Is air con a must have?

[brummiewedge]

Hi Guys, my air con heat exchanger ( The Rad.) Is rotten as pear and needs replacing, as does the bomb, also i have the added hassle of locating the pump on my LS conversion, not impossible but extra work/expense. Also the heat exchanger covers the whole front of the engine coolant rad. How important do you reckon it is on these cars worth the extra hassle or not.

[itsallyellow]

Ive never really usd the air con on mine. Windows down steering wheel vent open listening to the noise!!!

[the gazman]

Having driven a Cerb in the summer with no air con I would say if it's doable, get it working.

[southendpier]

for me it is a must have option. Cold days charging around who cares. Hot days stuck in traffic - think about it a nightmare.

Will you do the work yourself or is it a question of paying somone?

[morebeanz]

Having spent a couple of hours in the queue to exit Le Mans in 36 degrees, I'd say do it if you possibly can...

...even in shorts with the windows down, the natural heating unit (4.5 litres of AJP) tends ot overwhelm any breeze through the windows! :looksforswettynadssmiley:

[RUSSELLM]

Mine wasn't working on my trip to Italy last year, and there were times that the heat in the car made me feel physically sick. (and I burnt my hand on the gear stick)

In this country, it probably comes in handy for two days a year

[whatever]

I wouldn't say it was "a must have", but I wouldn't be without mine!

(so , really )

[brummiewedge]

Will be sussing it out myself, it looks like the pump MIGHT fit where it did on the original bracket but it will be close. If not its find a more compact pump or mount else where. TBH i reckon most of you out there will have leaky/rotten heat exchangers judging by the state of mine. My car was'nt as bad as some i've seen. It was reccomended by an inspection only 8 months before i bought it! The exchanger is only around £130 so not the end of the world, and at the mo its easy to get to as the body is off.

[amazon]

I don't have aircon and find it manageable. Even in the extreme heat and the queues at Le Mans. It's very personal though - some people just don't like the heat.........

[kojak]

Must have for me too.

[raw cerb]

I was think about taking mine out, in my campaign to save weight. (Not sure if i am losing the plot though)

[gazzab]

raw cerb said:

I was think about taking mine out, in my campaign to save weight. (Not sure if i am losing the plot though)

You will find that you will lose weight but it is just water. So once you have drunk a couple of pints of water to replace the sweat then you are as heavy again. ;-)

[mars]

I understand from conversations with prospective sellers (when I was casting around to buy mine) that in Cerbs with cats still attached to the exhaust you get far more heat in the car than in those those without.

[darreni]

A must. We took my old car to classic le mans in 2004, 35+ degrees, & the air con barley coped. I hate to think what it would have been like without.
Mine only used to work if the windows were fully closed. If the windows were partially open you could feel hot air coming through the handbrake area, & would switch to ice cold when the windows were up.
Anyone elses the same?

[jensena]

It's a bit like asking if the Heater is a must have (well sort of) you could live without it, but it's a lot nicer if you have it.

[brummiewedge]

Not really, i would consider heating alot more important, in fact since around the 50's it has become common practice and even considered standard equipment, if i am not wrong? However A/C has only recently become standard fair on lots of cars. I in fact had a transit until recently, and that did not have A/c and it did not bother me atall, However the heater was especially useful in the winter.

[byker28i]

I've still got the cats on my 4.2 and it was loud/annoying/windy having to drive around in the summer with the windows open - especially for my lad in the rear seats. The heat from the cats in traffic is quite significant.

I'd say for us it was essential to have it working.

[jensena]

brummiewedge said:

Not really, i would consider heating alot more important, in fact since around the 50's it has become common practice and even considered standard equipment, if i am not wrong? However A/C has only recently become standard fair on lots of cars. I in fact had a transit until recently, and that did not have A/c and it did not bother me atall, However the heater was especially useful in the winter.

Well you asked for opinions, that was mine. Anyway you obviously know what you want. Or did I miss something? and this is a vote so we can decide for you?

[gazzab]

My old hack (a 5 series BM) has no aircon and it doesnt worry me. Doesnt get that hot or uncomfortable. The TVR aircon is very important to me. I Wouldnt buy a cerb without it.

[ireland]

My background is in the refrigeration business.

While vehicle air-con is something I don't do a lot of, if someone asked me to look at the system in a TVR (or other similar exotic) in the past I'd have jumped at the chance.

When I got my Cerb the air-con wasn't working on it and there was a huge difference in travelling in the car once I fixed it.

I'd say get it working.