Why sedans don't have rear window wipers??

[bolido2000]

Like hatchbacks or station wagons?? The idea of "It would look ugly" is a moot point IMO cuz if manufacturers had included that in the first sedans it would look totally normal nowadays.

 

[Heisenberg]

A lot of station wagons do. You don't really need it that bad on a standard sedan though because the rear window is usually angled pretty steeply and high enough off the ground. I wish my Jeep had one cause that window gets really dirty but it's too old.

 

[bolido2000]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
A lot of station wagons do. You don't really need it that bad on a standard sedan though because the rear window is usually angles pretty steeply and high enough off the ground. I wish my Jeep had one cause that windows gets really dirty but it's too old.

Hmmm but look at SUVs and Minivans. The angle is almost 90 deg. Same thing goes with some hatchbacks.

 

[Syringer]

I've always wondered this too.

 

[Spoooon]

When I used to have a Cutlass Supreme, there were lots of times that I wished it had a rear windshield wiper.

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: bolido2000

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
A lot of station wagons do. You don't really need it that bad on a standard sedan though because the rear window is usually angles pretty steeply and high enough off the ground. I wish my Jeep had one cause that windows gets really dirty but it's too old.

Hmmm but look at SUVs and Minivans. The angle is almost 90 deg. Same thing goes with some hatchbacks.

True, but usually the windows on sedans are smaller and higher off the ground. I don't know, I don't really have a solid answer for you.

 

[m2kewl]

b/c there's rain-x

rain-x > wipers

 

[BCYL]

The rear window of SUVs, Minivans, hatchbacks and wagons actually get really dirty very quickly becuz the rear wheels pickup dirt and stuff off the ground and spray them upwards onto the rear window... Sedans don't have this problem becuz they have an extended truck to block this...

 

[fredtam]

Because the water doesn't hit the rear window directly so there is no visual impairment. Unless you drive bacwards a lot. When you have a flat back glass the water tends to distort the view. Wash your windows and use rainx.

 

[Crappopotamus]

Originally posted by: m2kewl
b/c there's rain-x

rain-x > wipers

yep. but rainx doesnt help snow get off and stuff. the melters work waaay too slow.

 

[geno]

Both of my cars are hatches and neither have the wipers, which kinda sucks because the rear glass is sloped so steeply that the water doesn't just blow off...

But I've thought the same thing, why not just put a wiper back there for vision's sake? Especially on cars with rear glass like mine (i.e., the wind doesn't take care of it, so let some wipers do it!)

 

[WinkOsmosis]

The Celica has a rear wiper and its hatch isn't exposed to tire splatter.

 

[Syringer]

It's not only for rain, but during those mornings when there's dew on your car..

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: fredtam
Because the water doesn't hit the rear window directly so there is no visual impairment. Unless you drive bacwards a lot.

or unless you ever stop

 

[Vic]

Ever drive a minivan, SUV, or hatchback in the rain and notice how dirt and water just seem to stick to the back of the vehicle? This is because, as a car drives down the road, it creates an area of low air pressure directly behind it, which creates a vacuum-like effect that attracts water and grime to the vertical surfaces at the farthest rear of the vehicle.
Unlike those other vehicles, the rear window on sedan is not at the farthest rear of the vehicle, so it doesn't suffer from that problem and doesn't need a wiper for the same reasons.

Some sedans, though, do have rear window wipers for convenience's sake. The Mitsu Evo8 does for example.

 

[Triumph]

Originally posted by: Vic
Ever drive a minivan, SUV, or hatchback in the rain and notice how dirt and water just seem to stick to the back of the vehicle? This is because, as a car drives down the road, it creates an area of low air pressure directly behind it, which creates a vacuum-like effect that attracts water and grime to the vertical surfaces at the farthest rear of the vehicle.
Unlike those other vehicles, the rear window on sedan is not at the farthest rear of the vehicle, so it doesn't suffer from that problem and doesn't need a wiper for the same reasons.

Some sedans, though, do have rear window wipers for convenience's sake. The Mitsu Evo8 does for example.

Uh huh.

Eclipses also have a rear wiper.

 

[LordMorpheus]

the defroster on my car destroys the water very quickly.

And I drive forwards fast, so nearly no rain hits it.

 

[Savij]

Originally posted by: Triumph

Originally posted by: Vic
Ever drive a minivan, SUV, or hatchback in the rain and notice how dirt and water just seem to stick to the back of the vehicle? This is because, as a car drives down the road, it creates an area of low air pressure directly behind it, which creates a vacuum-like effect that attracts water and grime to the vertical surfaces at the farthest rear of the vehicle.
Unlike those other vehicles, the rear window on sedan is not at the farthest rear of the vehicle, so it doesn't suffer from that problem and doesn't need a wiper for the same reasons.

Some sedans, though, do have rear window wipers for convenience's sake. The Mitsu Evo8 does for example.

Uh huh.

Eclipses also have a rear wiper.

Vic is pretty much correct. The airflow across the back windshield of sedans is assumed to be enough to keep the water from sticking. Most SUVs and minivans don't have the best aerodynamic shape so the water ends up being blown into the rear windshield instead of off of it.

This is a generalization, and there are some execptions

 

[GreenGhost]

Absolutely correct. Some 3-door sport cars have wipers because the rear window is almost horizontal. It's hard to see at slow speeds because water drops get stuck. With rain-x, you just get smaller drops. In my car, the rear window dries-up above 60mph, even under strong rain. I need the rear wiper only in the city.

 

[sygyzy]

I don't know but I like the rear wiper on my Celica

 

[rh71]

There's really no reason why there are on some and aren't on others.

My SUV's rear hatch (with rear air deflector) slants at about 45 degrees and it has one.
Mom's Talon slants about 30 degrees and it has one.
Dad's MPV slants at about 80 degrees and it has one.

Our Accord from 1990... none and it sucks. It's angled almost the same as my SUV --> pic

 

[bolido2000]

Actually I still think it would be helpful in a sedan. When I park my car outside and it has been raining for a while, I have a hard time backing up cuz they there are fat rain drops on the rear window. Besides the pressure thing I think is for cost savings....