Which cars have the best A/C?

"Toby F., Manager" (itsmefromhr)
07/06/2018 at 19:19 • Filed to: None

It’s summer and it is HOT. It was 116 at work today.

Also, which “efficient” cars have the best A/C? I’m thinking about buying something more efficient for my long commutes.

DISCUSSION (57)

E90M3 > Toby F., Manager
07/06/2018 at 19:24

Things American cars do better than everyone else: AC and cup holders. The one thing my 1997 Explorer did better than my M3 was AC.

His Stigness > Toby F., Manager
07/06/2018 at 19:24

German cars. There’s nothing like a fine German AC system to freeze your face.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Toby F., Manager
07/06/2018 at 19:25

German and American cars

CaptDale - is secretly British > Toby F., Manager
07/06/2018 at 19:26

I need to reup the AC in the Goat, but the motorcycle doesn’t have any

DC3 LS, Fuck Hyundai, now and forever > Toby F., Manager
07/06/2018 at 19:27

Chevy Cobalt. My friend in HS had one he named “Tessa the Ice Bitch” because of how cold it was.

shop-teacher > Toby F., Manager
07/06/2018 at 19:29

Typically GM vehicles have amazing AC. You can chill beer with the AC in my truck.

Boxer_4 > His Stigness
07/06/2018 at 19:31

Early ‘00s VW must not have gotten the memo; I wasn’t impressed with the AC in our ‘01.5 B5.5 Passat wagon.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Toby F., Manager
07/06/2018 at 19:32

Any vehicle with an a/c system designed to cool a much larger interior. Most trucks have an SUV equivalent that uses the same equipment as the truck, with like three times as much interior space. The advantage to that is sheer freeze capability when new, and even when 25 years old and marginal it’s still effective. Like my MJ, with XJ a/c components.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Toby F., Manager
07/06/2018 at 19:34

New Tahoes I hear are great and I’m pretty sure the compressor in my VW is sized for a much larger application. Buuut, it robs a very noticeable amount of power. Enough where I don’t like to use it haha

lone_liberal > Toby F., Manager
07/06/2018 at 19:35

I just got out of a 20ft. U-Haul rental and it had amazing A/C. Sure, it’s not efficient if you consider that it only carries 3 passengers but if you throw in the cargo area it’s not that bad.*

*Yes it is.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Toby F., Manager
07/06/2018 at 19:35

Before I put a hole in the condense r with a sharp stone , my ‘92 Alfa 164-S actually had pretty damn amazing A/ C. Next best was my ‘97 Buick LeSabre. The two fords (2014 Fiesta and 2018 F150) are pretty much tied with “very good” A/C. My 2017 Zetor Major 80 rates as “good”, and pretty much every other vehicle I’ ve owned rated barely adequate to poor, or non-existe nt. T he others that actually HAD A/C ranked from best to worst: 2011 Elantra Touring, 2003 Hyundai Elantra, ‘98 Volvo V70 AWD and lastly ‘89 Mazda Protege LX . All others were A/C- free.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Toby F., Manager
07/06/2018 at 19:35

To be honest, outside of a miata, I haven’t driven a car with subpar A/C made past 1990 that had a system in good shape. For cheap, efficient cars, the A/C rocked on my 93 MX6, 91 Legend, 2000 528i and 93 Vette. 1980's Hondas and NA/NB miatas leave a bit to be desired in Southern New Mexico temps. Expanding to immediate family members in the house hold, a 96 Probe, 2001 Camero (V6, but convertible) and a 2010 Civic all worked fine down here.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > E90M3
07/06/2018 at 19:37

Thinking back to my E39, this is certainly true of cup holders. The A/C rocked on it, though.

Ssfancyfresh > Toby F., Manager
07/06/2018 at 19:37

Any GM truck. I feel like there is tribal knowledge leftover from when GM absorbed Harrison refrigerator a bajillion years ago.

Cars ok too. But the trucks are scaled more bigly

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Toby F., Manager
07/06/2018 at 19:39

My CX-3's is amazing.

Ash78, voting early and often > Boxer_4
07/06/2018 at 19:40

Mine is still going today — barely — after zero servicing life to date. When it was brand new, it was pretty solid.

Ash78, voting early and often > Toby F., Manager
07/06/2018 at 19:40

EVERY SINGLE CAR EVER SOLD ON AUTOTRADER, CRAIGSLIST, OR YOUR LOCAL CLASSIFIEDS

Chuckles > Toby F., Manager
07/06/2018 at 19:42

My Fiat 500 has very good AC, probably because it has such a small amount of space to keep cool. Last weekend we drove to Delaware and back in the heat, blasting the AC and still got 40 mpg.

Boxer_4 > Ash78, voting early and often
07/06/2018 at 19:51

It was solid, but not outstanding, from new . The ‘99 Camry we had around the same time had really impressive AC, though the 133 hp 2.2l wasn’t exactly peppy with it going.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > DC3 LS, Fuck Hyundai, now and forever
07/06/2018 at 19:54

I think they used the same AC system in every car around that time. So the tiny cars became penguin habitats.

Ash78, voting early and often > Boxer_4
07/06/2018 at 19:58

Yep, anything built in (or for) the US market knew what to do. Europeans always saw it as an almost condescending afterthought. Just like cupholders. But the B5.5 cupholders were 10x better than the flip-out ones just a year earlier, which sat under the radio and atop the ashtray (not built into the center console as they were later).

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Toby F., Manager
07/06/2018 at 20:09

Had a 2G Neon. AC was so powerful m y glasses would be opaque with condensation whenever I left the car.

Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner > Toby F., Manager
07/06/2018 at 20:11

I mean my car is good if you have the windows down

WilliamsSW > His Stigness
07/06/2018 at 20:16

Have had several, can confirm. The Mercedes I just bought is better than the BMWs I’ve had, which were darn good too.

jkm7680 > His Stigness
07/06/2018 at 20:17

The AC in my ‘97 A4 was amazing

The AC in my ‘00 A6 never worked quite right

The AC in my ‘08 A4 was amazing

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > E90M3
07/06/2018 at 20:26

I agreed up until I got my 4Runner. Even after sitting for two months, cold air immediately started blowing out. And COLD air. Even with days with the heat index well into the 100’s, I would have to turn it down within a minute.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
07/06/2018 at 20:27

Besides Volvos, I’ve always thought the FiST’s AC was kind of awful. It just seems overworke, at least in hot/humid areas. In fact, I think I might start driving my 4Runner on the hotter days.

Longtime Lurker > Toby F., Manager
07/06/2018 at 20:27

A regular cab pickup, small cabin with a HVAC system designed for a much larger space.

Montalvo > Toby F., Manager
07/06/2018 at 20:36

My b mw ( 2012 335ix) has the best ac and heat I have ever experienced. I could wear the exact opposite clothes for the season with the windows down and I would still be comfortable.

ToyotaFamily > Toby F., Manager
07/06/2018 at 20:37

GM’s large size offerings and almost any Toyota.

The AC in my dad’s Tundra gets ice cold super fast, same in my 4Runner. I had a Suburban rental and the AC in that was amazing.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
07/06/2018 at 20:37

Well, I *DO* live in Vermont... I thought it did pretty well this past heat wave, but maybe I’m just not really working my A/C as hard as you southerners. I’ve never had trouble actually keeping the set temp in the FiST, which is not something I can say for every A/C equipped car I’ve owned. The Hyundais could both be overwhelmed on humid, sunny days, the Volvo could be hard pressed to make it actually cool inside the car, as opposed to just not as hot, and the Protege was capable of blowing cool air out of the vents, but not actually significantly changing the cabin temperature. The Buick could keep it cool without trying hard on the hott est of days, and before damaging the condense r the Alfa could put frost on the INSIDE of the windows on a 90-degree day if you set the temp to “LOW” and hit the Max A/C button. It’s a good thing it had climate control with temperature preset, b ecause if you left it on Low/Max you could end up needing to put on a jacket...

DipodomysDeserti > His Stigness
07/06/2018 at 20:38

As someone who has owned several german cars by several brands and lives somewhere hot as balls, I couldn’t disagree more. Germans have the worse ACs.

LongbowMkII > DC3 LS, Fuck Hyundai, now and forever
07/06/2018 at 20:38

GM has damn good A/C’s

DipodomysDeserti > Boxer_4
07/06/2018 at 20:39

80s, 00’s, ‘10s BMWs and ‘80 Mercs must not have got the memo either. In my experience German cars have terrible AC.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
07/06/2018 at 20:45

I always thought mrs. Boost Addict’s old 2003 Tacoma had pretty good A/C, but I just figured it was bec au se the cab was so small... maybe it was more than that.. .

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
07/06/2018 at 20:46

Mine stays on Lo all the time, and it takes about 10 minutes to drop the temp below warm. I do need a tint though.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
07/06/2018 at 20:48

The A/C is incredible in the 4Runner. When I lived down in Florida and went to the beach, the rear passengers would make me turn it down(there are no vents in the rear) after we left the beach, maybe 2 miles down the road.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
07/06/2018 at 20:54

huh, I have mine set at 68 and the blower typically turns down from high fan speed in two or three minutes at most. It easi ly maintains that temp afterword... again, Vermont, but it still seems good to me.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
07/06/2018 at 20:57

Well the feels like is pretty consistently over 100 right now, so it gets pretty warm.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
07/06/2018 at 21:04

I t only gets that hot a few times a year here (last week was rotte n) . M an, I am glad I don’t live in the S outh E ast. D esert heat sucks , but humidity is just the worst :P

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
07/06/2018 at 21:05

And South Carolina isn’t nearly as bad as Florida was.

His Stigness > jkm7680
07/06/2018 at 21:09

You had multiple Audi’s and you didn’t kill yourself? Either you’re secretly rich, or you’re a technician.

His Stigness > DipodomysDeserti
07/06/2018 at 21:13

I’ve never had an issue with properly working AC systems. And I’ve never gotten many cars in with AC issues.

His Stigness > DipodomysDeserti
07/06/2018 at 21:14

Oh you’re talking about older German cars? Yeah, they sucked back in the day. And even a 2010ish BMW is still going to be crap unless it’s brand new. I get a lot off-lease BMW’s into the shop and they do not hold up AT ALL. And I used to work primarily on BMW’s. Honestly, I think they’re crap.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > E90M3
07/06/2018 at 21:27

The AC is my wife's Pontiac Vibe -- one of the only two things under the hood supplied by GM -- sucks. American AC for a car assembled in California.

Sovande > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
07/06/2018 at 21:58

I had a 2006 Tundra single cab that was the coldest AC I have experienced. Tiny cab with what I assume was the same set up used to cool the bigger trucks.

gettingoldercarguy > Toby F., Manager
07/06/2018 at 22:23

American car AC is the best I've ever experienced. Be it Chrysler, GM or Ford. They absolutely nail that shit down.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Toby F., Manager
07/07/2018 at 00:37

What is “AC”? I’ve been on the bike in 106. Anything below 99 feels nice and cool at this point

DipodomysDeserti > His Stigness
07/07/2018 at 00:41

I’ve owned a 2011 CPO 335D that was a only two years old when I bought it and a 2013 CPO X1 that was also only two years old when I bought it. Both were dealer serviced. Neither had/have great AC. My dad bought a brand new M235i and it was the same deal. I also have driven probably 10-15 brand new BMWs (320i’s, X3’s and X5’s with less than 10k on the odo) as loaner cars, and their AC’s were all crap. When I bought my first BMW the salesman even told me to not even mess with the climate control and just keep it on max AC on account of it’s inability to keep the car cool.

My uncle also owned several brand new Jettas back in the late ‘90s and their ACs were atrocious.

For reference, I currently DD a roofless Wrangler (our LOW last night was 94F) , and have DD’d both a ‘66 GMC with no AC and a ‘73 CL450 during Phoenician summers (once rode it around in 120F degree weather) , so I’m definitely not an AC queen.

I have a 100k+ mile BMW that I’ve roadtripped and camped out of all over the western US and it has held up great. I can work on it myself, and definitely wouldn’t take it into a non-BMW emissions place with a shitty owner for anything, so I’m probably quite a bit different than the clientele you’re used to.

DipodomysDeserti > His Stigness
07/07/2018 at 00:42

Have you ever lived somewhere where it is actually hot?

jkm7680 > His Stigness
07/07/2018 at 01:37

Well I am alive and breathing and am not a tech by any means, haha.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Toby F., Manager
07/07/2018 at 01:43

1st gen 7.3 super duty. AC will freeze you out and in the winter the heater is so hot you cant leave it on for more than a few mins

HammerheadFistpunch > Ash78, voting early and often
07/07/2018 at 01:59

once you recharge it, thats all it needs

Ash78, voting early and often > HammerheadFistpunch
07/07/2018 at 06:51

Repeat once daily for life.

E90M3 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/07/2018 at 08:07

My experience with AC in American cars has been the opposite. My dad’s 2002 Buick had amazing AC. There was a reason the W123 Mercedes used an AC Delco AC unit.

His Stigness > jkm7680
07/07/2018 at 12:29

Lol then you must be secretly rich. Actually, there's a third explanation, you're lucky as shit.

mazda616 > Toby F., Manager
07/07/2018 at 21:02

My former car, an ‘08 Mazda3, has mediocre A/C. It got the job done but was nothing to write home about.

My current car, a ‘16 Mazda6, has automatic climate control and it’ll damn near freeze me. I set it to 74 and it does great at cooling the interior down really quickly.