issieman, My (2006 55 reg) 6 is an auto with manual option, never heard it called Activematic though. Operates in exactly the same way as the DSG box on my wife's VW Touran, i.e. you can shift the lever to the left when in drive to allow manual changes up and down. The annoying thing is that in the Mazda, you pull the lever back to change up, and push forwards to change down. In the Touran, it's the opposite (forward to change up a gear, backwards to change down). So I have to think about it and have got it wrong in the Mazda a few times.
In the first week of having the Mazda I managed to completely forget I'd switched it to manual once, and revved the bejaysus out of it in first waiting for it to change up when coming off a roundabout. In manual, the car stil changes down to first automatically when you come to a standstill. So watch out for that! Haven't done it again, I had kittens when I realised what was happening, as the rev counter was well in the red.
I've noticed that both boxes don't allow you to manually change up if the car thinks you're doing it too early. You push the gear lever but nothing happens.
Of the two, I find the Mazda's gear box smoother and I find it changes up when I want it to more reliably than the Touran, which has a tendency not to change up to 4th as early as I'd like sometimes. Although that might be an illusion caused by the diesel Touran's engine note compared to the petrol 6.
Edited by Alanovich on 09/04/2009 at 11:50
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Both my Mondeo diesel and my Signum petrol are manuals. Both have CC. Neither seems to speed up beyond the set speed on the CC when travelling down a steep hill. Maybe it's just that there is sufficient engine braking. I don't know really but I am old enough to think of the whole thing as really clever and almost certainly a form of witchcraft.
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Some years ago i remember folks raving about CC on the caravan forum i visit.
I assumed that the control aspect meant the car would be kept at the set speed, which should include braking. i will try mine down hill when i think to.
This 2009 xtrail i have has CC, my first car with it, also auto lights, and auto wipers.
All a waste of space, i'll give a little on the wipers, but not the other two.
I only drive in the UK, and on the number of occasions that i have tried to use CC, i've just given it up as a bad job.
My lad says its great in those long 50mph stretches on the motorway. Well i've tried it and every time i've had to cancel it. Set it to 50mph, someone what's to do 45mph, waste of time.
Set to 50mph on the A57 other day, caught up to the traffic queue doing 40mph.
CC is a total waste of time. Sure in america, australia, perhaps france etc, but in the uk not a chance.
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CC is a total waste of time. Sure in america australia perhaps france etc but in the uk not a chance.
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Sounds like you dont know how or where to use CC, or auto anything.
Edited by Old Navy on 09/04/2009 at 13:13
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I collected new my Mazda5 sport on Saturday. It is the first car I have owned with cruise control. I used to dismiss cc as a waste of time, but I have to eat humble pie. So far I have used it every day. Its great.
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When i worked, it was as an electrician, technician, technical maintenance engineer, process control technicain, i finnish my final years on PLC, and SCARDA systems.
So i think i am sufficiently technically minded, and i am a avid gadget man, i have remote control lights in my lounge for example, because it is usefull.
On a 2 hour jounrney, down the A1. My speed varied constantly from 80mph down to 30mph, traffic was heavy, as usual, how do you expect to USEFULLY use CC, under these situations.
In the end it was easier to lift and lower my right foot.
Edited by xtrailman on 09/04/2009 at 15:30
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>>how do you expect to USEFULLY use CCunder these situations.
Simple, you dont. And if you do, you dont know how or when to use it.
Edited by Old Navy on 09/04/2009 at 15:33
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I think the point being made by xtrailman is that the "when to use it" occasions in this country are pretty much zilch for for many of us. I rarely leave a 40-odd mile radius of Reading these days, and I almost never drive after about 6pm, nor before 8am. On any kind of road around here at those times of day, cruise control is as much use as a one legged man in a backside kicking contest.
If I drove at night on long journeys, I'm sure I'd find it useful in all probability. So, at the moment in my life, I'd really not be bothered if my car didn't have it. I'd swap mine for a nice sunroof in a heartbeat.
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Exactly, all you have to do is read the post I made yesterday at 14:38. For example I often drive between Glasgow and Carlisle on CC all the way.
Edited by Old Navy on 09/04/2009 at 15:58
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Well if you meant to say its usfull to use in the middle off the night, why don't you say so?
I'm not a mind reader.
But i do know when something is more trouble than it worth.
I can promote the xtrail satnav voice recognition system, its brilliant, push a button on the steering wheel, shout "destination" and on the next promt shout "home" and the route is sorted.
Not set up the phone side yet, but expect the same sort of thing.
Along with the reversing camera, useful.
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Well if you meant to say its usfull to use in the middle off the night why don't you say so?
Because I dont drive long distance at night, do you know the M74 or driving conditions in the almost 400 miles of the UK that exists north of Carlisle?
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do they have roads up there?
i thought it was just sheep.
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Ironic all this bickering, as surely an x-trail would be more at home north of Carlisle!
;-)
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He probably couldnt handle the lack of traffic, and laid back lifestyle. Thats why I dont live in London any more.
Edited by Old Navy on 09/04/2009 at 16:40
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I live near sheffield. No quite roads here.
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Mr Xtrail,
As you live about 200 miles from the south coast and about 500 from the wet bit at the top, I would reccomend exploring the big bit to the north, miles of beautiful beaches on the west coast, mountains from Perth up, distileries welcome visitors with free tasters, the possibilities are endless. I live here by choice, not because I was born here or have to. Cruise control works here too, (motoring link).
You are not Mr X are you?
Edited by Old Navy on 09/04/2009 at 16:56
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No not "X", was "cess", when i was at work, must admit fort william is the furthest north i've been.
I tow a caravan, and enjoy fishing, so apart from the scenery i don't find much to draw me up past newcastle, were my lad lives.
Had a couple of pleasent hols around Ulswater in the lakes, but it seems to rain a lot.
To be honest the peak district, a few miles away takes some beating, but its a traffic nightmare.
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