I am looking to buy an ex-motability Astra from the auctions. My wife only drives an auto and there seem to be plenty of low mileage ones there. The problem is that we have set our heart on having aircon in the next car we buy and all of the ones I have seen don't come with it. The same applies to Almeras which are we may also consider.
My question is: How feasible (and expensive) would it be to get it fitted by an independant specialist? Does anybody out there have any ideas?
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Don't bother. Loads of hassle and much more expensive than finding a factory fitted one.
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In an astra, not practical and not feasible. Plenty of Astras around with aircon.
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Would you all agree this is the case for all makes and models? I love my 406 estate (yes I know how sad!) hwoever it doesnt have air-con which I really do want without the hassle of changing the car?
DB
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I would have thought that all reasonably recent Almera Autos come with aircon (all Almera autos seem to be SE spec....).
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Not from my experience at the BCA auctions I've been to in the last few months. All the autos have been E models without aircon, the oldest was 2002. Similar with the Astras all the club models don't have it, again oldest 2002.
Maybe it's because they are Ex-Motability who may have bought up models without aircon to keep costs down. I agree that most you see advertised on Autotrader and elswhere seem to have it. But then they also are for sale for £1500 - £2000 more than at the auctions and are generally higher mileage. I could pick up a very low mileage Astra (some only have 3,000 miles on them) for £3500. If I could get aircon installed for say £500 I'd be quids in wouldn't I?
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There were firms in the past that fitted aftermarket air-con;a separate unit that was fitted in the glove compartment or somewhere similar and a pump on the engine -not seen any adverts recently-they probably went out of business when manufacturers started fitting them.
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There is a picture of retro fitted car air conditioning on page 27 of Night & Day Live (with todays Mail on Sunday). It looks a bit bulky to me.
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Robbo
I think these must be specials. The 2002 Astra catalogue issue 1 from late 2001 shows everything to have air as standard from LS upwards (ie only Envoy/Expression excluded).
JS
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I think you are right John, Motability probably bought up the last of the older non-aircon models in bulk, there seem to be a lot about at BCA.
I've sent a couple of enquiry emails to companies who specialise in aftermarket aircon - result? No replies! Why do they have websites if they don't answer enquiries, even if it's a no? My quest will continue. I have now subscribed to auctionview.co.uk so at least I can get a look at whats on offer well in advance.
Thanks to the others who have replied as well.
Any advice on powder coating and finishing by the way - I'm your man.
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