Windshield wipers

[kuo34]

My wipers were starting to peel off of the frames, so I figured I'd go get some of those nice frameless wipers, Bosch Icons or Rain-X Latitudes. The tC takes a 26" and a 16" wiper. I went to Wal-Mart, which carries the Latitudes but only 16"-24". I stopped by Advance Auto and they have the Icons in 17"-28". So I head over to Auto Zone, and they have Icons and Latitudes but 17"-28" again.

C'mon folks, seriously?

At least I could make a matching set of Latitudes between Auto Zone and Wal-Mart. Happy with the new wipers, annoyed with the stocking practices of the chains.

And since I washed and waxed the car yesterday, I was treated to some rain to test the new wipers out. It's like having squeegees for winshield wipers. They're very quiet and really get rid of all the water that's got enough tension of the windshield wiper against it. They leave some streaks at the ends of the blades, though I've read that it takes some time for the blades to really mold to the windshield.

Though next time I'm just going to order them online before my wipers go out. So pricey for wiper blades, though compared to all the other crap I do to my car it's pretty cheap.

[Aurora]

I had to do the same thing last rain season and I love these blades. Very good at getting rid of the water on the windshield.

[kuo34]

I know of a few folks that swear by them. It's not one of those parts that you want to troll the flea market for. Hopefully I got what I paid for.

[Aurora]

You'll like what you got. I've had mine for a year how and will probably replace them this next rain season. I try to replace wipers every year. You never know when it will make a difference.

I want to try and see if I can get the windshield wippers off a Gen2 xB or an xD because they're single frameless blades as well, but look a lot cleaner than aftermarket.

My only complaint is that that universal mount you hook into sits too high for my taste. I like it low and level looking. But performance wise....love 'em.

[kuo34]

I know the xD blades are a little short (I think they're 14" and 24", though don't quote me on that) for the tC. They do look much cleaner, though between random scratches and dents on the car, the dinged muffler tip, bumper dent . . . well the wipers draw the least attention on my car. I've heard the frameless blades last longer.

The only reason my OEM blades lasted so long was obsessive rain-x application for the first couple years of the car's life. No time for that these days with the kid. It sure did freak out passengers when I'd drive through a storm without the wipers on.