Privacy Glass in cars

It is also useful for not exposing them to too much daylight (something youngsters can't tolerate these days) bright light can spoil their social media screen time. I'm sure many drivers would like all round tints so as they too can concentrate better on their mobile phones.

Indeed car manufacturers are increasing adding technology and functionality that I don't want, i really do detest new cars with a passion. I have access to a new state of the art merc and my old ex works 06 plate van and most if not all of the time I prefer my van. Just simple stuff like heating, the van has the traditional 3 dials, fan, how hot and direction. Probably need to be a trained astronaut to figure out the nonsense in the car, (and at least I don't get cold feet drivng the van)

While I agree with the sentiment, having had several 'run out' models over the years, all with 'unusual' standard features I suspect the reason for being a standard fitment in this particular case is that as it ended production Ford made certain that stocks of parts for the Fiesta were used up before the end.

I am member of a photographic club, we have an understanding that you never put your gear in the car and then walk away from it, and if you can lock your boot even when you're in the car.

Roy

Justin

Talking of cold feet when driving, many years ago I was the proud owner of a VW Beetle, the air cooled variety, the heating system on it was hot air ducted from heat exchangers on the exhaust system. In the footwell next to your feet was a sliding grille that controlled the admission of heated air, it was possible to open the grille fully and literally roast your feet in that car, never had a heating system that came up to the standard set by that car. I loved my beetle, it was a simple vehicle and very reliable. Dave W

The heating system in them was a bit prone to rust however. But I also liked mine.

You could get a fault where the heat exchanger leaked and pumped carbon monoxide into the car. Not good! Having said that I liked our beetle, it finally died when the oil pump drive failed but SWMBO put her foot down to get off the motorway. By comparison with modern cars they were awful, if they had sorted the issues with the Morris minor it would have been a much better car.

Apologies for not posting earlier, I have been watching the thread but otherwise occupied.

However many of the early posts echo my feelings and the reasons I personally do not like darkened windows. It was suggest buy one poster that eyesight may be a problem, well not for me even at 78, there was a time when I could shoot a whisker of a nat at 100 yards — now not the whisker but still the nat ! I also never wear sunglasses or use reactive lenses for the same reason as tinted windows — it makes a good day into a bad day !

As for security I think this is a fallacy and offers little advantage, maybe I’m ultra security conscious having been an RFD for over 40 years, I never leave anything of value on view in the vehicle cab, front or back.

Tinted windows were originally “allowed” or at least installed front and back but [see Nicholas’s post] soon restricted to the rear - why? Because they impeded vision for the driver and continue to do so in the rear view as say Dave Halford 08/12/22 confirms in relation to reversing and when outside light is poor.

As often happens the thread drifts off to more general driving, stopping distances etc etc all interesting, particularly the reference to the 2 second rule and distance travelled in m/s [although I’m a ft/sec fan ]

Steve Neighbour posted 13/12/22

From the inside it is almost indistinguishable from clear glass and does not hinder rear mirror vision, also rear passengers view is not compromised in any way.

I have to disagree with this in every way it is vastly different to clear glass, it is like wearing permanent sunglasses and it does without doubt hinder rear view vision. Having been a passenger in the rear of several vehicles with tinted windows it most defiantly compromises your outward vision and spoils the enjoyment of a nice day.

In the past I/we have purchased quite few new cars, Ford, Vauxhall, BMW, Landrover, Jaguar, none with privacy glass and indeed if I was buying new now I would insist on not having it. However buying a used car one has to compromise but if at all possible i would look for a vehicle without privacy glass !

Might start another thread about lights now !!!!!!

Regards all John

Arriving very much down the end of this thread (14 Dec '22) and appologising if the following has already been raised.

After fifty years in Australia, and a regular visitor to skin-cancer clinics, I feel this needs a mention ...

**LINK**

Cheers,

Sam

MichaelG.

When it's - 6 outside and I have to take the dog out for his empty, and even during the day the sun doesn't get high enough to hit a lot of my garden, I'm not all that worried about excess UV!

However a word of caution on reactolite type glasses. I once had some. Went out on a mountain in mid winter, very cold and thick mist. Glasses went black. Fortunately I can see well enough without specs, especially in mist where you can't see more than 30 ft anyway. Optician claimed that cold increases the sensitivity of the glass, and UV gets through mist. I don't believe the latter, but the former seems to be true. I managed to get the reactolite lenses replaced free as I hadn't been warned.

My Discovery which i bought new 12 years ago was a cancelled order and it had the option of privacy glass fitted,so I had no choice so I bought it, it does not bother me,yes thief can just about see whats inside and there is no boot so I keep old coats and other odd boxes so it looks like a lot of rubbish and put any valuables out of sight,though I do avoid leaving valuables in a vehicle. I read in the motoring press a while ago that when buying a new car if there is the option for privacy glass ,then take it a lot of customers buying used cars want privacy and you have a good chance of a better deal when the time comes for trading it in.Regarding rear vision the glass does not cause any problem,its the high rear seats with headrests that restrict vision, reversings ok as I have a rear camera,and it is also great when reversing up to a trailer and getting the hitch over the towball.

But here in Oz we are not allowed to have windows tinted so dark you can't see in. Which is a shame here in the tropics where car temps hit 60C in no time at all if parked in the sun. The only cars I have seen with tint so dark you can't see in are police and private investigator's vehicles. And this is the first time I have heard of the concept of "privacy glass" so I don't think it exists here in general.