Avoid an aircon con

Fitted only to more opulent models not so long ago, air-conditioning has become virtually ubiquitous. Should you be in the market for even a used ‘cheapy’, the chances are that your chosen car will possess aircon either as a standalone feature, or as part of a more sophisticated climate control system. The problem with airconditioning overall is that many typical car owners take it for granted and are unaware that the system needs to be maintained to work effectively. Complete failures, however, can be complex to diagnose and mega-expensive to rectify.

Why is air-conditioning important?

While separate to the heater, airconditioning works in conjunction with it to create and maintain an optimum cabin environment. In most cases (certain hybrid and electric vehicles excepted), the engine needs to be running for the air-conditioning to operate. However, the vehicle’s speed doesn't influence its effectiveness, although some systems take speed and throttle position into account and react accordingly, such as deactivating the airconditioning under hard acceleration to direct maximum power to the wheels.

In the UK’s temperate climate, many drivers do not appreciate