A/C PROS AND CONS

I'D LIKE TO HERE SOME OPINIONS ON A/C. FOR ME, I'D LIKE IT BECASUE I WOULD BE MORE LIKELY TO DRIVE THE CAR DAILY. I HATE GETTING TO WORK ON A HOT DAY AND BEING SWEATY ALREADY. (I REALIZE HOW WHINEY THAT SOUNDS.) BUT IT SEEMS IN SOME OF THE FORUMS, I'VE READ COMMENTS ABOUT PEOPLE YANKING THEIR A/C OUT AFTER SHORT PERIODS. WHAT'S YOUR OPINION/EXPERIENCE. THANKS.

A/C is cool. Get it? 'Cool'! BWAHAHAHA

To paraphrase someone on this site a few months ago, when it is warm the top is down, and A/C is not needed. When it is cold, the top is up and...A/C is still not needed. IMHO

I ordered AC from Henry at IM but honestly I don't drive with the top up. It doesn't make a bit of difference with the top down! If you travel freeway with top up , you might consider it. It does rob power ( I have a 2110 and DO notice it). Also, I have twin external oil coolers to compensate for the extra load on the engine. True I'm in N. California at 116 degrees yesterday but hey, I want the engine to last and AC is hard (and hot) on the engine.

If I had it to do over again, or had less than a 2110, I'd put the money elsewhere. If I drove 50 miles a day at freeway speeds with a substantial motor and few stops to work, I'd consider it (definitely go with the external oil coolers). Best of luck with your decision!
Clay

Jim, you missed the most important part of the mystique, which is a good lookin' lady in the passenger seat...:o)

Listen to Clay! His observation based on experience is on the mark! I had a/c with my 1776cc VS. First thing.... I never used it. Wearing out our Speedster a/c cliche': if the sun is out, the top is down, if it's cool the top goes up.

Now, if you really are bent on driving a Speedster as a commuter to work in a hot climate... HEED Clay's advice. And get a full tilt IM with roll-ups and a nicely built and over-cooled stroker.

Or, just do as many of us; drive the Speedster on the nice work days, and the family truckster on the others. The Speedster was never conceived to be all things. A large part of Sports car's (real ones) mystique is the face in the elements, rough ride, seat of the pants adventure of driving something basic. Like a Steam Locomotive, or a Bi-Winged, Round Engined Stearman, or a Sail Boat...... part of the beauty is in the simplicity of these things.

So, either go full bones with a killer IM set up for A/C and with Clay's advice as a forewarning, ooor, buy an MR-2 Spyder for the commute, and a VS/JPS for the great days when a/c is the LAST thing on your mind. You could buy the two, say a used MR2 Spyder and a barely used VS for 20G and 18G... 'bout the same for an IM.

JMHO
Jim
Had a/c in a VS and jerked it. $1500 option pissed away
(Message Edited 7/31/2003 7:26:24 PM)

Absolutely George! I'll reach back a few years and say a Kim Novak type with Wayfarers on, white blouse unbuttoned to third button, black capris on, and pert _____ accentuating the cotton blouse... tucked into the right seat would complete the whole Speedster and Sports car aura!

Also, noticed you spelled Mystique right! Thanks, I went back and edited mine, haha!

Jim

Remember Kim Novak in Vertigo?
Ron

Yes I do Ron!!!! Also in Picnic! Definitely a timeless hottie!

Jim

Well, George, Jim and Ron, to each his own. You can have your Kim or whatever (hahaha). For my part, I'll take (yeh, right) the girl in the car wash scene in Cool Hand Luke. This young woman was one of the overtly sexy ladies I have ever seen, and she really didn't have to bare it all, so to speak, to get her point (points???) across. Her aluring look spoke volumes. Sure am glad Sarah doesn't read this forum. I'm sure she must have her flights of fancy too, however.
John H.

Car wash scene in "Cool Hand Luke"? Did Paul Newman and George Kennedy wash the Boss's car? I must have missed that scene...

George,
Perhaps the scene did not make it to all versions, but it is in the first chain gang outing early in the movie. The guys were working in a ditch when the young blond lady came out to wash the family DeSoto, or something. My mind really wasn't on year, make and model. I have it on the DVD version and it's truly awesome. I like all parts of this segment, but the best is when the camera is looking out the driver's side window with her washing the roof, her wet dress pressed against the glass with only a safety pin holding the boulders at bay. You gotta see it!

Hey all,

For you fans of Kim Novak,(me too), she lives real close to me here in Southern Oregon. One morning 3 years ago we saw this plume of smoke rising just beyond the hills to the west. After about 2 hours they had the fire out. The next mornings paper said that was Kim and her husbands house on the Rouge River burning. They had a photo of her in the paper and for a 70 something gal she still looked mighty nice. Probably the result of some surgery and the best part her husband is a vet. No dogs there! They were going to rebuild and assume she is back in the rebuilt home now. They had some acreage on the river with lots of animals. I offered to pet sit but no response!

Maybe I should drive the Speedster by her house and see if she comes running!

Bruce

I think Kim JNovak's best (and maybe her last?) movie was "Bell, Book, and Candle" with Rex Harrison and Hermoine Gingold.

BTW, what does any of this have to do with A/C pros and cons??? Do we need to start another thread on "anything goes?" Speedster, Speedster, Speedster.

Of course you are right but an old guy like me likes to talk about their misspent youth and think delightful thoughts about things from the same decade as the original Speedster. And yes, Picnic made quite an impression on me. In fact I even drove thru the town of Salinas Kansas hoping to see Kim, no luck! Bruce

Go for the A/C and the chicks and use the A/C with the top up or down. The A/C on my IM with a 1600 engine is fine and will freeze you out with the top up. If you want power, switch it off.

To John Hallstrand:

"Don't you talk 'bout my Lucille that way!"

RJC

Robert,
Yep, that's it. No disrespect intended to Lucille
JPH

There's a good review of Cool Hand Luke, including a picture of the carwash scene at www.prisonflicks.com/coolhand.htm

Geesh " Kim Novak" what a bunch of perverts! Ha !
All I can say is if she had been riding in a Speedster of mine with the A/C on sure as all hell I would have jumped out the compressor so it never cycled !

Alan M