So what about those of us with the top DOWN? Wonder how that fares...

 

It's gotta be alot worse........... I hear you guys have to race with the top up or you'll loose a good amount of speed.

 

Running the air conditioning will adversely effect fuel mileage. The air conditioning condenser puts an additional load on the engine.

Air conditioning ON and windows OPEN: not a good idea. The interior of the car will not reach the desired temperature, and the air conditioning condenser will not cycle OFF.

Fan speed: high or low doesn’t matter. The fan is run from the car’s electrical system.

 

I commute 35 (90% highway, 10% surface streets) miles each way, with pockets of heavy traffic. I have the AC on the whole time and I got 22.5mpg on my last tank.

 

No. I clearly remember the vehicle with the windows down won. But, now you're going to make me google it...

Episode 22: Boom-Lift Catapult
Buster lends a hand as the MythBusters explore the myth of the boom-lift catapult. Will Buster overcome the raw power of a 30,000-pound piece of machinery, or will the boom-lift turn into the ultimate medieval catapult? Then, worried about the price of gas? Tune in to Jamie and Adam's investigation into the most fuel-efficient way to keep cool in the car: turning on the air conditioning or opening the windows.
premiere: Nov. 10, 2004


http://kwc.org/blog/archives/2004/20...n_windows.html

Windows down vs. air conditioning
"Urban puzzle": it is more efficient, on a hot day, to run with the A/C on and windows up than to run with windows down (b/c of increasing car's drag).

Computer-based mpg measurements:

11.7/11.8 with A/C on and windows up
11.7/11.8 with A/C off and windows up
11.3 with A/C off and windows down
So, according to the computer, it's better to use A/C with windows up.

This was too quick and easy for TV, so they decided to stage a seven hour marathon, race-til-you're-empty duel, with Jamie driving an SUV with A/C on and Adam driving an SUV with windows down. Though, once the safety inspector intervened, it was no longer a seven-hour marathon, it was a bit slower (45mph instead of 55mph), and a lot shorter (only 5 gallons each).

Jamie's A/C car ran out of gas first -- Adam's windows down SUV ran for another 30 laps -- completely contradicting the computer mpg estimate. Computer estimate based on air flow into the engine, so it would appear that it is unable to properly model the difference between A/C and windows down.

Mythbusted

 

Does the Z shut-off AC compressor under full-throttle?

 

On Mythbusters on the Discovery Channel they ran 2 Ford Explorers around a circular track, one w/ A/C full blast and one w/ the windows down. They both used equal amounts of gas.

Edit: lol nvm i didnt read the prior posts. And i was off..my memory sucks.

 

Does the Z shut-off AC compressor under full-throttle?

 

http://www.bankrate.com/nsc/news/auto/20050804a1.asp

 

If you lived in San Antonio all you would be worried about is how high can the air go. We never think about turning it off or cracking the windows.

 

What it comes down to is. Who cares? You will save more gas by watching how you drive. I can get 30MPG day to day with my AC on full blast, at highway speeds of course. However, as soon as I get to some backroads I floor the sucker. Sure it's nice to get great MPG, but when it comes down to it, It's a 350Z who cares.


lets all say it together, S P O R T S C A R.


But to answer a question, using the AC will slightly effect your MPG, I believe it's much less of a factor with newer cars then the older ones, but it's still a factor.

Roll your windows up and turn the heat on. you will get the best MPG, and while you're at it you can also turn your apartment/house AC off and save even more money!

I myself, I like spending a little more money every month to get the luxuries of life. If I didnt I wouldn't own a 350Z I'd drive a GEO and get 35+ MPG

 

I know my Z32 did this.

|dg