IT'S GONNA RAIN! Let's talk Wipers!

"MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner" (montegoman562) 04/30/2014 at 10:38 • Filed to: WIPERS, RAIN

1

28

Alright so, spring is here and we're getting rain all over the country like crazy (apparently especially in the flood zone that used to be parts of Florida.

So, since we all know that windsheild wipers can be as important as brakes, lights and tires in the rain, what wipers do you use?

Are you a buy what's on sale kind of guy? A brand loyalist?

Who makes the best wipers, what are the best type? What say you OPPO?!

ncasolowork2 > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/30/2014 at 10:40

2

Can you tell me which baseball games today will be affected by rain so I can set my fantasy baseball lineups properly?

505Turbeaux > ncasolowork2 04/30/2014 at 10:42

0

all these places

roflcopter > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/30/2014 at 10:42

3

I've become one of the buy whatever is on sale kind of guys. I've found that no matter how nice of a wiper I get it never lasts longer than about 6 months here. I think it's a combination of the salt, dry spells, and heat that do them in.

EL_ULY > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/30/2014 at 10:43

1

OEM always!!!!

yay dealer to dealer discounts :]

505Turbeaux > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/30/2014 at 10:43

0

Bosch Micro Edge Excels. Love em, been using them for 15 years. Icons on newer cars

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > ncasolowork2 04/30/2014 at 10:43

0

looks like mainly southeast.

weather.com will tell you more tho lol

JR1 > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/30/2014 at 10:44

0

Bought the cheapest wipers available once. Big mistake, they were total shit. Next time I'll get the fancy Rain X expensive wipers I think.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 505Turbeaux 04/30/2014 at 10:45

1

my old agency handled bosch...i could be supportive...

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > EL_ULY 04/30/2014 at 10:45

1

haha, cheater!

TheBaron2112 > JR1 04/30/2014 at 10:47

0

I thought that too. Rain X wipers are absolute shit on my Porsche 944. Plus, they're like 20 bucks a piece.

What wound up working better? The OEM Bosch wipers. How much were they? 7 dollars each.

Shady Balkan Subject, Drives an Alfa > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/30/2014 at 10:47

0

I use a cheapo gas station variety. I change them rather often(2-3-6 months). I have been more then happy with them, no problems like I used to get with a pair of genuine Valeo and Bosh Icons. The Valeo one time wiped perfectly then the other smeared. The Bosh ones teared after 4 months.

EL_ULY > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/30/2014 at 10:48

0

lol, Chevrolet wants $70 for the wipers on my '09 Silverado. Volvo XC90 05 and up use the same ones so I just write it off as shop supplies. Now that is cheating :] Those wipers last a looong time.

505Turbeaux > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/30/2014 at 10:49

1

they last forever and wipe good. I also rock some rain x on the front and rear windows. That helps with blade life slightly too

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/30/2014 at 10:51

1

Bosch, say it with B. O. S. C. H. Icon, Revolution, or AeroTwin. They wipe better, last longer, and if you live where it snows and ices they are magic. Jointless wipers FTMFW.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > EL_ULY 04/30/2014 at 10:53

1

yea THAT'S cheating!

OPPOsaurus WRX > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/30/2014 at 10:53

1

i like the single piece wipers like what you have shown in the picture. The brand doesn't matter to me as much as the style. I feel like those types work better. I also like to put Rain-X on my windshield. It doesn't do much when its just misting, but you almost don't need to use wipers when its raining harder. The air just blows the water right off the windshield.

RazoE > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 04/30/2014 at 10:54

0

I use these. Autozone usually has them for $20 a piece. They last for years here in L.A. (rains about 10 days a year, literally)

BoulderZ > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/30/2014 at 11:02

1

For Colorado, 20% is a high humidity day, and there's no pesky atmosphere to stop the UV, so wiper blades never last long at all. Of course, it also only rains about 6 times per year anyway (snow and road spray are a different story...). So, given all blades dry out in short order, I try to go for something decent enough, like Bosch, but focus more on replacing them regularly. Every 6 to 8 months seems to work out about right.

thebigbossyboss > EL_ULY 04/30/2014 at 11:56

0

$70 for the wipers?? For my Cavalier they are supposed to be 15 in and 14 in or something. I have one 22 in...and one 7 in....because race car.

Stupidru > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/30/2014 at 13:27

0

I used to be a loyalist to Bosch Icons, but after 2 sets that have let me down after only about a year, I might try and go back to RainX'ing my windshield and only using wipers at low speeds

macanamera > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/30/2014 at 13:31

1

Tricos? The expensive beam ones? I hear good things. About to switch my car over.

thebigbossyboss > RazoE 04/30/2014 at 15:18

0

Man, no snow and 10 days a year of rain...wow. That's a world away from us with 30 days below -4F this year.

RazoE > thebigbossyboss 04/30/2014 at 15:20

0

It's currently in the 90s, but it's supposed to cool down by Monday (into the mid 70s)

thebigbossyboss > RazoE 04/30/2014 at 15:22

0

So basically it's nice all the time?

RazoE > thebigbossyboss 04/30/2014 at 15:25

0

Yup, except those days it rains. We're like cats in the water. Plus everyone drives like a complete moron with their highbeams on.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/30/2014 at 22:33

2

skip the Michelin ones. Expensive aluminum hinge wiper hidden in a rubbery film. Junk.

I have used the Bosch for several seasons and like those a lot. The silver box, whichever type that is. My latest set are the Rain-X and I would say they are as good as the Bosch.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius 04/30/2014 at 22:35

0

FYI Subaru drivers, TRICO finally makes a non-OE rear wiper. A third the price of the stealership

boxrocket > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 05/06/2014 at 10:19

1

Here's my $0.02 as a Missouri resident and driver, FWIW:

1: Blade style depends on your windshield shape. I have an old Volvo with a mostly-flat windshield, and when I used the single-beam blades like the excellent Bosch Icons or Rain-X ones, the edges of the blades wind up ripping and/or the center of the blade doesn't wipe as cleanly as the rest. However, those same blades on my wife's Mazda6 are wonderful, and last until they start streaking. That said, for the Volvo I like the traditional-style blades with the aero "spoiler" built in, which I have found to be helpful at highway speeds in the rain.

2: Switch blades for winter if you have snow and/or ice. Special winter blades, I have found, do make a difference, and have a protective sheath around the "suspension" to keep ice from building up on them.

3: Use Rain-X windshield treatment. When applied correctly, it absolutely does work.

4: Use good washer fluid, and use it often. It keeps the blades in better shape, and actually does aid in clearing the windshield faster and cleaner. I prefer Rain-X here as well, but have had good success with Coral, Prestone, and QuikTrip's own.

5: Clean your windows frequently, not just when you wash your car. Take a couple minutes and clean your windows at the gas station, or keep your own squeegee and cleaner at home to use before starting out. Here in Missouri it's pollen season, so most of the cars have a yellow coating on them, and it wastes wiper fluid and can muck up wipers using that system instead if cleaning them off. Wipers will last longer, and you don't spend as much on wiper fluid.

6: As for brand, which I briefly touched on above, I'm very partial to Bosch, but have had success with Rain-X and the generic brand my work uses that I get for $2 a blade. If you're spending more than, say, $30 a year per blade, you're probably overspending.