EnchantedScribe

The wiring resembles an extension cable in that it is well insulated. A threaded incert in the block, very nice!

To me, it is clearly an aftermarket block heater. It has been installed in the hub of the wet bar.

Do you own a bottle of Fabreeze? A Bounce dryer sheet will be placed beneath each chair.

Take off the minus cable from the battery. It is possible to leave a battery unconnected for long periods of time. Don't bother bringing it in, just leave the garage door open. Don't turn the key in the ignition yet! When you reconnect the batteries, it's possible you'll need to reset the windows. Turn the key on, lower each window individually until they are all the way open, then raise and hold the button for 10 seconds. The window settings should be restored after that.

Furthermore, the new chains seem to be no better than the old ones....

Given the low mileage, I would make sure the DPF and EGR have been checked and the oil has just been replaced. If you aren't intending on doing either, I would have severe doubts about purchasing this car: At least 10,000 miles of largely lengthy excursions (over 20 miles) and very few short trips from cold, or; Preferably much over 20,000 miles per year of mostly longer trips, to avoid DPF active regens, particularly if you can't keep driving until the active regen completes. Examine the vehicle's history for evidence of DPF or oil dilution/high level concerns. Check out Honest John's reviews area for further information about difficulties, particularly the 'Good & Bad' subsection: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/mazda/3-2014/ https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/mazda/3-2014/good/ If operated properly and carefully maintained, it should run admirably and is a capable engine and vehicle. If your annual mileage isn't that high and you make a reasonable number of short journeys from cold, I'd hedge my bets (assuming you've already committed to buying the car and can't back out/swap to a petrol) and get the oil changed every 6 months to ensure those engine problems are reduced at the very least. Also, 18in tyres are a unique (uncommon) size, and they are NOT cheap - Mazda dealers sometimes charge an outrageously high £150 per; you should be able to buy the same from the better tyre chains for between £115 - £130 installed. Low profile tyres have the normal drawbacks of being more prone to damage, lasting less time, and providing a firmer/noisier ride than higher profile tyres.

You may be able to get the 16in rims and tyres on the top spec models as an option (unless the brake diameters are uprated and thus are too large for the 16in rims - no idea why, its not as though REALLY sporty versions are available, even the SA-X isn't) - but then you have to order the car new (which means you'll get a smaller discount if you have to go through a dealer) or buy When the alloys were corroding and causing leaks in the tyres, and the tyres were close to needing replacement (age), I told my local dealer to dispose (FREE) of the old alloys and tyres, as they were not worth selling.

I did originally read on Honest John's website that it was due to go on sale just after the 3 Fastback, i.e. some time in October or November, but reading the later road test there, it now seems to be going on sale (available to put in orders) from December. That probably means deliveries (including breaks over Christmas and the New Year) from February 2020 at the earliest. If they have them in the showrooms by Christmas, I'll have a spy when I get my 3 serviced.

I believe the CX-30 will be available in October.

The next CX-30 is anticipated to be similar to the gen-4 Mazda3, with the same engines and hatchback boot but approximately the same size (430-450L, I believe) as the 3 fastback and significantly larger than the 360L boot of the 3 hatchback. I'm not sure about back legroom/headroom, but it's basically a jacked-up Mazda3 that handles nearly as well. I believe it will be priced somewhere between the 3 and the CX-5.