been after a uk turbo classic shape for a while and have found one in local dealers i really like. the only problem is it doesnt have air con which is something i wanted. whats everyones opinions on air con? does it take a lot of power and use a lot more fuel? cheers

 

I wouldnt buy a car without, and I guess a lot of other people wouldn't either, you will be limiting your market when you come to sell it. Also you will regret not having it if we ever get the summer back

 

is it true though that it takes power and fuel?

 

yes probably reduces mpg by 2-3mpg.

also saps a bit of power. not that you would notice in a 200bhp+ car tho.

i am sure i saw one of the scooby sites advertising retro fir aircon for £350 DIY i think.

 

air con is a must,
when you want full power turn it off until cruising again.
with 20 mpg at £4 per gallon who cares about consumption

 

£1000 fitted at the dealers...point this out to the seller and negotiate!
Btw, aircon turns itself off at higher revs.

 

gotta have it, no doubt, will help you come time to sell it as well

 

I wouldn't buy a car without it, it's lovely to have on a hot day.

 

Ive read on here,that AC can take 20bhp.
Its never made a difference to me,and I checked the difference in consumption over a full tank,with AC off and I got 10 miles more.

A 'must' as others have pointed out above,as its not only useful in the heat,it actually dries the air so that you dont get the annoying condensation when its raining (more often than sunny) and the temperature inside the car is more comfortable with the heater on.

 

Re sale will be better if it has air con too.
I also wouldn't buy a car without it having had a couple with.
My MY03 actually automatically switches off the AC on full throttle to preserve full power. Not sure if older models do. Anyone know??

 

air cons for wimps IMO

 

Yes it does it in the older models too

What happens is that on Wide Open Throttle the compressor switches off, and also when under load, like going up a hill etc

Ive just retro fitted it to mine, (MY00) and all I can say is pure bliss

 

Says the man with no AC

 

lol

 

Very cool, never heard that b4.
I didn't need to bake on the way back from the last L.A.D.S meet then!.

My bro said he put his old Evo6 on the rollers once and asked the tech to do a run with the aircon on then off. The difference was indeed 20bhp!
I didn't have aircon in my last sccob and in the hot weather the black interior is a magnet to the dam heat!
Even for the odd hot day we get, I'd say its essential (as long as your not making a drag monster) and as stated above it even de-mists the car on rainy days nicely. Its one of thoughs things, you never know what your missing till you need it and don't have it.

 

Boo Hoo!!! I haven't got air con!!!
dave

 

Theres not that many classics with air con is there? So wouldnt think it would affect resale value.If the cars right then buy it,air con or not.

 

most classics have air con, even my RA has it. I could count the number of times I've used it on 2 hands. Couldn't give a toss if I had it or not tbh.

 

I have traditional aircon, a sunroof

 

One of the only things that pisses me off about my classic is no aircon.It seems to be hot in the car most of the year round and I seem to drive every where with the windows down.

 

Quite a few classics have got air con - my MY00 has. I expect most of the Jap imports [ if not all ] probably do too - unusual for a Jap market car not to.

 

I went through the same thoughts when I bought my classic , and I stuck out for one with A/C , didn't even look at any without , and don't regret it either

Dave

 

My last classic and current Forester both have aircon. I wouldn't buy a car without it to be honest. Brilliant for those occasional warm days and also for demisting the windows.

Suresh

 

Don't forget that without air-con and where you simply have to have the windows open, this increases drag and thus lowers MPG. So extra power of aircon is cancelled out by lower drag. On balance, you are better off with aircon and keeping the windows shut - it's also a lot quieter and comfortable. Subaru owners manual suggests keeping temp control to 25c and on auto, so aircon motor presumably doesn't have to work all the time in hotter weather.

 

When i was looking for my uk turbo i went to look at many scoobs with aircon but they were all **** boxes, in the end and after 3 months hard slog i found a mint one with a sunroof but no aircon, i do miss aircon but the amount i used it in my landrover was probably 2 weeks a year.

Thinking of trading it in for a forester now as im getting old and feel i need my comforts

andy (36)

 

Bought a Impreza on the wwekend with a/c. I spent more than 5-6 months looking for one with a/c. Well worth it.

Ray

 

You can self fit A/C to a scooby all the connectors and electrics are in place - except for the 1990-91 MY Legacy which I tried to fit a s/h kit too! :EEK: didn't find out until all hard work was done! - turned out compressor was leaking in the end so eventually never bothered to sort out the wiring either! - but can be done. Cost was ~ £200 from a breaker and full gassing would have been ~ £50. About a days work to install...

AFAIK most classics do not have A/C I would have gone for A/C and leather if there had been very many to choose from

Cheers

Mick

 

I went from air in my previous car to no air in my MY00, I couldn’t afford the extra 1K when I bought it. I can honestly say I haven't missed it at all, I might have a different opinion if I did a lot of business miles in it.

It wont affect the resale of my car, somebody will buy it because it's a genuine one owner, mint car. They will add the air if they want.

Allan

 

i stuck out for one with a-c (and made the right choice i think ). however i still drive round with windows down for that burble.... DOH!!!!!!

 

Air conditioning ... god send in hot weather (it has been known in the UK ... once, ok maybe twice)

The moment you don't get it will be the moment you need it, and conversley, the moment you get it will be the moment the summer ends

As mentioned by others it certainly won't harm your resale value and if anything it's another acronym to tack into the advert