so how's the B7's AC on these really hot days?

[satz]

hi all

am looking seriously at getting either an R36 or a 2011 V6, but was wondering how effective the AC is on the 30C+ days?

I test drove a 2011 V6 wagon recently when it was 35C, and found the AC was okay in the front seats, but due to the narrow vents and being in a high position, I could only get cool air to my face, but not body.

Didn't get a chance to test the rear seat AC vents...

thanks

S

p.s. enjoyed driving the car!

[maclean_cherry]

I've found the ac in my R36 to be more than sufficient for the front, haven't felt the back yet but didn't have any complaints the other day when the outside temp was reading 42.

With the R36 I do get a bit warm around the back because of the heavily bolstered seats, something im more than willing to endure though

[satz]

HI Maclean, thanks for the feedback. For some reason, AC performance is one of my priorities, especially as my current car does have good AC (Lexus RX)

Interesting that you mention feeling warmer in the R36. I too noticed that on my test drives. I wasn't sure if it was the microfibre (compared to the full leather on the V6 passat)?

cheers

S

[maclean_cherry]

Mate when you spend $50k on a car outs more than reasonable to expect outstanding ac! The ac is definitely in the outstanding area, but I don't think anything touches newer Lexus' for pure ice cold ac.

I think the warm seats is purely a lack of airflow around the back and sides, one thing for sure is the pneumatic bolstering and lumbar support makes sure the whole seat is wrapped around your back and sides.

From reading the car care area of the manual, the Passat full leather seats are designed to draw heat and sweat away from your body, I don't think the r36 is the same.

With that said, I've not been that warm that it makes me sweat or anything, just a bit warmer from my business shirt being hugged around me.

[MrWolf]

I've found my R36's cooling to be pretty solid. I quite regularly turn my car into a rolling igloo, even in this weather.

+1 to the warm feeling in the R36. I get that as well, even in normal weather.

[booba]

I dont have a problem in these near 40 degree days and i am a fat bastard who sweats a lot.

[maclean_cherry]

I'm a skinny bastard that sweats a lot!

Seems to be a common idea that the seats get a hit warm, found this review mentioning the same thing - Road Test - Volkswagen Passat R36 and Golf R32

Climate control on 22 more than compensates though.

[Amalgam]

Hi Maclean,

As previously mentioned by Satz, nothing beats the ice cold AC of a japanese car. My 125TDI replaced a Subaru Outback and I currently drive an EVO 10.

Having said that, we drove 400km with the indicated outside ambient temp of 42C and the wagon was more than acceptable with the climate control set at 20C. My daughter in the back seat had to position the rear vents away from her as it was getting a bit chilly for her.

[kleung]

Mate when you spend $50k on a car outs more than reasonable to expect outstanding ac! The ac is definitely in the outstanding area, but I don't think anything touches newer Lexus' for pure ice cold ac.

I wouldn't describe the AC as 'outstanding' - that title is reserved for Japanese cars. I find it to be acceptable, but I'm not entirely confident that it would have enough headroom to cope with 42+ days, especially if I've been parked in the sun. By contrast, my old Accord Euro handled the 45C days we had back in 2009 without breaking a sweat (heh).

I've stuck a temperature probe down the centre vents, and on the move, the air temp can get as low as 4.5C (which is good, apparently). However, when stationary, the air temperature rapidly ascends to around 8-9C, which isn't ideal if it's a stinking hot day. I wonder if it's because the R36's engine bay is fairly densely packed, meaning that the condenser coils aren't getting as much airflow as they could in order to dump the excess heat.

Where it excels is on less hot days, when the Climatronic system is not working at full wellie. The variable output compressor means the Climatronic easily maintains a stable cabin temperature, as opposed to the older style on-off compressors. In my Euro, the air coming out of the vents would fluctuate quite noticeably between warm and cold, as the compressor switched on and off.

From reading the car care area of the manual, the Passat full leather seats are designed to draw heat and sweat away from your body, I don't think the r36 is the same.

I wonder if there's a ventilated version of the R36 seats?

[satz]

Thanks guys. Looks like the Passat's AC can cope from what I've been reading!