third row air. must have?
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Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Northern Virginia
05 CLK500; 07 Volvo XC90
third row air. must have?
those of you don't have the optional third row vents, is it hot in summer and cold in winter for the two sitting back there?
is it a must have option? thanks
is it a must have option? thanks
Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 236
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From: Dallas, Texas
R350 4-matic
Nah, while it may take a few more minutes to get to warm/cold, they are not worth the extra money. I just stick the 2nd row on MAX during the summer and w/in 2-3 minutes the 3rd row is at the right temp.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Nashua, NH
2008 VW GTI
I rode in the 3rd row for the first time over the weekend and was thinking about this. With the 1st and 2nd row vents pointed towards the back, I had cool air blowing around me. It wasn't a super hot day, but I don't think it would have mattered much. I don't think the 3rd row AC is needed.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: United States
2008 R350 & 2008 C300
To be fair, for 2009 the 3rd row climate control is packaged with the P2 group which also gets you all the options of P1 plus a whole host of powered goodies. I can't see myself finding any of the P2 goodies worth the extra money though. In the past the 3rd row climate control was a separate and less expensive package.
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Joined: Feb 2007
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2012 S550 4MATIC, 2007 R-350
No wonder I have 3rd row vents. It's because i have an older 2007 model and
I don't quite remember it costing that much to get it. It is nice to have but probably not necessary. I don't know how warm it gets in the 3rd row seating especially when the shade on the panorama roof is all open. But the glass roof is suppose to filter infrared wavelengths.
I don't quite remember it costing that much to get it. It is nice to have but probably not necessary. I don't know how warm it gets in the 3rd row seating especially when the shade on the panorama roof is all open. But the glass roof is suppose to filter infrared wavelengths.
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2007 r350..2005 Audi A8L...1965 Corvette...2004 HD Custom Fatboy
I am in Florida and honestly the AC is nice and strong in this car (also loud). With the second row vents on, the back cools down and is comfortable quickly. You will be fine without it in my opinion.
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Joined: May 2009
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R350
Unless you live in the north, seattle or portland, in my opinion I wouldn't get the car without this option - i have 3 zone climate control and am VERY happy i held out for the 3 zone climate. The internal air volume of this car is about equal to a suburban. If you want the people sitting in the 3rd row to be comfortable as it relates to temperature i think it's a must have. Look at how much cooling horsepower a suburban has in the rear.... Those 2 little vents + the rear door vents are not enough.
JH
JH
Senior Member
Joined: May 2003
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From: Houston, TX
Q & R
I made it a point to have the rear vents option (4 zone) in my Audi Q7 7 seater. I am looking to buy an R class and wanted to test whether or not I need the 3 zone in the R. It was a "cool" 96 degrees in Houston today and I decided to try out some R classes at the CarMax. There were two and neither car had the 3rd row vents. These cars had been sitting in the hot sun and I sat in the 3rd row. I could feel cool air streaming down the sides from the front dash vents - yes the front all the way to the 3rd row. But this is more of a "breeze" than wind blowing in your face. In fact, I could feel that air better than the air from the center console vents. Unless you sit with your head tilted towards the center vents, you will not feel the air from the center. And if you get the 7 seat R, and there is a person sitting in the middle, the console mounted 2nd row vents will be blocked to the 3rd row. My conclusion - yes the 3rd row will cool wihout the 3 zone air vents. But you will not get evaporative cooling of direct fan air blowing on your skin. So if you plan on using the 3rd row regularly when its hot, get the 3 zone.
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Joined: Jun 2005
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From: NC
2019 Volvo XC90 Magic/Amber, '95 E320 Cabriolet Midnight,'14 GL350 Lunar/Almond was '07 GL320CDI
That being said, and i am respecting all opinions here---isn't the third row, in large part for kids? And aren't kids OK without cooling down in the 2 minutes that adults expect? I personally will never be in the third row of my own car (and will only ever have adults back there on the way out to dinner at night), so on the new R, I will pass on the P2 package since that's the only way to get. that being said, back in 07, when i purchased my GL, i opted for the 3 zone because i could purchase separately. It has never been a feature, even on a hot day, that i have said, "gosh, sure am glad i got that". After all, neither of these vehicles come close to being the size of a suburban in interior mass, so there is not the same amount of air to cool down.
just my $.02 (proabably worth less than $.01 after this Great Recession and i have to pay someone's healthcare costs in addition to their mortgage
)
just my $.02 (proabably worth less than $.01 after this Great Recession and i have to pay someone's healthcare costs in addition to their mortgage
)
Senior Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 292
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From: Houston, TX
Q & R
Sure - most of the time if not always - 3rd row is for kids. But kids get hot too right? Here in Texas, the P2 makes sense for me because of the rear air and the sunshades in the 2nd and 3rd rows. Remember also that P2 gets memory seats and power tilt/tele steering (does P1 have auto dim mirrors?)
I just picked up an 09 with P2, and the rear air resets to OFF with key off. And in the hot Houston heat, the kids were screaming to turn the air on.
I am coming out of a Odyssey Touring with rear air and sunshades - so maybe I am spoiled by these features.
Is it worth the $2500 over a P1 package? Its definitely about preference.
For 2010, 3 zone air becomes stand alone option again like in 07.
I just picked up an 09 with P2, and the rear air resets to OFF with key off. And in the hot Houston heat, the kids were screaming to turn the air on.
I am coming out of a Odyssey Touring with rear air and sunshades - so maybe I am spoiled by these features.
Is it worth the $2500 over a P1 package? Its definitely about preference.
For 2010, 3 zone air becomes stand alone option again like in 07.
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Joined: Jun 2005
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From: NC
2019 Volvo XC90 Magic/Amber, '95 E320 Cabriolet Midnight,'14 GL350 Lunar/Almond was '07 GL320CDI
For me, i'm looking to buy right now, and the deals are out there. Unfortunately P2 car are hard to find. Otherwise i'd probably go for it...MBUSA and their stupid marketing guys are always making me mad...at least you can now get keyless go. but i really DON'T want the jump seat, and i can't NOT have that? 
Luckily, NC is slightly more temperate than Houston (slightly)
Luckily, NC is slightly more temperate than Houston (slightly)
Senior Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 292
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From: Houston, TX
Q & R
For me, i'm looking to buy right now, and the deals are out there. Unfortunately P2 car are hard to find. Otherwise i'd probably go for it...MBUSA and their stupid marketing guys are always making me mad...at least you can now get keyless go. but i really DON'T want the jump seat, and i can't NOT have that? Luckily, NC is slightly more temperate than Houston (slightly)
Luckily, NC is slightly more temperate than Houston (slightly)If you are willing to deal over the phone and ship the car, I can help you find a P2 car with the 5k dealer cash - or a couple of P1 deals I almost pulled the trigger on. These dealers were not giving more than $7k back in June - but for cars that have been sitting they are able to "punch" them and get some cash. I think its 3 cars per dealer and only for those that have spent some time on the lot.
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 857
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From: NC
2019 Volvo XC90 Magic/Amber, '95 E320 Cabriolet Midnight,'14 GL350 Lunar/Almond was '07 GL320CDI
also looking for deals with over 10k off...more like 13k is what local dealer is quoting, even with getting the car from the other dealers. if you know of any p1+pano/htd, etc. cars or p2 please let me know as i am ready willling and able. thanks.
Caveat is that i am only considering diesels...not too many of those left. oh well.
Caveat is that i am only considering diesels...not too many of those left. oh well.
Last edited by carpersn; Aug 1, 2009 at 11:54 PM.
Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 236
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From: Dallas, Texas
R350 4-matic
also looking for deals with over 10k off...more like 13k is what local dealer is quoting, even with getting the car from the other dealers. if you know of any p1+pano/htd, etc. cars or p2 please let me know as i am ready willling and able. thanks.
Caveat is that i am only considering diesels...not too many of those left. oh well.
Caveat is that i am only considering diesels...not too many of those left. oh well.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
Q & R
also looking for deals with over 10k off...more like 13k is what local dealer is quoting, even with getting the car from the other dealers. if you know of any p1+pano/htd, etc. cars or p2 please let me know as i am ready willling and able. thanks.
Caveat is that i am only considering diesels...not too many of those left. oh well.
Caveat is that i am only considering diesels...not too many of those left. oh well.
