Why didn't Honda put a glass window in the first place.
10-09-2002, 01:45 PM
#1
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Why didn't Honda put a glass window in the first place.
Why did they decide to finally change it at 2002 models. And if it is for weight purposes does that mean the 2002 S2K is heavier since it got a glass window.
10-09-2002, 02:05 PM
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The only honest answer I can give is "I don't know".
OK, now that I've gotten that out of the way, I can speculate.
I doubt that it was a weight issue. The smaller "glass" window in my '02 is pretty lite. Heck, you can probably make more of a difference by taking the rest of the keys off your key ring when you drive.
My guess is cost. In this class car, if you have a glass window, then you have to have a rear window defroster, which the '02 does. That means a few bucks per car.
I'm guessing that they got enough dealer and reviewer feedback about the plastic window that they decided they needed to change it to make it consistent with the overall quality level of the rest of the design. (Or else they found out that the Boxter was getting a glass window and that forced their hand.)
The glass window is small because of the way the top folds. They might have chosen the larger plastic window as a visibility tradeoff initially.
Anyway, my opening statement still stands. I really don't know. But heck, this is the internet, so that doesn't really matter, does it? (:-)
--Steve
OK, now that I've gotten that out of the way, I can speculate.
I doubt that it was a weight issue. The smaller "glass" window in my '02 is pretty lite. Heck, you can probably make more of a difference by taking the rest of the keys off your key ring when you drive.
My guess is cost. In this class car, if you have a glass window, then you have to have a rear window defroster, which the '02 does. That means a few bucks per car.
I'm guessing that they got enough dealer and reviewer feedback about the plastic window that they decided they needed to change it to make it consistent with the overall quality level of the rest of the design. (Or else they found out that the Boxter was getting a glass window and that forced their hand.)
The glass window is small because of the way the top folds. They might have chosen the larger plastic window as a visibility tradeoff initially.
Anyway, my opening statement still stands. I really don't know. But heck, this is the internet, so that doesn't really matter, does it? (:-)
--Steve
10-09-2002, 03:19 PM
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Looking at the competition, they didn't need to. Porsche & BMW are plastic. The tremendous number of complaints and bad press about it probably got them and Porsche to make the switch.
10-09-2002, 03:37 PM
#6
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they didn't put a glass window because they had to make a choice - small glass window or larger plastic window. If the plastic window is maintained properly it will continue to have good visibility for a long long time. Unfortunately, most people choose to whine and complain about not having a glass windows instead of properly maintaining the plastic one. Honda gave in to the lazy whiners and put a window in that doesn't require as much maintenance and sacrificed visibility in doing so. Simple as that. BTW, contrary to how my post might sound I would prefer to have a glass window to the plastic one I have - I'm a lazy whiner 
10-09-2002, 04:21 PM
#7
Probably the plastic was cheaper. Most likely, the glass was a reaction to customer complaints and a way to enhance the new model year.
