Golf MKVI Air Conditioning

[darkfriend]

Hi All,

I have a 118TSI on order. While test-driving a Subaru impreza at the dealership next door to VV, the salesman stated that the aircon on the golf was very poor. Is this true? Summers in WA can get rather hot. It would be nice not to cook inside my new toy.

Anyone out there able to reassure me? Was the Subaru guy just talking-down his competition?

[moniker]

No, the A/C in my MkVI 103 TDI is excellent. Has no trouble in Perth heat - got the car in Feb this year and have no complaints at all.

[MkVIGTI]

Not from my personal experience no. Having said that, it hasn't exactly been hot in Melb so haven't really tested it out yet. I did notice that the air con system is pretty smart when u put the climate control into auto. When I used the heater, it automatically directs airflow so that the hot air doesn't blast right in your face (which will make you feel hot and dry). Instead it sents the hot air elsewhere to warm the cabin up. Just one clever feather that the golf does (and I'm pretty sure the Impreza doesn't).

[Maverick]

Hi All,

I have a 118TSI on order. While test-driving a Subaru impreza at the dealership next door to VV, the salesman stated that the aircon on the golf was very poor. Is this true? Summers in WA can get rather hot. It would be nice not to cook inside my new toy.

Anyone out there able to reassure me? Was the Subaru guy just talking-down his competition?

Seeing as plenty of Volkswagen owners will whine about the smallest most insignificant things don't you think the forums would be littered with complaints if the airconditioner was substandard? And it's the same system used in the Mark V sold here since 2005.

[Corey_R]

Good tint is (hopefully obviously) part of a good airconditioning (and heating) system. Tint reflects and absorbs heat from the outside and stops a decent amount of the "solar energy" from entering the car in the first place - hence less for the aircon to do. Many people don't realise, but tint actually helps retain heat inside the car during the cold months (Emissivity - listed as 'E' on tint specifications - the lower the number the better).

Pretty much every Subaru I see has tint on it, so I'm not sure if it's a standard offering on their models, and hence why a Subaru salesman may think that the Golf's aircon is crap, but in my experience the Golf aircon is great. It kept me cool in my leather seats on several 40+ degree days during the time I owned my MKV GTI. Even more impressive, is the way the car determines the temp and maintains the temp. You can have the same temp selection during summer, or winter, day or night.

[Tim]

I think what you will find is the VW aircon systems are a little bit more subtle in their operation than some others on the market. They dont tend to blast out extremely cold air right from start up so they do take a minute or two to cool the car down. Once the car is cool they do seem to do a good job of maintaining a comfortable temp though.

So yeah.. Maybe theyre just different. I wouldnt say they are poor.

[darkfriend]

Thanks all- such quick replies. This place is fantastic!

[nau]

lets put it that way
I know where he is coming from... old golf4 had ***** aircon... it was very nice on heat and just couldnt coop whn it was +40
on a new one Im freezing if I put it on half blast...

[JAYDEE]

The Sub salesman is just spinning FUD.

I've had my GTI since mid March and have experienced temps from high 30's to below zero in that time.
I was initially worried that the leather seats I optioned for would be a problem with the heat, but I have been really supprised. When I left the car in full sun for two to three hours on one of those hot 36+ days in late March, I got in and the seats were only warm, not scalding hot as I was expecting. I turned on the air and within a couple of minutes the cabin was very comfortable to the point where it was getting a bit too cool.

The auto setting generally works a treat, adjusting to the outside temp. Not too hot and not too cold, just what you want in from aircon.

[obiwan]

I do find that with my climate control on a summers day I have to set it to like 19 to get the same blast that my friends BMW gets on 22, other than though, I got mine in Dec 2009 and it survived the Brisbane summer OK.