Air-con: How useful in the '2??

andywood · May 14, 2007, 19:19

OK, i know that air-con is great, cool in the heat, demisting in the winter/wet etc...
But having only had my '2 since January (it hasn't got air-con btw) and with it being my first rag-top and not having owned for a winter yet, I was just wondering on peoples opinions on the need for air-con in a rag-top.

When buying I wasn't too fussed about it as I plan to have the roof down all summer s8)

s8) and it will be garaged overnight in the winter so I am hoping that misting will not be a problem.

What are peoples experiences and thoughts??
Has anybody had a '2 with and without and can do a direct comparison?

(BTW - I am not regretting not getting air-con, but it came up in conversation today with a mx5 owner at work!)

Cheers

Andy

broudie · May 14, 2007, 19:51

You'll need it in the rain definitely.

Anonymous · May 14, 2007, 19:53

Had it in my first roadster, dont have it on this one. Never used it when i had it and although i would take it for free, i woudnt pay a penny for it.

Anonymous · May 14, 2007, 19:54

I wished I'd got it in my old '2. I always said you didn't need it in a convertible, but it would have been lovely on those stupidly hot days we get two of every year.

Anonymous · May 14, 2007, 19:54

Quote from: "nelix"although i would take it for free, i woudnt pay a penny for it.

Typical Scot s;)

s;) s;)

s;)

Anonymous · May 14, 2007, 19:54

Quote from: "Ekona"I wished I'd got it in my old '2. I always said you didn't need it in a convertible, but it would have been lovely on those stupidly hot days we get two of every year.

Move up here, we dont get any s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

Anonymous · May 14, 2007, 19:57

Quote from: "Ekona"
Quote from: "nelix"although i would take it for free, i woudnt pay a penny for it.

Typical Scot s;) s;) s;) s;) s;) s;)

Just dont think its needed s:)

s:) And i like being mean, it suits me, leaves me money for digital cameras for taking pics of creamy faces s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

andywood · May 14, 2007, 20:04

The only downside that I thought of was resale - lots of people only consider cars with a/c these days, but then again a lot of soft-top buyers wouldn't be too fussed (based on the fact that i wasn't s:wink: :wink: s:wink: )

Cheers for the comments guys, I am feeling better already about the lack of air-con kit on my car, will just have to sweat out those 2 days a year when it is scorchio!

andywood · May 14, 2007, 20:05

...it is also more weight on the car and is an additional power load on the engine - combined these would just make the car sooooooo much slower s:wink: :wink: s:wink:

spit · May 14, 2007, 20:05

Aircon is very useful over the winter months for a speedy clearing of the windows, and just great in the Summer when the sun comes shining through and things can get a bit sticky.

As a former Scot, I don't know if I'd pay the extra either (disclaimer: although the two aren't necessarily related) ... but then it comes as standard on the MR-S s:wink: :wink: s:wink:

But you're right andy, its less of a resale downside on the softies.

enid_b · May 14, 2007, 20:07

i love it. its a bit like the ABS and airbags.

i dont use them, but its nice to know they are they just in case.

E

markiii · May 14, 2007, 20:12

wouldn't be without it

Anonymous · May 14, 2007, 20:13

I find sucking 5 extra strong mints and getting Donna to punch me in the stomach, works perfectly well for clearing the screen, i also get two uses from the mints which makes them an excellent purchase s:D

s:D

markiii · May 14, 2007, 20:14

brave man, Donna strikes me a s a girl who could rupture something :-) :-) :-)

Anonymous · May 14, 2007, 20:15

Quote from: "nelix"I find sucking 5 extra strong mints and getting Donna to punch me in the stomach, works perfectly well for clearing the screen, i also get two uses from the mints which makes them an excellent purchase s:D s:D

Shouldnt this mod feature in you signature with the rest?! s:)

s:)

Anonymous · May 14, 2007, 20:15

Quote from: "markiii"brave man, Donna strikes me a s a girl who could rupture something :-) :-) :-)

Five mints too, you soft southerners would struggle with two s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

Anonymous · May 14, 2007, 21:35

Peeps, is air-con an optional item for the 2 in UK?

I always thought it is a standard item? I can't imagine going without aircon in Malaysia.

Anonymous · May 14, 2007, 21:36

Quote from: "simontan75"Peeps, is air-con an optional item for the 2 in UK?

I always thought it is a standard item? I can't imagine going without aircon in Malaysia.

Cant you get extra stong mints Simon?

markiii · May 14, 2007, 21:36

optional though free if you buy the hardtop

kanujunkie · May 14, 2007, 21:36

no its optional

personally i love it when it gets too hot on a summers day, 5mins with the hood up and it cools you down nicely

Anonymous · May 14, 2007, 21:44

I think driving with the top down in the 2 is probably not something we do often locally considering it's always hot and humid here, and the pollution is really bad.

The only times I had the top down was probably during the evenings when the air gets cooler and the traffic get scarce. To us, having air-con is imperative, and perhaps a couple of spare T-shirts behind the chubby if I drive topless on a hot day. s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

Chris_h · May 14, 2007, 22:13

But think of the weight......

I have had two, both w/out a/c, but given the choice I would have had it - not a deal breaker though, but nice to have especially for that very short journey in the summer when I can't be bothered lowering the roof or a baking hot day in a jam.

I don't undestand why, but this 2 hasn't had the winter demisting issues that some cars have. It seems that when a car is fitted with a/c and you try to demist with a/c off, it is really bad - is this in some way connected to the fact the car has a/c? (that probably didn't make much sense)

In the tin top, I wouldn't be without it.

stv2100 · May 14, 2007, 22:33

Excellent for waking you up on the way to work in the morning after a late night. Also it must be hellish trying to demist the screen without it.Definitely as much as a necessity as the hardtop is in winter.

I wouldn't be without it now.

northernalex · May 14, 2007, 22:34

Aircon is for wimps (or people who live in hot countries).

Simple, get cloth seats and no aircon and then you wont feel hot and sticky. Saves money on two fronts and you wont have to worry about super looking after your leather.

ChrisGB · May 14, 2007, 22:48

I would not be without it. Winter demisting is a matter of a few seconds, but if you don't run it, demisting is still OK. Where it is really good IMO is on those days where it is too hot for going with the roof down in traffic or where sunburn is going to be an issue so the top is up.

The only slight downsides are increased weight and increased maintenance. Well worth it if you can, but not essential as you can live without it.

Chris