JSG

Remember all the fuss a while back that Canada got climate control when the US didn't. Well guys - chill out! :D :D

The reason you can feel relaxed is that it doesn't work - trust me have I been trying over the last few weeks! Not sure of the root of the problem but too small of an A/C unit is one.

With the auto setting you're forced to only having the air come out of the vents straight at you. If you change the mode to add feet or screen then the auto switches off.

So, with these vents angled away from my body and face (uncomfortable and dry) I set the climate control to 24 degress and wait (outside was 31). You never get close, maybe 27 it manages with the fan continually on 5/7 strength (noisy).

The only way to stay cool is to direct the vents at your face and body like with a standard system. But then you don't use auto as the strength varies dependent on it's perception of temperature. You use manual because all you want is cool air at fan speed 1.

The best system I've witnessed is in an SL500 Merc. It was like a fridge in there with no noise or discernable air movement even at the height of summer here. I realise the design budgets are different but I would have paid a little more to get a working unit.

If anyone from the UK is reading the 8's system is similar to the Vectra (which my Dad has) - we also don't bother with auto on that.

c170673

The number of days which Climate Control is essential in the UK, that is hot days, are few and far between, so I think we will be able to suffer manual control on those odd occasions.

Myself having ordered a Black RX8 will probably feel the heat more than a Sunlight Silver or Titanium Grey but I am sure I will be able to cope.

Chris

Wing

I'm more concerned with climate control in the winter. I'm always turning the heat on and off on and off, because it gets too hot then too cold.

Hopefully it works for that!

RXhusker

I have a great climate control system in my Volvo and I never use it. Guess I am a control freak but I like to manually set the fan speed, etc. I am actually glad that the RX (US spec anyway) doesn't come with auto climate control.

rxeightr

No worries here either.

desmo996

Climate Control is a waste in Florida. I have tested several systems and they do not work with the extreme heat. I rather control it by hand, as long as the A/C does funtion properly and efficiently. Sometimes I turn the A/C off anyway just to listen to the engine.

khoney

I think the bigger issue here is the inadequate cooling capability. This has me concerned, living in San Antonio. I hope it's a steaming hot day when I go for my pre-purchase test drive.

RotorGeek

JSG is the AC cold or not. I get a feeling from your post that the AC sucks. If it does could it be becuase of the excessive heat from the rotary

JSG

A/C is cold coming out of the vents - no problems there. When it's blowing at your face/body then you're also cold but if you want "climate control" (i.e. the temperature in the car being what you set, in my case 24) you don't get it. Even recirculating the air it doesn't become a "cool room" inside the car.

Depends what you want. If you're happy having the air blowing at you then you'll feel fine. If you were thinking it might be a cosy environment, a bit like an S500, then you'd better get used to air blowing at you. I've been used to the former in my previous cars but was hoping to get away from it with this move "upmarket".

Superfan

You're breaking my heart JSG. Have you had the windows tinted? That makes a huge difference in ambient temperature. My FD (no tints) would give you frost bite at night but on a hot & humid Florida day it was more like a Turkish bath.

blizz81

it's "upmarket" in some ways, but I wouldn't expect a "sports car" under $30k to be ultimately concerned with climate comfort to the point that they'd install systems from Mercedes Benz cars tens of thousands of dollars more expensive. What can you expect?

Then again this coming from a freak who doesn't even use his A/C in rush hour 115-degree heat index conditions (as long as I have a job that allows me to come in after lunch w/ a sweaty shirt ). So I could be crazy.

MrWigggles

Houston doesn't need climate control either. You just set everything to max A/C and hope the inside temp comes down to 77 F (25 C)

JSG,

I was wondering about one thing. Can you tell if the A/C dissengages when you accelerate hard like a lot of new cars do to free up power for the engine? Or does having the A/C on obviously take away some power like most cars in the 90's that always had their compressors on?

-Mr. Wigggles

Superfan

Odd are that the A/C clutch disengages at higher rpms. They might not last took long if they went to 9000 rpm.

eccles

I hope it does. Both my '99 Miata and my wife's '02 Miata are supposed to, but neither do - the A/C will sometimes cut in even when you're at full throttle.

JSG

I'll see if I can sense it but it's going to be hard....this is a fast car and I can't stay on full throttle very long without running out of road! As it's high power I don't think it's as much of an issue as it would be with say a Miata. I could sense on that but the cut-in/out seems pretty smooth on the 8.

91vert

I'm wondering about a few things with the A/C:

1) Does the A/C compressor running seem to dog the engine much?
I've had a couple of cars that were unbelievably "bogged down" when the A/C was on. My current RX-7 doesn't seem to be too bad. It is noticeable when it is on, but not to the point where it feels like it totally kills the performance.

2) Does the air blow warmer when you are sitting still (stopped in traffic)?
I had a 94 Probe GT a few years back, and with a full freon charge, being stuck in traffic and not moving made the A/C barely work on really hot days. As soon as I would get moving again it would be nice and cold. Both electric fans ran while the compressor was on, so I'm pretty sure it wasn't an airflow problem, but more of a system that was not "beefy" enough to keep things chilled sitting at an idle. Hope this is not the case with the 8. I sit in stopped traffic frequently, and it gets hot and humid here in St. Louis in the middle of summer.

3) Is the cycling of the compressor on and off nice and smooth? Does it make the idle jump up when it kicks on and drop down when it kicks off?
My RX-7 annoys me a little when it comes to this. It idles normally at around 750 RPM without the compressor on. When it kicks on, the revs jump up to around 1000. A couple of other cars I've had, the cycling of the A/C compressor actually made the car "lunge" a little at highway speeds when the compressor kicked on and off which was a little annoying.

I feel/notice nothing with my Millenia when my A/C is on except for all of the nice freezing cold air! Hopefully the system in the 8 will be comparable and not disappoint me. I am pretty picky when it comes to my A/C.