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

dave_s13

Original Poster:

13,813 posts

268 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
Superliminal said:
I've just spent over £800 to get the a/c fixed on a £5k Galaxy (2007 mk3). The evaporator (I think) failed and it's buried behind the dash. Some of the money went on a couple of hours labour trying to find the problem - focussing on the most likely/cheapest first, the rest went on removing the dash to replace the broken part. Given that I've got a very poor tolerance for heat, I'm considering it money well spent.

I also spent £400 ish getting the condenser done on our previous Galaxy (2001 Mk2). Something worth noting - if you've got a leak in the pipe running from (I think) the compressor, you'll no doubt be told that the front end has to come off to access the join in the pipes. I've since discovered that you can remove the o/s headlight and cut an access hole in the plastic behind it (repairing the hole with a bit of fibreglass afterwards - it's not visible).

To answer your specific question - on the family car I'd consider it essential. On my own car that doesn't do many miles, I'd consider it a nice to have. Aside from dealing with the heat, I find it's brilliant at de-misting during cold wet winters.
Yep, I've seen the fibreglass panel work around on the Galaxy forums.

The chap tells me the front end has to come off to get to the condenser, there is also evidence it has been removed in the past but I digress, this isn't a "how to I fix this" type of thread.

I think my plan would be to spend up to £8k on an S-Max, or a newer shape Galaxy, whatever is for sale locally and in the best condition will win that race. The old one would then get sold on to pay off some of the new car.

I'm hoping that £8k would bag us something that'll run without too many problems for a few years. You never know though!

Howard-

4,950 posts

201 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
Digital climate control? Wouldn't have a car without it tbh. It's just so much less faff than twiddling all the temp/speed/direction dials constantly. You set the temperature and then forget about it. I hardly ever drive with the windows open for example, I just relax in my little microclimate.

It winds me up a bit when I get into someone's car that has climate control and they don't know how to use it properly so they're always adjusting it, or they have the AC off "to save fuel".

dave_s13

Original Poster:

13,813 posts

268 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
Howard- said:
...
It winds me up a bit when I get into someone's car that has climate control and they don't know how to use it properly so they're always adjusting it, or they have the AC off "to save fuel".
Yep, this irritates me too. By not using it you are at far greater risk of causing the system to bugger itself, and it uses so little fuel you're an idiot not to just leave the snow flake set to "ON".

bristolracer

5,527 posts

148 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
Get some second hand black leather seats for it and make everyone wear shorts!

And you tell that to the kids today............

J4CKO

41,282 posts

199 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
bristolracer said:
Get some second hand black leather seats for it and make everyone wear shorts!

And you tell that to the kids today............
Yeah, much as I like air con, I could live without it and we did for years.


Over here it is desirable but not absolutely essential like say in Nevada or Abu Dhabi

TheAngryDog

12,394 posts

208 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
I have climate control, in summer its at 16 with the a/c on, and in winter 26 with the a/c off.


Centurion07

10,381 posts

246 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
I'm assuming those that voted "essential" live abroad? Essential? In the UK? rofl

BGarside

1,564 posts

136 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
Not necessary at all, just added complication and weight. Would rather buy a car without climate / AC.

A good heater is more useful, for the winter...

gaz1234

5,233 posts

218 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
essential, global warming an issue.

Riley Blue

20,915 posts

225 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
Very desirable for us as my O/H has epilepsy and her seizures can be triggered by excessive heat. She 'has a faulty internal thermostat' so always feels hot even when I'm shivering so our A8's individual temperature control is win-win.

dave_s13

Original Poster:

13,813 posts

268 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
thatdude said:
Trade it in, because £500 on a vehicle worth £2000 is 25%, yet if you buy a car for say 5,000 and still need to splash out £500 for air-con / climate control fix thats only 10%, a relative drop in the ocean in the grand scheme of things.

Also, if this £500 has arisen, what other £500 will arise? It's doomed to fail.

Flog it, buy something awesome and tell the kids to take the train, you'll meet them at the other end
Excellent man maths in this post btw :-)

Mastodon2

13,818 posts

164 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
I don't have it on my current Focus, not fussed. I had on my Cupra R, it was ok, I had it on my EP3 where it was a £1000 option, I only found out it didn't work when I turned it on prior to selling it.

KTF

9,788 posts

149 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
I wouldn't consider anything that doesn't have climate or cruise. Having had both for a while now, you miss it when you drive something that doesn't have either fitted.

TheAngryDog

12,394 posts

208 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
Centurion07 said:
I'm assuming those that voted "essential" live abroad? Essential? In the UK? rofl
Depends. I find it essential in warm weather as I do not deal very well with the heat, and an ear condition I have is made worse when I am hot.

mwstewart

7,554 posts

187 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
A/C is essential for me, CC less so.

DaveCWK

1,979 posts

173 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
AC is essential to me, I hate being too hot.

'Climate control' I couldn't care less about. As long as there is a button I can press which causes cool air to come out of vents i'm happy.

oilslick

901 posts

185 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
I find AC equally useful in winter for de-misting the windows.

Debaser

5,665 posts

260 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
Howard- said:
It winds me up a bit when I get into someone's car that has climate control and they don't know how to use it properly so they're always adjusting it, or they have the AC off "to save fuel".
Does running the AC not use any fuel?

ging84

8,826 posts

145 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
worst poll ever (not to be confused with worst pole ever and certainly not worst Pole ever)


MitchT

15,788 posts

208 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
I used to think it was a big deal to have a/c but I tend to leave it off now as, on the rare occasion that I'm actually too hot, I like to make the most of it!