It’s amazing how far cars have come for comfort. Thirty years ago, a base model economy car had a heater, a rear defroster, and that’s about it. Now though, even a base-model Ford Maverick has automatic climate control, power windows, power locks, the works. Speaking of comfort, in the Northern hemisphere, it’s officially air-con season, and a heatwave blanketing the Great Lakes has given me cause for really appreciating this miracle of engineering. Today on Autopian Asks, I want to know when you think air conditioning is necessary and when you think it’s not.
Earlier today, I needed to pick up a press car, and yep, a line leak has rendered the air-con in my 335i lukewarm until next week, when I have time to get it fixed. This wouldn’t be the end of the world with normal weather, but pulling out of my neighborhood, the reading from the ambient air temperature sensor climbed to 40 degrees Celsius, or 104 Fahrenheit.
Almost immediately after, my iPhone went into heat protection mode, meaning no more Waze. Shortly after that, my Hawaiian shirt started to get a bit damp from sweating out my daily water intake, eventually turning the Dakota leather into something resembling a slip and slide. The Humidex was high, and that 40-minute drive in traffic felt like 40 minutes, you know? I can’t wait to get that air-con line replaced, and that got me thinking about attitudes toward air conditioning.
If a car is dirt-cheap and only used in winter, I reckon non-functioning air conditioning or the lack of a system altogether is no big deal. Sure, it’s not good for keeping the air inside the car dry to mitigate condensation, but when Jack Frost is nipping at your nose, a heater matters more than anything else. Likewise, dedicated race cars don’t normally have any sort of climate control beyond some fresh air guides and maybe a coolsuit, so they get a pass.
Otherwise, I want air-con in everything, especially if it’s driven in the summer. I reckon it’s always worth the cost of keeping it going, but I also know not everyone shares this mentality. Some people don’t like the dryness of air conditioning, some people have the roof down anyway, some people are into stuff like classic British roadsters and although air-con would be neat, the extra weight and drag isn’t really worth it.
So, when is it okay for a car not to have air conditioning, and when does it become a necessity? It’s a different answer for everyone, and we want to hear your answer in the comments below.
Top graphic image: Thomas Hundal
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Two of my current three cars have semi or non-functioning AC at the moment: the AC in the NA Miata never worked but I bought it anyway (good price plus hardtop = yes, I’ll risk buying it w/o a title 😉 ) and the Volvo 240 wagon that I bought a couple of weeks ago (to be my new daily, replacing an ’04 XC90) has AC and it always seems to be on no matter what I do with the controls, though the stream of air coming out of the vents is merely slightly cooler than the surrounding air… it’s probably impacting the already modest MPG.
I’ve lived in LA for the past 30+ years, and my house is old… there are ancient/inadequate window AC units upstairs, but they’re pointless in my mostly uninsulated house. Downstairs on the slab and up against the hillside, it tends to be cooler in the summer/warmer in the winter. Which is not to say that it’s not too-hot sometimes of course… I tend to have the windows open and a fan running on low all year/most nights.
I like having AC in cars, even if I only use it (intentionally) occassionally. But then again, I like it when cars are painted interesting colors, and I’ve never had one of those, so I’m used to not getting what I want. 😉
Sometimes, it’s YOU, too. Allow me to explain –
I grew up and spent 31 years in Houston, TX. We have two seasons – hot and hotter than hell. We ran A/C at Christmas time! As a result, it has become increasingly more difficult to freeze me out of anything.
I’ve since moved to Kansas, where it still gets hot, but we do have four seasons here. It irritates my wife that when she gets in my truck, it’s perpetually cranked up on Max A/C. Like to the point she’ll wear a hoodie in my truck in August.
Meanwhile, my neighbors think I’m a schmuck because it’ll be 40 degrees outside, and it’s T shirt weather for me.
So, no air conditioning is a non starter for me in ANY vehicle. Shit, I want my riding mower to have A/C!
My boss considers the ac going out and out of service offense on his semi trucks. He says he can’t afford his employees getting heatstroke. His employees agree.