Newberry

How do you guys feel about your rear AC (or lack of)? Is this a desirable feature or is it just something that may go wrong?
I'd also ask the same about 12 vs 8 way power seats.
Just curious, Thank you & Happy Easter!

dr bob

I've used the rear air maybe a dozen times in the 6+ years I've had the car. Advantage comes when th at car has heat-soaked for a while, and the extra circulation in the rear helps get the heat pulled out a little quicker. But using the rear unit steals capacity from the front system, so once the rear has been cooled a little, that one goes off so the front can get colder.

Would I make rear air a must-have feature when shopping for a car? NO. But I might choose one over a non-rear air car if all other factors were the same. The flip side of the rear air is that there are another half-dozen places for freon to leak out. If you aren't planning on doing a system refurb with new orings and maybe hoses, this might also be a consideration.

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In my '89, with the R-134a conversion and the freeze switch failed in the closed position, I see 22F at the center vent with 85-90 ambient at cruising speeds, fan on speed 2. Turn the rear on, and the front temp goes up to 35.

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I suspect that this will be the year I finally get some window tint on the car to cut some of the greenhouse effect. There are some almost-invisible films out that cut 98% of the UV. That's gotta unload the AC system a bunch.



Stay cool!

Old & New

I think I liked the extra rear storage compartment and rear ashtray/lighter in my 81 euro more than the rear A/C in my 89.

I like the 12 way seats, though. The lumbar adjustment is good for keeping the back comfortable during long rides.

Jim_H

I like my 12 way seats and I think rear ac is a waste though I have it in both of mine.

slate blue

Just more things to go wrong and more weight to cart around. I bought an early model to avoid these things.

Lagavulin

Exactly. I'd throw the sunroof in there too.

Newberry

Thanks for the opinions guys. I kind of liked that little storage comparment in the back. I have rear AC in our family van, and its nice, but with the space difference between the van and the 928, I wasn't sure it would make much difference in the smaller car.
Thanks again!
Wayne

heinrich

Wayne, if your rear ac works it is a real plus and will significantly help cooling the car on hot trips. Especially with that big rear window. However, it does tend to leak right around the rear lines very often, so that could be a negative. Space-wise the rear storage makes no difference over the rear ac. You could store your shades or pencil or the manual in there. Agreed there are many things in such a complicated car to go wrong, and eliminating this one would help another 1%

Old & New

Quite the contrary; I don't know if we are talking about the same storage area, but it will hold quite a bit more than sunglasses and the manual... it's more glovebox sized than that.

Also, the rear ashtray lighter was nice to plug the cellphone into while the radar detector was plugged into the front.

heinrich

Hey. Maybe my sunglasses are bigger than yours, ok?

Tony

I live in Vegas and use the rear AC all the time. It helps cool the car after sitting in a parkign lot for a while and it also combats the heat from that huge trunk area under glass. My only complaint against the rear AC and the WHOLE HVAC system in general is the fan/air noise generated. Its TERRIBLE!

As for the 12way seats, i ditched both of mine and my car lost nearly 60lbs in the process. Since Im the only one that drives it, why do i need 12 way adjustable seats?

Sunroof...i use that ALL the time as well! When the car is heat soaked i crank the AC, open the roof a couple of inches and the hot air is forced out the top via diff.pressure and the vacuum as i drive a long.

Each is own!

Nicole

If I had a choice, I would not order it. Makes the AC system more complicated and gives more potential for leaks. I rarely use it.

If I was living in a hotter climate or drive the car every day in the summer, it would be a different story. Bay Area is not hot enough to justify it, though.

MikeN

I live in a pretty hot climate and have *never* used it. I believe it was a standard install from '89 on (US models)........although you might have been able to "delete option" it. On the surface it looks like it would be neat idea.......but when you realize that there are about double the O-rings, another expansion valve, a solenoid, another evaporator, etc.....it can become a leak/maintenance nightmare in short order. I have always contended that the 928 has a great front A/C system and if working properly with no leaks and full freon will be better then most cars out there.

aaron3

Has anyone removed the rear air and retrofitted with the storage compartment?

Beth

I don't have rear air, and after paying $$$ to rebuild the front system I'm soooooooo happy I don't have a rear system too.

And it get's hot in my area - no, not like Vegas or AZ, but 100 deg. temps and the front air is just fine. And like Tony said, if you just crack the sunroof a little with the air on, all the hot air goes up and out. I love the sunroof!