Are you an Aircon Pedant???

coffeehound

EdGasketTheSecond wrote: »

When I use air con on either car it feels like I'm driving in treacle so generally I don't bother using it; wastes too much fuel.

My last car became hesitant and lumpy with the aircon running. Probably due to different mapping rather than the extra mechanical load.

neilmcl

I have climate control on throughout the year and it has absolutely zero effect on my car's performance and a very negligible affect on fuel economy.

Gloomendoom

Mercdriver wrote: »

You need to have your car looked at if using air con affects how it drives. You do realise that opening windows wastes almost as much fuel via drag as the use of air con don't you?

In most cases. With some cars, drag actually decreases when you open all the windows.

Gloomendoom

neilmcl wrote: »

I have climate control on throughout the year and it has absolutely zero effect on my car's performance and a very negligible affect on fuel economy.

Yup. I've been driving cars fitted with climate control since 1992 and never found any difference on or off.

I can see that any effect might be inversely proportional to engine power output though.

I had a 1 litre Metro that would stall when cold if I switched the heated rear window on.

PasturesNew

I've never been inside a car that had air-con. My car's "got it" as there's a button for it, but it was obviously broken before I bought the car as I tried it once and nothing happened.

Mercdriver

Gloomendoom wrote: »

In most cases. With some cars, drag actually decreases when you open all the windows.

But then you often get that horrid helicopter effect.

Nasqueron

Even with a sun shield in the windscreen my car gets hot in the sun, I whack the air con on when I get in, runs at 15 degrees and on even 50% power it's lovely and cooling, my car has dual zone if the other half is getting too cold. On my old car which just had the cheapo air con it was easier to do the windows and drive as the air con wasn't really effective

motorguy

Nasqueron wrote: »

Even with a sun shield in the windscreen my car gets hot in the sun, I whack the air con on when I get in, runs at 15 degrees and on even 50% power it's lovely and cooling, my car has dual zone if the other half is getting too cold. On my old car which just had the cheapo air con it was easier to do the windows and drive as the air con wasn't really effective

The most efficient way of getting rid of all that built up heat is to open the windows for a minute or so while you're preparing to drive off. Much quicker than waiting for the aircon and uses less energy too.

Thats the recommended way to do it.

EssexExile

I never do anything with my climate control, it's just there & working.

Nasqueron

motorguy wrote: »

The most efficient way of getting rid of all that built up heat is to open the windows for a minute or so while you're preparing to drive off. Much quicker than waiting for the aircon and uses less energy too.

Thats the recommended way to do it.

I'm not trying to get rid of the heat nor do I care about efficiency, I want to get in, drive off and have cold air blowing on me so that's what I do. I rarely use the car during the day (commute by bike) so at weekends I want comfort not faffing around. I do tend to turn it off and use the stop/start if at junctions if you're really concerned about my fuel use!