I think I'm going soft

[Jason C]

Just took a semi long-ish road trip (at least, by my limited standards) to a friends home today. A little under 2 hours each way. Some conclusions:

All that talk about A/C being a totally unnecessary item is just that - talk. Tough talk for sure (oh only poseurs would ever like that shit, etc etc). Sure if you're going to wait for optimum trackside conditions to bring your toy car out, you're probably going to tear the damn thing out if it came with it from the factory - or at least seriously contemplate it. But I'm talking daily drivers here. After a very determined effort to maximize fuel economy on the two hour return leg under the afternoon sun (which raised interior temps at least 15 degrees above ambient), I've come to the conclusion that A/C is not an option. At least, out here it isn't. Maybe if I lived on the peninsula next to the water 24-7-365, I'd be singing a different tune. I feel bad for the AZ/TX members.

Ride quality does matter. Or is that interior noise level and seating comfort? I don't mean to sound un-curmudgeon like. Maybe it's my back, which has not really fully recovered from when I carelessly tweaked it last October. Maybe it's the crap seats and high NVH in the beater. Or possibly it's I680/I580, the likes of which make 237 seem like it's paved out of crushed velvet. Whatever the reason, my lower back bitched about it starting about half an hour into the trip. Still is bitching. Ugh. I don't feel very good right now.

Whatever the reasons, I'm starting to lean a bit away from the take-no-prisoners approach to daily-drivers, ie Evo/STi. But I'll probably feel different about it tomorrow. I hope. It's probably because I'm tired.

[Roadstergal]

You're going soft.


;)


Don't worry, my dad and stepmom have, too. They had the A/C on wherever they went. I took a bicycle trip and a couple of walks and a ride with my brother in order to escape the damn A/C that accompanied any car trip with my otherwise beloved parents.

[FC]

I find AC is a necesity almost all over the US. It is either dry but insanely hot, or pretty hot, but so damn humid it is unbearable. We get the unbearable humidity up here.

[Roadstergal]

I find AC is a necesity almost all over the US.

I've never felt it necessary or even desireable anywhere I've lived. :dunno: Chicago, Nebraska, Philly - well, in the Bay Area and Seattle, it's truly ludicrous.

I think being not-in-great shape contributes to excessive sweating and trouble maintaining core body temp (in either direction)...

[FC]

I find AC is a necesity almost all over the US.

I've never felt it necessary or even desireable anywhere I've lived. :dunno: Chicago, Nebraska, Philly - well, in the Bay Area and Seattle, it's truly ludicrous.

I think being not-in-great shape contributes to excessive sweating and trouble maintaining core body temp (in either direction)...

I don't do well with heat. I prefer the cold. Still, I can certainly get by. I had no AC for a long time on my car(s) and rarely complained. It is just nicer to have it. Particularly when you are required to wear certain outfits at work (no shorts).

[lemming]

I find AC is a necesity almost all over the US.

I've never felt it necessary or even desireable anywhere I've lived. :dunno: Chicago, Nebraska, Philly - well, in the Bay Area and Seattle, it's truly ludicrous.

I think being not-in-great shape contributes to excessive sweating and trouble maintaining core body temp (in either direction)...

factually, you're always spot-on. it's your opinions that are problematic. this one about shape or not and sweat? completely unrelated. in fact, sweating is productive for athletes and in terms of physiology, some people sweat more than others. this comment completely undermines your logic because it is completely a syllogism.

this one surprises me.

i agree with you, however, that air conditioning is still optional. it's just the logic to arrive at that answer or opinion.

[Jason C]

I don't do well with heat. I prefer the cold.

+1

It really was that hot today. One thing I'm certain about - I'd hate to live inland, ie closer to Sacramento.

[Jason C]

And somehow I just knew rgal was going to chime in with something like "but I'm perfectly fine without AC here in Seattle..." :rolleyes: :tongue:

If there's one definite conclusion, it's that this trip cured me of any illusions about using something like an Evo RS as a daily driver.

[lip277]

AC in Seattle is worth it to us 'normal folks' as well.
:flipoff:

RG can do what she wants as I am sure we all know.
I'll take AC on EVERY car I ever own given the choice (except the 2002, Mustang or comparable classic car)

[nate]

I find AC is a necesity almost all over the US.

I've never felt it necessary or even desireable anywhere I've lived. :dunno: Chicago, Nebraska, Philly - well, in the Bay Area and Seattle, it's truly ludicrous.


Well, everywhere that I have lived - Houston, New Orleans, & Dallas - would be nearly uninhabitable much of the year without A/C.

For example, the the low temperature this morning was 74F with 100% humidity. But, it gets less humid by mid afternoon. It should only be 50% humidity or so by the time the temperature reaches 95F. You are too much of a wimp to take that kind of heat.

[killerdeck]

I find AC is a necesity almost all over the US.

I've never felt it necessary or even desireable anywhere I've lived. :dunno: Chicago, Nebraska, Philly - well, in the Bay Area and Seattle, it's truly ludicrous.


Well, everywhere that I have lived - Houston, New Orleans, & Dallas - would be nearly uninhabitable much of the year without A/C.

For example, the the low temperature this morning was 74F with 100% humidity. But, it gets less humid by mid afternoon. It should only be 50% humidity or so by the time the temperature reaches 95F. You are too much of a wimp to take that kind of heat.

Ditto...here in Austin. I drove around a 75 2002 for 5 years with no a/c in 100+ every summer. I might as well been: :flame:

[kognito]

I remember, when I was a kid, I used to say "the day I can't roll down a window, is the day I stop driving" (refering to power windows)







Today, My wife won't let anything into the garage that doesn't have heated power seats, cruise control, and A/C :rolleyes:

[Optimus Prime]

I think I'm going soft

I've heard this helps (http://www.levitra.com/)

[Jason C]

I think I'm going soft

I've heard this helps (http://www.levitra.com/)

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/images/smilies/dupe.gif Rgal was way ahead of you. :P

[TD]

I remember, when I was a kid, I used to say "the day I can't roll down a window, is the day I stop driving" (refering to power windows)







Today, My wife won't let anything into the garage that doesn't have heated power seats, cruise control, and A/C :rolleyes:

My wife requires the heated seats. Neither of us would want to go it without A/C. But neither of us EVER uses cruise control and we both HATE power seats. We also both require a third foot pedal (for a real manual tranny).

[TD]

I find AC is a necesity almost all over the US.

I've never felt it necessary or even desireable anywhere I've lived. :dunno: Chicago, Nebraska, Philly - well, in the Bay Area and Seattle, it's truly ludicrous.

I think being not-in-great shape contributes to excessive sweating and trouble maintaining core body temp (in either direction)...

factually, you're always spot-on. it's your opinions that are problematic. this one about shape or not and sweat? completely unrelated. in fact, sweating is productive for athletes and in terms of physiology, some people sweat more than others. this comment completely undermines your logic because it is completely a syllogism.

this one surprises me.

i agree with you, however, that air conditioning is still optional. it's just the logic to arrive at that answer or opinion.

WAY OT- Medically, what correllates (if anything) to profuse sweating? I'm not obese yet I sweat like pig when it's even just mildly warm outside. Have me do actual work (like yardwork) in 90+ deg heat, and I am literally dripping.

[zach]

I find AC is a necesity almost all over the US.

I've never felt it necessary or even desireable anywhere I've lived. :dunno: Chicago, Nebraska, Philly - well, in the Bay Area and Seattle, it's truly ludicrous.

I think being not-in-great shape contributes to excessive sweating and trouble maintaining core body temp (in either direction)...

factually, you're always spot-on. it's your opinions that are problematic. this one about shape or not and sweat? completely unrelated. in fact, sweating is productive for athletes and in terms of physiology, some people sweat more than others. this comment completely undermines your logic because it is completely a syllogism.

this one surprises me.

i agree with you, however, that air conditioning is still optional. it's just the logic to arrive at that answer or opinion.

WAY OT- Medically, what correllates (if anything) to profuse sweating? I'm not obese yet I sweat like pig when it's even just mildly warm outside. Have me do actual work (like yardwork) in 90+ deg heat, and I am literally dripping.

Basically, sweating a lot vs. not sweating a lot is unrelated to one's level of physical fitness.

[JST]

I remember, when I was a kid, I used to say "the day I can't roll down a window, is the day I stop driving" (refering to power windows)







Today, My wife won't let anything into the garage that doesn't have heated power seats, cruise control, and A/C :rolleyes:

My wife requires the heated seats. Neither of us would want to go it without A/C. But neither of us EVER uses cruise control and we both HATE power seats. We also both require a third foot pedal (for a real manual tranny).

I have no real use for "normal" power seats, which are just heavy and pointless. I will say, though, that the memory seat functions are really, really nice to have when you have two drivers of very different stature sharing a car or two. It's always a chore resetting the (manual) seat in the WRX to just the right position, but with the 330 it's one touch of the button. That's worth paying for.

As for Rgal's comments about AC? Yeah. OK. I had a car with no AC in Detroit and I would never do it again. Do it in someplace like DC? No frigging way--not in a car that I actually had to drive between April and September.

[kognito]

I find AC is a necesity almost all over the US.

I've never felt it necessary or even desireable anywhere I've lived. :dunno: Chicago, Nebraska, Philly - well, in the Bay Area and Seattle, it's truly ludicrous.

I think being not-in-great shape contributes to excessive sweating and trouble maintaining core body temp (in either direction)...

factually, you're always spot-on. it's your opinions that are problematic. this one about shape or not and sweat? completely unrelated. in fact, sweating is productive for athletes and in terms of physiology, some people sweat more than others. this comment completely undermines your logic because it is completely a syllogism.

this one surprises me.

i agree with you, however, that air conditioning is still optional. it's just the logic to arrive at that answer or opinion.

WAY OT- Medically, what correllates (if anything) to profuse sweating? I'm not obese yet I sweat like pig when it's even just mildly warm outside. Have me do actual work (like yardwork) in 90+ deg heat, and I am literally dripping.

Basically, sweating a lot vs. not sweating a lot is unrelated to one's level of physical fitness.

sodium intake. I can eat the spicyest thai food no problem, but give me something with too much salt in it and I can sweat like a pig

[Roadstergal]

And somehow I just knew rgal was going to chime in with something like "but I'm perfectly fine without AC here in Seattle..." :rolleyes: :tongue:

I just got back from a week in Chicago, 85-95 and humid the whole week. I went for bike rides. :p And that's where I grew up.

Basically, sweating a lot vs. not sweating a lot is unrelated to one's level of physical fitness.

Where are you getting your data? I can't find any research on sweating vs. fitness in terms of resting core temperature maintenance.

Fitness does allow for better core temperature maintenance and tolerate higher temperatures globally during exercise - at least their have been studies on that (Pubmed). And as obesity is basically a large thermal blanket, obese people will have to sweat more at rest to maintain core body temperature than they would if they were non-obese.

[Roadstergal]

sodium intake. I can eat the spicyest thai food no problem, but give me something with too much salt in it and I can sweat like a pig

n=1... ;)

[clyde]

I remember, when I was a kid, I used to say "the day I can't roll down a window, is the day I stop driving" (refering to power windows)







Today, My wife won't let anything into the garage that doesn't have heated power seats, cruise control, and A/C :rolleyes:

My wife requires the heated seats. Neither of us would want to go it without A/C. But neither of us EVER uses cruise control and we both HATE power seats. We also both require a third foot pedal (for a real manual tranny).

I have no real use for "normal" power seats, which are just heavy and pointless. I will say, though, that the memory seat functions are really, really nice to have when you have two drivers of very different stature sharing a car or two. It's always a chore resetting the (manual) seat in the WRX to just the right position, but with the 330 it's one touch of the button. That's worth paying for.

:stupid:

As for Rgal's comments about AC? Yeah. OK. I had a car with no AC in Detroit and I would never do it again. Do it in someplace like DC? No frigging way--not in a car that I actually had to drive between April and September.

Regarding AC, it's nice to be able to have a conversation with the other people in your car (or even with just yourself when alone) with just the hum of the fan blowing compared to having to yell over the windnoise and outside sounds. Not being constantly buffetted by wind at higher speeds is also nice on trips sometimes, not to mention the pleasure of arriving at your destination without being encased by dirt, grit and sweat. Keeping the pollen out of the car during that time of year is really nice for those that have allergies...or don't want to have to clean it out of their cars. I alos like it when it rains heavily and it's hot outside or humid or someone is expelling too much gas due to the fact that they just want to breathe tand it fogs the windows.

Is AC required? No. Most everyone did without it in cars for a very, very long time and they seemed to manage. They also seemed to manage just fine without heaters, seatelts, crumple zones, stereos, high tech high reving engines, cupholders, tachometers, side view mirrors on both sides, head restraints, interior key starting and other equipment or functions that we really don't need either.

[Roadstergal]

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/images/smilies/violin.gif :)

The only vehicle that has ever droped me off at my destination covered with dirt, grit, pollen, and sweat were my mountain bike or my friend's Jeep - and both after going out of our way and off of the pavement specifically for the purpose of getting covered with dirt, grit, pollen, and sweat.

Window fogging:
-Clean and dry the insides of your windows.
-Take a little dish soap and put it on a clean, dry cloth.
-Apply.
-Buff off with another clean, dry cloth.

I did that in all of my cages, and never had a problem - had less fog in the rain in my Miata than my friend had in her M roadster with the A/C going full blast (which we had to yell over).

[zach]

My brother, who just graduated from college and is staying with me for the time being, began his first real office job on monday. It was about 85 and VERY humid when he left for work in the morning. His Jeep has no AC and by the time he was halfway to work, he was sweating profusely. He didn't want to show up at work sweaty, so he stuck his head out the window periodically to cool off.

You should see his ID photo. His hair is ridiculous.

AC would have been good, in this case.

[dan]

hyperhidrosis :dunno:

[Roadstergal]

hyperhidrosis :dunno:

For TD? Maybe. I dunno what the incidence is, but I bet there's a support group web site out there that says "You're not alone - xx% of Americans..."

And to be clear - I don't object to A/C as a technology, or to technologies that make autos better from a driving standpoint. But I object to technologies that isolate the driver from the environmnt, because I believe it contributes to the shitty driving we see. A/C is good in science, for creating controlled climates; for hospitals, where people are infirm or ill; etc. But in a car, it just isolates you further from the environment. A/C noise is independent of the outside you are interacting with; outside noise gives you data about what's going on. Things like ABS, better-engineered tires, better-engineered suspensions, crumple zones, are good technologies for improving driving and safety. But things like soundproofed windows, DVD systems, everything-absorbing suspensions, integrated cell phones - they all turn driving into a secondary part of what you're doing, and it needs to be primary. As Ellen DeGeneres said about hands-free cell phones - "If you need both of your hands to do something, chances are your brain should be in on it, too."

[kognito]

As Ellen DeGeneres said about hands-free cell phones - "If you need both of your hands to do something, chances are your brain should be in on it, too."

I've never heard this quote before, but I like it!!

A lot!!