how to compare air conditioning power?

i would like my next car to have airconditioning, and effective fast working air con at that

is there considerable difference in speed of chilling of aircons in the most popular brands? does it vary with shape of car or size of engine? what should i look for in specs to give me a clue?how can i measure it to compare when i am offered a test drive?

thx

Reply to
beerismygas
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"beerismygas" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@l77g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...

The clutch engages when you turn it on but the AC pump normally runs off the ancillary belt.

'Automatic climate control' is the one to go for.

Reply to
Nick (Scots)

Nick (Scots) pretended :

Agreed, you just set the temperature you want and leave it to get on with it. None of the constant adjusting settings as it gets too warm or too cold.

Reply to
Harry Bloomfield

Not really - some models are notable for having feeble air conditioning, such as the Alfa Romeo 156.

Some cars just about *need* air conditioning such as the Focus.

Generally no; sometimes the air conditioning compressor is shared across a range of cars, like Ka, Fiesta, Focus. The Focus' system may seem inferior because there's more interior to cool but the temperature of the air leaving the system will be the same (providing it works properly).

You could talk to the manufacturer, but, suffice to say most systems work as they need to in this country.

You could shove a thermometer into an air vent and measure the temperature of the air leaving...

Or you can feel how cold it gets. For maximum cooling, run the interior fan at a high speed and switch air recirculation on. It should get cold. It'll feel cold because air conditioning removes much of the moisture from the air too.

You may feel or hear the compressor cycling in and out, there may be a subtle click of a relay in the dashboard, a change in engine note, a little surge of acceleration (or deceleration), or sometimes a faint humming (as the condenser fan cycles in).

Reply to
DervMan

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