Interior Exterior
Q:
I'm thinking about getting a new rear window. I was going to get a replacement from the dealer, but a couple people have suggested getting a plastic/plexiglass window. What do you guys think?
Would plastic have the same clarity and sound attenuation properties of glass? I guess it would be lighter!
Does the rear clam have to be removed to replace the window?
A:
HI,
My friends (silverbullet) elise had a rock fly over and into the passenger compartment, shattering the rear windshield. Yep, the rear clam has to be removed. I think the bill was around $750.
Chris
A:
Lexan is fine for windows that do not roll down besides windshields. It would be better for shatter resistance also. You have to be very careful cleaning it. I had a lexan windshield which did not stay very clear for more than a year. At very high speeds it also bowed inward disconcertingly. It seemsd like a good idea at the time for a race car since it was amazingly light but the race teams replace their lexan windshields regularly.
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On a road car, unless you redesigned the rear window to have a removeable insert, without taking off the clam, think your better off with regular safety glass.
Chris
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A:
How did it break?
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My friends (silverbullet) elise had a rock fly over and into the passenger compartment, shattering the rear windshield.
That could'a been my face!
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Yep, Dave Simkin, west coast lotus rep said it has happened from time to time. But what are the odds, traveling at hiway speeds that a rock arcs over and hits the windshield.
It WAS very impressive, I must say!
Chris
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http://www.hangar111.com/ckshop.php?...26category%3D1
You're welcome
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Yep, Dave Simkin, west coast lotus rep said it has happened from time to time. But what are the odds, traveling at hiway speeds that a rock arcs over and hits the windshield.
It WAS very impressive, I must say!
Chris
The odds are apparently very good - the same thing happened to me! I get my car back tonight complete with new glass.
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Insurance cover your cost of replacement? Just curious as to the cost.
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Insurance cover your cost of replacement? Just curious as to the cost.
The total cost of replacement was close to $1000 at Lotus of Durham. Since the rear clam needs to come off, the majority of that was labor - the window itself is $76 and the seal was $125. My insurance picked up the tab minus my deductible.
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The odds are apparently very good - the same thing happened to me! I get my car back tonight complete with new glass.
Glad you got it back finally! Now, lets go for another drive.
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Glad you got it back finally! Now, lets go for another drive.
I'm always up for another drive - I'm up in the mountains somewhere just about every weekend, rear window or not
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The odds are apparently very good - the same thing happened to me! I get my car back tonight complete with new glass.
Glad you're intact again Bob. But do you miss the red tape look?
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I'm thinking about getting a new rear window.
Thinking about it? What's your option, just having no rear window?
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That's one component of the s1 elise wish they'd have kept. The rear window was fully removeable.
Chris
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Glad you're intact again Bob. But do you miss the red tape look?
The red tape look was pretty nice and it did make for a good conversation peice. I eventually took it out, which left me with the broken glass look.
I just got back from Lotus of Durham with my car. The new window looks great and I am amazed at how much quieter my car is now.
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Saffron -- did you notice a change in the airflow pattern? I don't like how the roll bar cover forces the air down into the passenger compartment behind the seats, setting up a circular flow. I was thinking that if the rear window were not there that the air might just flow through, out the back.
Thanks.
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I did lexan in mine - that glass window is awfully fragile IMO. Most of the work was removing the clam, cleaning off the old glass and making a template. It took about 10 minutes to actually glue the window back in place.