OldSock one of the first things you check on a car before you purchase it to retail on is the fact that the aircon works if its fitted as totherwise big bills follow
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I should perhaps add, I do like the superior demisting that aircon offers. No experience of this as a driver, but I rather think it would combat the misting up, that using de-icer can cause.
Of course, something I like, but think is too expensive could be used as a haggling point.
Noted the argument about 'fully loaded' but some options on these vehicles detract from the usability ie sill 'protection' bars. If grounding was a real risk to you, you can get strong sills (non-stuctural and just bolt on). Thus making it less likely you'll hit something to start with. Likewise the two rear seats. I'm not having them, and if, a few years down the line one wanted them, if the car was otherwsie what was wanted, a well known trim and seating supplier makes them as a add on anyway.
I really am in two minds, hence throwing it open here, as at this point, all views are welcomed.
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It probably depends on how much you feel the heat. As someone who prefers too cool to too hot I would hate to have to go back to a car that didn't have aircon. (I'd also much prefer to have a sunroof than not, for the increased airflow through the car that it gives when tilted open.) I don't suscribe to the view that aircon has to be used constantly, particularly as my car's handbook recommends turning it off when it's not required. I accept that aircon will help to demist a windscreen, but it can also have the drawback (when not in use) in cool weather of actually promoting misting because of the residual moisture in the air passageways. However, by attacking mist as soon as ever it starts to form using the heater (the cold setting is OK) to give maximum airflow to screen only, misting of the windscreen shouldn't really be a problem.
Some cars that are parked all day tend to mist up in the afternoon when it starts to go cool but this effect can be minimised by parking the car such that it faces the afternoon sun.
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L\'escargot.
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Had my car 5 years and am doing less milage each year. I have a finite supply of money and each time fuel goes up, I drive less. Anyway. Since the end of April 02 when I bought the car it has been on all the time except for about 40 minutes once. An air con engineer told me that the newer seals are much better than before and don't require the system to be turned on to lube the seals. I've never had any bother with mine though.
One question, "an industry insider" tells me ther is a 1,000% mark up on optional extras. Air con is about £1000. So why do they charge £1,500 for a replacement compressor?
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No expert here, but since reading about how the air-con gas can damage (rot-away?) seals if left unused, I do now use my air-con at least weekly at all times of year. Maybe I should leave it on all the time but I weigh up the fact that it costs extra in fuel.
The other factor is the auto-trade encourage you have the Air-Con system cleaned and bacteria out every so often, and the refigerant changed. I can't remember the recommended times... mine's 5 years old and never been done and still cold. And Air-Con can be a source of technical problem threads on many a forum. Also Air Con systems seem complicated, and that part takes up the biggest chunk of pages in the official factory repair manual for my car anyway.
Although sun-roofs also worry me as on VW forums there tends to be regular topics where people find them the source of leaks in to the cabin and related trouble. Good luck.
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My air-con was still working reasonably well after 7 years(used regularly)but having had it cleaned and re-charged,it is even better.
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No experience of this as a driver but I rather think it would combat the misting up that using de-icer can cause.
I believe that aircon systems shut down below about 5deg C. I leave my aircon on all the time, the extra fuel used is probably less than that used to accelerate up a motorway slip road once a journey. And the "uses too much fuel" brigade probably dont use their headlamps for the same reason. :-)
Edited by Old Navy on 03/11/2007 at 10:48
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