Window or AC? :)

Updated on April 01, 2011
R.. asks from Cleveland, TN
21 answers

The weather has been nice enough lately that we have started running our AC in the car. My fiance prefers to roll down the windows to cool off and cut down the gas usage... but the wind annoys me (and messes up my hair...) Usually we are able to come to a happy medium by rolling down the windows in town, but once we are in areas that we hit 50mph or more, we turn to AC. What do you prefer? :)

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So What Happened?

:) Thanks mommas. Sorry to all the Northern people... Believe me I know your pain. I grew up in the mountains of Idaho... Talking to my Dad yesterday he told me that the house still has enough snow that he can drive the snow plane over the fences. Of course, I had to mention that the other day it hit 83' here. :P This is an awesome change for me!!! lol.

Featured Answers

J.H.

answers from San Antonio on

Mythbusters did an episode of this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythBusters_(2004_season)

Scroll down to Episode 22. It stated that if you're under 45 it's better to have the windows down, and over 45 windows up with AC. (I think that's what it was. They revisited it, and I can't find that one.)

So it sounds like you're happy medium is not only a great compromise but it saves gas! (And with gas as expensive as it is, we need all the help we can get right? hehe)

I'm a windows down all the time kinda gal. I've finally found my style, which is a 50s/60s pinup look (kind of rockabilly). When I'm driving, I wear a scarf around my head (which also wraps around my neck) and my sunglasses. My hair stays in place and I look stylish! Problem solved!

2 moms found this helpful

D.B.

answers from Memphis on

Have you tried just rolling down the windows in the back and cracking the windows in the front? That seems to keep some of the wind from destroying my hair as well. I feel for you, it drives me crazy to have my hair glowing all in my face and lipstick.

1 mom found this helpful

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K.N.

answers from Boston on

We're expecting 2 inches of snow by mid-day tomorrow. *sigh*

4 moms found this helpful
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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

.

3 moms found this helpful
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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I prefer the AC on, AND the windows down--drives my husband nuts! haha

2 moms found this helpful
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R.D.

answers from Dallas on

My husband and I are the same way. He likes the windows down and I like the AC but I like your "happy medium" idea. I'm usually outnumbered because my kids love to have the wind blowing in their face. You're right though, it messes up my hair. Thanks for the post.

R. D.
www.LegitWorkAtHomeBiz.com

1 mom found this helpful

M.P.

answers from Provo on

lucky!! I want good weather!!!!!!!! I usually do what you guys are already are doing. I sooo prefer wind in my hair rather than a/c (except when it's too hot!) but then again my hair does the natural beach hair curl thing so wind just makes it look better. .. I know. . .I'm lucky.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

With all the car fumes (especially in the LA area) we keep the windows up. Sometimes when we first get into the car I'll roll the windows down just to air out the car so it won't be so stuffy, but after that we roll them up and turn on the AC.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.S.

answers from Columbus on

I actually just read something recently that if gas is your concern, then use the AC or the vent. Having the windows open makes the even less aerodynamic. It's really not that much of a difference, but a little. I think that I read it on Yahoo news a few weeks ago.
But, with this weather, I prefer the windows down. It's way too beautiful to use the AC.

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K.U.

answers from Detroit on

I prefer the AC for the same reasons you do, not to mention that when DH has the windows rolled down on the highway he has to jack up the volume on the radio that much more to hear it - so annoying! His claim is that the air is fresher. Now that he is older and mellowing some with age, he's more apt to go along with what I want. Plus we have 3 yo DD in the back seat who wants the windows rolled up too. :) She doesn't like the wind blowing in her face either.

L.U.

answers from Seattle on

OMG...I am so jeleous that that is even a question. We are still having nights around 30 degrees...today we hit a high of 58!!!! Woot woot.
Now, onto the question. I never used my AC...I prefer the windows down. Now that I have kids though I use the AC or else they would be dying in the back of the car while I have the wind blowing on me from the rolled down window.
L.

C.B.

answers from Kansas City on

i do something similar...the wind on the highway is just TOO much, even if i'm not worried about my hair. but 99% of my driving is in town. i have a sunroof too which cuts down on the wind factor. i haven't turned my ac on yet! *oh right - also because my car has been running hot and i am paranoid so right now with this middle kind of weather, i am running the heater with all the windows down. until i can get it looked at. it sucks. bleh.

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D.R.

answers from New York on

i loooooove the windows open in the car, i usually have it like a wind tunnel till someone else complains.

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M.A.

answers from Houston on

I gotta holla out from the Gulf Coast of Texas....A/C is an absolute HAVE TO HAVE!!!! There's no bones about it!!! It was nice today, but as usual, humid.
Rolling the windows down actually interferes with the airodynamics of the car...running the A/C isnt THAT big of difference.
JMO!

P.S. I have been using my A/C since Feb....didnt see a big difference from Dec...

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B..

answers from Dallas on

I HATE the windows being down. The wind and pressure really hurts my ears.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

I'm sure he will roll the windows up once something flies out of the car... with all that wind.

That actually happened to me once.

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A.G.

answers from Boston on

I won't have this probkem for awhile since we are exoecting snow again BUT... Now that I have the minivan I use the AC. The minivan gets so much hotter than my Focus ever did. And ever since my youngest has his tubes put in the wind bothers his ears.

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E.M.

answers from Louisville on

it gets humid fast where i live.... I have to use the ac... hubby tho likes the windows down

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C.W.

answers from Nashville on

That's exactly what I do...when driving around town, I keep the windows rolled down, but once I hit the highway, I roll them up and turn on the AC.

M.S.

answers from Columbus on

LOL! I think this is the classic man/woman question. Sort of. My hubby and I have very different temperature gauges. Our battle is usually with the house. In the summer, unless it's above 90 and humid, I want the windows OPEN! I love the heat. He complains when he gets home that the house is hot. Whatev. So, in the vehicle, it's about the same. In the summer, he gets in and turns the AC on. I prefer the windows down. Once we hit the freeway, I will roll them up, since the wind gets too noisy and blows on the kids, too. *I like that mythbusters tested this!!

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W.M.

answers from Nashville on

I always prefer outdoor air more than the ac if it is still cool enough to do it. It messes up my hair too but sometimes you can just crack the front windows just enough or open the back windows and keep your front window closed. ac would be too cold in this gorgeous weather! Although tonight we are hitting 30's again so guess it is back to the heat. :o)

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