Nothing changed on the 1st of January just the method used to declare the  fuel economy . The 6.2temp emission standard came into effect on 1st September on cars manufactured after June 1st 2019. Cars manufactured before June 1st and not meeting 6.2 temp can still be sold if derogation was applied for and the conditions met regarding numbers etc, for up to one year from manufacture date. So wise ones look out for old models nearing a year since manufacture and still unsold, bargains to be had!! eg, a few remaining Focus RS and Mustangs etc. Most stopped prodcution to limit the damage of unsold stock. VRS, Golf R, GTi, S3, RS3 S4, etc etc

Just now, Kenai said:

Stops the seals drying out and prevents leaks forming

I run mine for about 15 mins once a month and have never had an air con failure in...  oops... cannot say the miles as it upsets people who know im lying 

1 minute ago, Kenai said:

Stops the seals drying out and prevents leaks forming

And dries the air so that in wet weather the windows demist faster and stay dry so you can see clearly.

Just now, PetrolDave said:

And dries the air so that in wet weather the windows demist faster and stay dry so you can see clearly.

Yes indeed, especially useful at this time of year!

Not sure why you wouldn't run ac all year round esp in winter to help demisting. With climate I just set the temp and let it do the rest, ac always on too

6 hours ago, Skoffski said:

I lost my leg in 1977 on a Suzuki GT250.  The Crash bar took the leg clean off below the knee when a car hit my bike crossing my path.

About 25 years ago my 'Jupiter 5' Outfit (Jawa 350)  came with the Instructions translated from Russian for running it on Aero Fuel & Transformer Oil.

It run great in winter, but sadly one hot summer it went on fire and was burnt out.  That is what can happen when a fuel pipe behind a cowling comes off.

Lucky white heather.  I survived to die another day.

 

Motorcycling is a dangerous mode there is no doubt and fact the majority of motorcycle accidents involving two vehicles are the car not obeying Right of Way ie bike on major road, car turning out of minor road....

One of my buddies got his foot smashed up and only somewhat lucky he was riding a Guzzi which partially saved him.  Touch wood worst I have had is a trip to casualty with gravel rash, spookily also on a GT250, when I ran our of side grip joining a carriageway.  Another good friend lost lower leg at Athens docks when run over by a rail crane but now rides a Bergman rather than a conventional motor bike.   

 

Safe motoring.  After doing a year with Department of Transport before I joined HM C&E sometimes doing trunk road accidents investigation it is something that is always in the back of ones mind.  Twice as many people died in RTAs during the years of the Troubles in NI than died as a result of the Troubles is a notable stat I think.    

 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001457518301854

 

"Right Of Way crashes have also been seen to be the most prevalent motorcycle crash in the U.S., with an analysis of 900 motorcycle crashes revealing that 75% involved another vehicle violating the ROW of the motorcycle at an intersection, usually by turning left in front of the oncoming motorcycle (Hurt et al., 1981). 

 

5 minutes ago, Kenai said:

Yes indeed, especially useful at this time of year!

Never found the need for it as long as its kept off and not put on introducing a load of water into the condensor which then 

 

1 minute ago, Scotty72 said:

Not sure why you wouldn't run ac all year round esp in winter to help demisting. With climate I just set the temp and let it do the rest, ac always on too

Never found the need for it, if you keep it off you don't get misting up problems if you have the climate set properly. Its just wasting fuel. When you turn it on the separator/ condensor fills with water, then when you turn it off it puts that all over your windscreen with the heater. Catch 22 you cannot turn it off.  Mine are used on the odd day in the summer and off all the rest of the time. It rarely mists up because there isn't any water in the system.

4 minutes ago, Scotty72 said:

Not sure why you wouldn't run ac all year round esp in winter to help demisting. With climate I just set the temp and let it do the rest, ac always on too

 

Maybe turn it off to claw back that 3kW when you need to be sure you'll win the traffic light grand prix! 

@teescom09What cars are you talking about Mk3 Octavia & any other Skofa models?

Edited 6 January, 20197 yr by Skoffski

1 minute ago, Skoffski said:

@teescom09What cars are you talking about?

All the cars have and have had.

Not that relevant if not Skoda Shisville mister uppers.

0-62 times for manuals are done by professional drivers with zero mechanical sympathy. 

 

If you can achieve this or close to this in your automatic just by pressing the accelerator then be happy. 

4 minutes ago, Skoffski said:

@teescom09What cars are you talking about Mk3 Octavia & any other Skofa models?

The Skoda I currently have is the VRS 230 PFL

Is this your first winter with it, the mild one so far or did you have it through a few winters?

 

Location location location has a lot to do with how people find A/c / Climate control etc works. 

Then from car to car how the doors fill with h20.

10 minutes ago, Skoffski said:

Is this your first winter with it, the mild one so far or did you have it through a few winters?

 

Location location location has a lot to do with how people find A/c / Climate control etc works. 

Then from car to car how the doors fill with h20.

Had it coming up 3 years. But had climate control in all of our cars for about 15 hears now, usually 3 at a time at least 2.  Had many VAG cars all with climate. But the make makes no difference, also had many other makes with climate A/C too and have always turned it off in winter and cool (most up north) days in summer, TBH probably turn it on for maybe 14 days a year. Never had misting up problems apart from the first 15 mins or so after turning off then its fine.  Our BMW and ST have heated screens, but never find the need to use them. The Climate is put into auto mode, temp set to 20-22 deg, all vents open, left like that 365 days a year. Often get in my daughters car and find the climate messed with, directions manually overridden fan speed overridden ets and its terrible. Put it right straight away, she blames her husband for being mechanically inept. 

Edited 6 January, 20197 yr by teescom09

43 minutes ago, teescom09 said:

 TBH probably turn it on for maybe 14 days a year. 

 

Then your very lucky not to have had some big bills.

6 minutes ago, logiclee said:

 

Then your very lucky not to have had some big bills.

 

6 minutes ago, logiclee said:

 

Then your very lucky not to have had some big bills.

As I said I deliberately turn it on for about 10-15 mins when on a longer run about once a month. Never had a problem with A/C and thats a lot of cars, miles and years, luck pretty much minimal in the equation I would think. I am an engineer and have a decent understanding of hydraulic systems etc. Neither have any of my family or mates doing the same. We live up north and don't really need A/C. Wouldn't miss it 99% the time. 

 

Plus my cars are under warranty don't keep them beyond 3 years. This VRS approaching 3 is the oldest car ive had in a long time. It's going when its 3. 

Edited 6 January, 20197 yr by teescom09

?

Is that Up North of England?  Not even half up the UK!

1 minute ago, Skoffski said:

?

Is that Up North of England?  Not even half up the UK!

Sort of, but further North than parts of Scotland 

6 minutes ago, teescom09 said:

 

As I said I deliberately turn it on for about 10-15 mins when on a longer run about once a month. Never had a problem with A/C and thats a lot of cars, miles and years, luck pretty much minimal in the equation I would think. I am an engineer and have a decent understanding of hydraulic systems etc. Neither have any of my family or mates doing the same. We live up north and don't really need A/C. Wouldn't miss it 99% the time. 

 

I just leave it on, modern climate systems only run the compressor in cooler weather just enough to maintain a comfortable humidity level in the cabin. 

 

I spend two hours a day in the car, so have climate ac on to maintain a comfortable humidity and will hammer the heated seats if required. It may cost a few quid a week extra but in the grand scheme of motoring costs it's peanuts. Spend more on a cup of coffee.

I run my car with the AC on all year round, have the temperature set to 17'c and the Auto button turned on.

 

Keeps me comfortable all year round and if I'm not, it's only a turn of the temperature gauge away.

1 hour ago, teescom09 said:

Had it coming up 3 years. But had climate control in all of our cars for about 15 hears now, usually 3 at a time at least 2.  Had many VAG cars all with climate. But the make makes no difference, also had many other makes with climate A/C too and have always turned it off in winter and cool (most up north) days in summer, TBH probably turn it on for maybe 14 days a year. Never had misting up problems apart from the first 15 mins or so after turning off then its fine.  Our BMW and ST have heated screens, but never find the need to use them. The Climate is put into auto mode, temp set to 20-22 deg, all vents open, left like that 365 days a year. Often get in my daughters car and find the climate messed with, directions manually overridden fan speed overridden ets and its terrible. Put it right straight away, she blames her husband for being mechanically inept. 

Seems they are ganging up on you so in your defence I rarely use my air con and never had an issue with the seals drying out over the last 15 years with climate control in all my Skoda's (some with manual air con). Downside of using it all the time this winter is the pool of water that forms under the car when you park and then freezes overnight in the street or your drive (nobody parks their car in a garage these days) forming a nice sheet of ice to try and escape from without crashing into another car etc.

24 minutes ago, shyVRS245 said:

Seems they are ganging up on you so in your defence I rarely use my air con and never had an issue with the seals drying out over the last 15 years with climate control in all my Skoda's (some with manual air con). Downside of using it all the time this winter is the pool of water that forms under the car when you park and then freezes overnight in the street or your drive (nobody parks their car in a garage these days) forming a nice sheet of ice to try and escape from without crashing into another car etc.

So be it. I don’t know anyone that deliberately leaves the air con on permanently another surprise from this place. Know a few that didn’t know it was on. I don’t know how the 1000’s of new cars standing for months before sale survive. I have had new cars that were made around a year before I got them. Nobody mentioned the air con would need overhauling. Plus plenty vehicles only used in summer. 

That pool of frozen H20 will not be that much of an issue really compared to the frozen H20 resulting from those pouring warm water to defrost windows.

& Many never think of that going into air intakes and freezing when the air temp is at 0*oC or around. 

13 hours ago, shyVRS245 said:

Seems they are ganging up on you so in your defence I rarely use my air con and never had an issue with the seals drying out over the last 15 years with climate control in all my Skoda's (some with manual air con). Downside of using it all the time this winter is the pool of water that forms under the car when you park and then freezes overnight in the street or your drive (nobody parks their car in a garage these days) forming a nice sheet of ice to try and escape from without crashing into another car etc.

I beg to differ my vRS is in the garage every night alongside my Mrs's Mini Clubman 

 

Personally I let the car decide and leave the A/C on - the only time that it gets switched off is if my Mrs has a cough and as sometimes it dries the air out too much in the Summer, causing her to cough more.