Air con. Do you really need it?

[vrooom]

Lots of MX5 has air con, which is odd odd especially with convertible.

Do i really need it? can i remove it, and use heater to demist the screen. will that work?

Jay

[tybo]

Ours doesn't have aircon and we've never missed it.

They do have a really good heater that easily demists the windows.

[Wigeon Incognito]

I don't have it but wish I did.

Great heater as has been said but when you find yourself out on a hot but rainy day with that black soft top absorbing all the heat, you'll pray for air con!

I suppose it really depends if it's an everyday car or not.

[steve bowen]

nope, I ripped the AC out of mine, deemed more intercooler, oil cooler, bigger stock rad space was more important

[franv8]

When mine had gas in it - it was the most powerful air con I've ever seen. I had cold mist coming out of the vents!!

It does have its uses, and taking it off might mess with the resale value of your car, but then if it isn't used, it is just weight and drag.

[giryan]

Aircon's great. Nothing quite like zipping round on a really hot day with the top down and the aircon on.

[Munter]

I'd love aircon in the MX5. So I could leave the hard top on all year round. As it is it'd be good to keep cool when the sun is beating down with top up or down.

[phatmanace]

This is an interesting one... I have an mx5 with no air con...and a golf GTi that does have it.

although people always laugh at me - and say "yeah, you really need that when you have a convertible". but actually, when it's a rainy [hence: no roof down!] the car gets really muggy and steams up - that's when I really wish I had it.


Cheers
-ace

[robbieduncan]

I don't have it but occasionally think it would be good. On a hot day, even with the roof down, the car can be very hot. The gearbox area simply pumps heat into the car and it can be very, very hot in there. When it's raining I sometimes have to have the windows down a little bit as the non-air-con heater/air blower simply doesn't take moisture out of the air resulting in steamed up windows...

[I want an Elise!]

Mine's like being coughed on by a mouse....

[NiceCupOfTea]

Yes I have it, wouldn't be without it. People who laugh at you having it in a covertible have probably never used a convertible as a daily driver:

1) hot and rainy days (as said the black soft top absorbs an enormous amount of heat)
2) demisting
3) sitting in traffic on a hot day

[nickjw]

I've got aircon in our new ICON. I did at first wonder why bearing in mind it's a convertible but having had the car for a couple of weeks, I am glad I've got it. The cockpit can get rather warm (even with roof off!!).

[BoFox]

I've recently bought a 1.8i with aircon - so I don't have PAS but I can demist my screen!

Not sure who thought the spec up but I'm grateful.

[hornetrider]

NiceCupOfTea said:

Yes I have it, wouldn't be without it. People who laugh at you having it in a covertible have probably never used a convertible as a daily driver:

1) hot and rainy days (as said the black soft top absorbs an enormous amount of heat)
2) demisting
3) sitting in traffic on a hot day

What he said.

I wouldn't be without it.

[MX-5 Lazza]

I wouldn't be without my AC either - or my PAS

[hornetrider]

Or my LSD, or my Bilsteins, or my Momo wheel, or my red leather seats, or my...

[BIG DUNC]

Shameless plug.
I have a new / unused AC comp ( bought for my MX5 )looking for a home. I don't want much for it.
e mail me through my profile if you are interested.

[DennisTheMenace]

Whats air con ?
spot the uk spec owner

[MX-5 Lazza]

DennisTheMenace said:

Whats air con ?
spot the uk spec owner

Mine is UK spec too - it's always been a UK option

[Sortie 10]

If you go on a midsummer hoon in the South of France, you will need it - roof up (heresy) you will bake, roof down you will fry (I had to be pulled from my car with the early signs of heat stroke). I still miss my MX-5 (Z4 now, it aint quite the same) but using the chiller on hot days makes a BIG difference to comfort and safety.

My next roadster, possibly a 5, will definitely be specced with "air"