TheSamba.com :: View topic - Opinions wanted: Windshield

Mon Feb 13, 2006 9:39 pm

What do you have?

What do you like?

What would you get?

Got good quotes today for PPG glass - $185 installed with my (slightly used :lol: ) german seal. Cheaper from Glass Masters, but the guy was a jerk and laughed when I asked him where the glass was made. "Uhh, it meets federal safety standards, haha." Whatever - I'll keep my business local and pay a few bucks more.

But I'm wondering should I go OEM clear (my first choice), Green tint, or Green tint with blue shade band on top. Any experience with the shade banded version? Likes? Dislikes? Does the shade band get in the way or otherwise bother tall volk?

All in all it seems like clear is the hardest to get. Most have green tint (like in every modern production car - I wonder why green?) and green tint with the shade banding.

Thanks guys.

Mon Feb 13, 2006 9:43 pm

the shop who installed mine gave me a banded windshield at no extra cost. i wasn't thrilled at first as i wanted a stock look but the shade has come in handy while driving into the sun. no complaints here.

dave

you can kinda of see the band in this pic.

Mon Feb 13, 2006 9:55 pm

Asking for opinions like that is bad...I'm an opinionated individual! I, personally, would go with a light tint in a non-obnoxious color, which rules out green. Also consider where you live (tint is a necessity if you live in a sunny or snowy area) and your height (at 6'2," I'm tall enough that most sunvisors are adequate, but shorter drivers may prefer a darker tint).

As for the shade band: gag. Why not get a super-dark one with "BUS" printed across the middle? :roll:

Okay, enough sarcasm...I gave my opinion. Do what you like, and enjoy your Bus!

Mon Feb 13, 2006 10:06 pm

Mine has the band at the top. I like it because I wear glasses and dont have sungalsses. It cuts down on the squinting. 8)

Tue Feb 14, 2006 6:50 pm

Wow - no more opinions?....going once....going twice....

I know what I want and know what I like but thought I'd temper my opinion with some practical experience. Anyone else???

:?:

Tue Feb 14, 2006 7:16 pm

I prefer my clear windshied.

I have ridden in buses with the tinted band and found that I am always right on the lower edge of the band and found it annoying.

Tue Feb 14, 2006 8:44 pm

The green tint is hardly noticeable. It tends to cut down glare at night. Clear is stock. The shade band tends to fade to brown after a few years IF it is cheaply made. And Im guessing for this application it is.

Myself I would hunt high and low for an original windshield with the correct Sekurit logo on it, but that's just because Im fussy that way.Now if they made a windshield with bronze tint like the glass they use in Saabs, Id be all over it. I think a light bronze tint on the windows would look great with my interior colors. But the clear glass is neutral and inoffensive, so... whatever, take your pick.

Tue Feb 14, 2006 8:47 pm

Please note that there is a difference in the quality of cheap glass vs. expensive OEM glass, the cheap glass is less consistent in thickness and less resistent to sandblasting and wiper marks. And if your windshield is made in China, dont bank on it meeting standards of any kind. Common practice to forge certificates and arbitrarily change specs and materials to shave production costs.

Tue Feb 14, 2006 10:03 pm

If you go for a screen with a shade band, make sure it is not too wide. Mine is, and my vision through the screen goes just at the 'join' which is annoying, with or without sun glasses.

Wed Feb 15, 2006 12:01 am

Having a husband who's 6'5", and a father who's 6'4", clear glass was my only option. Years ago I had
installed one of those big "see everywhere behind you" rear view mirrors that extended almost the width
of the windshield.....well, it was great for 5'9" me, but getting back into the bus one day after my dad
had driven her, I noticed that the mirror had been forcibly ripped from its moorings and lay in a twisted
heap in the center of the bus :shock: , I never really mentioned it, and just put the original one back in......

Wed Feb 15, 2006 8:19 am

Go tint! 8)

The Plump truck's got one, no sun visors (yet) and works great. Looks kool too! :P

Wed Feb 15, 2006 10:16 am

I like the shade band, but as noted if your a taller person it may give you some trouble... PPG Glass is good stuff... never had a problem with it.

Wed Feb 15, 2006 1:48 pm

I have the tint strip and wouldn't do it again- I'm only 5'10" and I look out right about where it changes. No big deal during the day, but a pain at night.

Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:27 am

I hear the green tinted glass is that way due to the iron content. This iron has the effect of blocking uv rays / glare / heat from entering the car. So if you can deal with that modern slight green look that modern cars have in your vintage VW... then go for it.
Otherwise clear would look best unless you're going super-slick kustome tinted.

Thu Jul 20, 2006 9:08 am

I have a PPG windshield with a green tint:

Looks clear doesn't it?

Thu Jul 20, 2006 9:42 am

I had stock clear when I bought Olde Leroy with a tinted band, didn't like the band. I replaced all the windows with green tinted from a 78 parts bus. Much cooler for everyone.

Thu Jul 20, 2006 10:27 am

Mine came with the band.
Now, only a year or so later, it's just about indistinguishable.

Thu Jul 20, 2006 12:45 pm

I had PPG w band installed in March, wasn't sure about it at the time, but like it. Would go that way again. I'm 6' tall.