Have I got Air Con ??
Discussion
I'm new here so first of all hello.
I took delivery a new Tuscan 4.0 speed six at the beginning of July. The car was specced with only a few extras namely, 18 wheels, pearlescent paint, lamonta trim, half leather, speaker upgrade.
I didn't pay for Air Con. Having been in a few Tuscans it seemed a complete waste of money, simply because it never worked very well.
However, my car has two heater controls, one for the fan, and one for the temparture. If I turn the fan on full and the temp to the blue setting and then click the temp button down another blue button comes on and the air gets a lot colder. Not what I'd call proper air con, but certainly on a par with Tuscans I've tried with it fitted.
I'm not worried either way since its either a bonus, or just some magic source of cool air (theres no way it can be just the normal fan surely, not in this heat we have at the moment)
Anyway, I'll try and conribute as much as I can to the forum, adding what I can when I can.
I took delivery a new Tuscan 4.0 speed six at the beginning of July. The car was specced with only a few extras namely, 18 wheels, pearlescent paint, lamonta trim, half leather, speaker upgrade.
I didn't pay for Air Con. Having been in a few Tuscans it seemed a complete waste of money, simply because it never worked very well.
However, my car has two heater controls, one for the fan, and one for the temparture. If I turn the fan on full and the temp to the blue setting and then click the temp button down another blue button comes on and the air gets a lot colder. Not what I'd call proper air con, but certainly on a par with Tuscans I've tried with it fitted.
I'm not worried either way since its either a bonus, or just some magic source of cool air (theres no way it can be just the normal fan surely, not in this heat we have at the moment)
Anyway, I'll try and conribute as much as I can to the forum, adding what I can when I can.
The big secret is when you hit the button - do you hear a big "clunk" sound? If you do you have air conditioning. If you don't you have a normal air vent system regardless of the lights.
I should know, I ordered a/c and a year later the dealer owned up (despite many complaints) saying TVR hadn't installed it (despite being ordered). Another dealer (nice guys - RG) said that hitting the button and listening to the "clunk" sound was the obvious check.
I should know, I ordered a/c and a year later the dealer owned up (despite many complaints) saying TVR hadn't installed it (despite being ordered). Another dealer (nice guys - RG) said that hitting the button and listening to the "clunk" sound was the obvious check.
I bought my Tuscan second hand with a/c advertised by the dealer. The a/c didn't work so I took it back. After much feeble excuses by the dealer the car was returned via a three week holiday in Blackpool with perfectly (well still TVR fiddly with a habit of forgetting its switched on) working a/c. Imagine my surprise when a week later a friend and I removed the bonnet for a look around and hidden within were entirely brand new a/c components. All of them. It must have been really knackered if they had to do that! Or did I get free a/c courtesy of a dealer making a little boob with the advertising?
I collected my nice new Tuscan and, like you do, sat and explored (I tried not to sit in the car behind closed garage doors, but couldn't help myself). Anyway, I found the extra blue LED came on and for a while really wanted to believe that I'd accidentally bought a car with air-con. Once out on the road, wishful thinking made we even think the air was cooler, so I checked with TMS who confirmed my fears that the switchgear is the same irrespective of whether air-con is fitted.
I did consider having it retro-fitted, but I was advised the additional weight would knock chunks off the accleration, so that's that decision made for me.
However, these last few days of circa 95 degree temperatures have made me think, perhaps I could sacrifice a little acceleration to be cooler, but for those three days a year? Hmmm, maybe not.
I did consider having it retro-fitted, but I was advised the additional weight would knock chunks off the accleration, so that's that decision made for me.
However, these last few days of circa 95 degree temperatures have made me think, perhaps I could sacrifice a little acceleration to be cooler, but for those three days a year? Hmmm, maybe not.
S1X OK said:
I collected my nice new Tuscan and, like you do, sat and explored (I tried not to sit in the car behind closed garage doors, but couldn't help myself). Anyway, I found the extra blue LED came on and for a while really wanted to believe that I'd accidentally bought a car with air-con. Once out on the road, wishful thinking made we even think the air was cooler, so I checked with TMS who confirmed my fears that the switchgear is the same irrespective of whether air-con is fitted.
I did consider having it retro-fitted, but I was advised the additional weight would knock chunks off the accleration, so that's that decision made for me.
However, these last few days of circa 95 degree temperatures have made me think, perhaps I could sacrifice a little acceleration to be cooler, but for those three days a year? Hmmm, maybe not.
mmm can't see how having air con reduces acceleration....
Alan.
Alf Essex said:
mmm can't see how having air con reduces acceleration...
I was told by the service guy at my dealers the collective weight of all the necessary gubbins that makes up the air-con would add enough weight to have an effect on acceleration. I wouldn't know what the heat exchanger, fluid, plumbing and pump etc. would add up to, but I took his advice on the basis that he's supposed to know more about it than I do.
Having said that, I doubt if I'd notice much difference in performance with or without air-con.
Incidentally, I know the theory that running air conditioning increases the fuel consumption. So, as A/C is essentially an electric pump, does that mean that having the wipers on and the heater running on normal or even a CD playing, which are all electric motors, also use more juice?
All ancillaries add load to the engine and hence less power to the clutch/gearbox/back axel/wheels, it's just some are insignificant such as cd players, as for air con it will sap more power than most other items but I can't see it making a noticeable difference to the performance of a 3.6/4 litre road car.
My Tuscan does not have aircon apart from the natural variety so don’t really know what difference it makes power wise, and don’t really care drove 300 miles yesterday in temps up to 39 Deg.C and did not feel un-comfortable at all.
Nick
My Tuscan does not have aircon apart from the natural variety so don’t really know what difference it makes power wise, and don’t really care drove 300 miles yesterday in temps up to 39 Deg.C and did not feel un-comfortable at all.
Nick
Have aircon fitted on a Ford KA, switch it on and you will notice the difference
On the Supra you can notice it very, very slightly when switching on & off.
Being an auto, if you hold the brakes just so they are biting, switch off the a/c and it does surge a little bit.That only way I can notice it.
Aircon does drain a small bit of power when switched on, but you probably aren't going to notice it when you have 250bhp+
Lee
On the Supra you can notice it very, very slightly when switching on & off.
Being an auto, if you hold the brakes just so they are biting, switch off the a/c and it does surge a little bit.That only way I can notice it.
Aircon does drain a small bit of power when switched on, but you probably aren't going to notice it when you have 250bhp+
Lee
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