoms folding up also--just like on the old Elantra GT hatch! * The stick shift knob is snazzier than on the sedan. Also I see that there's a panoramic sunroof. I am hoping that isn't standard. I noticed there's a lot of equipment on this car, including standard front seat heaters and 17" alloys. So I am hoping the base price isn't too stratospheric. If they could keep it under $20k with cloth, MT, no options, that would be pretty good. But it would bump up against some other fine hatches, including the Mazda3i Touring, Impreza Premium, Focus SE, and Golf. FWIW, my 2004 GT listed at $17.4k with every option available at that time, including moonroof, ABS/traction, 15" alloys (standard), and leather (leather was standard back then). The new GT has much more equipment, however. My price was $13.2k + TTL. Don't think the new one will be anywhere close to that!

Yay! My 2004 Elantra GT hatch has been a great car for us (my son uses it as his college car now), and I had pushed the Elantra way down my shopping list for my next car (summer 2013 purchase) because it was sedan-only, vs. hatches like the Mazda3, Focus, Impreza, and Golf. But NOW... suddenly the Elantra vaults way up my list because of the GT. Can't wait to see/drive it. Glad to see it will be offered with an MT. I hope Hyundai has one at the Greater Twin Cities Auto Show next month. I think that's very possible because I know HMA has used the same cars in the past for Chicago and Twin Cities... in fact my 2004 GT was one of those cars!

Per the Press Release from Mazda earlier this week, it looks like one can (or at least will be able to) opt for a fairly well tarted up Mazda3 i GT with the SkyActiv-G motor; it remains to be seen if you can opt for all of the goodies one can order with the Mazda3 s GT (you know, things like dual-zone climate control and keyless entry/push-button start). http://www.insideline.com/mazda/mazda3/2012/2012-mazda-3-with-skyactiv-starts-at- -19245.html Full press release: Mazda Announces Pricing of 2012 Mazda3 With SKYACTIV® TECHNOLOGY - Popular Compact Offers Up to 40 MPG (Highway) and Lower Starting MSRP - IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today announced pricing of its refreshed 2012 Mazda3 compact vehicle, including the first application of the brand's all-new fuel-efficient and performance-oriented SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY. Available as both a sedan and hatchback, Mazda3 commands more than 40 percent of Mazda's year-to-date sales, and is by far the best-selling vehicle in the brand's line-up. "The Mazda3 is the core of the Mazda line-up and continues to be the standard by which all other compact cars are measured," said Jim O'Sullivan, president and CEO, MNAO. "Because of the importance of this critical vehicle to Mazda sales success, we chose to debut our revolutionary SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY in Mazda3, as well as bring the i SV model to market at a lower starting MSRP than the previous year." The Mazda3 i SV sedan starts at an impressive $15,200(1) MSRP, which is a price drop from the previous model year. Styling is updated with a revised front fascia and Mazda-distinctive five-point grille opening. Inside, new cloth seats and a bold, black cabin accentuates intuitive controls and panels. Paired with the dependable 148-horsepower MZR 2.0-liter engine, the Mazda3 i SV sedan is the first stop in Mazda's performance-geared, fuel-efficient line of sporty compacts. Moving up to the Mazda3 i Sport, the 2012 model sees the addition of remote keyless entry as standard equipment. The Mazda3 i Sport sedan starts at $16,845 MSRP and is optionally available with the five-speed Sport automatic transmission. Mazda3 i SV and Sport trims are not available on five-door models. Mazda3 i Touring models swap the MZR engine for the all-new SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter gasoline engine, and is EPA-rated to achieve 40 mpg on the highway. MSRP for the sedan model starts at $18,450. SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY is a suite of fun-to-drive and fuel-saving technologies, debuting with a SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter engine that produces 155 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque. The all-new engine offers five percent more horsepower than the standard MZR 2.0-liter engine as well as 10 percent more peak torque, 15 percent more low- to mid-range torque and up to 21 percent better fuel economy. And, unlike competitors in the segment, the SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter engine is available on a host of different trim levels to benefit the most customers possible. In addition, the hatchback model will be available for the first time in the U.S. with a 2.0-liter engine, priced from $18,950 for the Mazda3 i Touring hatchback with SKYACTIV-G, and boasts an EPA-rated 39 mpg on the highway, which is best-in-class for compact five-doors. All i Touring and Grand Touring models are available with the all-new SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual transmission or the all-new SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic transmission (an additional $850 MSRP for either sedan or hatchback model). Building off the Mazda3 i Touring model is the all-new i Grand Touring trim level, also available in both sedan and hatchback body styles. Mazda3 i Grand Touring models provide class-competitive fuel efficiency as well as high-value standard features such as a power moonroof, power driver's seat, leather-trimmed seats, heated front seats, a Bose® Centerpoint® 10-speaker Surround Sound System with AudioPilot® and a full-color navigation system with a multi-information display (MID). Mazda3 i Grand Touring sedan models start at $22,300 MSRP with five-door models starting at $22,800. Other standard equipment for i Touring and Grand Touring models are an all-new 16-inch aluminum alloy wheel design, a leather-wrapped shift knob and steering wheel as well as a trip computer. A Moonroof & Bose® Audio Package is available for i Touring models ($1,400) while an updated Technology Package featuring rain-sensing windshield wipers, self-leveling bi-xenon headlights, automatic headlights, Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), Sirius satellite radio and a perimeter alarm. A segment-exclusive Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) System is available for i Grand Touring models ($1,400). Available in Touring and Grand Touring trims, Mazda3 s models are equipped with an MZR 2.5-liter engine that boasts 167 horsepower and 168 lb-ft of torque. Starting at $21,300 MSRP for the sedan and $21,800 for the hatchback, new standard features for s models are all-new 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, the Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry & Start System with push-button start, a moonroof, a dual zone automatic climate control system and a Bose® Centerpoint® 10-speaker Surround Sound System with AudioPilot®. Navigation is now standard on all s Grand Touring models. Equipped with an MZR 2.3-liter Direct Injection Spark Ignition (DISI) engine, the top-of-the-line MAZDASPEED3 has an output of 263 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. The vehicle starts at $24,000 MSRP and is equipped with 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels and a Bose® Centerpoint® 10-speaker Surround Sound System with AudioPilot®. Other standard MAZDASPEED-only treatments include: sport-tuned exhaust, larger front brakes, sport independent front and rear suspension, a limited slip differential with the Mazda Advanced Torque Management System, larger front and rear stabilizer bars, distinctive red and black interior styling with similar-fashioned leather-and-cloth Sport seats, scuff plates, black leather-wrapped shift knob as well as a unique front fascia, fenders and hood. A MAZDASPEED3 Technology Package is the only packaging option with an MSRP of $2,135, and adds features such as navigation, Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) System, Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), self-leveling bi-xenon headlights, automatic headlights, Sirius satellite radio, a perimeter alarm, rain-sensing windshield wipers and the Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry & Start System with push-button start. Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif. and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario; and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. (1) Starting price is manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for lowest trim level. MSRP does not include $795 destination charge (Alaska $840), title, tax

even more closely comparable than the Camry 5AT is the Ford Fusion 2.5L 6AT, one of which I rented in Wash DC and drove to upstate NY, last month. This car has exactly the same engine my '10 MZ3s has, and is geared similarly high or even higher, 1600 or 1700 rev/mile if I recall, and in a somewhat larger heaving chassis. Performance was fine, and fuel economy was as good or better than I get in my 3. I suspect that Mazda feels that MT drivers still like to be lazy and get fairly good pickup in the highest gear, even without a downshift. I say, use 5th gear for that if you insist. Automatics kickdown automatically out of such high gears at the drop of a hat, of course. I too am very curious to see and hear about the "sky" engine version. My own preferences, along with manuals, are to get all the gizmos. My car has leather, sunroof, Bose, steering headlights, memory seat positions, etc. and I like all that stuff very much (well not the steering lights, the experience has been completely underwhelming). Will the fanciest '12 MZ3s come with the sky engine? I hope so.