Are you kidding me? The compressor is always working in any car. Its either on or off for the compressor. All it is, is basically an air compressor except its designed for compressing freon. The only difference for us convertibles is that the inside of the car never gets cold because all the cold air mixes with the hotter air. ya it will eventually wear out like the engine on your car, but just take care of the system and when you recharge the system add some oil for the compressor.

 

I use my a/c with the top down but only when pottering around town - on a highway run it makes more sense, to me anyway, to make sure the windows are down for full airflow.

 

When it's not hot enough to run the A/C when the top's down, Ijust throw a dollar bill over my shoulder every few miles.That way I can't tell the difference.

 

Luxurious hedonistic excess is what it is… oh yeah the American style baby Like snacking while watching your fav TV show whilst buxom blonds massage you…

 

Never did and I left the top down all summer. Even when it was 100 degrees, the breeze felt good, and it didn't seem that hot.

 

A/C on or off.... Heater on or off..... Any and every chance I get to go top down.

 

Running the A/C with the top down will cause premature wear on muffler bearings. Dont do it.

 

Muffler bearings are only a myth. Running the A/C, however, with the top down with cause excessive use of blinker fluid.

 

In 06 I was in Vegas in July. 118 is HOT HOT HOT. Too Hot to have the top down, and when I did, I still had the AC on blowing on my feet to keep them cool. Kind of sucked to drive the car from Washington to Vegas only to NOT be able to put the top down much.

For those of you in states where you don't need the AC (and the defroster) it's good to run the AC at least once a month for 15-20 minutes to ciculate the lubricants in the compressor. NOT running the AC for long periods of time is harder on it then using it too much - It will prevent the seals from drying out.

 

This question is old, but the issue may be timeless. For me, if I am driving in slow traffic, or driving slowly while sightseeing on roads where there is almost no traffic (there are such places), and its a hot day, then using the A/C is clearly very helpful. Once my speed picks up, the benefit from A/C is not very noticeable when the top is down.