993 'Climate'

Sandy59 · Nov 30, 2011

Hello there, I've been having a look recently at a few 993s for sale, mainly cabs.
One is an 97 'R' and advertised with 'Standard Climate', opposed to others advertised with 'Air Cond Climate' from the same seller, he says the standard climate has no air cond.
I always thought the word 'Climate' inferred air cond, and was it not standard anyway on an 97 (R) reg model ??
Have had a good search through the internet but can't seem to find a definitive answer.
Any help on clarification much appreciated.

szklarek · Nov 30, 2011

I'd have agreed with you - I believe 993's have either heating & A/C (this is what's usually referred to as 'climate control') or just heating. I think a large proportion of UK cars were fitted with the A/C although quite a few people report that it doesn't work very well or often fails. Luckily my A/C works just fine (and has done for many years) and that's important to me because my 993 is a 'daily drive'. If A/C is important to you be sure to check that it's fully working. Incidentally trying to add A/C to a 'heater only' car is really a non starter on cost (there are other posts on that topic!).

Hope the above helps.

Regards
Anton

Gordon Attar · Nov 30, 2011

Proper climate control air conditioning was an optional extra on Cabriolets and Cabs and you can tell if fitted by there being two buttons with snowflakes on them to the right of the ventilation controls.

Someone using the word standard climate is either being clever with reference to the general climate outside the car, or is trying to con someone that the car has A/C when it hasnt!

Sandy59 · Nov 30, 2011

Thanks guys, I'll find out for definite tomorrow.
Non being a daily driver could probably live without it I'm sure, although would be nice to have for a trip to Europe etc in the summer maybe if the sun's too hot.

Mike M · Dec 1, 2011

A/C puts out a temperature that you set it to and the air will continue to come out at that temperature, generally in an on or off cycle. Climate controll controlls the climate, if you set it to 16ºC it will vary the output (heat/cooling) temperature to maintain 16ºC.
Im not aware of climate control in the 993 I believe its all A/C and when it is working well it is pretty efficient and will keep your car nice and cold. Reports of A/C not being too cold will primeraly be due to a fault. Personalyy mines as cold as a witches t*t! but I have just replaced the condensor as it went off last year and the origional condensor was still fitted so not bad for 17 years!

Stewart Rix · Dec 1, 2011

Standard (and the only type of) A/C on a 993 can be set to a temperature as shown by the left hand heater knob. The heating system will then maintain the set temperature whether or not the A/C button is pushed.- hence climate control. If the temp dial is turned right down to 'min' then it will blow the coldest 'refrigerated' air. Without A/C the heater unit can only maintain a temperature that is no lower than the outside air temp.

gm997_1 · Dec 1, 2011

Going back to the OP, seems to me there's nothing dubious going on at all and it's a comparison in English the seller is using to differentiate the one spec from the other. Forgetting the Porsche parlance for a moment, 'standard' is opposed to 'air con' so for me that's fine and comprehensible.
That is, the 'standard' is without a/c and the 'air con' is with it.
Which in actual fact is correct for Porsche. For UK cars, full a/c (compressor, condenser, etc) was an optional extra - although fitted in the majority of cars.
'Climate control' he's using as a neutral expression to refer to cabin heating/cooling.
Treat the phrase in neutral fashion, infer nothing, and it works : 'standard climate control' compared to 'air cond. climate control'.

For me it's just an unnecessary weight to lug around as it's only truly needed maybe 4 or 5 days a year oop North here in the UK. Depends where you are too, of course. Down South it's several degrees warmer / moister so will be of more use there. It's good at removing condensation from the inside of the screen / windows now and again, + keeps the cabin pleasantly cool at 16 degrees once in a blue moon, but most of the time the heater/blower just fine and/or the windows down a little.

Let us know how you get on!

Graeme

Sandy59 · Dec 1, 2011

Graeme,

It seems you're pretty spot on, exactly as the seller explained it to me today with no intention to deceive.
I was thinking about the A/C more for trips to Europe when the hot sun can be a pit of a pain after a while, granted up in Aberdeen not a big issue !!
I actually got a quote for a new retro-fit from a company that I found recommended on here a while back, Reader Air Con in Woking - £2300 + Vat, up to 7 days required to install it.
Seems to me that might be a good option ending up with a new system, apparently they've done a few 993's and from my conversation today sounded like a professional outfit.
Anyway haven't actually bought the car yet so will see how it goes with that first.
Cheers, Sandy

gm997_1 · Dec 2, 2011

Seems a good price there, Sandy - heard a lot worse !

There won't be so many UK 993s about though without a/c so maybe if you buy one of those with working a/c (which narrows the numbers down considerably!), you'll save those pennies completely[

]

Gordon Attar · Dec 2, 2011

ORIGINAL: graeme

Seems a good price there, Sandy - heard a lot worse !

There won't be so many UK 993s about though without a/c so maybe if you buy one of those with working a/c (which narrows the numbers down considerably!), you'll save those pennies completely[]

As long as the A/C is working sadly the majority arent when they are sold! and then its £5/600+v to have a compressor fitted, same for condensor and c irca £1000 for the evaporator, then several hundered a pop for piping if needed!