Is auto-temp control good, or a waste of money?

[jeffsquire]

Originally Posted by Jump

OK, I'm curious. What harm does running the AC with the top down cause?

_______________________

Beleive it or not, a lot of people seem to do this with convertibles. At least ;two of the convertible owners I know.

Originally Posted by jeffsquire

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Beleive it or not, a lot of people seem to do this with convertibles. At least ;two of the convertible owners I know.

I have done this with a rental car, but not my own cars.

[Travis]

Originally Posted by jeffsquire

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Beleive it or not, a lot of people seem to do this with convertibles. At least ;two of the convertible owners I know.

I am guilty of doing it, but here in Texas it is a requirement.

With top down and windows up and the AC on it does keep you cool and I have never had/seen or heard of any issues with doing so.

-cheers

[MNBoxster]

HI,

OK, so let me get this straight, Automatic Climate Control is NOT standard, but optional on US Market cars? I always thought it was...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[1JB]

The Auto Climate option on the '06 in the US means you press one button and set the desired temperature. Everything else from air conditioning to distribution location and fan speed is set by the car. You set the temperature and the car does everything else. If you don't have that or use it you can set the temperature, airconditioning, speed and distribution points yourself and the car maintains that temperature.

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by 1JB

The Auto Climate option on the '06 in the US means you press one button and set the desired temperature. Everything else from air conditioning to distribution location and fan speed is set by the car. You set the temperature and the car does everything else. If you don't have that or use it you can set the temperature, airconditioning, speed and distribution points yourself and the car maintains that temperature.

Hi,

It's always a good day when you learn something new, so I'm having a good day.

The Climate Control in my '99 has distribution, temp, fan speed, AC, defrost switches and also an Auto switch. If I select the temp, and then hit the Auto button, all other functions are controlled by the unit - fan speed, distribution, AC, etc. The car also has an interior 't' stat, a solar 't' stat and it uses these and the ambient temp sensor in front of the left-side radiator to decide how to best maintain the selected temperature. Isn't this what we're talking about?

I didn't think this was an optional system, but I guess I'm wrong...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[Marc Gelefsky]

Originally Posted by MNBoxster

HI,

OK, so let me get this straight, Automatic Climate Control is NOT standard, but optional on US Market cars? I always thought it was...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

I dont think I have ever seen a US Boxster without it? anyone?

[z12358]

"If you don't have that or use it you can set the temperature, airconditioning, speed and distribution points yourself and the car maintains that temperature."

Wrong. I don't have auto climate control. Without it you cannot set a temperature to be automatically maintained. You can only choose levels from coldest to warmest, speed, and on/off for various vents -- just like any other bare bones AC system.

Auto-climate does not come standard.

Z.

[Marc Gelefsky]

Originally Posted by z12358

"If you don't have that or use it you can set the temperature, air conditioning, speed and distribution points yourself and the car maintains that temperature."

Wrong. I don't have auto climate control. Without it you cannot set a temperature to be automatically maintained. You can only choose levels from coldest to warmest, speed, and on/off for various vents -- just like any other bare bones AC system.

Auto-climate does not come standard.

Z.

OK, so is that a 987 thing?
I will now change my statement, I have never seen a US 986 without Climate control, thats not to say it does not exist

[z12358]

"You don't want to run your AC with the top down either."

If it's too hot in summer I run the AC with the top down, especially if sitting in slow traffic. You can definitely feel the cold breeze. I understand that it would be stupid to have an auto climate running with a top down but can't see why a standard AC would be a problem - it has no feedback loop that measures the cabin temp.

Z.

[CJ_Boxster]

Originally Posted by z12358

"If you don't have that or use it you can set the temperature, airconditioning, speed and distribution points yourself and the car maintains that temperature."

Wrong. I don't have auto climate control. Without it you cannot set a temperature to be automatically maintained. You can only choose levels from coldest to warmest, speed, and on/off for various vents -- just like any other bare bones AC system.

Auto-climate does not come standard.

Z.

Wow, Now i have another thing to make me love my boxster even more. I have the Auto Climate controls, I live in Southern California and With the top down, i do sometimes use the A/C But not on auto.

[z12358]

MNBoxster:
"I didn't think this was an optional system, but I guess I'm wrong..."

I wouldn't be surprised if they skimped by making it optional in the 987 - which I don't mind. That's how the bare bones 987S becomes the best "bargain" in the Porsche universe.

Z.

[Rome]

Auto Climate Control is the biggest ripoff among Porsche's many overpriced options...I can't believe they actual charge $550 for this and get away with it...I think it is insulting in a car of this price, even worse than floormats.

Virtually every dealer ordered car has it because it is a tie in with the so called "preferred package".

On the '07 987S I just ordered, I bagged it and ordered a sport steering wheel and crests in the headrests for about the same money. Who needs it in an open top car.

P.S. If you don't order it, the button which usually says "auto" will say "max."

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by Rome

Auto Climate Control is the biggest ripoff among Porsche's many overpriced options...I can't believe they actual charge $550 for this and get away with it...I think it is insulting in a car of this price, even worse than floormats.

Virtually every dealer ordered car has it because it is a tie in with the so called "preferred package".

On the '07 987S I just ordered, I bagged it and ordered a sport steering wheel and crests in the headrests for about the same money. Who needs it in an open top car.

P.S. If you don't order it, the button which usually says "auto" will say "max."

Hi,

Basically I agree. I also find it a bit profiteering of Porsche to have offered the Auto as Standard (US Market ONLY - supposedly to create better value/price) for the 986 and to pull it back on the 987 - AMAZING!

As you said, I suspect that 90% of the cars will have this option, primarily due to Dealer Orders, and some Nazi decendant is gonna make a € Bonus because he figured out how to make an additional $550/Unit Sold for basically nothing!

Someone said "more back to basics" - BS! I doubt the Auto system weighs 1 pound more than the standard one and doesn't affect performance 1 iota...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[IowaS]

The only time I need temp control is on work days in the summer, I dont want to drive to a meeting in 100 deg. heat and sweat. I use it rarely but when needed it is worth it in my opinion.

[redman12]

Originally Posted by IowaS

The only time I need temp control is on work days in the summer, I dont want to drive to a meeting in 100 deg. heat and sweat. I use it rarely but when needed it is worth it in my opinion.

Basically you don't want the hot chicks in the meeting to smell your b.o. lol

[z12358]

IowaS:
"The only time I need temp control is on work days in the summer, I dont want to drive to a meeting in 100 deg. heat and sweat. I use it rarely but when needed it is worth it in my opinion."

When it's that hot the last thing I'd need is temp control. A blast of "uncontrolled" cold AC air does the job just fine.

Z.

[z12358]

MNBoxster:
"But, I think we can all assume that running the AC Top DOWN on a warm day will have it operating at, or near, 100%."

It has been my understanding that the non-temp-control (standard) AC doesn't care about what the ambient temp is. There's no feedback loop informing the AC how hot it is in the cabin. I just set it manually how cold I want it to blow. So, yes, if I set it to "coldest" it WILL work at 100%; if I set it to the middle of the range it will blow at 50% -- regardless of top up or down. Am I wrong?

Z.

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by z12358

MNBoxster:
"But, I think we can all assume that running the AC Top DOWN on a warm day will have it operating at, or near, 100%."

It has been my understanding that the non-temp-control (standard) AC doesn't care about what the ambient temp is. There's no feedback loop informing the AC how hot it is in the cabin. I just set it manually how cold I want it to blow. So, yes, if I set it to "coldest" it WILL work at 100%; if I set it to the middle of the range it will blow at 50% -- regardless of top up or down. Am I wrong?

Z.

Hi,

I cannot say for sure on the Manual 987 unit. But I am talking about the Compressor, not the Fan speed. The Manual 987 has most of the data available (from various sensors) to regulate some compressor load, but, it may not have the processor (in the Climate Control unit) to do so. It may simply not be as variable (have the same 5%-100% range) as the Auto Climate Control, but I suspect that there is some, something like the AC and AC MAX settings on older cars..

With the emphasis today on reduced emissions, increased range (MPG), and maximized performance, I cannot imagine Porsche de-evolving the design. But, who knows...??

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[davezaristo]

Originally Posted by Travis

I am guilty of doing it, but here in Texas it is a requirement.

With top down and windows up and the AC on it does keep you cool and I have never had/seen or heard of any issues with doing so.

-cheers

No issue at all except that you are wasting a bit more gas by turning on the ac..so just thining your wallet by a slight bit...