Mythbusters

they are doing an experiment to see whether it is more efficient to drive with the AC on and the windows up or with it off and windows down.


answer; it is more efficient to drive with the windows up and AC on, due to the drag caused by open windows.

running with AC on had almost no impact on fuel mpg, but having the windows open had quite an effect on mpg

OMG wonder what having the roof down does to fuel consumption.

I also wonder what the difference would be between hard top & soft. mmmmm!

So a vote for AC then:)

I bet it was on a tin top though. Although a TFs aerodynamics is probably better with the hood up, I doubt it is as bad with the roof down as a tintop is with the windows open.

MGFmad;7099 wrote: So a vote for AC then:)

most definately, I have always been miserly with it but in future it stays on :yesnod:

OMG wonder what having the roof down does to fuel consumption.

I also wonder what the difference would be between hard top & soft. mmmmm![/quote]

ill have a think about that when im doing some top down driving
edit: hood up air con on = less smiles per mile
1st thought of 2010 no more thinking for me till 2011

CJJ;7100 wrote: I bet it was on a tin top though. Although a TFs aerodynamics is probably better with the hood up, I doubt it is as bad with the roof down as a tintop is with the windows open.

it was a tintop of course but its irrelevant to me, it means that AC isnt the money burning monster I thought it was, so will use it now without panicking about fuel consumption

they are just about to do a longer test, 2 identical cars with identical payloads and 5 gal of fuel,

one with aircon on windows up and one with aircon off windows down, traveling at the same speed on a track (45 mph)

at 45 mph the result is reversed and some :dunno:

crappo, now I'm stuffed.

mythbuster verdict: windows down is more efficient ..........................bugger!!

Errr. Hw about windows down and aircon on?