Like home central heating, air-conditioning was once regarded as somehow eccentric, or at best unusual. But now, as Oonagh Charleton discovered, it is the new black, the über-accessory.
It is quite easy to take air conditioning for granted. A quick flick of a knob or twist of a dial, de-steams your car, cools you down, de-humidifies your office and soothes your nerves. There have been two occasions, however, when I ceased to take it for granted and praised all things inventive and breezy.
Once, when I spent a long tyre-melting August day driving through Death Valley in a Toyota rental where its effectiveness sent me rooting for a jumper. And on another occasion, a damp wet February saw a 1986 Laser Capri steam up beyond any attempts to utilise my feeble de-misting rag.
Air-conditioning is virtually standard on all new models to hit the Irish market and trends towards A/C have surpassed demand for factory-fitted sunroofs. In the Eighties, sunroofs symbolised Palm Beach sports-car success, up-market cool and dodgy 'Miami Vice' gangsters. In the Irish business world, demand has definitely shifted towards air-conditioning with both Mazda and Opel Ireland emphatic about A/C as a standard in all new models.
In 1997, sunroofs were standard on three of six Opel models but with the remaining three, there was zero penetration or in simpler terms, no demand. When given as an option, customers just didn't ask for it. This figure was slightly higher in 2001 where 2 per cent opted for sunroofs when given the choice option.
Alternatively, air-conditioning in 2001 was standard on all Opel models but optional on the new Vectra. Opel Ireland believes that A/C, as a requirement, is set to increase where it is simply just more and more in demand, especially among business customers. This was echoed by Mazda Ireland which identifies A/C as definitively standard with its more expensive business class models. And as with Opel, Mazda's business clientele expect it as a standard feature. With A/C standard on the Mazda 6 and 626, it is still in demand with some of the smaller cars, such as the 323.
This is not to say that sunroofs have been out-featured as Mazda believe that effectively, there is demand out there for both and as a result most of their models have both. Sunroofs, while getting terrible press in the 1970s as leaky and dis-functional features, now double as a cosmetic accessory and natural A/C. They also increase the sense of overall light and space, and can help improve the visual appeal of the interior. Technology and innovation have also improved reliability and look.
There are also issues of fuel economy which may be of interest to Irish motorists where reducing your cars fuel consumption is a major factor. There is constant disagreement among experts concerning exact fuel consumption of automobile air conditioning but on average calculations assume a single year average of about 93 litres or 0.621 per 100 kilometres.
The need for electrical power requirements and the additional weight of the A/C does actually contribute to fuel consumption. In defence of A/C, however, sunroofs and indeed open windows in themselves, all contribute to fuel consumption and increased costs.
Current market trends are directing towards air conditioning as an irreplaceable and important function as opposed to sunroofs, which seem to be viewed more as accessories. Seeing as the popularity of sunroofs in the 1980s twinned with longer, hotter summers, it may be an indication that the demise of the sunroof is linked to current inclement weather patterns. That and the fact that air-conditioning can come with high-grade filters that remove dust, pollen and dirt from the passenger compartment for an increasingly health conscious public. An active carbon filter can also purify many harmful gaseous substances and fumes found in city traffic.
So with A/C almost expected as an in-car feature, customers may be less likely to rely on the sunroof for what was and still is quite superior ventilation. If neither take your fancy, there is always the sometimes forgotten option of simply rolling down your window.