With summer having come to a close down here I have started driving without the air-conditioning on for the first time in many months. And the difference in fuel consumption has been surprisingly small (but the extra power up hills is great), however I will just have to say that the Alfa, like a lot of European cars has appalling air-conditioning! You really need to be doing about 70kmh+ for it to have any real effect when its 35-40C outside.