there is certainly a small performance/weight gain (gain as in less weight) to be had there but if you live somewhere like where I live (north alabama) then you will wish you had it in the summer (highs in the 100s with 100% humidity). but mine was pretty worn out and I didn't really want to spend all the money converting and repairing the system as I had my eyes on other performance stuff for my 7. so I pulled it pretty much a couple of days after I bought the car, but as always I kept everything just incase.

and if you do remove it please have it properly ecvacuated if it is still an orginal R12 system. the reason mine was not working was quite obvious, about a 10mm hole right on the low pressure evaporatore core connection at the firewall, this had already had been atempted to be repaired, with JB weld...hehe.

 

get rid of it. Most likely your system won't have much R12 left in it. My 90k '85 had none in it's system when I removed it and I didn't find any holes. The components are pretty heavy, and they're hung out in front of the front axle line, so it'll help your handling some. I live in the UP of Michigan and I don't ever use AC in my 7. I do in my Escape, but there is no point in the 7. As it was stated earlier, the interior is so small that you don't need it. When on the freeway to keep mileage up (averages 28mpg) I keep the windows up and keep the vent running on cool on high. It works well. I pulled the AC system in 20-30 minutes with simple hand tools. Well worth the work.

 

I removed mine, it sucks cause it get hot as hell here in Miami. I regret removing it and it really doesnt make that much of a difference. If I lived in Oregon, i guess it would be a different story.