[Retric]

Car temperature controls can work really well, but they need to account for IR radiation through the windows. If the sun is shinning in my lap the comfortable temperature for the air goes down, if it’s snowing outside the comfortable temperature goes up.

On top of this if it’s cold outside I may be wearing very warm clothes in my car and not actually want room temperature.

[sbradford26]

I have had several cars with automatic temperature control and there is a lot of variability in the quality of the systems. My 06 F150 the system was terrible always having to adjust the temp up and down, but my 07 BMW X3 I set the temperature and never had to adjust it year round. My current vehicle is a 2022 Ford Maverick and the climate control is pretty consistent. If I am wearing a jacket in the car it is set to 66 and if I am not it is 68.

[andix]

Good automatics have an IR/heat sensor on the dashboard, and use that information in their calculations. I know that Saab already had them in the 90s.