Topic: Driving with the windows down...

[Minou]

I personnaly can't stand driving with the windows down more than a few minutes.  As soon as my speed goes up above 50-60 km/hre, I lock them up and run the AC.  I hate the noise, heat, humidity, dust, turbulence, etc.  In the past when my cars didn't have AC, my left eye would become all red and hurt badly.  I'm definitely not the sunroof/convertible type.

Thing is, Mrs Minou needs "real air from outside". She doesn't like to use her vents but prefers to open her window, go figure!

Now, another couple is set to join us for a short trip to Old Orchard and the other lady is apparently suffering from the same syndrome.

How to argument the issue that nobody will ever suffocate or else, I would be dead a very long time ago?

 

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Do you have a sunroof? Venting it may be a middle ground.

I prefer 'real air' myself unless sickeningly hot in traffic. I typically have windows up with sunroof slid open on the highway.

[mrthompson]

Do those Vent Visor window visors reduce noise and turbulence?

[UmroAyyar]

Do those Vent Visor window visors reduce noise and turbulence?

I was thinking about that.

I keep the windows open as much as I can, except on the highway or speeds below 70km/h. Based on some passengers' opinions, noise is the major culprit.

[Leviathan]

Have them think of the car as a ship and yer the Captain (que Saf with a Gavin McLeod pic). Anyone caught opening a window without clearing it with the Captain first will be given a proper "burial at sea" 

[Ex-airbalancer]

I usually have my sunroof all the time, as long as it is above -5 and not raining out
Tell the wife the car usually brings in outside unless it is set to recirculate

[tpl]

I have found that the cars I have owned/ driven in the last 10 years or so all suffer from terrible low frequency resonances if only one window is opened and as soon as a second one is open to "detune" the inside of the car it becomes too windy and too noisy.   IMHO also in this last 20 years or so all cars have been designed to use A/C, that is, the air passages are tortuous and constricted as it is expected that the fan will always be on,  and this makes the through-the-system fresh air ventilation not to good either.  

To anwer the question.  Apart from parking lots it would not matter to me if the windows did not open at all

[PJungnitsch]

I'm one of those who loves the windows down, at least if the speed is not too high. One of the great things about heated seats is I can roll down the windows in spring/fall/mild winter days.

When I'm driving a vehicle with A/C I still like airflow, with the Tundra I would set A/C on low and roll down the power back window.

I've noticed that other motorcyclists have similar preferences, I guess we are used to fresh air.

[tenpenny]

I love having the windows down, but when only the two back windows are down, we get a horrendous pulsing that hurts my ears.

 

[mwqa]

I'm happy to say that my Aerio has less turbulence with the windows open at high speed than the Matrix I was driving for a year. Unlike the Matrix, I’m quite happy to leave the windows open on the highway.

However, I probably wouldn't have the windows open if I wanted to listen to music or talk to someone properly.

I think the best solution is to have those flip out rear windows that only minivans seem to have these days. I had those on my Mazda 323 and there was quite a breeze through the cabin when the rear windows were flipped open and the other windows were closed.

IMHO also in this last 20 years or so all cars have been designed to use A/C, that is, the air passages are tortuous and constricted as it is expected that the fan will always be on,  and this makes the through-the-system fresh air ventilation not to good either.

I prefer my Aerio to the XR Matrix I drove for a year. I found the Matrix became very stuffy, very quickly and always had to have the fan on low. I like my 'low-tech', non-AC, non-cabin filtered Aerio much better. 

[safristi]

OK Leviathan...jest fer U...Cap'n Stubbin' in Kindergarten......

[mrthompson]

I think the best solution is to have those flip out rear windows that only minivans seem to have these days. I had those on my Mazda 323 and there was quite a breeze through the cabin when the rear windows were flipped open and the other windows were closed. \

Where does the breeze come from if the other windows are closed?

I remember my dad's Scout II had flip out mini-windows on the front doors.  Perhaps they should make a come back? See pic.

[safristi]

..FLIP OUTS....were they a one finger operation.....

[PJungnitsch]

I remember my dad's Scout II had flip out mini-windows on the front doors.  Perhaps they should make a come back?

I grew up with pickups with those types of window and I never found them good for much. The problem is you can't adjust the airflow down from full on, it's like sticking your head out into the airstream. Mostly good for breaking into the truck.

The flip out rear windows do work well, my B2000 has them and it doubles the vent airflow. Just watch for the pieces of leaves and what not that come firing out of the non-HEPA filtered vents!

[Marc_]

My Saab is the worst car I have driven for reverberation when the sunroof is open and no windows.  Second to that would be the Audi A4 Wagon, I remember it to be quite bad as well.

I love all windows down, even at highway speeds, but I find I have to keep my car clean.  I almost lost my blazer out the back window!!

[Brig]

I almost lost my blazer out the back window!!

Hopefully it wasn't a Chevy Blazer.   

I like fresh air, but if it's too damn hot and muggy, on comes the A/C and the windows go up. 

[gotak]

I am not much for windows down. My car's pretty quiet and having the windows open ruins that.

[dr_spock]

If getting a new Mrs. Minou who likes windows up is not practical...

Tell them you're the driver and their lives are in your hands and your comfort for safe operation of vehicle overrides theirs.  If they are not happy, they can walk. 

[Schmengie]

The Versa's pretty quiet with the windows up but it reverberates like a kettle drum with them down at highway speed. I leave the windows up on the highway and open the vents or turn on the A/C. 

[Schmengie]

I remember my dad's Scout II had flip out mini-windows on the front doors.  Perhaps they should make a come back?

I grew up with pickups with those types of window and I never found them good for much. The problem is you can't adjust the airflow down from full on, it's like sticking your head out into the airstream. Mostly good for breaking into the truck.

The flip out rear windows do work well, my B2000 has them and it doubles the vent airflow. Just watch for the pieces of leaves and what not that come firing out of the non-HEPA filtered vents!

Back in the day, my Dad had a '66 Impala - man, that was a nice car - with crank-operated vent windows. They actually worked quite well and you could adjust the flow somewhat by changing the angle. It did get a bit noisier inside the car, but it wasn't bad.