air con decisions:

[imster]

come on .....admit it - which of you guys have taken out the air con and regretted it later, i am looking to have mine taken out but not sure if the advantages are enough to help make that final decision.
any btdt

imster

[Bibby]

No way I'd take mine out.

I've been stuck on the motorway in the summer heat too many times before. Coupled with leather seats, you'll sweat away!

I like my aircon.

[s2avant95M]

yeah, air con is essential, especially as my wife and kid use the car a lot and its great!!!! i laugh at people in the hot weather sweating and hangin out the window, whilst i turn up the air con a notch.

[dan_b]

Taking the aircon out saves something like only 18Kg. Whoopie doo. It does give you easier access to some of the engine components, and you may see better air flow to the main radiator also, but again, big cahoonas to that! I'd much rather stay cool inside the cabin...
Except of course my aircon has packed in, again, for the 3rd time in 18 months

[Greg_S]

Except of course my aircon has packed in, again, for the 3rd time in 18 months

Which is why I took mine off, and to save a little bit of front end weight.

[newsh]

Mine has never worked, but it will, one day, if it kills me... I've been close on occasions, will be having another go soon.

Martinjs took his off and put it back again.

[Keeper of The Kitten]

18kg off the front is like adding 36kg in the back! Improve your balance and stop worrying about British summers - they're never that hot anyway!!!

Hey, 18kg is worth getting rid of! That's an easy bit of dieting!

(Speaking as someone whose a/c has never worked - and it's the first car I've had with a/c of any kind anyway)

I've sat in motorway queues in the summer as well, and I usually waft the heat with an open door (don't do this if there is a risk of taking out a motorbike!!!)

Seriously, we don't get enough hot days really - do we?!!

__MDC__

[Graham]

Mine worked when i got it-for about 9 months, i would like it pressure testing for leaks, as it will have to work its lilly white *** off in OZ.
Graham

[martinjs]

Yeah i put mine back on, driving 50 miles a day for work in the heat of last summer was doing my head in.
But it may be coming off again if my modded inlet manifold wont clear it.

[dan_b]

England is more than warm enough for Air-con, but it's not just tempertature that's the issue - with the wet humid air, aircon is even more of a blessing as it dries the air in car out - no steamed up windows in the spring and autumn, quicker cooling when you've left it in the sun, etc etc etc. Even more of a bonus when you're stuck in one of our myriad traffic jams and there's no forced airflow...

Mine has been working, but it's still got a leak somewhere. The last leak test identified the compressor as leaking, which I replaced, but I replaced it with a 2nd hand unit so I suspect that the compressor is still the fault. I will get it sorted...

[Keeper of The Kitten]

Obviously some folk can't stand the heat!

I've lived with mine in traffic of all kinds and my usual blast to work (25 miles of town and country driving) for a couple of years, can't imagine it being any different this year.

I take the point about quicker demisting and what have you - but how does that work? What's drying the air out? If it's only a cooler for the inlet air I can't see what it does to make the air any dryer? I'm naive about aircon, enlighten me!

__MDC__

[Jas11n]

I'd not get rid of mine either, My leather doesn't get that hot with it being cream, but still great to hurtle along in nice cool air and not to have to have windows down whilst stuck in traffic. Though I must admit it is nice to have to the glass roof open now and again.
Paid £50 for a refill and disinfect last year at local specialist

Jas

[S2 Ant]

I like using mine as well..... **** stuff was in the way loads lately on jobs ive been doing but its all worth it to be able to drive in a cool car in the summer.... i usually like the windows down for the air, but occassionally, like when going fast its nice to have it cool inside without the 70+mph wind noise thru the windows left open a bit to let some cool air in.

[dan_b]

One of the functions of air-conditioning units is to remove water from the air - that's why you see cars with air-con leaving puddles of water about the place after they've been running and have stood for a while.

Dry air feels "cooler" at the same temperature. It's like putting water on the sauna rocks: sit in a dry sauna and it's managable at 90C - throw a few spoons of water on to the rocks puts water in the air and it instantly feels much hotter, even though the actual temperature of the sauna hasn't gone up at all and you start sweating profusely.

[Ski]

ive never used mine and ive had the car for about 2 years. petrol is bad enough, and thats what window motors are made for.

Im looking to take mine out to stop this dredful understeer (or help oversteer).

Plus, my rad is always like 100c in traffic so it would help me.