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Cooling adaquate for pets in a 5 seater?

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TahoeMichael

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I'm about ready to go back to Lucid and look into buying a Gravity. I originally put in a pre-order for a GGT 5 seater last year, but backed out of accepting delivery in December because of quality concerns. I chose a 5 seat config because I never carry more than 5 humans, but I do carry a couple of dogs with regularity. At the time, it didn't occur to me tbat a 5 seat Gravity would omit HVAC vents in the rear of the vehicle. I'd prefer to have the under-floor storage of the 5 seat model, and avoid paying for seats that I'll likely never use, but I worry about cooling in the rear. In the wake of the most recent OTA with HVAC improvements, I'm curious what owners of pets and 5 seat Gravities think about whether the car adequately keeps the rear cool for a furry animal on a hot summer day?
 
Where would they be riding and how big are they? I don't see any issue if the 2nd row seats are stowed. With the 2nd row up there's not much airflow in the trunk area, but it still depends on your dogs, I guess. I had 5 humans and 2 dogs in the car with >90ºF outside and everybody was fine, but those dogs are 30 and 45lbs, not the biggest fuzzy heaters out there.
 
segbrk said:
Where would they be riding and how big are they? I don't see any issue if the 2nd row seats are stowed. With the 2nd row up there's not much airflow in the trunk area, but it still depends on your dogs, I guess. I had 5 humans and 2 dogs in the car with >90ºF outside and everybody was fine, but those dogs are 30 and 45lbs, not the biggest fuzzy heaters out there.
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I'd like the car to keep the dogs cool if they're in the rear cargo area and the 2nd row is up. In my current vehicle (Toyota Highlander), I sometimes have the 2nd row up and sometimes down, depending on what/who I'm carrying. The dogs are 60 and 50 lbs, with moderate coats.

I suppose the other question I should ask is what the current software release does for 3rd row HVAC when the 3rd row is stowed? If they're shut down, then there's no point (for me) in considering whether I should get a 7 seat configuration.
 
My 94 lb. Bernedoodle always rides in the back cargo area of my 5-seater GGT with the 2nd row up. I always make sure the 2nd row AC is blowing when he’s with me and he seems fine with no overheating issues.
 
I believe the 3rd row is now tied to the 2nd row cooling and will turn on if you had the 2nd row AC enabled the last time the car was running (the keeping the state between starts I'm positive on, but not sure about the 3rd and 2nd row being tied together, I'll have to check later today when I get in our Gravity GT which has the 3rd row)
 
ke2 said:
I believe the 3rd row is now tied to the 2nd row cooling and will turn on if you had the 2nd row AC enabled the last time the car was running (the keeping the state between starts I'm positive on, but not sure about the 3rd and 2nd row being tied together, I'll have to check later today when I get in our Gravity GT which has the 3rd row)
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I'd very much appreciate a test confirming that 3rd row hvac blows cold air when the 3rd row is stowed!
 
VLumina said:
I thought the 5 seater didn't have the 3rd row vents?
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That's my understanding as well. I'm asking about how well the 5 seat models cool the cargo area for pets, and I'm also asking if a 7 seat owner can confirm if the 3rd row vents blow cold air when the 3rd row seats are down.
 
We have the Gravity GT 5-seater and our two shetland sheepdogs ride in the back, behind the 2nd row seats. I'd like for there to have been two vents back there for them, but it doesn't seem to be too much of a problem. I run vents in the front and second row. The cabin cools down pretty quickly.
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TahoeMichael said:
I'd very much appreciate a test confirming that 3rd row hvac blows cold air when the 3rd row is stowed!
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Can confirm it does. I ride with all rear seats down 90% of the time for my Great Dane. You may have seen me two weeks ago buzzing around South Lake if you are down that way. 😉
 
mike1121 said:
Can confirm it does. I ride with all rear seats down 90% of the time for my Great Dane. You may have seen me two weeks ago buzzing around South Lake if you are down that way. 😉
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Thanks! I'm in Tahoe City. But I'm now spotting a Gravity driving through town pretty regularly!
 
We operate a Great Dane rescue and the current workhorse is an R1S. We run a vehicle specific metal crate in the back with 3rd row stowed. The 3rd row vents are crucial to get air into the sides, as the end facing the back of the second row is solid.

We’re considering gravity and I would’ve thought 5 seat would be the way to go and get more space, but not having 3rd row vents would break our setup
 
TahoeMichael said:
That's my understanding as well. I'm asking about how well the 5 seat models cool the cargo area for pets, and I'm also asking if a 7 seat owner can confirm if the 3rd row vents blow cold air when the 3rd row seats are down.
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I just checked our 7 seater. The 3rd row vents do blow cold air with the 3rd row stowed.
 
Cabonzhp said:
We operate a Great Dane rescue and the current workhorse is an R1S. We run a vehicle specific metal crate in the back with 3rd row stowed. The 3rd row vents are crucial to get air into the sides, as the end facing the back of the second row is solid.

We’re considering gravity and I would’ve thought 5 seat would be the way to go and get more space, but not having 3rd row vents would break our setup
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Yeah, I consider it a bit inexplicable that Lucid deletes the 3rd row vents on a 5 seat config.
 
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