Yay for air con... boo for fuel economy! \o/

Naf · 29 Jun 2009 at 16:26

My commute to work with Climate Control doing it's thing returns between 47 and 53mpg depending on driving style.

Without Climate Control I get...exactly the same, but get home with a sweat on.

Climate Control is fantastic

mrk · 29 Jun 2009 at 16:29

Being sweaty in a car where not only the seats are leather but the armrests and door panels too is not a good thing I assure you

Back when I didn’t realise that AC use made little diff to MPG (those damned magazines and papers saying 15% is lost etc) I used to use it as little as possible if I could!

killsta · 29 Jun 2009 at 19:14

I gave up caring about MPG when I bought an RX8. Mine is always on and set at 18C. Never gets touched.

mrk · 29 Jun 2009 at 19:16

Drove home today in the soaring heat, van men looking in with groanish faces with their windows open arms hanging out

If I opened one window a waft of hot musty air would enter the car.

nothing like a low speed flow of conditioned cold air inside the cabin TBH

Tom|Nbk · 29 Jun 2009 at 19:17

rover416i said:
Nice and cool on my commute this morning!

At half 5 I shall be going to my car, getting it cool inside then cruising home while everyone else in their sweatboxes melts

I'm surprised AC/Climate is that much of a new thing to you really

Jonnycoupe · 29 Jun 2009 at 20:00

Im still getting a touch over 75mpg with AC on even in my little duracell bunny car. Im suprised it doesnt seem to have a big effect, sure you can feel it engage but the hit isnt too obvious. ECON mode though so the engine does stop when the car does, if i leave it in AUTO climate the engine wont stop as its a belt driven compressor.

OllyM · 29 Jun 2009 at 20:02

Jonnycoupe said:
Im still getting a touch over 75mpg with AC on even in my little duracell bunny car. Im suprised it doesnt seem to have a big effect, sure you can feel it engage but the hit isnt too obvious. ECON mode though so the engine does stop when the car does, if i leave it in AUTO climate the engine wont stop as its a belt driven compressor.

So you still sweat in traffic?

Jonnycoupe · 29 Jun 2009 at 20:08

I dont really drive in traffic. Just use what are called roundabouts and a couple of traffic lights

The evaporator is still plenty cold anyway.

wez130 · 29 Jun 2009 at 20:19

are non - AC'd cars still common? I thought they would have all gone with the scrap allowance scheme

I have dual zone in mine and have both sides set to 16 degrees unless it gets too warm, then it goes on LOW

Lopéz · 29 Jun 2009 at 20:23

Luckily for me I don't get traffic on my route to work. So I just drive faster and faster until the airflow is about right for me.

killsta · 29 Jun 2009 at 20:23

On another note, what is the lowest temp peoples climate control goes to?

Mine only goes to 15C...no 'low' mode. I want it colder dammit!

OllyM · 29 Jun 2009 at 20:25

BMW ones go down to 16 which is pretty much 'low' mode.

Tom|Nbk · 29 Jun 2009 at 20:26

16c here lowest.

mrk · 29 Jun 2009 at 20:27

16?

16 is cold enough, if I don't have a long arm top on the I'd actually feel cold with the climate set to 16 !

Hxc · 29 Jun 2009 at 20:27

Both windows and the sunroof open today. Just about cool enough for me on the dual carriageway. <3 old cars....

killsta · 29 Jun 2009 at 20:30

OllyM said:
BMW ones go down to 16 which is pretty much 'low' mode.

Ah I now feel better :cool:

Clarkey · 29 Jun 2009 at 20:36

CC in the 300zx's goes down to 10c, proper ice blast at that setting

Alibaba99 · 29 Jun 2009 at 20:52

Mine goes down to 16° on the temp control (though it's left at 18°) and then there is low which is full power to the fan and max cold it can kick out.

excaliborg · 29 Jun 2009 at 20:53

Roof down + cold aircon on the feet here!

deko · 29 Jun 2009 at 20:58

not having any aircon is killing me, my car is 6 years old, never had a re-gas and the air con doesnt do a single thing, and because its been dry for so long itll cost a fortune to fix, which i cant afford