Was given a lift in someones 'new' second hand Mondeo yesterday.
The heating elements really gave the impression of peering through a net curtain.Screen was clean as well. Not sure I could get used to that.
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I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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They seem to split opinion. Personally I find them irritating but except that on a frosty morning they are great.
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I know of three people with a problem with them. My uncle, and you two. It seems that different people see differently. My uncle's was so bad he had to get rid of it.
When we got ours, we never even realised they were there until I was reading the manual a week later!
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My Mondeo heated windscreen doesn't get cleaned all that often.
I can't even see the elements!
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I've driven many rental cars with this feature and found it easy to train myself to ignore the elements in the windscreen; i.e. focus through it, the same as driving in falling snow at night on a road lit by nothing except your headlights. Don't see the flakes rushing towards the windscreen, look through them at what you want to see.
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Make that 4
gives me headache and makes my eyes go funny
(mind you thats not just Mondeo windscreens that do that)
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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Did 100,000 miles (near as dammit) in a Focus with the Quickclear screen and after the first couple of journeys I didn't even notice it.
Fantastic on those cold winter mornings.
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A boon! Best thing abount my Mondeo.
_______
IanS
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After borrowing a Mondeo it took me about 20 minutes to notice them, at which point driving was really unpleasant. Gave me a headache.
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If you're driving,your eyes should be focussing as far up the road as you can see and you won't see the elements but a passenger will.If you can see them you're not safe driving.
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...after 8 pints of lager, I don't notice mine either.
Seriously, the only time I found it noticeable was when I was driving in a pea-souper - as someone suggested earlier, it's a focusing thing.
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Not really noticeable. It's there but you look beyond it. Good piece of kit though.
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To be honest, the heated screen was one of only 2 positive things I found with a Ford Focus 1.8 I had for 2 weeks in February. I think it's a real benefit on cold mornings and I really wish my own car had it. I didn't notice the heating elements.
The other positive thing, by the way, was the connection for an MP3 player in the glove box. I wish all hire cars had this.
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I never even new my Mondeo had one for about six months. It wasn't till I switched what I thought was the rear screen heater on and nothing seemed to be happening that I started searching round the dash and found the button for the actual rear heater, thoughfully hidden by the steering wheel.
I really should read the manual.
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Dislike them. Our Ford Transit Connect at work has one of these windscreens. I've just about got used to it now, whereas before any longer than ½ hour looking through it gave me a headache.
It's most noticable and quite distracting when the light level is fading and street lights are on and car headlights approach you.
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Marvellous things, had them in two Mondies and Two Foci, just keep the inside of the screen clean and you don't know the elements are there.
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I dislike them too, wouldn't even consider a car with one. They're worse in the sun when it glints off them like a frosty cobweb.
I think the latest thing is laser-cut metallicised screens (microscopic elements cut in heat reflective screens)
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I find that windscreen wipers are very distracting.
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Given the choice of one of these windscreens or a scraper, I would take the latter.
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Given the choice between spraying/scaping my Scenic or sitting in the wife's Focus with the heated windscreen clearing itself, I would choose the easy option. Don't drive it that often but hardly ever notice the elements. Considering a Mondeo/Mazda6/Skoda Octavia next and the Mondeo screen would be a definate factor.
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Seriously, personally I find that in half light, or at night they make oncoming car headlights seriously distracting, and worse if its wet to the level that "dangerous" is not a wholy misleading statement. Frankly the benefits on a frosty morning (and we had,, hmmm let me see, must have been all of 20 of those this winter) over a car heater or scraper is about 4 minutes.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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You're all wrong (and blind) you do realise don't you?
I tried on the way home just then to try and notice them and I can't see what all the fuss is about.
:: Wanders off muttering and shaking head::
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You're all wrong (and blind) you do realise don't you? I tried on the way home just then to try and notice them and I can't see what all the fuss is about. :: Wanders off muttering and shaking head:
Yes you are indeed correct Adam. A thread like this has me shaking my head more than most.
You poor souls, getting a headache looking through ever so slightly distorted glass..
How on earth do you leave your front doors in the mornings...?
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How on earth do you leave your front doors in the mornings...?
I tend to leave mine on it's hinges.
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Leave. Right now.
I can just bet you heard that about 7 years ago and have been dying to roll it our ever since.
I'm right, aren't I? ;-)
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How much more are these screens to replace and do insurance companies charge more or increase their excess sums?
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Insurance is no more than for normal windscreens - I paid the standard £50 excess when mine was replaced.
I have never had any problem with mine - my next car must have the same!!!
Splodgeface
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I've heard they are about £700 to replace if not claiming on the insurance.
I've had both a Focus and a Mondeo with them and never had a problem - they're a great idea.
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I really missed having the mondeo windscreen this winter, especially when in the mountains in Wales. Never aware of wavy lines when driving, only when stationary or cleaning inside. Brilliant invention.
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I've had three Fords with a heated screen and now I would be loath to buy a car that didn't have one.
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L\'escargot.
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Hate them! Had a mondeo on rent recently, and it just annoys me. Particularly bad at night when the reflection of lights of the wires make the screen seem 'greasy'.
JS
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I hate the screen in my dads mondeo - they make my eyes boggle
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Well there certainly are vast numbers who are happy with them and do not find them a problem else I feel Ford would have dropped this expensive feature.
There are a significant number who do not like them and may consider them a sufficent distraction as to label them dangerous.
As a happpy user of a Focus and a Mondeo I struggle to fully understand their situation but totally accept thefind them a discomfort.
It would seem that anyone thinking of buying a Ford, with a heated screen, for the first time, should either rent one or try an extended test drive including at least some night driving in various conditions.
Being a passenger is not a good enough test.
If it is a S/H or private purchase then this is easier said than done.
Perhaps a FAQ item explaining the pros n cons would be useful?
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Driven a relative's Puma with a similar screen, never caused a problem. Perhaps it's to do with my (corrected) short sightedness.
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Not sure PU - whilst I wear specs, Dad doesn't, nor does Mum, or my sister who have no problems whatsoever.
Must be something to do with the way your peepers are wired though.
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Does it interfere with satnav? I'm sure I read somewhere that it did.
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When I bought the current Focus the heated screen was one of the things it HAD to have. Count me as a fan. Problem now is when I come to change the car (some way off thankfully) I will be limited to Fords, Jags or Volvos - or do Mazdas have hotscreens now?
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No Avant. I took a chance and thankfully it paid off!
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Despite the fact your's does not work?
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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I knew someone would mention that and I thought it would be you!
No - mine doesn't work because it's crap - not because of the heated screen.
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