Air Con or windows open?

[777cupra]

now the weather has been a bit better, was just wondering what people preferred...air con on or windows open, and also which one uses more petrol and / or power.

i do love how cool the car can become with air con on, however also love the wind blowing in through the window

dont know if im imagining it but car seems quicker with air con off and windows open! or maybe i was *** enjoying a nice sunny thrash through the country roads on my way home! ha ha!

 

[Arctic]

Air con all time

 

[DPJ]

My Aircon is set to 21 degrees all year round. I never have the windows open.

Why is this specifically a Leon Mk1 thread?

 

[777cupra]

My Aircon is set to 21 degrees all year round. I never have the windows open.

Why is this specifically a Leon Mk1 thread?[/QUOTE

well it could be applied to other cars but i only interested in *** other leon drivers do, and whether there is a noticeable drain in power when the climate control is on

 

[cliveyp]

Mix of both. If it's really warm when i get in i tend to slap the aircon on about 18 with the windows closed....once it cools and i'm driving i sometimes turn it off and open the window, depends just how warm it is.

 

[tinbum]

My Aircon is set to 21 degrees all year round. I never have the windows open.

Why is this specifically a Leon Mk1 thread?

Why is it even a thread ? lol

 

[WaveyDaveyGravy]

Mix of both. If it's really warm when i get in i tend to slap the aircon on about 18 with the windows closed....once it cools and i'm driving i sometimes turn it off and open the window, depends just how warm it is.

Exactly the opposite of what they tell you to do in the manual!

 

[Dyscontinued]

Air Con uses power and reduces mpg, though I'd have thought at high speed the windows may cause more drag and higher mpg.

My MkIV 1.2 Ibiza used to really struggle with Air Con on.

I like sunroofs. All cars should have them (

 

[cliveyp]

Exactly the opposite of what they tell you to do in the manual!

Can't say i've read it!

 

[thebeno]

I find once I hit about 60mph with windows open there is an almighty noise, something to do with the aerodynamics I guess.

 

[LiCkWiD]

Mind you, if he is a Leon owner.. and fanboy.. Why would he be interested in the aircon opinions of Arosa owners? :S

I'm finding it hard to shake the whole "Aircon = lower MPG" thing.. I know it's true.. but not enough to rock my wallet come refuelling time. So, as soon as the weather is warmer.. Aircon, all the way.

That said, a drive along the seafront in the august heat is all about 25mph and windows open. Aircon has no place here

 

[LiCkWiD]

I find once I hit about 60mph with windows open there is an almighty noise, something to do with the aerodynamics I guess.

You said it man.. it's horrific. Sounds like a helicopter is doing manouvers in my ear drum.

It is aerodynamic related. The air is being forced into, and sucked from the car through the open windows in a "beating" manner.. the effect is the same on your ear-drum! Push, pull, push, pull and it sucks! :'(

 

[jtmac]

For best MPG open your windows when slower and as you speed up close them and use Air-con. The open windows create drag once your moving quicker which increases with speed whereas aircon puts a more constant load on the engine.

Roughly speaking the noisier the open window is the more fuel it's using.

 

[InfernalBadger]

I like sunroofs. All cars should have them
(

Sunroofs are pointless!!

Chop 1-2 inches off the headroom in the car just for a random hole that doesn't really help with anything.

Air con all the way for me.

 

[LiCkWiD]

I quite liked the old sunroof on night-drives. Very pretty views of the night-sky.

 

[ChrisUK]

I open the windows to let the hot air out, then once cooled down, close them & whack the aircon at 18 degrees.

Climate control is set to 18 degrees throughout the year

 

[Dyscontinued]

Sunroofs are pointless!!

Chop 1-2 inches off the headroom in the car just for a random hole that doesn't really help with anything.

Air con all the way for me.

I like them and they do serve a point in my eyes.

AirCon just makes it feel like it does all winter, I prefer to know it's summer but have a breeze and on a motorway sunroofs provide this option.

 

[RobM]

Driving with a sun roof open can be quite a nice feeling. Plus it lets some of the heat out without making it too noisy in the car.

Personally though, I use aircon more than the windows when driving at speed. Most of my driving is on A roads and motorways though, so windows down is a bit too noisy for me... I like to hear my music

When driving slowly though, windows down please

 

[HarveyGTI]

i feel the air con does suck the power a tiny bit from the car (running a standard map)

however i prefer the windows down, wind in my hair (not too much or it would mess up my perfectly styled hair) and the tunes turned up! he he

 

[Number86]

I've had the car a month now. Not used the air con once (other than the odd blast as a maintenance precaution). I love driving with the window(s) open.

I'll only close them when doing 80+ on the motorway (sometimes not even then!) or when I'm having difficulty hearing the passenger. That, coupled with the fact during the periods of unopened windowness it hasn't be hot enough to require air con.