Car Question
 

Here's my delima. I've got a 2001 Honda Civic with appx 135K miles on it.

It has no airconditioning. I'm thinking of adding it. The quote is appx $1,800. I don't have any plans to get rid of this car anytime soon and it sucks sweating to death all the time. The car has no other mechanical problems that I'm aware of, 4 new tires, new battery and timing belt within the last 4 months. The interior and exterior are in good shape.

So do I put the air in or use that money toward saving for a newer car with less mileage? I have a bankruptcy on my credit (until about 2011) so any financing won't be at any good rates.

You can always find a less expensive option.

I had to laugh when I read your post, KS- I have a Civic that's even older, although it has about 15 k less mileage. Air conditioning sets off my allergies, but I'm finding as I get older that I mind that less than the prospect of heat stroke. It's going to be a few years before I can buy a new car, so I am curious about whether it's worth it to add the air conditioner at this point. One thing- my car overheats very easily- always has. Would adding air conditioning make it even more prone to doing so? Anyone? Bueller?

Yes, adding AC would definitely make it more likely to overheat.

Well, that's that, then. Ironic, eh?:rolleyes:

Unless she went with the option you linked to above. And with an independent onboard generator, the accessory options are endless! Gas milage would suck though.

If you are going to keep the car, a/c would be a good addition. I added it to my jeep, it's great. Every summer, I think about adding it to the miata.

WB, GD is right, they put the a/c condensor in front of the radiator, so it would exacerbate any tendencies to overheat. The fact that yours overheats so easily should be solved first. A normal operating cooling system, under normal conditions, should be able to cool the car, with the a/c on.

a/c is just a heat pump. You are pumping the heat out of the interior of the car, to a location in front of the radiator.

Thanks for all the input. I've never had any overheating issues so that should be ok.

I also have manual windows, doors and transmission. The windows confuse Maddy's friends who have never seen them and can't quite figure out how to work them.

Not only that, it's increasing the electrical load on the system which produces more heat, and the compressor get its power directly from the crankshaft, increasing the overall work the engine needs to do which also produces extra heat. All in all, a recipe for overheating in a car that's already prone to it.