Just do it....keeping constant temp is just better...

 

Plus it makes the dash look a lot nicer

 

It's a lovely luxury - set and forget

 

I have specced auto a/c in the past and in my opinion waste of money over standard a/c. But I do agree dash does look better, and you get a nice digital read out of the temp.

 

I have specced auto a/c in the past and in my opinion waste of money over standard a/c. But I do agree dash does look better, and you get a nice digital read out of the temp.

I would have to agree with you on both of your points.


Edited by: wellfan

 

I have specced auto a/c in the past and in my opinion waste of money over standard a/c. But I do agree dash does look better, and you get a nice digital read out of the temp.

Me too, having had cars with both over the past 20 years, the climate control just isn't worth it, particularly in a smaller car like the Up.

Lots more to go wrong too, the Passat / Audi A4 / Audi A6's I've had in the past, worked great for 4/5 years, then became really problematic, and took regular
( more than once a year), maintenance to keep it working properly.
Depends how long you're planning to keep the car, and how much you want that better look to the dash. IMO ordinary aircon is perfectly good.

 

I have specced auto a/c in the past and in my opinion waste of money over standard a/c. But I do agree dash does look better, and you get a nice digital read out of the temp.

Me too, having had cars with both over the past 20 years, the climate control just isn't worth it, particularly in a smaller car like the Up.

Lots more to go wrong too, the Passat / Audi A4 / Audi A6's I've had in the past, worked great for 4/5 years, then became really problematic, and took regular
( more than once a year), maintenance to keep it working properly.
Depends how long you're planning to keep the car, and how much you want that better look to the dash. IMO ordinary aircon is perfectly good.

Correct. I forgot about the electrics going wrong with auto a/c. At least with standard a/c there is just a manual knob which should last for ever.

 

Thanks for all the very useful feedback which has helped me decide to stay with the standard manually controlled air conditioning system rather than the automatically controlled option.

My present Up is the first car Iv'e owned that came with air conditioning of any kind which I have always considered a bit unnecessary here in the UK. I have however now changed my mind and would always specify this option even if manually controlled.

I would also agree that the digital display and push selection switches do add to the appearance and sophistication of the dash, but this is probably outweighed by the limited advantages in functionality and potential for more to go wrong as the car gets older.

Thanks again.
Brian





Edited by: Certus

 

Just fit a 5 quid thermostat in series with the AC switch. Sorted

 

I opted for the climate control on my GTi as it looks better and may make the car more desirable come resale time. I also have it in my current Golf and to be honest, I prefer the simplicity of the manual system on my wifes Dacia - turn the knob, no hassle, no faffing around...pretty much why the GTi as a whole appeals to me...back to basics with the focus pure and simply on driving.

 

I opted for the climate control on my GTi as it looks better and may make the car more desirable come resale time. I also have it in my current Golf and to be honest, I prefer the simplicity of the manual system on my wifes Dacia - turn the knob, no hassle, no faffing around...pretty much why the GTi as a whole appeals to me...back to basics with the focus pure and simply on driving.

I went for manual in the end as I liked the simplicity of it and thought it looked more 80s! But still undecided on which I want really.

 

Can climate be retrofitted? I'm guessing the multiplugs are the same for the manual and electronic unit?

 

I agree that automatic A/C could have weird faults that a simple one hasn't. Not to mention the complexity on operating them. The biggest problem of the Up is that there isn't an extra air vent for rear passengers, so I think for rear seats A/C is less effective, an this is another point in favour to the manual one. Having to choose I'd rather prefer to fit a better sound system or a burglar alarm.

 

It's a nice option if you do a lot of annual mileage, and commute to work in heavy traffic.
As for an option that adds value to a car when you come to sell it.
That's more likely in a more prestige car, such as an Audi or BMW, but your better off staying with the standard rotary controls in an Up, as long term, they are usually more reliable, and cheaper to fix.

Usually when an electronic A/C gives issues, it's far more costly to put right.

Stick with the standard AC, works just as well, and usually less to go wrong.

 

I'm considering including the option of automatic air conditioning in my next Up, but would appreciate any comments from owners who actually have experience of its use compared with the standard manual system before finally making the decision.

Brian.

I've just brought a second hand up gti and it has the manual controls on it. Do you know whether it's a straight swap to put the digital controls in at all or whether it's a difficult thing to change?

 

No, this cannot be retrofitted.

 

I wouldn't bother having it, but that's just me.

I find auto AC can be a bit annoying sometimes (especially in little cars). They always seem to blow really hard when you don't want it to and not hard enough when you do (no jokes, please), its one more thing to go wrong in future and then costly to fix when it does and as I saw when buying mine its not entirely needed on a small car like the Up.

I highly doubt it will add value. I don't think any of the options available on the Up would add value actually. As mentioned there will be some people who will want this or that and others who don't care. Beats for example, I would never buy an Up with it, but others must have it.

 

I'm of the same opinion. I've had climate control before in bigger cars, (A4 & A6 Avants), and it only gives problems down the line. Both, when they got to 7/8 years old, gave minor problems with the little solenoid type motors that opened & closed the vents for different areas. Since then I've stuck with good old manual switches. IMO nothing else needed in an Up.
I only wanted Cruise control in mine, (which comes with rear parking sensors), so that's the perfect spec over standard for me.

 

I have a deep hatred of ACC (Climatronic as VW used to call it). Have had it go wrong in two cars (Passat and Golf), requiring the whole dash to be removed to sort out dodgy flaps. The fact the Up usually comes with manual controls is a big factor in my purchase decision - to the point I wouldn't buy one with it, regardless of it ticking all other boxes. Failed Climatronic is a huge PITA, particularly in winter where it will make the car undrivable because you can't demist the screen.

 

I had Climate in my Panda 100 HP, standard fit. It took ages to set the temp in the first place as each press of the button only gave an increase of half a degree.

It did have a useful feature though. One press of a different button would turn on air con, max demist and rear heated window all with just the one button.

I prefer the manual air con/heater dials in my UP GTI. I always have the temp on max anyway so never need to move that except for the one week of summer we have in the UK. I also do not find it hard to switch the fan to number 3 and then to number 2 after 10 minutes, in fact being retired its the most strenuous thing i do all week.

 

If you have the heat on max for most of the year, then we definitely know that you've got asbestos legs & derriere, and there's nowt wrong with your heated seats........

 

You have to remember that i hardly drive the car. Perhaps only once a week for a 10 mile round trip to the supermarket. Five miles each way, so the car never gets too warm. I also find if you do not have the fan on, then even with the temp on max the heat is not excessive. It certainly gets much warmer with the fan on 3 which is what i like.

I know my tepid seats are working correctly. I have tried the seats on three other UPs and they all gave the same amount of heat as mine. I also tried a Kia Picanto which was the same.

Yes my seats are not faulty and they are working as they should, but i still say the amount of heat they give out is pathetic. Try the heated seats in a Volvo or Mercedes. They are real heated seats, but of course they are much bigger cars with bigger engines and batteries, so more amps for the heating elements.

 

Temp on max?
Proof that Test driver actually lives in Svalbard and has rifles (for the polar bears) that can't be allowed to ice up.... No wonder the heated seats are too cool...

 

And were you doing the exact same short trips in winter, in the Volvo and Mercedes? I'm just checking that it's not an apples to oranges comparison!

The seats may heat up better, but for me, at least the Up/Citigos engines seem to warm up very fast (so I can demist etc), compared with almost other cars I have had or driven.

 

I used to collect and deliver cars nationwide for a short time. This is where i drove cars like Volvos and Mercedes, so yes the trips were mostly longer distance. However i also did dealer swaps which were sometimes only 2 miles from each other and the seats were lovely and warm.

It is true i mostly drive my UP GTI for short trips, but i do drive to Blackpool and back around four times a year, 50 miles each way and the seats are still what i call tepid, nothing like the Volvos or Mercedes and certainly nothing like Volvo and Mercedes buses, but then again i would not expect them to be as powerful as the seats in a bus.

Yes the UPs engine does warm up quickly and then you can use the cars heater which is excellent. Thankfully the tepid seats are a standard fit. If they were an extra cost option, there is no way i would pay extra for them.

 

I have extensive heated seat experience, going all the way back to '80s Volvos, both at the time and currently.

Volvo 340GLE - 2 stage, thermostatic control, bum on seat required, switch off when they get above a certain temperature. Verdict: pleasantly warm, a single bar fire from 6 feet away
Mk4 Golf TDI - 5 stage. Luxury, sheer luxury (and reliable too). Genuinely made use of all 5 settings regularly. Essential for when I got back to the car from bike rides in winter
Passat B5.5 - 5 stage. As above
Mondeo Mk5 - unremarkable but functional, much like the car
Volvo 940 SE - 2 stage, identical to the Volvo 340GLE, which makes sense as they're from the same era
Mum's Up TSI - 2 stage, have to turn them down to 1 bar after about 5 minutes. Lovely, but not as good as the Mk4 Golf.

 

I often wish that options could be deleted from cars. I hate it when you have to get, say, the SE-L version for the nice leather trim, but which also includes say, unneeded heated seats (as mine). I suppose I'm arguing for making every item a cost option, which I know pushes prices up overall, and "trim packs" keep production simpler. I like my heated seats, but you don't really need them in the far SW - I was walking on the beach the day before yesterday(?) in just a T-shirt and jeans, in the sun!