I have 2 Ford Focus models ,one has climate control and the other has standard a/con. The workings inder the bonnet are identical in both cases.It is what happens behind the dash that is different. The climate system will have various sensors around the car,both inside and out and also small electric servo motors that drive the the distribution and air blend flaps. The reason you can't always hear the a/c pump cutting in 'is due to the type of compressor now being used on modern cars. The old style "clutch" pump would click in and out during the a/c cycle. Later pumps are "clutchless" ,their operation controlled via an electronic valve.which reduces load on the engine and gives more control over the pump's performance. These modern style pumps are fitted to cars with either climate or regular a/c.

We have had cars wil basic A/C and Climate (single and 2 zone) and there is a big difference.

Basic A/C is better than nothing but as noted above the cycling of the compressor is noticable at idle and in one car (Ford Puma) you could even feel the compressor cycling at 70 mph on the motorway. You need to adjust the temperature manually not only as the outside temp increases but also when the sun comes out/goes back in and sometimes with the speed of the car.

Climate is much better, set the temp on the display and the car will adjust the system to provide that temp. If it needs a lot of cooling you get it, if it doesn't the system only provides what is needed and saves fuel.

But while some insist that dual zone is better I personally cannot see the point in a small space like a car. Its not like a house where you might like to set one room hotter than another, in a car the air mixes all the time while you are driving making the interior one temp like it or not. My Superb had an option for 3 zone climate giving the rear passengers control over the temp. Why? most of the air that circulates into the back comes form the front and they have no control over that. Imagine having 2 or more kids in the back argueing over the setting, total nightmare.

For me climate is an option I will always tick (if its not standard). Last car I bought with A/C was the Leon and that was a dealer stock car with a great deal. Always wished it had climate (it was my intention to specify it) but the deal just about made the lack of climate acceptable (climate was about £300 extra but a factory order would have cost near £2000 more and a 4 month wait). But in truth I would not do it again.

Thanks for the explenation.

The air con on the Toyota is very good, set on cold it freezes within minutes and set on hot it boils nearly as quick,

Seems to be a Toyota characteristic in my experience...all our Toyotas have had excellent systems..the air-con is Arctic..and the heater is tropical.

Climate control seems the better option to me having owned vehicles with either or and using the systems too. I ran my Superb on the Eco setting for quite a while, all this achieved was it not using the a/c enough to keep the seals lubricated and eventually when I did need it the system failed and had to be re-gassed. So it is use it or lose it as far as I can see. After the re-gass just left it on Auto climate control and it worked a treat. As the car returned an average mpg of nearly 50mpg I could not really comment about fuel use or saving. But all the comfort of c/c and great mileage was a bonus.

The new Volvo XC60 is excellent too. Easy adjustment and extremely quick to operate after start up. The dual facilty works well too as SWMBO likes hers on a lower setting.

Cheers Concrete

My SMAX climate Control is werid. Outside Temp is 15C Climate se to 20C yet its still blowing cold air. Am i not understanding the concept corretly???