How important is climate control to you?
Poll: How important is climate control to you?
Total Members Polled: 531
Discussion
Not an absolute deal breaker depending on the car but it is an absolute must on my daily drivers to have automatic climate control.
Contrary to some peoples' findings it seems, mine is excellent at getting to the desired temperature fast. Power loss and increase in fuel consumption is negligable on a half decent car - maybe not so much on a 1.whatever hatchback thing.
The a/c on my TVR hasn't worked since I got it but it's being recommissioned as part of this year's service at the moment. That car is cold and drafty in winter, which won't change and uncomfortably hot in summer or when going slowly. Driving with the windows down is ok at very low speeds but it's far too noisy and blows my hair over my eyes at speed. Having the option of working manual a/c will be nice. Climate control would be better but not practicable.
Contrary to some peoples' findings it seems, mine is excellent at getting to the desired temperature fast. Power loss and increase in fuel consumption is negligable on a half decent car - maybe not so much on a 1.whatever hatchback thing.
The a/c on my TVR hasn't worked since I got it but it's being recommissioned as part of this year's service at the moment. That car is cold and drafty in winter, which won't change and uncomfortably hot in summer or when going slowly. Driving with the windows down is ok at very low speeds but it's far too noisy and blows my hair over my eyes at speed. Having the option of working manual a/c will be nice. Climate control would be better but not practicable.
alangla said:
I think you're right, however Climate Control/automatic aircon is definitely something that once you have it, you never want to be without it - I hate faffing about with hot/cold controls, would rather just leave it at a set temp with the fan running & turn the aircon on as & when it's too warm to maintain temp with atmospheric air.
Not me, I don't give a rats about it being automatic. Debaser said:
So turning it off does save fuel?
Sure; a tiny, inconsequential amount. About as much as having an empty tank of fuel versus a full one, I expect, with modern AC compressors.It's just that people seem to say OH NO IT DRINKS FAR TOO MUCH FUEL I NEVER USE IT, as if it's akin to leaving your handbrake on or towing a caravan. Ridiculous.
billywhizzzzzz said:
Agree. Got it, but have never used it. Constantly flabbergasted by climate on and windows up drivers days that you see almost ubiquitously on the most beautiful spring and summer days.
Flabbergasted by people who want to sit in a comfortable, quiet environment as they drive? Really? My drive to and from work doesn't involve a lovely cross-country commute on empty twisty roads flanked by beautiful green meadows with sheep and butterflies. It involves a trip through town, then onto the motorway, then through another town, for 17 miles. Boring. Comfortable climate-conditioned environment with some good music for me, please.
Howard- said:
Debaser said:
So turning it off does save fuel?
Sure; a tiny, inconsequential amount. About as much as having an empty tank of fuel versus a full one, I expect, with modern AC compressors.It's just that people seem to say OH NO IT DRINKS FAR TOO MUCH FUEL I NEVER USE IT, as if it's akin to leaving your handbrake on or towing a caravan. Ridiculous.
billywhizzzzzz said:
Agree. Got it, but have never used it. Constantly flabbergasted by climate on and windows up drivers days that you see almost ubiquitously on the most beautiful spring and summer days.
Flabbergasted by people who want to sit in a comfortable, quiet environment as they drive? Really? My drive to and from work doesn't involve a lovely cross-country commute on empty twisty roads flanked by beautiful green meadows with sheep and butterflies. It involves a trip through town, then onto the motorway, then through another town, for 17 miles. Boring. Comfortable climate-conditioned environment with some good music for me, please.
My commute DOES involve lovely cross-country driving flanked by greenery and I still want the vast majority of it covered quickly and quietly. I'm going to and from work, not reliving the romance of 1950s motoring.
jamieduff1981 said:
I'm not meaning to contradict you - rather to strengthen your arguement...
My commute DOES involve lovely cross-country driving flanked by greenery and I still want the vast majority of it covered quickly and quietly. I'm going to and from work, not reliving the romance of 1950s motoring.
My commute DOES involve lovely cross-country driving flanked by greenery and I still want the vast majority of it covered quickly and quietly. I'm going to and from work, not reliving the romance of 1950s motoring.
True.
But if it's a particularly nice day and I'm in the mood, and I had such a commute, I would be far more tempted to wind the windows down and have a bit of fun than I do currently as I crawl through traffic, onto the motorway, into more traffic, then onto my driveway.
billywhizzzzzz said:
Agree. Got it, but have never used it. Constantly flabbergasted by climate on and windows up drivers days that you see almost ubiquitously on the most beautiful spring and summer days.
Flabbergasted, really? First: hay fever. Second, arriving somewhere without being sweaty. (There is only so much open windows and blowers can do.)I know this claim to not understand other people's PoV is standard PH-MTFU posturing, but BO is really not pleasant. (Though, sadly, those with it usually don't know they've got it).
More benefits? Cooling without excessive wind noise from open windows. One-button demist. Separate controls for driver and passenger (exec cars).
Stick Legs said:
XJ Flyer said:
Auto climate systems are just an even more complicated and therefore expensive to maintain option as they get older than a basic manually controlled system.In my own case the old school climate system on the old XJ's was as powerful as they get and can be almost essential in mid summer on the continent with the heat soak of a big V12 through the bulkhead and trans tunnel.
However the downside is that it's an expensive nightmare to keep in top condition and makes a difficult to work on engine even more difficult and complicated.So it's a luxury I'd prefer to do without.Which is why it's disconnected and the compressor and pipework all removed.The problem then being that there's no heating or ventilation without it working.So it's a case of just open the windows in the summer just as in the days when air con wasn't a common option on most cars and luckily I don't use it much,if at all,in the colder months.
But if it's an essential that you can't do without then be prepared for big maintenance bills on anything other than new/near new systems,of whatever type and however good,as they age and/or lots of extra aggravation in the case of needing access to the engine and radiator for maintenance jobs.
I never found it 'a complete nightmare' on my XJ-S'. Had 2 and on both cars the AC worked. Okay once a year I had to clean the interior sensor wire & top up the gas using a aerosol type can but it was worth the effort.However the downside is that it's an expensive nightmare to keep in top condition and makes a difficult to work on engine even more difficult and complicated.So it's a luxury I'd prefer to do without.Which is why it's disconnected and the compressor and pipework all removed.The problem then being that there's no heating or ventilation without it working.So it's a case of just open the windows in the summer just as in the days when air con wasn't a common option on most cars and luckily I don't use it much,if at all,in the colder months.
But if it's an essential that you can't do without then be prepared for big maintenance bills on anything other than new/near new systems,of whatever type and however good,as they age and/or lots of extra aggravation in the case of needing access to the engine and radiator for maintenance jobs.
Edited by XJ Flyer on Thursday 3rd July 00:33
One very important point is that the AC on V12 cars also works for the fuel cooler, without it it is much more likely that stopping on a long journey will result in vapour locking the system, also hot fuel expands, this means less mass of fuel is injected for the same injector duration, this results in lean running and raised engine temps.
Even with AC working my 1988 XJ-S had the odd bit of not restarting after refuelling due to engine bay temperature / vapour lock.
Left the bonnet open & went for a coffee, started okay then.
Which,at least in the case of the V12,then leaves the engine access issues of having that big heavy lump of a compressor stuck in the middle of the V and pipework trailing across the engine.Which often needs to be shifted when any work needs doing.Even in the case of something as simple as a spark plug change.Sometimes also involving the expense of the system being discharged and charged again.
As for fuel vapourisation without the fuel cooler.It doesn't get much hotter than Sardinia and then the Le Mans classic on the return journey in 2010.Although to be fair mine is running with a non standard fuelling system and the bonnet is louvred which cures the problems of high under bonnet temperatures which is usually a big issue with the V12 in not just potentially vabourising the fuel but also cooks the wiring on and around the engine.While also remembering that,at least on the XJ12, air con delete and the choice of just an ordinary heater/ ventilation system was always an option anyway.In which case that obviously takes out the fuel cooler on the air con fitted cars anyway.
EskimoArapaho said:
Flabbergasted, really? First: hay fever. Second, arriving somewhere without being sweaty. (There is only so much open windows and blowers can do.)
I know this claim to not understand other people's PoV is standard PH-MTFU posturing, but BO is really not pleasant. (Though, sadly, those with it usually don't know they've got it).
More benefits? Cooling without excessive wind noise from open windows. One-button demist. Separate controls for driver and passenger (exec cars).
+1I know this claim to not understand other people's PoV is standard PH-MTFU posturing, but BO is really not pleasant. (Though, sadly, those with it usually don't know they've got it).
More benefits? Cooling without excessive wind noise from open windows. One-button demist. Separate controls for driver and passenger (exec cars).
Having the windows open makes an appalling din and simply forces hot air into the car.
Dr Jekyll said:
EskimoArapaho said:
Flabbergasted, really? First: hay fever. Second, arriving somewhere without being sweaty. (There is only so much open windows and blowers can do.)
I know this claim to not understand other people's PoV is standard PH-MTFU posturing, but BO is really not pleasant. (Though, sadly, those with it usually don't know they've got it).
More benefits? Cooling without excessive wind noise from open windows. One-button demist. Separate controls for driver and passenger (exec cars).
+1I know this claim to not understand other people's PoV is standard PH-MTFU posturing, but BO is really not pleasant. (Though, sadly, those with it usually don't know they've got it).
More benefits? Cooling without excessive wind noise from open windows. One-button demist. Separate controls for driver and passenger (exec cars).
Having the windows open makes an appalling din and simply forces hot air into the car.
I like the climate control 16c with heated seats on for my morning commute........ take that greenies!! (although i do cycle more often now.....)
I love it, nothing worse than being sweaty in a car, opening the windows to take in more hot humid air is horrid. I like to be locked in my little micro climate and not have to worry about what the weather is like outside. The only thing I don't like about it is when you step out in to that horrid hot fuzzy air when you've arrived at your destination. The AC on my Mondeo is ace it's so cold on 'LO' that my windscreen steams up on the outside.
Fuel economy on the Mercedes isn't really affected to much with it on but it really tanks on the Ford, shaves a good 80+ miles off a tank having it on, same on every one I've had.
Fuel economy on the Mercedes isn't really affected to much with it on but it really tanks on the Ford, shaves a good 80+ miles off a tank having it on, same on every one I've had.
Huge deal breaker for me.
The point for me is that I need really need to touch it. Set to 21C permanently so my car is always the perfect temperature for me with not misty windows and not need to continually fiddle to get a good temp.
I would never buy a daily car without climate control.
The point for me is that I need really need to touch it. Set to 21C permanently so my car is always the perfect temperature for me with not misty windows and not need to continually fiddle to get a good temp.
I would never buy a daily car without climate control.
dave_s13 said:
So, right on cue the family bus climate control has packed up after working fine from buying it 8 months ago, all through winter. Gets hot and kaput!
just had it diagnosed as a leaking condenser and leaking pipe leading from the compressor to wherever it goes. £500 to fix. It's 2k worth of car, on a very good day, so it's really not worth doing.
Trouble is the car is an MPV (2003 Ford Galaxy) so the internal volume/glass area is huge, it's also black. As you can imagine it gets properly jeffing hot inside and the kids are going to be very unhappy when we pack up for the long drive over to Wales on holiday this year. If the weather is like it is now that is going to be a very uncomfortable journey.
So, can I have your permission to trade it in for a newer car?
Get a white one next time, they stay much cooler in the summer, take less time to cool down once the A/C has kicked in, and you dont get cut up quite so much as they are bit more noticeable on the roadjust had it diagnosed as a leaking condenser and leaking pipe leading from the compressor to wherever it goes. £500 to fix. It's 2k worth of car, on a very good day, so it's really not worth doing.
Trouble is the car is an MPV (2003 Ford Galaxy) so the internal volume/glass area is huge, it's also black. As you can imagine it gets properly jeffing hot inside and the kids are going to be very unhappy when we pack up for the long drive over to Wales on holiday this year. If the weather is like it is now that is going to be a very uncomfortable journey.
So, can I have your permission to trade it in for a newer car?
(possibly because many will want to make sure it is not plod, before cutting in without giving a signal
)Paul O said:
Not arsed about climate control, but love air con. Assume you mean the latter, so im more in the essential camp.
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!
I guess C/C and a/c really comes into its own when we are sat stranded in a traffic jam in 30+ degrees.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!
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