There have been a few comments recently (in particular, regarding Seats and the Honda Accord estate) about the decreasing amount of glass in cars or the reducing size of windows - and the consequent increasing difficulty in seeing out.
I have been led to understand that this is largely about improving the NCAP ratings of cars, though it may also help to keep the weight of cars down. And for all I know, it might also be a style / fashion thing. Perhaps someone can throw further light on this?
I can't say I'm enthusiastic about this. I like big windows and good all round visibility - as much as possible. What do other backroomers think?
And does anyone know of any modern cars that buck the trend?
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Tyro, as per my thread on Vauxhall Astra Sport, the visibility is awful in it. I am used to driving a Scenic where you are up high and have big glass areas all round.
Definitely prefer the Scenic and , being honest, in the Astra I need to double check every glance I take out the side and back as I feel it would be veru easy to miss something.
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And does anyone know of any modern cars that buck the trend?
It's not particularly modern but if you want a car with lots of glass for all round visibility why not get a Subaru SVX?
www.subarusvx.com/
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With reduced visibility, car manufacturers can sell more of those rear parking sensors. £200 please!
Cynical, me?
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Mike Farrow
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With reduced visibility, car manufacturers can sell more of those rear parking sensors. £200 please!
£200? more like £338 at our place!
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My 3-dr Corsa has terrible rear vision. Its at its worse when trying to reverse into a parking space, my old 106 was much better in that respect.
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I can see why people like a car with good all round visibility but I think that providing the screen pillars aren't to big it's no great deal. I drove an Astra van for years and found that the lack of glass made me use my mirrors more which I think is a good habit. Aside from manouvering do you need that much glass?
Steve.
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The new astra has an option to have an extended front windscreen - can't think what it's called, but the screen goes right over the top of your head.. looks very odd, but kind of cool.
Another question on glass in cars, is why don't they use perspex or something like that. It's nearly indestructable (slight exageration) and is lightweight - surely that's a better option than glass? Or am I wrong?
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Perspex and the like would be scratched to hell within days. These materials may be hard to break but they're easy to damage.
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