Windshields

[srivett]

Time to rant.

I've got to say that making windshields a pitifully weak structural part of a car is a HUGE mistake. These things should be made out of bulletproof glass that can not be damaged even if they cost double of what a normal windshield goes for. I've had two windshields busted on me in the last 6 months! What's even worse than that? The second one happened while driving my parents car at work because my dad blew the transmission in my car! I told him out right: "I don't know what to say, I shouldn't have even been driving your car." What a miserable situation this is, he has to buy me a transmission and he will also have to buy himself a new windshield as a secondary result.

How can we make car manufacturers understand there is a real problem? They must be getting billions in kickbacks from the windshield companies if they don't actually own them. Nascars seem to do pretty well in crashes and they no longer have windshields that chip while racing.

Rant off

Steve

 

[kenw]

rant accepted and comprehended.

onsider however:
1. you/most of us couldn't afford a car with true bulletproof windshields.

2. "bullertproof" still breaks so when you do break it, it ould basically total the car value-wise.

3. "bulletproof" is plastic to a large degree, and surface abrasion is far worse than glass. it would quickly get so scuffed as to be useless. NASCAR replaces windshields, engines, tires and all sorts of things a lot fastere than most regular drivers, so longevity isn't a big concern.

 

[Steve S]

As the car manufactures cut costs and weight the windows are thinner.

 

[TallPaul]

quote:

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Originally posted by srivett:
I've got to say that making windshields a pitifully weak structural part of a car is a HUGE mistake

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And then to think the windshield is figured in on the rollover crush factor (so I was told by a professional in the windshield replacement business) and so if your windshield is cracked your rollover safety is compromised.

Anyway, after two stone chip turned cracks in a truck a couple years I bought a stone deflector for the front of the hood to reduce the frequency of craked windshields.

 

[Scooby]

Windshields in Nascar are plexiglass. That is why they have tearoffs because they become pitted easily.

 

[Bobert]

If you ever get a broken windshield make sure you replace it with OEM glass. They might have to order it, and it might take longer, but it is worth it. In my experience aftermarket glass (not OEM) is not worth darn-- cracks and spilts with the smallest pebbles.

My dad had his windshield broken by a baseball bat by kids having "fun" in the neighborhood. Anyways he replaced it with aftermarket glass, and the glass literally lasted less than a month before a stone caused a quarter sized spider web. So he then replaced it with OEM glass and its been good so far.

 

[mechtech]

Well, they ARE made of glass, you know.

 

[cousincletus]

I had an aftermarket windshield crack within a couple of months in my old S-10 too. I had a replacement (I think it was a Guardian windshield) that was ok and lasted until I traded the car.

 

[srivett]

Jumped in the car today and found 2 more chips in the windshield. Pretty soon it won't be possible to drive it into the sunset.

Steve

 

[theguru]

Will be getting an aftermarket price on a windscreen for my son's car, as the oem price is a little steep. $2,8000AUD

. And that is for the glass only. Need to get seals which run out $400. Common windscreens here are I think $300-400.

 

[ALS]

Ditto on after market quality. I put in a new windshield about 3 years ago and it looks worse than the original OEM one that was 15 years old. BTW it is a PPG windshield.

 

[XS650]

quote:

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Originally posted by srivett:
Jumped in the car today and found 2 more chips in the windshield. Pretty soon it won't be possible to drive it into the sunset.

Steve

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I reduced the sun glare on my 9 year old windshield a bunch by using a paint detailing claybar on it for about 20 minutes. It should only take couple of minutes once a month to keep it in good shape now.

It won't fix chips or pits, but it does remove the microscopic crap that is imbedded in the glass. It easily cut my driving into sun glare down to less than 1/2 of what it was before. The windshield wipers also work like they are running on brand new glass now.

Stick you fingers in a baggy or a piece of thin sandwich wrap and run them over you windshield. If it feels perfectly smooth, you're OK. If you feel some roughness, you have microscopic road crap embedded in your glass and can benefit from clay barring.