I've only just noticed a small grill to the left of the steering wheel. Anyone know what it's for?

It should be the location of the thermostat for the HVAC system, or a temperature sensor for the climate control if it's a WRX.

Sorry to be a berk... what's a HVAC?
The car is a 99my UK turbo with air/con.

my car has had the grille since new and i only recently had the aircon put in ? i was wondering what it did as well.

There is a temperature sensor behind the grill.

HVAC, as far as the Oil and Gas industry goes, stands for 'Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning'.
I've a MY96 Turbo with Air Con, and must admit I only noticed the small grill the other day. I only got the car at the beginning of December last year, so please don't think that I have had the car for 2 and half years without noticing!!
By the way, can I assume that I am not the only one that thinks £1500 is a bit steep for what can only be described as possibly the most basic Air Con system around?!

No you are not the only person that thinks 1500 is steep http://bbs.sidc.co.uk/smile.gif I thought it was but after having AC in the last Impreza wanted it in this one. I dont know of anybody else that will supply and fit AC to Imprezas as all the plumbing is already in the cars, if you look in a non equipped car, all the connectors are there already.

A quick leap over to

http://www.yahoo.co.uk

Searching for "car air conditioning", then asking for UK Only, revealed two companies, one for trade, one retail.

http://www.vrs.co.uk/
http://www.vehvac.com/

Both offer an online quote. I'd only be time-wasting if I asked for one, since funds are a little tight at the moment, but maybe someone might like to give them a try?

Rob.

I know you've all heard it a hundred times before, but the Jap imports have climate control as standard, which works very well. In fact I feel lost without it in other cars, even when they've got air con.

Ian,

Does that mean that you are actually paying £1500 for the last little bits of a basic system, most of which is already in the car?!?!?!?!?!?

The Air Con system in my car is okay I s'pose, especially as I live in Scotland, where it isn't much use anyway, but for £1500 couldn't they put in a more comprehensive set-up, with perhaps a small LCD display which you can set a temperature on, and even alter for driver/passenger sides of the car?!

Anyway, if I wanted to reduce my fuel
consumption even more, I'd spend a few quid on sand bags for the boot rather than £1500 to have some nice air blown at me!!

On the plus side, it might help in the car's value when it comes to resale?