static

real or imaginary, there is benefit.

where do i get my snake oil and how much are the shares? That bridge is an antique now, isn't it!

LexBob2

Our previous car had dual climate controls similar to the Lexus. Out of habit I always set both sides at the same temp and things are fine for driver and passengers. If a car has a good HVAC system, one control is fine by me.

NoiseFree

Just for fun, today I decided to carry out an experiment with this here 'Dual zone temperamature-thingie'.

Since day one I had both temps set to 23C and then a few weeks ago changed that to 21C.

My first experiment was to pretend my front passenger was a hot-blooded young chick who couldn't live at temps below 27C. So driver's side was set to 21C and passenger side to 27C. Outside temp was -2C.

Well wouldn't you know it! Within less than one minute I was already starting to heat up! No, not because I was fantasizing about this chick next to me, but because MY side of the car was heating up beyond the 21C setting!
That's right, you read it first here. The air will actually merge within the vehicle so that you end up with something like an average of the two sides, as weird as that may sound!

For my next experiment I pretended I was sitting next to a cold fish! I set the passenger side for 18C. Well wouldn't you know it! Within less than a couple of minutes I started to feel cold on my right side (particularly my thigh).

Conclusion, PsychDoc is right!

PsychDoc

Funny thing about meaningless gimmicks. If one guy has it, you have to have it or you're considered antiquated. Dual zone climate control, keyless start, "ventilated" seats (don't get me wrong, I love the heated part, but the "ventilation" is a complete and utter joke), swivelling headlights (yes, cool to watch on a dark night but really folks, does it really do a damn thing?....in a word, no), voice control (this is my favorite.....totally beyond useless....a toy at best and not a very good one at that), etc, ad nauseum.

Now I have a question. How many of you would accept a car without these meaningless gizmos if they used the money to design a vehicle with a more responsive transmission, more communicative steering and better driving dynamics?

Hmmm

static

This is not surprising at all. If you have the climate control set to auto or manually set so the fans at your feet are on and it will maintain separation longer. If you have the upper fans on, it will merge quicker. There is no disputing that the car will naturally try to mix the air.

PsychDoc

WRONG!!!

The "car" (as you so quaintly put it) has nothing whatsoever to do with this. It's a little concept borrowed from biology/chemistry.

Osmosis, to be specific.

static

OK, poor selection of words on my part... the air inside the car will naturally try to mix.

PsychDoc

And indeed will be successful.

That's why the very concept of "dual climate control" in such a small space tests the limits of absurdity.

LexBob2

How about a "triple climate control" for cars with bench seats in front??

toneman

In the case of the ES 350, probably a combination of cost (can't have the ES be priced "too" high... ) and that it has a relatively small cabin compared to say, a full-sized SUV...of which there are quite a few of those that offer tri-zone climate control.

As far as wanting to know the inside temperature--well w/ my infrared thermometer I can tell you that, w/ the car sitting out in the hot summer sun w/ tinted windows rolled up, the cabin can reach temps upwards of 130* F...and by using the same infrared thermometer, I can see that the A/C is blowing 50*-ish F air w/ ambient temps in the 70's...

NoiseFree

OK that makes sense.

Thanks for the real-life measurements!

One thing I learned the other day when I was playing with the dual temps is that 18C is just about as low as it goes. After that the LCD just says "LO"!
Next time I'll fool around with the other extreme and see if it says "HIGH".