Saloons with rear wipers
Discussion
Back in the mid 80's to late 90's it was fairly common to see range topping saloons with rear wash wipers. I recently saw an old Fiat Tempra with one in Turkey, very similar to this generic image.
They seemed to be useful but all of a sudden they seemed to die out.
What was the last car sold in the UK with rear wash wipe and why did it disappear? And would modern cars benefit from it?
SD.
They seemed to be useful but all of a sudden they seemed to die out.
What was the last car sold in the UK with rear wash wipe and why did it disappear? And would modern cars benefit from it?
SD.
Saloons don't really need rear wipers because what rains onto the glass tends to run off, and they don't get muck swept up them like a hatchback/estate.
Japanese saloons seemed to have them - Evos, Skylines etc. Last European saloon car I can remember with one was the last Ford Orion.
Japanese saloons seemed to have them - Evos, Skylines etc. Last European saloon car I can remember with one was the last Ford Orion.
Triumph Man said:
Saloons don't really need rear wipers because what rains onto the glass tends to run off, and they don't get muck swept up them like a hatchback/estate.
Japanese saloons seemed to have them - Evos, Skylines etc. Last European saloon car I can remember with one was the last Ford Orion.
It doesn’t really run off, it gets pulled away by the airflow. My last two saloons coped fine without rear wipers. Japanese saloons seemed to have them - Evos, Skylines etc. Last European saloon car I can remember with one was the last Ford Orion.
I think it comes down to whether the airflow manages to stay attached to the rear screen or detaches at the top and forms a vortex which traps water, mud, etc on the screen. Manufacturers work very hard to keep the airflow attached these days because it lowers drag.
They're still useful at very low speed or when reversing, though.
They're still useful at very low speed or when reversing, though.
Quattr04. said:
The current Skoda suburb is technically a hatchback but more saloon styled and still comes with a rear wiper?
Stick Legs said:
I've driven a late 626 hatch and that had a rear wiper and I've driven a Xedos 6 that didn't have a rear wiper.I've been in an eighties 626 Coupe, the two door saloon version, and I am fairly sure that didn't have a rear wiper.
Thanks for the SC400 Soarer image.
Megaflow said:
The first owner of my Cayman spec'd the rear wiper option, I have no idea why, I never used it in 6 years.
Mine too. Hardly ever gets used. Mainly because it doesn't have a wash facility so the only time you can use it is when it is raining...I would use it if it had the wash facility though!
Om said:
Megaflow said:
The first owner of my Cayman spec'd the rear wiper option, I have no idea why, I never used it in 6 years.
Mine too. Hardly ever gets used. Mainly because it doesn't have a wash facility so the only time you can use it is when it is raining...I would use it if it had the wash facility though!
I understand the airflow thing but I do miss a rear wiper when I get in the car after it's been parked in heavy rain. Especially considering that in recent decades a saloon is likely to be an 'executive' or 'luxury' car, it seems a bit of a nuisance to have to get out and clear the back window by hand.
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