It's expensive to have the windows down.

[Quiet Stranger]

So it's been getting pretty hot lately and I like to drive my car with the windows rolled down.

Whenever I'm at my grandparents house on a hot day they always tell me to put the A/C on. My grandfather tells me it's more expensive then having the windows rolled down. So I ask you Escapists....HOW THE FUCK DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE!?

 

[Omikron009]

It doesn't make sense. Old people don't make sense.

 

[The Shade]

The theory is that driving with your windows down increases the air resistance of your vehicle, consuming more fuel to keep it at the same speed, versus having the windows up.

Mythbusters tested it, once, but I forget what the outcome was.

Personally, I prefer to have the windows down than to use A/C, but that's just me.

 

[Gxas]

Doesn't the A/C put more strain on the engine and cause worse mileage?

Windows > A/C any day.

 

[bookboy]

In vehicles, it was found by consumer reports that when driving, having the A/C on decreased your fuel economy by about 0.5 MPG. that was more than a few years back though, so if you have a relatively new vehicle that might not be applicable.

 

[neilsaccount]

he's old, give him a break, he has the seniority over you, and deserves to put the a/c on if he wants. Your right though, but dont worry too much about it.

 

[SoxFan96]

The theory is that driving with your windows down increases the air resistance of your vehicle, consuming more fuel to keep it at the same speed, versus having the windows up.

Mythbusters tested it, once, but I forget what the outcome was.

Personally, I prefer to have the windows down than to use A/C, but that's just me.

If memory serves,
under 50 miles per hour: Windows down, minimal air resistance, or at least not enough to result in increased full consumption.

Over 50 MPH: Windows up use A/C. The air resistance causes the car to use more fuel, more so then using the A/C.

I might be wrong but that is what I remember.

 

[Aux]

The theory is that driving with your windows down increases the air resistance of your vehicle, consuming more fuel to keep it at the same speed, versus having the windows up.

Mythbusters tested it, once, but I forget what the outcome was.

Personally, I prefer to have the windows down than to use A/C, but that's just me.

When the Mythbusters tested it, the car with the windows down ran out of fuel before the one with the AC on.

I rather have my windows down to be honest. If for some reason it gets crazy hot I will throw on the AC.

 

[Emilox The Great]

why not use both A/C and having the window down?

 

[wkrepelin]

So it's been getting pretty hot lately and I like to drive my car with the windows rolled down.

Whenever I'm at my grandparents house on a hot day they always tell me to put the A/C on. My grandfather tells me it's more expensive then having the windows rolled down. So I ask you Escapists....HOW THE FUCK DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE!?

" More expensive than, not then."

Anyway,it is more expensive than having the windows down, that would be cheaper.

Assuming you meant that he said it's more expensive to have the windows down than to have them up and run the AC then he is either lying to you for some reason, you misunderstood him and that's not what he said or he's stupid/senile.

I leave it to you to decide. He probably just wants to not be hot and doesn't want to be questioned.

 

[firedfns13]

The theory is that driving with your windows down increases the air resistance of your vehicle, consuming more fuel to keep it at the same speed, versus having the windows up.

Mythbusters tested it, once, but I forget what the outcome was.

Personally, I prefer to have the windows down than to use A/C, but that's just me.

AC hogs more gas.

 

[Quiet Stranger]

he's old, give him a break, he has the seniority over you, and deserves to put the a/c on if he wants. Your right though, but dont worry too much about it.

thing is, he doesn't drive the car anymore (cause he cant) he just tells me (its my grandfather) that its more expensive with the windows down

 

[itsnotyouitsme]

This only applies after 60 miles an hour. Below that A/C uses more gas but above that the air rolls into your car so fast it literally slows your car down, causing you to speed up just to maintain the same speed.
It was either that or the very opposite of that... didn't care much since i like fresh air and most of the car's I've been entitles to only had 4-60 A/C (4 windows 60 miles/hour).

 

[cheese_wizington]

AC Feels better and is quieter, therefore it's better.

Who cares about cost!

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

Well in theory it increases air resistance and therefore has an effect on fuel consumption, but air conditioning as much worse.

 

[child of lileth]

I saw this episode og Mythbusters already. I don't remember the ending. Something about the air current moves weird with something about the drag... I don't remember.

 

[Carlston]

Back before cars were aerodynamic and had inefficent AC's they would get worse gas mileage. Now a days the car/truck air flows around and the drag made by a open window is not as bad, same time more efficent AC systems don't take away 1/4th what they used to...

So I'd say run the AC and be comfortable...or roll down your window and not worry. Unless your car is from the 60's or 70's

 

[fix-the-spade]

why not use both A/C and having the window down?

Because Air Conditioning needs a closed environment to work properly, you'd be wasting it doing that.

 

[Emilox The Great]

why not use both A/C and having the window down?

Because Air Conditioning needs a closed environment to work properly, you'd be wasting it doing that.

oh... okay

 

[Soxafloppin]

A car is less Aerodynamic with the windows down, i think this is a pretty tiny difference though, i think the thing that makes the biggest impact is the way you drive.