Which is what I've done with my Cadillacs since Cadillac began offering auto climate control in '64. My system stays set on 70-72 and automatic mode year round, unless I need to turn on the defroster and now that the system includes auto recirc, there's one less reason to adjust it. Isn't this the entire objective with auto climate control systems, set it and forget?! I can't remember the last time I turned the system off! Which is where I originally set the Jag as well, but it cut down long before the car was remotely comfortable. Both of us thought the other had accidentally turned the system off as it was still quite warm inside the car.

 

Jagular makes a good point. As a Brit living in Austin, Texas, I have found that what you need the car to do is cool you down, not just maintain a specific temperature in the car itself. After walking around in 100 deg + F weather for a little while, it is me that needs a rapid cool down as well.

In cooler climes I think that you assume the person is comfortable but that the car may have heated up because it has stood in the sun, or cooled down because it has been stood in the freezing weather for a while. Thus the HVAC may simply get the car to the correct temperature but you may still feel the extremes because the HVAC is not measuring your perceived temperature. Thus the need to have extremes of cooling and, maybe, heating when you live in more extreme climates (having lived in colder climates - Chicago - as well, I thinking it is more likely that you need the system to over cool than heat, I have never liked the idea of getting out of the cold into over heated enclosures since I am usually well wrapped up).

This may be the difference in philosophy between European and North American designs.

 

UPDATE:

Disposed of the Jaguar.

Took the car back to the dealer to have them reassess why the seats aren't cooling. After some friendly banter and discussion with the service advisor, the service tech told me, and I quote:

"Obviously you've been driving a Cadillac for to long as you're expecting too much from any other car."

I thanked him for wasting his time and left, never to return.

 

Er, I have yet to be in a Cadillac that was any good. They do not drive well, the handling is poor and they are very cheaply made. Profit margins must be good for GM.

I rode in a CTV Coupe which was appalling. The ride was awful and the interior uncomfortable. The AC was good though.....

 

That's why I didn't purchase/lease another. In 30+ years, I've never had a major problem, and these last 10 years, the dealer has been saying "bear with us its going to get better", well.....my last DTS, a Platinum edition was a step in the right direction. But even this loyal customer finally threw in the towel.

 

I took someone out in my 2011 SC and they asked me to turn off the ventilated seat cooling as it was too cold. Works well so far in my car.

 

Excluding this car, I kept a BMW 7 overnight a few years ago and its seats never cooled otherwise no matter how hot the cars interior, after a few minutes you could start to feel cool air. I'm speaking of cars both with true cooled seats and those just "ventilated".

The service advisor called me yesterday as: "I noticed that you were rather unhappy when you left last time."

After some friendly/polite banter his sum up was: "We checked what '12s we have and they all suck."

Had dinner with some friends last night (one of which owns an XJL Vanden Plas) and it was the consensus that I should contact Jaguar, even though I no longer own the vehicle.

 

CadiDrvr,

So you returned your sister's car back to the dealer or back to her?

 

Neither. Sold it.

Don't want to get into entire family dynamic here, but suffice to say she's a product of the downturn in the economy these last few years and her car was totaled in an accident. Being the generous brother that I am, I gave her a price, told her to pick out the car, and I'd pay for it.

This wasn't a rash decision, as she's had several other minor problems with the vehicle and it was the dealer's attitude that really made the decision for me.

She had all but settled on a 335i Convertible but decided to drive this car on a spur of the moment. After some discussion, it was agreed that she should've stayed with the BMW. After this weekend, she will.