Windows

[Sterno]

Have you noticed that when you need some air and roll the Fiesta's driver-side window down two or three inches how quiet it still is in the cab? And how little turbulence there is?

Driving the Accent I traded in was like being in a tsunami no matter how much or little the window was rolled down.

Just one more cool thing I love about this car!

[Audrey]

It's funny you mention this because people have complained about the turbulence of putting down a window. Perhaps the back windows are the truly loud ones.

[Sterno]

Originally Posted by Audrey

It's funny you mention this because people have complained about the turbulence of putting down a window. Perhaps the back windows are the truly loud ones.

Hmmmm .... perhaps I'm just comparing it to a truly awful car with regard to turbulence. Also, it's 2-3 inches that I'm talking about. Rolling it all the way down it can get pretty windy. But just that small amount ... in my sedan, at least ... I'm amazed at how quiet and calm it is, even at interstate speeds.

I guess the axiom "YMMV" is apt.

[Norm201]

I have to disagree with you on this point. Opening the window, drive side or passenger side is loud. Is it bothersome? I guess that depends on the people inside. At highway speeds opening the window even 2 to 3 inches is a big difference from having them closed. One of the features of the Fiesta is the comparative quite ride in the cab at highway speeds for being such a small car.

[Audrey]

Maybe the difference is really how well kept-up your roadways are. (:

[Sterno]

Originally Posted by Audrey

Maybe the difference is really how well kept-up your roadways are. (:

Or perhaps my ears are just shot from playing in bands for too many years.

[ECOmaniac]

I can't say if the noise is any worst...but if you want fresh air without turbulence...open both front and rear windows on the same side the same amount.

It is like an NACA inlet...you need an exit to match. When I lower both windows an inch or two, I find very minimal impact on the MPG. Of course I do this instead of AC.

[Cobra348]

Not really ... before I got the wind deflectors haing the window cracked even an inch was pretty noisy. The deflectors allow me to lower it a good couple inches, avoid most road spray kickup during rain/snow conditions.

I have found that wind speed and direction does still cause some noise with the deflectors. Surprisingly, just cracking the rear window of the affected side will dampen that down to almost nothing.

The deflectors also prevent rain from coming off the roof and into the interior when you have the window cracked and it's raining heavily.

[Cobra348]

Originally Posted by ECOmaniac

... <snip> ... It is like an NACA inlet...you need an exit to match. When I lower both windows an inch or two, I find very minimal impact on the MPG. Of course I do this instead of AC.

Yeah ... 2-55 A/C ... 2 windows at 55 MPH (or more)

[Audrey]

Originally Posted by ECOmaniac

It is like an NACA inlet...you need an exit to match. When I lower both windows an inch or two, I find very minimal impact on the MPG. Of course I do this instead of AC.

Mythbusters showed that MPG impact of A/C vs windows down (breaking aerodynamics) is negligible. They all agreed that if you have A/C and feel the need to turn it on it's well worth whatever the minor MPG increase is.