Hiring a rental car in the UK in the first half of September. Will we need a car with air con?

Internet weather charts indicate no, but I'm told UK has got warmer in recent years.

The weather in Britain is unpredictable, you might get a warm spell in September but no one will know until it happens. Even then it will probably only get into the low 20s - not really air-con temps.

To be honest the 'need' for air-con really depends on how used to having it you are - and only you can answer that.

In the last couple of years, we did have uncomfortably warm summer days, but I recall almost all of them were in August. Temperatures are quite comfortable in September--could be in the chilly side in the mornings/evenings.

I don't think you'll need a car with A/C. Rolling down the windoes should suffice (so long as you're not driving central London, which you do NOT want to be doing...)

How I wish my answer was Yes but the unfortunate truth is probably not.

I have air conditioning in my car and enjoy its comfort for about 2 weeks of the year whilst the rest of the time I can't wait for the car to heat up.

Out of interest how much more does it cost to hire a car with aircon?

A/C has become a fairly standard feature on new cars sold in the UK, apart from the most basic models. So there's no reason not to get a hire car with A/C unless you go for the most basic economy model. Normally A/C or not is listed on the booking information if you make an on-line reservation.

By the way, A/C is not just useful in the UK when the weather is hot and sticky - I use mine frequency on cold damp mornings to clear condensation from the windscreen.

No, you won't need air con. Our summers aren't really hot enough to make it essential, although it is 'nice to have' when you return to your car if it has been parked in the sun on a hot day in summer. September is rarely hot, even at the start of the month, nor often cool enough to make air con worthwhile for clearing misty windows quickly.

Thanks for those answers - as I suspected, air con is not essential. I think I'd be quite happy to cruise along English country lanes with the windows wound down - so long as it's not raining of course!!

TeddG: It costs about $8 a day more for a model with air con.

Gordon_R: Yes, I'm looking at basic. Ditto accomm; ditto everything. For us what come from Down Under there ain't much choice - overall trip costs would be undo-able otherwise!! But cars and beds are just functional side-issues - it's the places and people we travel for, and, man, are we looking forward to those? Are we ever!!

Thanks.....

Hi twoflower --

I visited last September 7-17 and it was very pleasant. I could wear pants or a skirt and never felt too hot. But, obviously things could change... I think you should decide how much you can personally tolerate and decide based on that. Some people just get hotter more easily than others. If you use your A/C when it's 65 or higher, you might consider getting it.

Good luck!