"I Love Melting in My Car"
August 16, 2009 8:55 AM Subscribe
Why do people in new or late model cars drive in sweltering heat and humidity with their windows open? AC uses a minimal amount of extra gas. I even see people in luxury cars driving with their windows open or cracked (I'm talking new S-Class's and BMW M6's here). Why?
Also, why do people driving convertibles (like the afore-mentioned M6 or really any convertible) drive in the same conditions (very hot and very humid) with the top down in the middle of the day when the sun is at its highest intensity? Why would you want hot humid air blasting in your face and engulfing you like that- PLUS the sun beating down on you like that? Do they they have to put the top down just because they can?
This post was deleted for the following reason: This feels very chatty/am-I-right. -- cortex
I'm a Brit and I see people driving with the top down in light rain. I think the "I have a convertible!" factor is a big one.
Air conditioning in cars can give me a headache sometimes - perhaps some of them are the same and prefer the heat to the headache?
posted by Coobeastie at 8:59 AM on August 16, 2009
Air conditioning in cars can give me a headache sometimes - perhaps some of them are the same and prefer the heat to the headache?
posted by Coobeastie at 8:59 AM on August 16, 2009
Very chatfiltery...but I will take a stab. Some people prefer the windows down to hear the outside world. Some people believe the windows down is dramatically more efficient. Maybe the AC is broken. Maybe the convertible's roof is broken. Maybe they think they look orders of magnitude cooler with the top down.
posted by mmascolino at 8:59 AM on August 16, 2009
posted by mmascolino at 8:59 AM on August 16, 2009
Having the top down is fun.
Other than that - confirmation bias.
posted by buxtonbluecat at 8:59 AM on August 16, 2009 [1 favorite]
Other than that - confirmation bias.
posted by buxtonbluecat at 8:59 AM on August 16, 2009 [1 favorite]
I live in the desert near Joshua Tree NP and only use my car's AC when driving with some else in the car. I just like feeling the heat on my face. I also rely on a swamp cooler rather than AC to keep the house nice and comfy.
It's less of shock to the body when exiting the car or house into 120 degree heat. Those with AC tend to spend a lot less time outdoors.
posted by buggzzee23 at 9:02 AM on August 16, 2009
It's less of shock to the body when exiting the car or house into 120 degree heat. Those with AC tend to spend a lot less time outdoors.
posted by buggzzee23 at 9:02 AM on August 16, 2009
In Houston, our cars get very hot. So, people roll down the windows while running the AC to help the heat escape for the first few miles after leaving the car outside.
Another reason is that some people smoke in their cars, and so they leave a window down to allow smoke to exit.
When I had a convertible, I would frequently turn on the AC (or heat, in the rare moment) while the top was down, because the car was aerodynamic enough that I was still being cooled by the AC while enjoying the wind.
posted by Houstonian at 9:05 AM on August 16, 2009
Another reason is that some people smoke in their cars, and so they leave a window down to allow smoke to exit.
When I had a convertible, I would frequently turn on the AC (or heat, in the rare moment) while the top was down, because the car was aerodynamic enough that I was still being cooled by the AC while enjoying the wind.
posted by Houstonian at 9:05 AM on August 16, 2009
In such conditions you may see me with my windows down for the first 4-5 minutes of my drive while I'm venting the hot air and running the A/C so it can get cool before I seal the car up and let the A/C recirculate and do its thing.
Some people do it as a status thing... you can't see their pristine suit and watch/hear their AWESOME bass setup if the windows are up.
posted by ijoyner at 9:07 AM on August 16, 2009
Some people do it as a status thing... you can't see their pristine suit and watch/hear their AWESOME bass setup if the windows are up.
posted by ijoyner at 9:07 AM on August 16, 2009
Here's another vote for confirmation bias.
Plus, some people don't like new car smell. I know I don't.
Also, this question is kind of judgmental. :(
posted by moonshine at 9:09 AM on August 16, 2009 [1 favorite]
Plus, some people don't like new car smell. I know I don't.
Also, this question is kind of judgmental. :(
posted by moonshine at 9:09 AM on August 16, 2009 [1 favorite]
Driving with the top and windows up creates a private bubble, your own pocket universe. It's like sitting in your living room which is rolling around some abstract locale. It removes the sense of space, The sense of living in the world around you.
Drive around a city all bottled up. Then do the same with the windows and top down. One gives the impression that the world revolves around you, that every inequity and inconsistency in the driving experience outside of your shiny box is directed towards you.
Top down, windows down, and suddenly, you're part of a city, part of a vibrant world around you. You aren't the center of the universe, but instead, a participant.
You're no longer rolling around in a living room, but driving through a city or the country. Sure, it might be hot, loud, stinky, but these inconsistencies are a healthy reminder that there's more to the world than the enclosed interior of your car, house and work.
posted by Lord_Pall at 9:10 AM on August 16, 2009 [2 favorites]
Drive around a city all bottled up. Then do the same with the windows and top down. One gives the impression that the world revolves around you, that every inequity and inconsistency in the driving experience outside of your shiny box is directed towards you.
Top down, windows down, and suddenly, you're part of a city, part of a vibrant world around you. You aren't the center of the universe, but instead, a participant.
You're no longer rolling around in a living room, but driving through a city or the country. Sure, it might be hot, loud, stinky, but these inconsistencies are a healthy reminder that there's more to the world than the enclosed interior of your car, house and work.
posted by Lord_Pall at 9:10 AM on August 16, 2009 [2 favorites]
I might prefer to have windows down to smell country smells: hay, clover, and others.
posted by jgirl at 9:12 AM on August 16, 2009
posted by jgirl at 9:12 AM on August 16, 2009
When I'm only driving a short distance (say, to the store) it's a waste to cool the car for such a short ride when I can just open the windows and get a breeze.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 9:18 AM on August 16, 2009
posted by Solon and Thanks at 9:18 AM on August 16, 2009
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People with convertibles are interested in (1) being seen in said convertible and/or (2) getting the wind blowing on them. People with open windows may just enjoy the wind, which they can't really replicate with AC.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 8:59 AM on August 16, 2009