How important is climate control to you?

How important is climate control to you?

Poll: How important is climate control to you?

Total Members Polled: 531

Essential - can't do without it: 47%
Desireable - much rather have it working: 33%
Not fussed - I'd rather open a window: 20%
Author
Discussion

Ali_T

3,379 posts

256 months

Thursday 3rd July 2014
quotequote all
Are we talking AC or Climate Control? AC is very useful but climate control isn't a priority.

dave_s13

Original Poster:

13,813 posts

268 months

Thursday 3rd July 2014
quotequote all
hora said:
Does the car work fine? Barring squeeks and a need for suspension links?

A working car that owes you no money is priceless IMO. IF you hydrate properly you dont need a/c. Its a modern day/1st world pampering obsession.
I think you have to experience this particular car to appreciate it. The blowers are actually chucking out slightly warm air. I assume it's warmed slightly on its route through the engine bay. It's only comfortable with the windows down. It also only does 24mpg and the clutch was juddering the other day when stuck in a 30min traffic jam which doesn't bode well.

It mechanically pretty good though actually. Loads of life left in the tyres, brakes, very smooth and quite, with the windows up, and immensely practical.

Having a car owing you nothing isn't really priceless though, you can deffo put a price on it, about 7.5grand in my case :-)

Going on holiday we for a week on the 9th August and the thought of trekking across the country in what could be some hot temps, with the car loaded up with kids is not appealing. Especially when you get stuck in the obligatory stationary traffic getting into Wales.

I've probably just jinxed any prospect of a nice summer by doing this but there you go..

jamieduff1981

8,022 posts

139 months

Thursday 3rd July 2014
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Pan Pan said:
Paul O said:
Not arsed about climate control, but love air con. Assume you mean the latter, so im more in the essential camp. smile

EDIT - acutally, having read the categories, I'm in desirable. My world won't end if it didn't exist (we've got windows that go down), but its very very nice! smile
I guess C/C and a/c really comes into its own when we are sat stranded in a traffic jam in 30+ degrees.
I keep seeing all these nasty temperatures being quoted. Being a Jock, I get short tempered from about 20deg C upwards, so a typical east coast Jock day with a black car parked in direct sunlight will see a cabin temperature well in to mid twenties when I first get in - and that is certain to have me pissed off for the entire drive home unless there's proper cold air coming through by the time I leave the carpark. Having windows down doesn't achieve anything other than warm wind, dust and insects getting in to the car - and the occassional seagull st straight through an open window.

Hasbeen

2,073 posts

220 months

Thursday 3rd July 2014
quotequote all
I spent $3500 fitting air conditioning to my TR7, so you can guess that I'd say fix it, if you like the vehicle.

Dr Jekyll

23,820 posts

260 months

Thursday 3rd July 2014
quotequote all
jamieduff1981 said:
I keep seeing all these nasty temperatures being quoted. Being a Jock, I get short tempered from about 20deg C upwards, so a typical east coast Jock day with a black car parked in direct sunlight will see a cabin temperature well in to mid twenties when I first get in - and that is certain to have me pissed off for the entire drive home unless there's proper cold air coming through by the time I leave the carpark. Having windows down doesn't achieve anything other than warm wind, dust and insects getting in to the car - and the occassional seagull st straight through an open window.
+1

Of course if it isn't 20deg or more it's probably raining, especially in Scotland, so it's still worth having A/C or C/C to keep the windows clear.

Pan Pan

1,116 posts

126 months

Thursday 3rd July 2014
quotequote all
jamieduff1981 said:
Pan Pan said:
Paul O said:
Not arsed about climate control, but love air con. Assume you mean the latter, so im more in the essential camp. smile

EDIT - acutally, having read the categories, I'm in desirable. My world won't end if it didn't exist (we've got windows that go down), but its very very nice! smile
I guess C/C and a/c really comes into its own when we are sat stranded in a traffic jam in 30+ degrees.
I keep seeing all these nasty temperatures being quoted. Being a Jock, I get short tempered from about 20deg C upwards, so a typical east coast Jock day with a black car parked in direct sunlight will see a cabin temperature well in to mid twenties when I first get in - and that is certain to have me pissed off for the entire drive home unless there's proper cold air coming through by the time I leave the carpark. Having windows down doesn't achieve anything other than warm wind, dust and insects getting in to the car - and the occassional seagull st straight through an open window.
Jamie - have you ever listened to Billy Connolly`s take on Scots coming down to Cromer for their `summer' holiday. its hilarious, your posting struck a chord, and reminded me of it.

V8forweekends

2,481 posts

123 months

Thursday 3rd July 2014
quotequote all
hora said:
IF you hydrate properly you dont need a/c. Its a modern day/1st world pampering obsession.
Hello? we live in the first world. I drive a boring car on the motorway at 70+mph in hot conditions with a lot of other traffic and not much margin for error. Granted if I drove a beat-up Toyota across the desert without much other traffic about, I might feel differently, but I don't.

Also if I "hydrate" in accordance with guidelines I have to stop at every services for a slash which really messes up journey times.

jamieduff1981

8,022 posts

139 months

Friday 4th July 2014
quotequote all
Pan Pan said:
jamieduff1981 said:
Pan Pan said:
Paul O said:
Not arsed about climate control, but love air con. Assume you mean the latter, so im more in the essential camp. smile

EDIT - acutally, having read the categories, I'm in desirable. My world won't end if it didn't exist (we've got windows that go down), but its very very nice! smile
I guess C/C and a/c really comes into its own when we are sat stranded in a traffic jam in 30+ degrees.
I keep seeing all these nasty temperatures being quoted. Being a Jock, I get short tempered from about 20deg C upwards, so a typical east coast Jock day with a black car parked in direct sunlight will see a cabin temperature well in to mid twenties when I first get in - and that is certain to have me pissed off for the entire drive home unless there's proper cold air coming through by the time I leave the carpark. Having windows down doesn't achieve anything other than warm wind, dust and insects getting in to the car - and the occassional seagull st straight through an open window.
Jamie - have you ever listened to Billy Connolly`s take on Scots coming down to Cromer for their `summer' holiday. its hilarious, your posting struck a chord, and reminded me of it.
I'm not sure I have but I'll look it up. It's bound to be on Youtube somewhere! laugh

Negative Creep

24,942 posts

226 months

Friday 4th July 2014
quotequote all
I was one of those people who thought air con was pointless, until I had a car with it and now it's essential for the summer. Not bothered about specific climate control, but arriving at your destination chilled out and not having your clothes sticking to you makes a massive difference. Had it regassed on the Celica but only lasted a few weeks, so given it's value I just went straight out and bought another car. Wouldn't care about it in winter though.

bottema

174 posts

120 months

Friday 4th July 2014
quotequote all
Negative Creep said:
I was one of those people who thought air con was pointless, until I had a car with it and now it's essential for the summer. Not bothered about specific climate control, but arriving at your destination chilled out and not having your clothes sticking to you makes a massive difference. Had it regassed on the Celica but only lasted a few weeks, so given it's value I just went straight out and bought another car. Wouldn't care about it in winter though.
Agree. So much so that I have considered chopping in my fun car for an exige with A/C due to the comfort for a distance.

dave_s13

Original Poster:

13,813 posts

268 months

Friday 4th July 2014
quotequote all
Negative Creep said:
I was one of those people who thought air con was pointless, until I had a car with it and now it's essential for the summer. Not bothered about specific climate control, but arriving at your destination chilled out and not having your clothes sticking to you makes a massive difference. Had it regassed on the Celica but only lasted a few weeks, so given it's value I just went straight out and bought another car. Wouldn't care about it in winter though.
Car I had before the LCR was a celica. The best air con I've ever experienced, it was nipple shatteringly cold!

Otispunkmeyer

12,558 posts

154 months

Friday 4th July 2014
quotequote all
Would have to have air con. But actual automatic climate control? Don't need it.

Pan Pan

1,116 posts

126 months

Friday 4th July 2014
quotequote all
bottema said:
Negative Creep said:
I was one of those people who thought air con was pointless, until I had a car with it and now it's essential for the summer. Not bothered about specific climate control, but arriving at your destination chilled out and not having your clothes sticking to you makes a massive difference. Had it regassed on the Celica but only lasted a few weeks, so given it's value I just went straight out and bought another car. Wouldn't care about it in winter though.
Agree. So much so that I have considered chopping in my fun car for an exige with A/C due to the comfort for a distance.
I have one car with climate control, and one with A/c and frankly there does not seem to be much
in it either way. With the climate control, I can set a specific temperature, but with A/c all I have to do is adjust the temp control of the heater to do the same thing and make the conditions feel comfortable, what temp that is?? who cares?? The climate control does have dual temp facility, but as a comedian whose name I cant remember once pointed out, this only comes into its own when an Eskimo wants to give a lift to an African smile

HumbleJim

26,959 posts

182 months

Friday 4th July 2014
quotequote all
I like A/C. Climate is handy if you're doing a lot of miles, less fiddling to keep comfortable.

TurboHatchback

4,152 posts

152 months

Friday 4th July 2014
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Not that fussed about climate or AC really in the UK. On my continental summer road trips it is a definite bonus but in the UK there are few occasions when a window or old car style ambient temperature air vents wouldn't suffice. Then again I don't spend my life stationary on the M25 wearing a suit so everyones requirements are different I suppose.

Four out of the six cars I've owned have had climate and the most expensive of these cost £8.5k so its not exactly a high end feature nowadays.

9mm

3,128 posts

209 months

Friday 4th July 2014
quotequote all
Outside of some classics I wouldn't own a car without it. Just spent £450 fixing a/c on a £1200 beater but the car is otherwise sound, hasn't had any other extraordinary expenditure in two years and is low mileage (60K in 11 years) so why not.

Lowtimer

4,286 posts

167 months

Friday 4th July 2014
quotequote all
9mm said:
Outside of some classics I wouldn't own a car without it. Just spent £450 fixing a/c on a £1200 beater but the car is otherwise sound, hasn't had any other extraordinary expenditure in two years and is low mileage (60K in 11 years) so why not.
I always respect a man who properly fixes up his shed. Well done.

dave_s13

Original Poster:

13,813 posts

268 months

Friday 4th July 2014
quotequote all
hora said:
...
Back on topic- OP tried a second opinion?
Don't need to, I trust the first.

Lets be honest here. I want a new car, this breaking has provided opportunity to do that smile

Unfortunately it's the family wagon and not a fun car but still, I'mm quite looking forward to looking at a couple tomorrow. Looking to replace it with an S-Max or a new shape Galaxy.

This garage has both in at the same time, and local, and in budget!
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

E65Ross

34,948 posts

211 months

Monday 7th July 2014
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kambites said:
Depends on the car. In a big heavy barge I wouldn't be without it; it a light sports car I would pay to not have it. In something like an MPV which has so much glass area I'd definitely want it working.
Why? Modern air con systems weigh less than 20kgs.... Even in something weighing around 1 tonne I'd be surprised if you'd notice a difference. I could JUST about understand in not wanting it.... But to say you'd actually pay to not have it seems a bit odd, but there we go.

Lowtimer

4,286 posts

167 months

Monday 7th July 2014
quotequote all
It can cost quite a bit of money to get 20 kg out of a car.