Calif. Cobra's do you use your heaters?

GregN · #1 (**permalink**) 09-19-2003, 10:08 PM

You Calif. Cobra Guys/Gals do you use your heaters? I was told by my local Cobra Dealer that they have never/seldom recommended or had installed the factory heater/defroster unit. They claim that they have sold over 50 cars.

They tell that the heat from the headers will keep the driver/passenger warm even when they do not the heat.

What has been your experience?

Thank You,

Greg

Gordon Claunch · #2 (**permalink**) 09-19-2003, 10:18 PM

No heater here!!

GregN · #3 (**permalink**) 09-19-2003, 10:20 PM

Gordon,

Do you miss not having the heater/ defroster ?

Greg

Turk · #4 (**permalink**) 09-19-2003, 10:21 PM

Of couse not!
You are in Bakersfield for cryin' out loud.

Here in the Bay Area, they can come very handy.
Extends the driving season to those cool but dry winter days and weeks.

TURK

foothills gary · #5 (**permalink**) 09-19-2003, 10:22 PM

In the foothills of Northern Ca.,the heater allows you to run top down on those beautiful,sunshiny,40degree December days.

pgermond · #6 (**permalink**) 09-19-2003, 10:34 PM

Heater? Nope! Defroster? Nada! If it gets chilly, I'll rely on the headers/collectors to keep me warm

Edley Rondinone · #7 (**permalink**) 09-19-2003, 10:41 PM

On the cool wintery nights, the heater comes in VERY handy, and I am damn glad to have one!!! Cobras. You bake in the summer heat, and freeze in the winter chill!!

Jamo · #8 (**permalink**) 09-19-2003, 11:24 PM

Best heater in California is eating Mexican food the night before the run.

PatBuckley · #9 (**permalink**) 09-19-2003, 11:40 PM

You don't need a heater in California....if you drive the car when it is cold you simply disconnect the fresh air hose and let warm engine air into the interior.

And eat some Mexican food.

John S Peterson · #10 (**permalink**) 09-19-2003, 11:52 PM

If you have ever rode a motorcycle in less than perfect weather, you know what cold is. Laying on the cold garage floor trying to finish some little things before a run...thats cold, but riding in my cobra..well lets just say that the rise in testosterone prevents the recognition of the chill factor.

Excaliber · #11 (**permalink**) 09-20-2003, 12:23 AM

Uh,,,,,,,,I'm in Hawaii, that close enough?

I DO use my heater AND my defroster, seriously! Only two maybe three times a year, but I'm glad to have it! It can get really cold here sometimes. Why last winter it dropped into the 50's (a couple of times)! And the humidity clouds the windows. 50 may not be "cold" to you, but when you live with 80 Deg 95% of the time, 50 is freaking freezin'!

Maybe it's the Excals great firewall insulation or something but I get very little cockpit heat from the engine or the sidepipes.

Ernie

EDIT: Never used the heater in my Austin Healey 3000. That thing was a virtual OVEN with the engine heat all over you like white on rice! SO hot I only liked driving it at night!

Ron61 · #12 (**permalink**) 09-20-2003, 06:45 AM

I have no heater and no defroster and have never missed them. If it is cold enough that I would need a defroster I won't be driving anyway. Heater adds weight that I don't need. And on our 118 degree days it is sort of strange to have a person ask me if I have a heater in the car. No air conditioning or $5,000 dollar sound systems either. And I enjoy the car just as it is.

Ron

Tongue Pirate · #13 (**permalink**) 09-20-2003, 08:31 AM

Turk, or any other ERA pro's,

Does much heat from the engine compartment trasfer into the cockpit in an ERA?
At this point I am not planning to run a heater. I was thinking of going the wait & see route unless I can be persuaded otherwise!

weendoggy · #14 (**permalink**) 09-20-2003, 09:03 AM

Yeah, I use a heater. When it's 30° and your out driving, it feels pretty damn good! The wife's only request was a heater. Was I to say NO!

We/I don't feel any engine compartment heat that others have said come into the cockpit when its not in use. I have a F5 car and don't know how this effects other cars out there.

My vote is, if you live in the desert and only drive in the summer, you don't need a heater. However, if you plan on driving around the state (Snakes to the Lake coming up), you better plan on a heater or very warm, insulated and maybe battery powered heat clothing to wear, or you will be miserable.

jm$.02

PatBuckley · #15 (**permalink**) 09-20-2003, 09:37 AM

Tongue Pirate-

My ERA was very comfortable even on 100+ degree days - I did install some extra insulation on the footboxes and tunnel of my ERA (#535).

Pat

Robert T. Faust · #16 (**permalink**) 09-20-2003, 09:38 AM

Heaters? Defrosters? Jackets? What the hell are those? Are they some type of speed enhancers? Well its soon to be winter, time to bring out the Hawaiian shirts, Docker shorts and those white tennis shoes. Gad Zucks Amigos, its tuff living here.

Gordon Claunch · #17 (**permalink**) 09-20-2003, 11:14 AM

Hey Jamo, Sounds like those bay area dudes are girly men!!!

To me it doesn't get much colder than the nasty tule fog layer around here high thirties,low forties, just grab a sweatshirt, Jamo and Pat are right,just eat some mexican food, maybe you bay area guys should carry an extra sweater in your purse's!!!

Jack21 · #18 (**permalink**) 09-20-2003, 11:20 AM

Sorry to go against the grain here folks, but your dealer if full of it!!! His license to sell Cobras should be revoked for feeding you such blatantly BAD information!

You DO want, and WILL use your heater and defroster wherever you live.

And if you are expecting your headers to keep you warm, you haven't properly coated your headers, or insulated your footwells.

Lastly, if you live in a State where your car needs a safety inspection every year (not emissions, just safety), you will need working wipers, and heater/defroster to pass.

Yes, there are options in registering your car as a classic, or antique where even safety is not required. Now, you're all smart guys (and gals), right. Get into a fender bender with no safety and the opposition will eat you for breakfast in court. So, even if you don't need it, get it (annual safety) anyway. And put a heater/defroster, and wipers in it.

FIA Mike · #19 (**permalink**) 09-20-2003, 12:27 PM

Tongue Pirate,

I have an ERA FIA car (#2047) and live in Folsom (up near Pat Buckley). I do not have and see no need for a heater/defroster. A jacket and the fresh air vents work just fine to keep you warm.

Welcome to the FIA brotherhood.

FIA Mike

Jack21 · #20 (**permalink**) 09-20-2003, 12:49 PM

It's your car, and your money. One of the great things about a Cobra is you can build it anyway you like. One of the great things about this forum is the diversity of experiences, and opinions there are.

Newbies to Cobra ownership ought to be able to get as much consumer education as they can before making a purchasing, and configuration decision. The only place a newbie can get this is from other Cobra builders, and owners; and that's right here.

If you live in an area where the temperatures are moderate day and night all year around, it's never humid, and it never rains, and you never intend to drive your car anywhere else; then omit the heater and wipers.

I have no idea where in the lower 48 those conditions exist. Have been to LA in January where it was 40 deg. Folks with heaters in their cars used them.

But, I'm an East Coast guy; and it gets cold, and it rains here. All the way from DC to Ohio for DVSFIII it poured bucketfulls all the way from DC to the Ohio State line. Heater, defroster, wipers, top and sidewindows were used for the entire trip.

Sooo, it's your car, your money, make an informed decision as to how you want to buy or build it.