When Does a Car Need a Rear Wiper?

"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind) 11/16/2016 at 17:44 • Filed to: Questions

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Sedans usually don’t need them, but hatchbacks tend to. That weird wedge shape you see on hybrids like the Prius is supposed to be super aerodynamic but needs a wiper and yet Tesla has the same slopeback designs as an X6 or A7 and doesn’t need the wiper. Then I look at the Panamera which sometimes has a rear wiper and sometimes it doesn’t!

Is it just something automakers find out at the end of the design process during testing? Is the “aerodynamics” answer really an excuse and it’s simply cheaper to use a fairly flat glass surface plus wiper than an extremely well formed piece of glass and no wiper? Was it never about water coming down but actually the amount of water coming up from the rear tires?! Help me out here all knowing Opposphere!

Textured Soy Protein > Wobbles the Mind 11/16/2016 at 17:47

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Rear wiper all the cars !

dogisbadob > Wobbles the Mind 11/16/2016 at 17:48

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always

and 100 more > Wobbles the Mind 11/16/2016 at 17:53

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Haaaaate rear wipers.

Tripper > and 100 more 11/16/2016 at 17:57

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Right! Always the weird sized wiper blade that never gets replaced until its flopping all over the place. The you’re pumped for the two times you get to use it before it just starts smearing water around everywhere.

Garrett Davis > Wobbles the Mind 11/16/2016 at 17:59

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I have been wondering the same fucking thing!

CaptDale - is secretly British > Wobbles the Mind 11/16/2016 at 18:00

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$360 option for Porsche. That’s why they don’t all have them.

LongbowMkII > Wobbles the Mind 11/16/2016 at 18:00

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The Cruze doesn’t have a rear wiper. I hate that.

The mercurys with the breezeway windows get a pass.

and 100 more > Tripper 11/16/2016 at 18:02

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They never seem to work right! And for all the effort they put in, the area of clean glass is too small to really matter. And it seems that since rear windows on SUVs and wagons are more vertical, and require more cleaning, you’d think a rear wiper would be a godsend; but on the first pass of the wiper blade, if it’s dry out, all you do is drag the accumulated silt across the glass and scratch it before the squirter can even get it wet. Then, the scratched glass attracts even more dirt.

MultiplaOrgasms > Wobbles the Mind 11/16/2016 at 18:03

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The answer to this is way complicated and probably requires someone with extensive knowledge of aerodynamics to fully explain. All I can say is that two-box designs usually accumulate a lot more dirt on the rear window than three-box designs.

P5guy now GTIguy > Wobbles the Mind 11/16/2016 at 18:05

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It’s optional on the Panamera, 718, and 911. If it were up to me I would check that box .

AfromanGTO > Wobbles the Mind 11/16/2016 at 18:08

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No the Panamera needs a two door option. Not a stupid rear wiper. Wax your car windows.

Rainbow > Wobbles the Mind 11/16/2016 at 18:09

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The Aussie market Ford Laser gets one, but my identical US-market Escort does not. Doesn’t need one, either, so not sure why Australia gets them at all.

LongbowMkII > and 100 more 11/16/2016 at 18:10

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Mine doesn’t start wiping until you release the spray knob.

vicali > Wobbles the Mind 11/16/2016 at 18:10

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Rear wiper on wagons because the back end sucks up road mess..

LongbowMkII > CaptDale - is secretly British 11/16/2016 at 18:10

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I hate you so much Porsche.

CaptDale - is secretly British > LongbowMkII 11/16/2016 at 18:11

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Lol, yeah... That’s a bit excessive for what could be a safety item.

dropthatclutch > Wobbles the Mind 11/16/2016 at 18:13

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According to the 3rd gen Mitsubishi Eclipse it’s when the car has a V6 and not an i4.

Don’t ask me how I know. There is a lot of shame in my car ownership history.

LongbowMkII > MultiplaOrgasms 11/16/2016 at 18:14

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Generally the 3 box rear window has consistent airflow over it, keeping it somewhat clean. The rear window on the back surface is where there is a lot of turbulence. So there’s not a net air pressure difference pushing the water/dirt from place to place.

LongbowMkII > Rainbow 11/16/2016 at 18:15

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With that many venomous creatures, you need all the weapons you can get.

B/Xmrrmvr > Wobbles the Mind 11/16/2016 at 18:20

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I’m too lazy to wipe off the morning condensation off of my rear window. Rear wiper all the things.

and 100 more > LongbowMkII 11/16/2016 at 18:27

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Mine doesn’t start spraying until the wiper has almost made a full pass.

El Rocko > Wobbles the Mind 11/16/2016 at 18:49

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I always thought it had more to do with dirt/dust accumulation than water

Jayhawk Jake > Wobbles the Mind 11/16/2016 at 20:23

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I don’t know, but the one on my CRX was very useful. My Sonic’s was vital, and if you put it in reverse while the front wipers were on it would swipe which was handy. My Mustang doesn’t have one and doesn’t need one.

Jayhawk Jake > and 100 more 11/16/2016 at 20:24

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My CRX had one long blade and it cleaned a solid arc of the rear. The Sonic didn’t clean as much, but it cleaned well. It had washer fluid as well, sprayed down from the top, and that was a godsend in winter.

Noodles > Wobbles the Mind 11/17/2016 at 01:10

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The answer is Never! If your back window is that dirty... Wash your damn car. I can see through water.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Wobbles the Mind 11/17/2016 at 11:19

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Alternately...