Auto v Manual Air Con.

[nmottram]

I started with a Cooper with Auto Air Con and now have an MCS with manual. I reckon that manual is far better! The auto air con was difficult to switch off and was confusing in cold weather - should I leave it on at say 20 degrees or switch it off completely. If you switch it off controlling a manual heating system with a digital temperature switch is not ideal.

[tylast]

OK, here's what I've figured out (not in the manual btw) about the Auto Temp Controls. If you turn the fan off, you still have the temp regulated....air still passes through when you're driving at a decent speed. If you turn it off (where the display goes away) then I've noticed that the temp coming out of the vents is a constant temp...it doesn't auto adjust...so if it was putting out a bit warmer air to get the cabin temp up..then it will stay at that temp. In the summer, when I wanted to have NO AC at all...i set the temp to the lowest temp, then turned it off. Hope that helps!

[oldnell]

I have only just ordered my MINI, so I haven't been able to test that properly, let alone compare it with the automatic.

My reasoning for going for the manual air-conditioning was my intended use. I promised myself last summer that my next car would have air-conditioning. As a rule, I don't like to have air-conditioning on for long periods, so I imagine that I'll just use it for quick blasts of cold air on the hottest of summer days. I'm hoping that it will do something to cool the car down when the car's been parked in the sun for a while.

[Mini Cruiser]

u gotta admit the auto air con looks better thou

[nmottram]

The auto air con is also too noisy - the fan is on contantly.

[diverse]

and the Auto costs £350 more, and air con on all the time drains HP and uses more fuel!

[Hat]

very true. i have manual air con on my current car (Fiesta Zetec S) & when you turn the air con off, its like hitting a boost switch when you get back the extra power the air con's been using

[Sausagefingers]

I have been very happy with the Auto AC, and perfer it over the manual one. I am a gadget guy myself though, and the more bells and whistles I can get the better. And it is a very handsome unit.

[CurtP]

Quote:

Originally posted by diverse
and the Auto costs £350 more, and air con on all the time drains HP and uses more fuel!

Just because the indicator light for the aircon is on when auto is selected doesn't mean it's running. I've noticed that mine only cycles when the ambient air isn't cool enough to bring the temprature down to the selected level.

Another thing that I've noticed that if I select auto, then press the aircon button, the aircon light goes out and the system stays in auto mode.

Seems right by me mate!

[FLiPSiDE]

i havent found it too "automatic" just as much hassle as manual
but, the buttons are set out like the mini logo... imho the only reason to get it