Air conditioning in cars

[dblgutshot]

[ QUOTE ]
Drag resistance increased at a cubed rate relative to speed if I remember correctly.

[/ QUOTE ]This can be found out by just looking in a book. How it relates to actual fuel economy is what they are trying to find out.

In their experiment, they decided that at a relatively high speed (45mph i think), the open-windows were more efficient than the air conditioning.

Of course, this isn't the be-all end-all of this question.

As for the other guy who restated this 'myth' in a very matter-of-fact way, you really have no proof except for "it makes sense".

[bigt2k4]

I never use AC, rolling down the windows works just fine for me.

[miajag]

[ QUOTE ]
I never use AC, rolling down the windows works just fine for me.

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
Loc: Mississauga/London ON

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, yeah.

[bigt2k4]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I never use AC, rolling down the windows works just fine for me.

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
Loc: Mississauga/London ON

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, yeah.

[/ QUOTE ]
hey man, it gets to be like 30-35C thats over 90 fahrenheit here in the summers, consistently. It is also an extremely humid heat always because of the lakes. 90-95 fahrenheit here is probably like 105-110 in a dryer climate. I went to Calgary this winter and -20C over there felt like -5C over here.

[ElaineMonster]

Just drive your car if you don't like how your buddy drives his car.

[obsidian]

I prefer AC on and windows down.

[econophile]

i bet someone who knows more about cars than i do could come up with 10 better and more comfortable ways to save gas than forgoing AC.

for example, make sure your tires are properly inflated.

[dblgutshot]

[ QUOTE ]
What's always bothered me about open windows is that it hurts my ears. The combination of the wind noise and the wind physically hurts me. Odd because music at higher than recommended levels doesn't hurt me at all (not immediately, at least).

[/ QUOTE ]

You can always buy those plastic wind vents or whatever they are called. They look ugly but I like them because i really enjoy having the windows open. With these vent thingies, the wind inside the car doesn't get turbulent, plus I can open the windows in the rain/snow without getting soaked.

[xedin]

i could have paid $1000 to have AC in my car but i decided not too since its winter/cool 9months/year here

[Blarg]

AC can really overheat some engines badly. Like that ole trip to Vegas thing -- turn on the AC to cool off and you might find your car breaks down. I've often had to sit through some brutally hot traffic jams without AC because my car was sucking up all the exhaust fumes from the car in front, and I was basically in first gear doing stop and go for miles and miles. Adding AC to that can easily push the heat into the redline even if it wasn't there already.