On our trip through africa for a year we used our Defender 110 with AC. As several have mentioned above, having it doesn't mean you have to use it at all times!

We drove for the first couple of months without using it, and with the windows open, thinking that it would raise our fuel consumption, and keep us from getting used to the heat. Eventually, we found out that by using it on very dusty streches etc. especially when behaind another car/truck, it kept the air inside the vehicle so much cleaner that it was worth using. Since this was a Land Rover, it's not like the air was totally dust free even with the windows closed anyway, but it helped!

Fuel consumption didn't seem to go up noticably either. However, we always used the AC on the lowest setting, regulating the cooling with the fan strength instead. This kept us used to the heat (the inside remained "just bareable"), kept most of the dust out, and we stayed "fresher" for longer. At times when we were in heavy sand or in difficult terrain we kept it off, since it does drain a little power.

I doubt that our low setting AC use dehydrated us anymore that driving with open windows would have.

Some feel that it's just another gadget to go wrong, but if in worst case the AC stops working, I can't see the big problem. It's not like the engine is going to stop just because the AC has!

One setting where closed windows was useful was in several not so pleasant, smog filled citys such as Cotonou etc. When caught in traffic, the AC was very welcomed.

Erik D.

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Don't forget the poor man's aircon, when leaving from somewhere with all your water bottles to the brim, soak your floor carpets in water, the 'slow' evaporation will give you a great cool couple of hours.

Hey, every little...

Sam.