Car air conditioning worth it in this country?

nogiggity

Looking for some opinions...it's likely to cost me around €180 to get it (hopefully) working again.(that's on top of €75 I already spent to get it checked)..what yous reckon lads..Would yous fork out that much or is the heat just getting to me?
Ok. So I'm thinking I'll probably go for it..follow up question... I need a condenser to cute the issue. I got quoted 120 for new or 50 for a second hand one from breakers...which should I go for in your opinion?

bladespin

Definitely! Appreciate it even more these days but it's always good to have.

Comhrá

Worth every penny.Wouldn't have a car without aircon, winter or summer.

Stallingrad

Two schools of thought on this.

1) If you have AC you'd never be without it.

2) If you don't have you're probably happy driving with your head out the window or baking like a hog.

Ubbquittious

It's nice to have.

Even during the hot snap it doesn't really get hot to the point where opening the windows won't do the trick. Maybe if you're stuck in city traffic but I rarely am.

omb0wyn5ehpij9

Definitely worth repairing. I'll never buy a car without it again

CalamariFritti

Don't get the love for it. My car has it and I never use it. It makes it feckin cold inside never seems to just blow nicely cool or temperate and I have to have the windows up. Plus the fkn car is humming like an out of breath hippo in no time. Its handy when fogged up and for a short cool down but I could do without it. I'd rather have the window(s) down, feels much nicer.

listermint

It's imperative. People without it are weirdos.

Sure the kids would literally melt in the back

yoke

just like the windscreen washer system and "reverse" gear, I think having in-car ac is mostly a gimmick (for Ireland anyway).
And why the **** do we have so many lights on our cars, I prefer to use my natural night vision when driving in the dark.

Seriously though I do think AC is a bit overrated (in Ireland) and I found myself only ever using AC to occasionally de-mist the windscreen in actual usage over the last 10 years in various cars.
Of course right now I'm in a car where the AC doesn't work and it's the middle of a heatwave... I'll stick it out. Not getting it fixed. Hmph.

dudara

It’s useful all year around. Great in winter for helping de-fog windows and manage humidity. Would always have it

CalamariFritti

listermint wrote: »

It's imperative. People without it are weirdos.

Haha I have one and barely ever use it. I'm beyond weirdo clearly.

badtoro

This past while its been a gift

zilog_jones

I got mine fixed for €45 last week, wasn't too expensive but totally worth it.

Before that, I got into the car one day after work and it was 44 degrees inside. After driving for about 20 minutes with combination of fans on full speed and windows down, it was still 35 degrees in the cabin. I'd gladly pay €180 to not have to deal with that again.

Also: I don't want to share my dumb podcasts or music with the rest of the world, so prefer having the windows up most of the time.

masterboy123

I use AC on motorways only. Can't drive over 100 kmph with windows open.
But in this heatwave I am using AC even in the city.
Also, AC is good in winter/rainy weather to dehumidify the front screen.

So my vote is Yes for AC.

cruizer101

Mine is more or less left on all year round, it doesn't really have that much of an effect on the mpg.
I do sometimes put windows down and turn it off, 50-80 kmh kinda speeds where you have nice airflow but not being buffeted and deafened by 120kmh winds.

listermint

CalamariFritti wrote: »

Haha I have one and barely ever use it. I'm beyond weirdo clearly.

Evidently a nut case.

With our humid climate you must have the driest car in the country otherwise demisting your window in the winter must some laugh

JoeA3

Can't be a serious question surely... particularly in the current spell we're having!

I drove Galway - Dublin last week on one of the hotter afternoons and I passed a few cars that had at least one (and some with all!) windows rolled down. Doing 120+ kph with all windows down.... for 2+ hours. That's got to be a comfortable road trip :pac:

Don't buy a car without aircon. It's as vital as seats and a steering wheel imo, most of the year round.

Pkiernan

Just spent E85 on a new A.C. Pressure switch so I hope it fixes it!

bazz26

People who say you don't need air conditioning in Ireland either never had it to begin with to know the difference or don't understand it's use probably. Even outside of the current hot spell, Ireland's normal climate is perfect for air conditioning.

Irish_rat

I don't have AC and it's a nightmare as I don't like the heat and temps are easily around the 20 mark for a good chunk of the summer even if it's raining.

I'll be upgrading next year.

blade1

In this weather I couldn't live without my cooling seats nevermind air-con!!:pac::pac:

masterboy123

What car model is it?

blade1 wrote: »

In this weather I couldn't live without my cooling seats nevermind air-con!!:pac::pac:

bazz26

Lexus I'm guessing.

_Brian

Wouldn’t buy a car without it.
Comfort in the summer and safety of having clear windows in the winter.

blade1

masterboy123 wrote: »

What car model is it?

bazz26 wrote: »

Lexus I'm guessing.

Spot on!
300h f-sport.

masterboy123

Awesome!

blade1 wrote: »

Spot on!
300h f-sport.

Victor Meldrew

listermint wrote: »

It's imperative. People without it are weirdos.

Sure the kids would literally melt in the back

The mother refuses to use it. We use it religiously in our cars. And we are better with heat than her....

Victor Meldrew

blade1 wrote: »

In this weather I couldn't live without my cooling seats nevermind air-con!!:pac::pac:

They are awesome. No more swamp ar$e.....

colm_mcm

I was in the car with my uncle back in 2012, has been driving Yariss for years, bought this one nearly new, probably a Luna or something. It was around this time of year and it was sweltering. He was giving out about the heat when I noticed he had aircon. I usually pretty bad for pressing buttons in people’s cars and knocked it on, the colour drained from his face and he turned it off straight away saying he had been told it makes the car fierce hard on petrol. He stil, has that car and I reckon it hasn’t been used since - probably doesn’t work now from lack of use.

richardsheil

bazz26 wrote: »

People who say you don't need air conditioning in Ireland either never had it to begin with to know the difference or don't understand it's use probably. Even outside of the current hot spell, Ireland's normal climate is perfect for air conditioning.

Dead right. Main reason ( I think) people drive around in cars with windows open is they haven't a clue about anything technical and won't be told.

Why does every single taxi driver drive around with their windows open?

EPAndlee

I wouldn't buy car without climate control. We are still selling new cars without a/c and then I'll meet customers complaining about the heat in the car

tcawley29

I never knew how good it was until I had a car that had it.
I'd never go back to not having it.

My parents refuse to use it as it will be too hard on the diesel though :pac:

I never personally noticed much difference, anyone any experience with this?

MarkN

Christ Irish people are so tight when it comes to their cars. Is it any wonder so many cars are in shyte in this country.

L1011

180? I'd probably pay three times that if required. It as critical in a damp country as a very hot one.

EPAndlee

Irish people buy basic spec cars because they don't want the neighbours to think they've that much money

Mark Horgan

Air con and cruise control are a minimum.

Ursus Horribilis

Unless you're planning to get rid of the car in the near future, I'd say go for it. I had to have my car's air conditioning unit re-gassed the other week so I've got recent first-hand experience of what it's like to drive around without aircon. It was horrific and I don't ever want to be in that position again.

Technique

I read somewhere that it costs about 1mpg when it's running, whatever that is in l/km.

Well worth it.

nogiggity

Ok. So I'm thinking I'll probably go for it..follow up question... I need a condenser to cute the issue. I got quoted 120 for new or 50 for a second hand one from breakers...which should I go for in your opinion?

McGrath5

It's a must.

My bog spec Focus doesn't have AC, I was fairly ignorant to the benefits of it until I rented a 4 series in California last year, I'm definitely converted now

My next car will have it for sure.

Mark Horgan

nogiggity wrote: »

Ok. So I'm thinking I'll probably go for it..follow up question... I need a condenser to cute the issue. I got quoted 120 for new or 50 for a second hand one from breakers...which should I go for in your opinion?

Buy the new one, if you want to take a punt on the used one you would be better off buying a mini dress in primark and a fan.

Dero

L1011 wrote: »

180? I'd probably pay three times that if required. It as critical in a damp country as a very hot one.

Yep. same here, and have done. Condenser & compressor both required this year and would replace them again tomorrow if necessary (ten years old/~200k km, so not unreasonable). I could not live without A/C.

My car has climate control, and I just leave it on 20° auto all year round. The A/C defaults to on and the manual override is only to disable it.

nogiggity

Mark Horgan wrote: »

Buy the new one, if you want to take a punt on the used one you would be better off buying a mini dress in primark and a fan.

Why? I dont understand..

endacl

Climate control ftw.

Come out to an oven in the mornings these days. Hop in. Start car. Hop out. Count to 30. Hop back in to a cool 15 degrees. Even has a blower in the glove box to keep yer sambo cool!

Wouldn’t be without it. Any time of year, set the temperature you’ll be comfy at, and let the car do the rest.

MrCostington

Serious question, reading this so many say you use a/c to demist the car, I never knew that!

How does one do that? Put it on cold and direct to the vent for the windscreen?

I have a A4 I always just turn the heat to max and direct to windscreen (or use the dedicated windscreen demist button which does the same).

How should I be using my a/c in the winter?

Avatar MIA

MrCostington wrote: »

Serious question, reading this so many say you use a/c to demist the car, I never knew that!

How does one do that? Put it on cold and direct to the vent for the windscreen?

I have a A4 I always just turn the heat to max and direct to windscreen (or use the dedicated windscreen demist button which does the same).

How should I be using my a/c in the winter?

There's probably a front (and back) demist button. But, hot air better than cold (warm air holds more moisture).

Wildcard7

CalamariFritti wrote: »

Don't get the love for it. My car has it and I never use it. It makes it feckin cold inside never seems to just blow nicely cool or temperate and I have to have the windows up. Plus the fkn car is humming like an out of breath hippo in no time.

That doesn't sound like you don't like air conditioning.
That sounds like you don't like the broken air conditioning in your particular car.

Mc Love

I could live without the cooling seats (and the heated seats in the winter) but definitely dont think I could live without the AC. Drove the OH's BMW and the AC was never on, so her AC is rubbish and its horrible to drive.

heroics

Couldn't be without it. TBH even get annoyed with just air con and not climate control now that I'm used to it.

Set the temp to 18 and rarely change it.

Dero

MrCostington wrote: »

Serious question, reading this so many say you use a/c to demist the car, I never knew that!

How does one do that? Put it on cold and direct to the vent for the windscreen?

I have a A4 I always just turn the heat to max and direct to windscreen (or use the dedicated windscreen demist button which does the same).

How should I be using my a/c in the winter?

The dedicated demist button does use the A/C. A/C dehumidifies the air, and warm, dry air is far more effective at demisting.

Something that a lot of people may not be clear on is that the A/C evaporator is before the heater matrix in the airflow, so the sequence is cool (dehumidify) -> heater -> cabin. So the conditioned air can be whatever temperature that you want it. Just leave the A/C on and adjust the temp to suit. That way you get the best of both worlds.

That goes for manual systems as well as climate control. The main difference is that climate control does the "button fiddling" to keep the cabin temperature (approximately) where you set it. With manual, you adjust the heat/fan/vent selection yourself.

Henry Ford III

I was walking in town there a while ago. It's pretty warm.

Loads of newish cars and suv's (all presumably with a/c fitted) driving with windows open. That means they are using it to try and cool O'Connell Street, or have it turned off to save fuel. Then they'll turn it on at some stage and it won't work through under use. The refrigerant is also the system lubricant. Without use the hoses and seals will dry up and fail.

People are really dim sometimes.