Is air conditioning not a standard feature in cars? Should it be?

acequion · 02-03-2017 12:46AM #1

I don't know if this is a stupid question or not as I must confess to an almost total ignorance about cars.But like probably most of the adult population,I drive one.

So my question arises because I've just traded in my 2009 air conditioned Nissan Note for an unairconditioned 2014 model. Now I was aware of what I was buying and apart from that one issue, everything else is great and I'm delighted with the newer car.

However I was quite astonished that air conditioning was not a standard feature in a good car like a Nissan Note. I assumed it would be as standard as central locking. Now,I'm well aware that it's mostly unnecessary in our climate,especially where I live in the rainy south west. And anyway I live quite close to where I work so am not often stuck in traffic or making long journeys. Still, the handful of times I used the air con in the last car, I found it really great.And we Irish are using it more and more and enjoying its cool comfort even in our chilly climate.

What do those of you more in the know on such matters think about my question? Is my car in the minority? Is air con a standard of most Irish registered cars nowadays and if not, should it be?

Voodoomelon · 02-03-2017 01:02AM

acequion wrote: »

a standard feature in a good car like a Nissan Note.?

I'm not taking the pi$$ and wish you all the best with your new car, but the Note would be at the lower end of the scale in terms of a well specced vehicle. It's positioned in the very segment where manufacturers take liberties with everything from electric windows to cruise control to keep costs low.

Such a shame, as it's probably the number one feature, without a shadow of a doubt, I absolutely could not drive a car without. It's a safety feature as far as I see it in regards visibility and I never turn it off.

Atlantic Dawn · 02-03-2017 01:03AM

I'd say there's still entry level models up to Golf/Corolla size that don't come with it as standard, I'd imagine the cost adds somewhere between €500-€1000 depending on size of compressor they are using in the car so without it the cheaper the car the easier it might sell here.

It's nearly better in this country in the winter to demist the windows than it is to cool the car in summer, I use it all the time, wouldn't be without it.

Grolschevik · 02-03-2017 01:27AM

I've a 17 year old Fiesta that it came standard in, albeit the Ghia model...

Mervyn Skidmore · 02-03-2017 01:29AM

Even the Dacia Sandero has air-con as standard these days. Shameful of other manufacturers not to have it.

Samuel T. Cogley · 02-03-2017 01:30AM

Can you not just wind down the window and stick the foot down a bit on the 6 or so days a year this will be an issue?

Jack the Stripper · 02-03-2017 01:30AM

We need to have electric windows first.

Leonard Hofstadter · 02-03-2017 02:01AM

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

I'd say there's still entry level models up to Golf/Corolla size that don't come with it as standard, I'd imagine the cost adds somewhere between €500-€1000 depending on size of compressor they are using in the car so without it the cheaper the car the easier it might sell here.

It's nearly better in this country in the winter to demist the windows than it is to cool the car in summer, I use it all the time, wouldn't be without it.

Toyota still doesn't fit a/c as standard to the Auris, however if you're a pensioners or geriatric, and therefore buy the Corollla, you now get it as standard, even on the ultimate OAP special Terra(ble) model.

Superminis still tend not to have a/c unless you buy the most expensive model in Ireland, been standard in pretty much every UK spec supermini for at least the past 10 years!

As for whether cars should have a/c as standard, anyone who says 'you don't need it in Ireland because it never gets hot enough' frankly shouldn't be allowed drive. It is vital, especially at winter (if anything, it's even more useful then than it is in the summer)

CiniO · 02-03-2017 02:14AM

captainspeed wrote: »

Toyota still doesn't fit a/c as standard to the Auris, however if you're a pensioners or geriatric, and therefore buy the Corollla, you now get it as standard, even on the ultimate OAP special Terra(ble) model.

Superminis still tend not to have a/c unless you buy the most expensive model in Ireland, been standard in pretty much every UK spec supermini for at least the past 10 years!

As for whether cars should have a/c as standard, anyone who says 'you don't need it in Ireland because it never gets hot enough' frankly shouldn't be allowed drive. It is vital, especially at winter (if anything, it's even more useful then than it is in the summer)

I agree that A/C is useful in Irish climate, but don't exaggerate. It's not a necessity just a convenience feature, and it's IMO perfectly acceptable if it's not available on cheaper, low trim models.

It's a necessity in hot climates, where without it you'd be driving at 60 degrees C inside the car.

In Ireland, it's comparable with cruise control, leather steering wheel, parking sensors, etc... So in other words, it's very useful, but not crucial.

acequion · 02-03-2017 02:30AM

CiniO wrote: »

I agree that A/C is useful in Irish climate, but don't exaggerate. It's not a necessity just a convenience feature, and it's IMO perfectly acceptable if it's not available on cheaper, low trip models.

It's a necessity in hot climates, where without it you'd be driving at 60 degrees C inside the car.

In Ireland, it's comparable with cruise control, leather steering wheel, parking sensors, etc... So in other words, it's very useful, but not crucial.

You've cheered me up a bit ciniO. While I do appreciate the other replies, I was starting to doubt my purchase.

While I would still maintain that it should be standard on all cars, I still used it very rarely in the last car as it hardly ever gets hot enough in this country.

I'm surprised to hear that Nissan's not great on specs because to drive I find the Note great. I had the last one for five years and it never gave me any trouble.

JohnBoy26 · 02-03-2017 04:42AM

captainspeed wrote: »

Toyota still doesn't fit a/c as standard to the Auris, however if you're a pensioners or geriatric, and therefore buy the Corollla, you now get it as standard, even on the ultimate OAP special Terra(ble) model.

Superminis still tend not to have a/c unless you buy the most expensive model in Ireland, been standard in pretty much every UK spec supermini for at least the past 10 years!

As for whether cars should have a/c as standard, anyone who says 'you don't need it in Ireland because it never gets hot enough' frankly shouldn't be allowed drive. It is vital, especially at winter (if anything, it's even more useful then than it is in the summer)

that's a massive overreaction tbh. A/C is convenient yes but it's far from vital in Ireland. I've lived fine without it for the last 10 years without issue.

naughtysmurf · 02-03-2017 09:20AM

While not vital, I wouldn't have a car without it, have mine on all the time too

TimeToShine · 02-03-2017 09:24AM

If commuting it is essential for visibility. The mornings would be a nightmare otherwise.

colm_mcm · 02-03-2017 09:24AM

I think it's fair enough if someone wants to save money by not having it.
I wouldn't buy a car without it though.

mickdw · 02-03-2017 10:07AM

It's the kind of thing that if you never had it, you don't need it but once you have had climate control, going back to fogged up windscreen and side windows etc would be a major let down.

OldMrBrennan83 · 02-03-2017 10:08AM

This post has been deleted.

colm_mcm · 02-03-2017 10:59AM

Yeah pretty sure all car i30s had aircon as standard. The original model did anyway.
Surprised the van didn't.

Isambard · 02-03-2017 11:03AM

I'd agree with the comments about demisting but my car illogically has aircon and a heated front screen as standard.
I love the aircon but I wouldn't pay extra for it if it wasn't standard

Guy:Incognito · 02-03-2017 11:16AM

Bluetooth should be standard equipment before aircon imo .

biko · 02-03-2017 11:22AM

Heated seats any day before air con

Mooooo · 02-03-2017 11:28AM

mickdw wrote: »

It's the kind of thing that if you never had it, you don't need it but once you have had climate control, going back to fogged up windscreen and side windows etc would be a major let down.

While not cooling the car every car still comes with heater to demist windscreens etc. Does the aircon do it that much faster?

Fr Tod Umptious · 02-03-2017 11:29AM

captainspeed wrote: »

Toyota still doesn't fit a/c as standard to the Auris, however if you're a pensioners or geriatric, and therefore buy the Corollla, you now get it as standard, even on the ultimate OAP special Terra(ble) model.

Superminis still tend not to have a/c unless you buy the most expensive model in Ireland, been standard in pretty much every UK spec supermini for at least the past 10 years!

As for whether cars should have a/c as standard, anyone who says 'you don't need it in Ireland because it never gets hot enough' frankly shouldn't be allowed drive. It is vital, especially at winter (if anything, it's even more useful then than it is in the summer)

I've driven for years in Ireland in cars without AC and I've got on fine, should my license be revoked ?

I've owned cars in the US without it and it was bad, really bad, could not do without it there.

pilly · 02-03-2017 11:37AM

Mooooo wrote: »

While not cooling the car every car still comes with heater to demist windscreens etc. Does the aircon do it that much faster?

This is the thing I think most people don't get about a/c. Everyone says we don't get warm enough weather here but I've driven cars with and without it and believe me it's more useful in winter. Can save you 5 minutes each way on a journey. And safer.

theteal · 02-03-2017 11:41AM

It helps to demist the windscreen a bit quicker. Not in anyway essential. If mine didn't come on automatically I'd never use it.

frozenfrozen · 02-03-2017 11:43AM

my car doesn't have a/c, I would never buy a car again without it. 100% deal breaker for me if a car didn't have it. Life is too short to wait 5+ minutes for the windows to demist for 4-5 months of the year

cml387 · 02-03-2017 11:43AM

I drove cars for years that had no air con. To demist the window we had a thing known as a "cloth".

Now I feel as if I was just one rung up from having a hole in the floor so that I could make the car move with my feet.

frozenfrozen · 02-03-2017 11:54AM

cml387 wrote: »

I drove cars for years that had no air con. To demist the window we had a thing known as a "cloth".

Now I feel as if I was just one rung up from having a hole in the floor so that I could make the car move with my feet.

nice way to get micro scratches on the windscreen and spreading grease around the place so you can see sweet FA when the sun shines

Isambard · 02-03-2017 11:59AM

I don't think he was advocating using a cloth.
I'm a bit paranoid about the inside of my screen.... have been known to scream at and beat on a little bit any passenger who wipes my screen with their hand. (slightly exaggerated)

pilly · 02-03-2017 12:03PM

Isambard wrote:

I don't think he was advocating using a cloth. I'm a bit paranoid about the inside of my screen.... have been known to scream at and beat on a little bit any passenger who wipes my screen with their hand. (slightly exaggerated)

One of my pet hates too.

frozenfrozen · 02-03-2017 12:08PM

Isambard wrote: »

I don't think he was advocating using a cloth.

you're right id say. I'm just on the defensive because I can't believe people here don't find A/C useful. I'd have A/C over a radio

fepper · 02-03-2017 12:20PM

I have A/C in 02 car and its a godsend for clearing windscreen and for cooling me down on a rare scorching hot day in this country

Is air conditioning not a standard feature in cars? Should it be?

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