I've had a Mazda6 to try since Friday for a few days. A nice car but a little unsure about the interior. More so the poor entertainment/audio system. (Satnav is a bit slow to interact but TomTom based and supports live services) but....
... The model has keyless entry and start. And a warning about pacemakers. Mother in law has a pacemaker. Could be a non-starter as I'd want the Sport model to get xenons etc. So do we really need to approach cardiologists in the pacemaker clinic? Mother-in-law asked about a heated lap blanket and someone came to MRI to test that too! But a car... I can see why it will be a problem but surely this is all tested??
P.S. Who updates the make/model lists which are now way out of date.
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If a pacemaker is vulnerable to keyless entry systems there's a problem with the pacemaker, not the car...
I wouldn't be worried.
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Not a very logical warning when you think about it. Does the handbook tell you to look around every car park for people who look as if they might have a pacemaker before locking/unlocking the car?
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>>I've had a Mazda6 to try since Friday for a few days.
How do you find the ride, rtj? A couple of reviews that I've read suggests that it's rather on the firm side.
Pity they've discontinued the 5 door.
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Car door openers generally use a shared waveband near 430MHz. I can transmit quite legally in most of the UK at 26dBw (400 watts) not that far away.
'Warnings' about things mis-behaving are partially a back covering exercise, and on occasion, plain straightforward poor design. Medical stuff is generally very well designed.
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The ride on the 19" wheels is firm but comfortable. My biggest issue is the stereo head unit. The interface is poor to say the least. And the inside does feel cheap to me.
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>> Does the handbook tell you to look around every car park for people who look as if they might
>> have a pacemaker before locking/unlocking the car?
It's not the opening of the car that appears to be the problem - it's the 3 antennas in the car checking for the presence of the key for unlocking and starting it. Apparently you can have it disabled but then to start the car you have to hold the key against the start button.
Last edited by: rtj70 on Sun 13 Apr 14 at 12:53
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I should have added the range is less than a metre for the antennas communicating with the key. If you've set it up for auto locking, stepping away from the car with all doors and boot closed will lock it. You don't need to move more than a couple of feet.
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I was told by someone else with a pacemaker that hybrid or electric cars could interfere with the devices. The people in the pacer clinic said it was just playing safe and not to worry... but I still do, a bit. I will be on the alert for odd sensations if I ever get a ride in a Prius.
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I am sure they are just playing it safe. Had I not decided to look at the manual last night I'd have never known.
The signal from the antennas of the keyless system must be low to only work within 80cm of the car (or inside). Far more powerful signals flying around. I know mother-in-law told not to put a mobile phone near her heart... but surely the signals for GSM/3G/4G mobiles are all around us without needing one on your person.
It's probably all aimed at the US where they will sue for anything and everything. But I'd need to check this out.
Thing is about the car, I think the outside looks great. The inside is just okay but it's comfortable and plenty of go in the 150PS engined car. More torque than in my 168PS VW. And I'd get it for about £80pm than my current car costs me this tax year... Hard to justify something more expensive that doesn't look as good if you know what I mean.
Golf GTD to try on Tuesday.
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>> Golf GTD to try on Tuesday.
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Hope you enjoy it, I got my new one 3 weeks ago after a test in December. I have to say I am very pleased with it engine / gearbox are actually smoother & quieter than my previous 318D which I would not have said was noisy or rough.
Performance is probably about the same but the VW somehow feels livelier. SWMBO has been impressed by the quiet & comfort & kids (all in their 20s ish) heve been impressed by the performance, fun & gadget level, so I somehow seem to have managed to please all of the people concerned all of the time.
It's the fewest extras I have ordered for years and the best equipped car I have had.
On the original point (see threads don't all drift :-) ), have been amazed in the last few years how many things have some warnings in the small print for standby pacemakers. Most of them we have managed to get reassurance about when we checked. The only thing which did affect my wife's pm was an over officious security guard who despite being warned managed to not just get too close but actually touched SWMBO with the "bat" scanner. Having checked with the cardiac dept it was recorded on the device as an event but did not affect the operation of the device.
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I hope there's a few of the extras on the Golf demo that I want. Like leather seats and sat nav both of which are extras on the GTD. Sat nav is even standard on the GT so it's to get the GTD at a particular price point I guess.
I do quite like the Mazda - the interior isn't up to VAG standards though.
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Don't know if the spec has changed, satnav was standard on my early January order, leather was extra which I didn't take electronic handbrake is a big no-no for some people but I like it
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Sat nav still isn't standard according to the VW site. It is for the GT. It is not for the GTD.
Does sound quite sporty* when you floor the accelerator. Not a diesel sound IMO. Not gone far in it yet. I have it until Thursday.
* I do wonder if this car has the Sport & Sound pack. If it does then that's £255 I'd not spend.
Last edited by: rtj70 on Tue 15 Apr 14 at 17:55
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Never know AC, it might have all manner of interesting side effects !
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From Medtronic a major US manufacturer of pacemakers
"Even though Medtronic heart devices are designed to resist radio frequency fields, we recommend maintaining a distance of 6 inches between his heart device and both the remote activator and the radiating antennas on or in the car.
By definition, the keyless ignition system consists of the remote activator that is carried and the antennas in and on the car that radiate radio frequency fields. When close to the car, the remote activator detects this signal from the car and sends a signal back to the car that unlocks the doors and activates the button that starts the car. Generally these antennas are located in the areas of the car where it would be unlikely for a heart device to be affected (more than 6 inch distance when you are entering, riding in or opening the trunk). You can verify the antenna locations by referencing your car manual or contacting your dealer or car manufacturer.
A patient may experience temporary interference (feeling light headed or dizzy) if the heart device is closer than the 6 inch guideline. If the patient experiences this, moving away from the source of interference will allow the device to resume its normal function. Any interference from the keyless ignition system will not damage or reprogram a heart device. "
Last edited by: CGNorwich on Sun 13 Apr 14 at 17:03
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We have keyless entry and start on our S-Max, and I have to say that it is one thing I will avoid in future cars (along with no spare wheel).
It just seems an unnecessary complication which has almost caught us out big time - I had the key fob in my pocket and Mrs BB drove off. I didn't realise I still had the fob until she was 1/2 mile down the road. I phoned her and she came back. Had she reached her destination unaware, she would not have been able to lock the car or re-start the car had she switched it off!
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I'm not sure I want keyless entry but I'd have to accept it if I get a Mazda6 Sport model. At least it warns you if the key is taken away from the car when it's running. And I don't think it will let you lock the 'key' in either - it needs to be outside the car.
And if you lock the spare key in the car (so have the other one on you) then it disabled the keyless start ability of that key temporarily. You need the other key on you to reactivate keyless start for the key you left in the car.
Still an extra complication you don't need.
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And of course keyless entry brings the joy of "I'll just check if it's locked - nope. No, wait..."
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My Phaeton had keyless entry.
Loved. Just absolutely loved it.
It used to warn if you drove away from the key, would not let you lock the key in, and had a little light which told from a distance the car was locked.
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I think my Lexus did that, other than the light (nice idea).
Was yours a W12, and if so, how many gallons to the mile did it do?
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the W12 did about 15mpg, 10 less than my 5.0 diesel.
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That's pretty impressive actually. Double what I was getting from my Jaguar XJ-C.
It's a car I've looked at from time to time; with the depreciation they were pretty affordable pretty quickly. But it looks to me as if it's a bit big for me now. I've reached the stage in life where size does matter.
Do they do useful things like park themselves, or at the very least offer a rear camera?
Looks like it's a good place to be in though. Assuming you have experience (or probably own a fleet of!), how would it compare would you say with the next price bracket up - a Bentley or some such? Is there, like in hifi, a law of diminishing returns?
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>>It's a car I've looked at from time to time;
When I had one it was incredibly impressive. Absolutely the ultimate in comfort and luxury and technology.
For example, when driving along the motorway with the sun in one side window, one became aware that it had lowered all the vents on the shady side and increased the flow through the sunny side. If one then went around and back the other way, then all the vents subtly slid around to achieve the opposite positions.
The seats could be cooled or heated (although that was a bit of a strange feeling when wearing shorts.)
Seats were all memory, of course. But so was everything else. It recorded the profile for each key down to what you were listening to on the entertainment system and how loud, however long since you'd last driven it and who had used it in between.
I was very impressed and certainly had ever owned anything like it. I had been about to buy an S Class when a friend recommended the Phaeton; I'd never heard of one until 24 hours before I bought one.
But, its not now. It pretty much hasn't moved with technology advances in 10 years. In fact I cannot off-hand think of anything it had which is not available on quite modest cars these days.
It is a big car, wide as much as long. And damned heavy. Very impressive looking in the flesh when newly waxed.
BMW 7 Series -> Phaeton was, at the time, a massive jump in style, comfort and technology.
Phaeton -> Bentley Continental was a jump, I guess, but a much smaller one. It was just a bit prettier.
As for sound, I don't know really. When on tick-over it was noticeable as a diesel, albeit only just audible really. But once driving you couldn't hear a thing, so goodness knows what it sounded like in anger.
Last edited by: VxFan on Mon 19 May 14 at 01:45
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>> The seats could be cooled or heated (although that was a bit of a strange feeling when wearing shorts.)
Yeh my Passat CC has climate seats. The climate add-on was only about £160 to the standard heated bit... the option these days sis more but offers massage function.
>> Seats were all memory, of course.
They all do that now don't they when you have electric seats with memory? I know a VW does and so did the Mazda6 Sport.
>> Phaeton -> Bentley Continental was a jump, I guess, but a much smaller one. It was just a bit prettier.
The Bentley uses the Phaeton underpinnings. Without the Phaeton to cover development costs, the Bentley probably wouldn't exist.
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>> about 15mpg, 10 less than my 5.0 diesel.
Was that a V10 FMR? Always fancied one of those. Hope it made a nice noise.
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>> My Phaeton had keyless entry.
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>> Loved. Just absolutely loved it.
Listen. If you don't stop going on about your Phaeton, I'm going to start posting photos of my Friday kebabs. You have been warned.
I'm in Athens later this week. Imagine the kebabs I can get there.
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You prefer I talk about my Lancia Beta HPE?
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Right. That's it. Prepare to weep come Friday night. Pickled chilli peppers on top, the lot.
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[fingers in ears and singing loudly]
la la la, I can't hear you, la la la.
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[oh, pickled chilli peppers, you CandUB)
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>> I can't hear you, la la la.
You can't hear me either FMR. I asked if yr VW diesel was a V10. I think it probably was - the 5 litre capacity is a clue - but I can't remember if the Phaeton came with any other diesels.
Perhaps you never looked under the bonnet. And I am a bit shocked to read that you apparently never pressed the pedal hard enough to get a decent noise. Tsk.
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The Phaeton was and is available with a 3.0 V6 diesel. Now the only engine in the UK for this car.
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>>And I am a bit shocked to read that you apparently never pressed the pedal hard enough to get a decent noise
And where, may I ask, did you read that?
>>the 5 litre capacity is a clue
More than a clue, the 5.0l was only available as a V10.
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>> And where, may I ask, did you read that?
In one of your posts FMR:
'so goodness knows what it sounded like in anger'.
The implication is that you didn't know. So you had never pressed the pedal hard enough to hear the damn thing.
Mimser... and in a motor like that too. Sounds as if it was wasted on you. Tchah!
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You are such a tiresome person;
>>The implication is that you didn't know.
Correct, I didn't and indeed don't. Sadly, your thought processes then rather led you a little astray. The reason I didn't and don't know was as I said; "once driving you couldn't hear a thing". The Phaeton is rather well known for its sound proofing.
>>Sounds as if it was wasted on you. Tchah!
How annoying that thought must be to someone who "fancied" one but didn't have one. Bless.
Last edited by: No FM2R on Mon 14 Apr 14 at 22:38
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>> How annoying that thought must be to someone who "fancied" one but didn't have one. Bless.
Very annoying indeed. But I can live with it.
Tell me though FMR, how come you never drove the thing hard enough to hear the engine? Is it a hearing problem?
Once again, tchah!
Parked next to a black one at the supermarket yesterday, muddy, wheels a bit graunched, a bit rough just the way I like them. I still fancy them but not the W12.
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>> And of course keyless entry brings the joy of "I'll just check if it's locked
>> - nope. No, wait..."
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Oh yes, I will miss laughing at my father-in-law as he locked the car, then checked it was locked, re-locked it, checked ... How I laughed!
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Well I've only tried one car with keyless entry, this Mazda6. For those who don't know about 'request' type switches to unlock/lock....
... There is a button on the door handles to 'request' the car unlocks. These will only work if the key is very close (like next to the door basically). The same buttons can request a lock as well. The car never unlocks automatically. Well the Mazda didn't. And couldn't be unlocked unless the key was next to the door you requested the unlock from.
I set the Mazda6 that went back to lock automatically when you walked away. It locked as soon as you stepped away and all doors were closed.*
Now I thought if I was near the car (like I just opened the boot), my wife would open the car by pressing the request button on the passenger door.... well it didn't seem to work. I think (and had no time with other people to test) the request had to be attempted from the area where the key was near. So near boot, driver or passenger door. If I was at the driver's door the passenger couldn't unlock the car from their door handle.
Basically more secure than I thought it would be. And apparently impossible to lock the key in.... done that with a normal locking car a while back!
I had thought this car is cheap to me per month, it looks brilliant, drives well, but not sure of the inside... so pacemaker angle might get me the A6.... but it has keyless start.... :-) Pacemaker warning for that as well I am sure.
* But when I travel with my wife, I usually unlock the car before we get to it as she might get in first (I might be putting something in the boot). And sometimes I walk to the house (e.g. raining) and she follows and then I lock the car. Keyless entry pointless for these scenarios.
Last edited by: rtj70 on Mon 14 Apr 14 at 22:52
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I'd meant to add another negative... no spare wheel!
The Golf GTD will be useful to determine what I do next. Like get a demo of a Seat Leon or Skoda Octavia. I'll probably try an Audi A3 Sportback and A6 Saloon too.
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>> If a pacemaker is vulnerable to keyless entry systems there's a problem with the pacemaker,
>> not the car...
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>> I wouldn't be worried.
Nah - its only the MiL after all.
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Mazda - Keyless entry and/or go and Heart Pacemakers - Fursty Ferret
