Windshield wipers?? What's your Favoraite Brand/Model?

[x26]

Hi All,
I need Windshield Wipers for Wife's 2012 Nissan Altima:
Seems like the Nissan OEM's have changed to a Cheaper/Crappy Style.

I don't need any for snow and ice--live in Nashville.

Are Bosch worth the extra Coin? there are around 3 or 4 varieties of the Bosch on Amazon.

** When did Wipers go from $5 - $10 dollars in 2003 to $40-$50 bucks a set now?? --For a Fricken Nissan, lol. What has Changed??

**Even the BMW wipers are "Only" $48 Retail/$35 dollars my price.

Thanks in Advance!!

 

[996GT2]

I used to replace the entire wiper blade, but now I use OEM wiper inserts (the rubber part only). They work better than aftermarket wiper blades IMO and are less expensive and less wasteful to replace. There's no need to throw away a perfectly good wiper blade when the only worn part is the rubber insert.

I know Honda and Toyota offer them, not sure about other companies though.

Example: http://www.bernardiparts.com/Honda-Front-Windshield-Wiper-Inserts-Pilot__WIPERINSERTKIT-PILOT.aspx

 

[herm0016]

Check rock auto, I got a case of tri cos for about 5 dollars each. If I'm paying full price, I go Bosch icon. They last longer than some of my windshilds.

 

[jlee]

Bosch Icon.

 

[bruceb]

I prefer ANCO Blades .. they work well and are reasonably priced.

 

[Herr Kutz]

I just buy the cheap ones at walmart and replace often. It doesn't seem to matter how expensive the blades are, they start streaking after a few months. BUT, if I find that if I put Rainx on my windshield I do not have to change the blades nearly as often.

 

[bruceb]

I buy them at Walmart as well, when they have the size I need in stock. And when they start to streak, just clean the edges with some rubbing alcohol on a lint free towel.

 

[mikey976]

prefer the RainX units or the Bosch, both seem to last forever. bit more pricey but wife's lancer had same set of RainX blades for 6 years and still didn't streak or squeak.

usually buy via amazon too

 

[Carson Dyle]

ANCO Contour

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0014YC3EC

 

[pcgeek11]

Bosch... But then again I work for them...

 

[SparkyJJO]

I used to use the Michelin Radius blades and they worked really well, but they discontinued them for their Steath "hybrid" series. They fell apart on me in the middle of a snow storm and that was not cool.

I've tried a few others since then and so far the RainX Latitude seems to be an OK alternative, though I don't like them as well as the old Michelins I used to get. I tried some Anco and wasn't too impressed, they seemed to fail early and streak easily. Went back to RainX Latitude again and I've noticed they have changed the design a bit from last time I had them, so we'll see how they do long term. All this is on the same vehicle (my 02 Trailblazer) in the same Ohio mixed weather (rain/snow/sleet) so it seems to be a decent comparison. I know some vehicles just seem to work better with different blades and I'm not entirely sure why, maybe different wiper arm spring pressures, windshield angle differences, etc.

 

[natto fire]

Former Bosch only user here, for over 6 years. My Advance Auto store had a sale on the beam style Trico wipers, and they worked just as well for a lot less money. I am probably old fashioned, but I would never buy wiper blades online, prefer to go to the store and change them there, throw the old blades in their trash can.

I am the type of driver who gets nagged about turning my wipers on, BTW. My skin crawls to see people who turn their wipers on high and imagining all the damage they are causing to the blade by overwiping.

I have also had very good results with RainX hydrophobic waxes on my glass, and RainX additives in the washer fluids. Overall, I would guess I use my wipers about 50% of what a "normal" driver would.

 

[Evilviking]

I pay more and buy Bosch. Work great

 

[Torn Mind]

I don't believe in sticking with brands with regards to blades, just the type. BEAM types from any manufacturer are simply just better than conventional style ones. Bought a Trico and a NAPA from Rockauto, but what matters is that they are both beam types. Even the though the Trico is worn and leaves a dull wipe and just there to wipe the passenger side now, it still hasn't fallen apart after being bought in Dec 2014.

Gonna need to try out the silicone ones sometime in the future, but need the current blades to wear out.

 

[Beer4Me]

Valeo Ultimate or Bosch Icon. I don't use or recommend anything else. Wasted money on trying other brands and types. These two types always work for us, whether it be truck or car.

 

[NutBucket]

I am the type of driver who gets nagged about turning my wipers on, BTW. My skin crawls to see people who turn their wipers on high and imagining all the damage they are causing to the blade by overwiping.

LOL. Agree with you here.

FWIW I typically stick to OEM blades. They work fine for me and will break down from sun damage long before they wear out due to use.

 

[angminas]

Whatever you buy, you'll save money if you don't spend dollars dollars.

 

[exar333]

I pay more and buy Bosch. Work great

This.

After using Bosch for a number of years, it is PAINFUL when I get a rental using OEM-style wipers. The visibility difference is HUGE. A few extra dollars per year could be the difference between an accident or not. Wipers are one of the best safety investoments you can make.

 

[KentState]

OEM.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

My car, in typical BMW fashion, has a proprietary connection that more or less forces the use of OEM blades. That said, they are very high-quality blades that are very similar to (and in fact probably are an OEM version of) Bosch Icons.

 

[Carson Dyle]

I am probably old fashioned, but I would never buy wiper blades online, prefer to go to the store and change them there, throw the old blades in their trash can.

Yeah, I don't see the logic or the advantage there. If you like a particular brand, what's the difference between buying online and buying at a store? It's not like buying a ribeye that you can see the marbling, or buying a shirt that you can try on.

 

[natto fire]

Yeah, I don't see the logic or the advantage there. If you like a particular brand, what's the difference between buying online and buying at a store? It's not like buying a ribeye that you can see the marbling, or buying a shirt that you can try on.

Sorry, I thought the "old fashioned" bit implied logic and advantageous were not part of the equation. I will say that I used to only buy Bosch blades, until the clerk at my "local" Advance Auto recommended Tricos. No offense to AT, but I would trust an auto parts store clerk's recommendation over anyone's suggestion here, and definitely over any online reviewers from any website.

I went with the Tricos and they work great. Saved 10 bucks and still got great blades. For anyone that is mechanically inept, the part store is a no brainer, as I am pretty sure the major shippers will not install new blades. All the part stores offer to put them on, in my experience.

 

[OutHouse]

Im a fan of the Goodyear wipers, I get them at costco much cheaper than the parts store or walmart. they seem to last longer.

i tried the expensive ones and honestly was not impressed at all.

 

[MDE]

I replaced the wipers on my Jetta (hard to find connector, $$$ OEM replacements) and the wife's Outback with WiperMaster blades from Amazon. I was skeptical at first, but they're doing a much better job than the Tricos I had on the Jetta for a much more palatable price.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Sorry, I thought the "old fashioned" bit implied logic and advantageous were not part of the equation.

No, typically anyone saying that would claim the opposite.

I will say that I used to only buy Bosch blades, until the clerk at my "local" Advance Auto recommended Tricos. No offense to AT, but I would trust an auto parts store clerk's recommendation over anyone's suggestion here, and definitely over any online reviewers from any website.

I went with the Tricos and they work great. Saved 10 bucks and still got great blades. For anyone that is mechanically inept, the part store is a no brainer, as I am pretty sure the major shippers will not install new blades. All the part stores offer to put them on, in my experience.

So, what you;re saying is:

Go to an autoparts store, ask the guy or girl behind the counter what you should buy.

If you can't figure out how to replace the blades in 15 seconds out in the parking lot (or you don't want to mess up your new manicure), get the guy or girl behind the counter to do it for you.

Thanks Mom. Are we having meatloaf or pot roast tonight?