Driving in the heat: windows open or air-con on?

Bozza

You can change this

Helpful Moderator

Jul 4, 2003

55,719

Back in Sussex

• Jul 17, 2013

• #1

For years my default driving ventilation option has been windows closed/air-con on. It's just what I've done.

The little lad has recently asked for his window open and as the whole world knows that air-con is all but useless if a window is even only partially open, the air-con has been turned off and the all the car windows fully open.

And, by jimminy, what a delight it is - I'd completely forgotten. Even after he's been dropped off at nursery the air-con has remained off and the windows open.

What do you do?

 

Titanic

Super Moderator

Helpful Moderator

Jul 5, 2003

39,067

West Sussex

• Jul 17, 2013

• #2

Driving through France recently, and in the last few days here in the UK... roof down, air-con full blast on the feet!

 

Acker79

Well-known member

NSC Patron

Nov 15, 2008

31,854

Brighton

• Jul 17, 2013

• #3

Car air conditioning usually makes me sick, especially in hot weather, so windows open. If the windows are open it's a waste to have the air con on, so turn it off.

 

M

MattBackHome

Well-known member

Jul 7, 2003

11,723

• Jul 17, 2013

• #4

Windows open, elbow out, tunes BLASTING.

 

Stat Brother

Well-known member

NSC Patron

Jul 11, 2003

73,664

West west west Sussex

• Jul 17, 2013

• #5

I've very recently done the reverse and have converted to air/con.

Partly due to mine and Lil Miss Stat's hayfever, and partly due to clear the oppressive heat from inside the car quicker.

T'is a shame the petrol gauge is less happy.

 

W

willyfantastic

New member

Mar 1, 2009

2,368

• Jul 17, 2013

• #6

air con for the first few minutes to get rid of that built-up heat. then the windows come down and my hair turns into wacky inflatable arm waving tube man

 

beorhthelm

A. Virgo, Football Genius

Jul 21, 2003

35,300

• Jul 17, 2013

• #7

aircon is best where you are static or the surrounding air is dirty, otherwise window down for fresh air is prefered.

 

A

ali jenkins

Thanks to Guinness Dave

Feb 9, 2006

9,896

Southwick

• Jul 17, 2013

• #8

If driving out of town it is economically better to have the air con ON. In town driving its better to have it OFF.

 

fruitnveg

Well-known member

Jul 22, 2010

1,845

Waitrose. Veg aisles

• Jul 17, 2013

• #9

MattBackHome said:

Windows open, elbow out, tunes BLASTING.

Click to expand...

Not empty quoting.

 

The Buttery Biscuit Base

New member

Jan 4, 2010

1,417

Flying progressively from right to left

• Jul 17, 2013

• #10

Depends on how fast you're travelling and if you're stopping regularly.

 

nail-Z

Well-known member

Jul 10, 2003

2,969

North Somerset

• Jul 17, 2013

• #11

Titanic said:

Driving through France recently, and in the last few days here in the UK... roof down, air-con full blast on the feet!

Click to expand...

This is the right answer...

 

JJ McClure

Go Jags

Jul 7, 2003

10,838

Hassocks

• Jul 17, 2013

• #12

Both have an impact on MPG although I've never been sure which is worse. I tend to go for the window down one tanned arm approach.

 

Gregory2Smith1

J'les aurai!

Sep 21, 2011

5,476

Auch

• Jul 17, 2013

• #13

anyone got the stats for MPG

I generally only use the air con on the autoroute?

 

Cappers

Deano's right one

Jun 3, 2010

791

Hove

• Jul 17, 2013

• #14

A23 = Air con
Town driving = Windows open

 

skipper734

Registered ruffian

Aug 9, 2008

9,189

Curdridge

• Jul 17, 2013

• #15

Driving with windows down and no a/c or air-con on and windows up, must cost about the same in energy used. Last week I drove back from Sheffield Uni. with Jnr. Skipper with air-con all the way, lovely. As we cruised down the outside lane overtaking people in imitation convertibles with all their windows open, their comb-overs waving over the faces, I thought, this is the life. ( I should point out that this is the first car with air-con I've possessed!)

 

The Antikythera Mechanism

The oldest known computer

NSC Patron

Aug 7, 2003

7,795

• Jul 17, 2013

• #16

Got two cars, one's a convertible, so best of both worlds.

 

Alex Alex Dawson oo! oo!

Primary data is fact

Jun 25, 2007

6,107

Just on the wrong side of the West Sussex/Surrey b

• Jul 17, 2013

• #17

Where's the roof down/factor 30 option?

 

KZNSeagull

Well-known member

Nov 26, 2007

19,800

Wolsingham, County Durham

• Jul 17, 2013

• #18

Windows open. Very rarely use air-con.

 

P

Postman Pat

Well-known member

Jul 24, 2007

6,971

Coldean

• Jul 17, 2013

• #19

Gregory2 said:

anyone got the stats for MPG

I generally only use the air con on the autoroute?

Click to expand...

Here is a study I found via Google:

Windows up, AC off: 35 MPG
Windows up, AC on: 34.4 MPG
Windows down (all four), AC off: 33.8 MPG

Obviously it will all depend on the car and the journey.

 

M

m20gull

Well-known member

Jun 10, 2004

3,420

Land of the Chavs

• Jul 17, 2013

• #20

Me - aircon
Wife - windows open

So depends who is driving.