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#6 of 8 Re: 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Cracked Windshield [rschleicher] by gizzer777

Jun 04, 2010 (2:26 pm)

Replying to: rschleicher (Jun 04, 2010 10:47 am)

A bit off topic along with with a mini rant!!!
 
I have the 2008 OB with the heater element on the windshield, and as I mentioned in an earlier post, had a 2005 Mini Cooper that had a the oem rain sensor attached to their windshields. (and guess what...the ECU knew about the rain thing!) Now we have extra significant money and added code for the ECU for them.....Just more to go wrong IMHO.
 
I guess I thought the same way about Cruise control when it first came out...gotta have it now!
 
Both are marvelous ideas (IMHO, I like the heater element concept better than the rain sensor). Think about it, anything like a rain sensor to start the wipers when a few drops of water get on it is just plain wasting $$$. (I bought the MINI used w 6ooo miles on it in 2005) is really lazy...The heater element attached to the class is...well....a safety thing. For $500 bucks on top of the price, My opinion is that they just line someone's pockets with $$$, but $500 extra!!!! WOW.
 
Some may argue the same way about the heated seat option...Well it's worth major $$ TO ME to keep my butt warm in the chill of winter, here in the High Sierra!!!! (WINDY and COLD winters)
 
Bottom line...we are getting a bit eccentric with all of these kind of add ons...ESPECIALLY IF IT COMES TIME TO REPLACE A WINDSHIELD...and like in Nevada, Insurance does not cover it! $500 for a rain sensor add-on!

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#7 of 8 Re: 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Cracked Windshield [rschleicher] by gizzer777

Jun 06, 2010 (2:34 am)

Replying to: rschleicher (Jun 04, 2010 10:47 am)

The windshield w/ rain sensor was in my 2004 Mini Cooper S. It was over $1100 including the glass shop, then the extra markup the Mini dealer put on the glass shop's labor
 
I think, aside from the name brand, the price was affected by WHERE the car lived! Up until a few months ago, the closest Mini dealer to Reno (my home) was a few hundred miles away in Sacramento Ca!!!!
 
Hey, I bought the Mini slightly used (I think maybe 5000 actual miles on the clock!), and I always wondered why any car needed a sensor to tell the wipers it was time to start wiping!! Just look hard enough and a used auto that fit the bill is just out there too (my 2008 OB 2.5 base, but really LOADED hsd just come in on trsde
 
Aside from living in the desert (take the sensing windshields for example), I figure I can tell when its time to start the wipers myself!!!!! Kind of like toilet paper...do we need a sensor for that too!

Some things, like heated seats, heated outside mirrors + heated wipers, or an auto dimming rear view mirror can be GREAT OPTIONS....and I really like them! Other things like self parking sensors and auto folding outside mirrors are a waste of $$ (EACH TO THEIR OWN THOUGH) I am certain the rain sensors for the wipers are a complete waste of $$$...
 
However, Certain options that fit in the "useless" category (FOR MY TASTE anyway!!!) especially living in the desert and all. We hardly ever see rain!
 
They DO NOT plow the side streets or Cul de Sacs, here, so my large snow blower, goes BEYOND the option stage just a few hundred ft into the "boonies" The thing even has a headlight!!! THE REALLY BIG "OPTION....really a SUBBIE standard " IS THE AWD...JUST A SIMPLE MUST HAVE. If the Reno-ites don't grab em, the people from Lake Tahoe come on down for them and "clear out what's left!!!!!
 
BTW: for those not familiar with Reno; my house is at the very base, (about 5000 ft above sea level.)....We get some nasty, cold weather here and in the High Sierra mountains in case some thought the AWD + M&S rated tires (could really use snow tires) are useless and expensive in this area. We have plenty of 2 foot snow storms +a few 0ver 5 footers that really get your attention EVEN WITH THE AWD and aggressive M+S tires (Might pick up a set of real snows too!!!) We can go from the high 40.s in the day to a low of -6 (YEAH MINUS SIX DEG.F!!!!)
 
A parting thought on options, (be they rain sensors or not....BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER, THERE IS NOT A SUBARU TO BE HAD IN THE ENTIRE AREA!
 
EVEN MENTION Subaru OB and a dealer almost chokes up laughing Best time to buy an AWD (especially a SUBBIE, is between now, thru mid Sept...Then the selling prices spike up until May (they bring AWD to a really LIST PLUS price level.
 
Sorry for the OPTION rant!!!!

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#8 of 8 Higher vehicles may reduce that likelihood by ateixeira

Jun 08, 2010 (11:16 am)