Your Thoughts On Air Con Removal?

I had a Mk1 with AC and I can probably count the number of times I used it on my hands in seven years of having it. I only ever turned it on to make sure it still worked. If it was too hot the roof went down.

I now have a Mk2 and I don't have it and to be honest i didn't even notice the car didn't have aircon until I brought it home. I don't miss it but thats just me.

On a tintop car yes but on a roadster I think it pointless. Just my opinion though.

I've found it good for demisting if you get in the car wet or your roof leaks. The only time I've used it in summer is on very long motorway journeys where I didn't want the roof down. You can actually feel the car slow down when the pump cuts in and out so it kills your fuel economy.

I like it.

Its not something you use on a good day but there are plenty of hot humid days where there is slight rain and stuff.

Its a personal choice but I often run it on long motorway journeys etc.

Rip it out. It really is very, very heavy, the compressor is even bigger than the alternator and the bracket it is fitted to is a whopping big chunk of cast steel.

Removing everything engine bay side is easy - theres all the pipework, the pump, bracekt, condenser and condenser radiator, plus an additional fan. This can be kept and linked to the normal fan for a bit of additional cooling, might be worth it if you run high power and get a bit hot sometimes in traffic.

Cabin side wont realy weight much but you'll need a non-ac crossover pipe behind the glove box to link the fan box to the vents/airways.

We tend to use ours even with the roof down to stop your feet baking when your stuck in traffic for long periods.

GaryR said:

We tend to use ours even with the roof down to stop your feet baking when your stuck in traffic for long periods.

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I've always got freezing feet so not a problem for me.

First MX with it, already enjoying the increased demisting power!

Personally, i like it.

I took the 5 to the south of france last August and didn't use it once. it's coming out next weekend to offset the weigh of the supercharger that's going in.

well...

in Italy I noticed that the softtops all cruise aroudn in the day with the top up, air con on full, and once the sun starts to set the tops go down. It can really be too hot to be out in the sun, even if you are in a car!

snotrag said:

Rip it out. It really is very, very heavy, the compressor is even bigger than the alternator and the bracket it is fitted to is a whopping big chunk of cast steel.

Removing everything engine bay side is easy - theres all the pipework, the pump, bracekt, condenser and condenser radiator, plus an additional fan. This can be kept and linked to the normal fan for a bit of additional cooling, might be worth it if you run high power and get a bit hot sometimes in traffic.

Cabin side wont realy weight much but you'll need a non-ac crossover pipe behind the glove box to link the fan box to the vents/airways.

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I think the only other thing you need is a new non air con belt on the engine side

That's a good point, we didn't hit traffic once. No aircon is ok in the mediterranean - unless you hit traffic, then you are toast.

deako1037 said:

I think the only other thing you need is a new non air con belt on the engine side

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Well remembered - new non a/c belt req'd.

so apart from resale value (which i'm really not bothered about, she's staying) the most mentioned practical use for the AC in a MX5 is to demist your car.... which is something that happens most in the cold.... LOL
I take Garyr point for cold tooties in slow/static traffic.
When i had my tin tops I maybe 3-4 times was in a possition to NEED aircon, maybe 10 times a year be in a postion to WANT aircon, now i've got the ability to drop my top (oooe eerrr missus) I'm pretty sure that the incidence rate of both of these will drop.
Gonna see how much it gets turned on this summer me thinks, If I hardley use it i'll turf it.