what's your preference on a hot sunny day? this is the first car I've had with air-con, and I didn't think I'd use it much, but because of the weather lately, it's been on loads.
From a petrol consumption point of view, is it better to use the air-con and keep the windows up for less drag, or windows down and no ac sucking extra power?
What do you do?

 

they say you use more with air con on but ive been geting the same miles per tank as i do the rest of the year so for me aircon on, windows dont help when your sat in traffic

 

Mixture of both, usually windows down but on really hot, humid days aircon on even though it drives like a bag of spanners with it on

 

Windows down... to blow the smoke out of

 

Aircon , apart from if in a tunnel or through town so I can hear the Burble from the Zorst

Dave

 

No aircon on my '00 - so no choice, windows down.

 

Air-con on for me. That's what it's for!

Doesn't seem to make much difference to fuel consumption, especially if you are cruising along the motorway.

 

Yep I agree.

 

100% Air con

 

Aircon on and windows open :-)

 

Depends on the situation! Motorway / fast roads is aircon on windows up every time, country roads / round town it's got to be windows down. If I'm feeling extravagent it's windows down and air con on the feet

 

Ive never noticed any lack in performance with the air con on, i have it on most of the time, and sumtimes with the windows down aswell.....

 

Roof vent open

 

air-con on rarely (good ol' scottish summer)
windows open normally.

 

Me neither, performance wise

 

Air con! Except when I have a quick smoke then have abit of the window down and air-con still on!

Although ive quit smoking... Hopefully!

 

Air con on

Use more fuel with windows open anyway

Air con auto cuts out under heavy load anyway

 

Windows down, shades on, choons tuned up.

My god, I've turned 17 again



You only use more fuel with windows down if your travelling at speed...so in town you'll use less than with the a/c on

 

Windows down,took the aircon belt off imprzas have never had the best aircon anway. If I really want to stay cool I use the climate control in the omega, its like being a penguin with hypothermia in that thing

 

Heard a few people saying the aircon in imprezas is pants but its great in mine. Cools just as effectively as both my previous Audis. Maybe yours needs re-gassed or something?? Mine is a new age, maybe its different with classics though.

 

I saw this on .. Mythbusters I think it was. Anything over 45mph and the drag caused by having the windows open used more fuel than running with air con on, and under 45, say town driving, there wasn't much difference, but the air did use mariginally more fuel at lower speeds. 'Course, it depends on the car too.

 

Windows down in June/July is not an option for me, makes my Hayfever worse It's Air Con all the way fo rme.

 

Aircon unless going through a tunnel

 

Obviously aircon cools better than having the windows down as it dries the air too. But having the windows open and a breeze comming in feels so much better!

 

Round town etc -
Aircon on
Roof vent open
Windows down

I like to keep cool but make the most of the warm air as it usually only lasts for a week or so once a year

 

Aircon when stuck in traffic and no reliable airflow in cabin also when detriment to low rev response doesn't matter.

Windows down the rest of the time. There are a number of benefits to doing this:

1) More burble
2) More burble
3) Can put my arm out of the window like the aspiring Essex lad I am
4) Can *ahem* "Holla" at the laydees
5) They can see my Kn(c)ocklink easier

Ns04

 

Unless it's really hot and I'm stuck/crawling along in traffic I try not to use AC. It is very effective at cooling the cabin, but as said, the car drives like a diesel running on petrol, especially at low speed/rpm..

When I have used it (and just lately it's been used a lot) MPG appears unchanged.

 

Just had mine re-gassed and I have it on most of the time now. It's pretty effective once you get it re-gassed.

 

Windows down, shades on. Big smile

A/C's for commuters and the miserable

 

As above!