Air Con/fuel Consumption

[welshphil]

Had a weekend away towing caravan,,a regular run.Normal m.p.g. avg is 30.00(using single carriageway 30/40mph limit all way).This trip we had air con on all the way,consumption down to 23.6mpg.On return trip,no aircon,back to 30mpg.Quite a surprise,cheaper to have windows./sunroof open!!

[Richard Davies]

I find I'm OK if I run the air-con until the inside has cooled (10 mins max) & then turn it off, but keep the fan speed high. The chilled vents seem to stay cool for at least 30 mins after.

[Baby Yari]

Had a weekend away towing caravan,,a regular run.Normal m.p.g. avg is 30.00(using single carriageway 30/40mph limit all way).This trip we had air con on all the way,consumption down to 23.6mpg.On return trip,no aircon,back to 30mpg.Quite a surprise,cheaper to have windows./sunroof open!!

What does it feel like towing a caravan with something so tiny as the Yaris? Does it pull ok???

[welshphil]

Had a weekend away towing caravan,,a regular run.Normal m.p.g. avg is 30.00(using single carriageway 30/40mph limit all way).This trip we had air con on all the way,consumption down to 23.6mpg.On return trip,no aircon,back to 30mpg.Quite a surprise,cheaper to have windows./sunroof open!!

What does it feel like towing a caravan with something so tiny as the Yaris? Does it pull ok???

Caravan weighs 750kg.(900kgmax allowed)1.4 auto 05 reg Yaris(Motability).Tows ok,obvious not got the acceleration so drive accordingly,DONT HOLD UP TRAFFIC!!Handling is near normal-down to correct weight distribution in van.Will cruise at 60(max allowed)on motorway once it's wound up.Braking not affected-over-run brakes on caravan help.The cooling fan comes on more at slow speeds otherwise no warning lights ever come on.All in all quite successful.

Next car will be diesel MMT--maybe a Yaris Verso.

[sphinktar1988]

i thought air con only changed your fuel useage if your car was idoling ?

haha my poor lil yaris clutch couldnt take a caravan

[T V O R]

Try the same run without the caravan and with the air con on, and there won't be any difference than having the windows open

[Mat-O]

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qi...20052923AAI043j

On there it reckons like TVOR says, the added drag of having windows open are equivilent to having A/C on. Neither will use much fuel though, I look at it as a very cheap luxery.

[Baby Yari]

Had a weekend away towing caravan,,a regular run.Normal m.p.g. avg is 30.00(using single carriageway 30/40mph limit all way).This trip we had air con on all the way,consumption down to 23.6mpg.On return trip,no aircon,back to 30mpg.Quite a surprise,cheaper to have windows./sunroof open!!

What does it feel like towing a caravan with something so tiny as the Yaris? Does it pull ok???

Caravan weighs 750kg.(900kgmax allowed)1.4 auto 05 reg Yaris(Motability).Tows ok,obvious not got the acceleration so drive accordingly,DONT HOLD UP TRAFFIC!!Handling is near normal-down to correct weight distribution in van.Will cruise at 60(max allowed)on motorway once it's wound up.Braking not affected-over-run brakes on caravan help.The cooling fan comes on more at slow speeds otherwise no warning lights ever come on.All in all quite successful.

Next car will be diesel MMT--maybe a Yaris Verso.

I bet it looks well funny seeing a little car like that pulling a caravan! Don't think I've ever seen it before!

[Yaris SR Kid]

lol yeah :P

Air con affects power quite alot in the yaris as it has such a small engine, you wouldnt notice so much in a larger engined car

[Chris81]

Pulling a caravan in a car as small as the Yaris won't do it any favours. Broke any driveshafts yet?

[welshphil]

Pulling a caravan in a car as small as the Yaris won't do it any favours. Broke any driveshafts yet?

Drive shafts go when clutch is used roughly,or when cornering slowly in high gear.Driven sensibly there will be no problems.I went into the pro's and con's very deeply before towing.

When i got the car-2years ago-I had very limited mobility and it fit the bill.Never thought I would ever be able to go caravanning again.I may have gone for a more powerful machine had I known.I change car at beginning of next year,so have time to ponder better vehicles.

A car to me is a tool,able to take me around,that's all I need.Image not important now,I've bin there,dun that etc,etc.

[Richard Davies]

I've not noticed a fall off in power in my Yaris with the air-con on, but I mainly drive it with a light load.

When looking for a car I was happy to see ones with air-con in my price range because I never like driving with the windows open much as my ears pop a lot.

300 series Volvos were popular in the 1980s for towing becuase of their good power to weight ratio. The top of the range ones had the same engine as the 200 series, I think.