Windshield Availability In The US?

[Zimm]

Why are these windshield so crazy expensive?

Monopoly.

That, and its a special glass. You see, your regular everyday ford fiesta DOT spec glass can take pebble. After 15 years of driving it wouldn't be as clear as new. For a high end car like a grenadier thats supposed to be a forever car this poses a problem as you want the glass to look like new at all times. As a result they needed a special process whereby they could achieve the new look 30 years out. What they realized, is the easiest way for glass to look new, is for it to be new, so the glass is stressed over a frame it doesn't fit well, all but guaranteeing replacement on average every 18 months, even if its not driven at all.

 

[anand]

When are the 3rd party glass manufacturers going to make a window for us. We need to get this price down.

When there are enough units in the country to justify production... I would imagine that number is probably >40k vehicles

 

[Zimm]

When there are enough units in the country to justify production... I would imagine that number is probably >40k vehicles

We defiantly punch above our weight. F150's don't move as many windshields as we do. With Chinese tariffs at 4122.35% it'll be difficult, although still cheaper than OEM worth its weight in goldglass.

 

[anand]

F150's don't move as many windshields as we do.

There were ~570,000 2023 F150s sold in the US alone... And that windshield works for 2021 and 2022 also (each of which had production numbers just shy of 500,000)... Roughly that means that if each F150 went through 1 windshield in a given time period, each Grenadier built would need to go through 77 in the same time period to have matching glass production numbers

 

[Cropear]

Why are these windshield so crazy expensive? I was driving home from Park City Utah last week and got a rock in the middle of the windscreen. I called ahead to a mobile repair guy in Saint George just 30 minutes down the road and had him repair it before is grew.

When are the 3rd party glass manufacturers going to make a window for us. We need to get this price down.

I had two of my chips repaired. It did not work. UV starting to rain down on the High Mesa I guess got it hot enough that glass flexed and blew out the chips. 1 in the middle, 1 lower passenger.

 

[pmatusov]

I had two of my chips repaired. It did not work. UV starting to rain down on the High Mesa I guess got it hot enough that glass flexed and blew out the chips. 1 in the middle, 1 lower passenger.

I repaired three chips last year, and decided to splurge for XPEL film before a winter trip to Colorado. I can't possibly see how it can last through a 2-year warranty period, given with the windshield wipers left scratches in it almost right away, but it seems to be a cheaper alternative to windshield replacements.

 

[Dlucky]

Monopoly.

That, and its a special glass. You see, your regular everyday ford fiesta DOT spec glass can take pebble. After 15 years of driving it wouldn't be as clear as new. For a high end car like a grenadier thats supposed to be a forever car this poses a problem as you want the glass to look like new at all times. As a result they needed a special process whereby they could achieve the new look 30 years out. What they realized, is the easiest way for glass to look new, is for it to be new, so the glass is stressed over a frame it doesn't fit well, all but guaranteeing replacement on average every 18 months, even if its not driven at all.

Truth

 

[Stu_Barnes]

There were ~570,000 2023 F150s sold in the US alone... And that windshield works for 2021 and 2022 also (each of which had production numbers just shy of 500,000)... Roughly that means that if each F150 went through 1 windshield in a given time period, each Grenadier built would need to go through 77 in the same time period to have matching glass production numbers

All perfectly possible and quite likely.

 

[Zimm]

There were ~570,000 2023 F150s sold in the US alone... And that windshield works for 2021 and 2022 also (each of which had production numbers just shy of 500,000)... Roughly that means that if each F150 went through 1 windshield in a given time period, each Grenadier built would need to go through 77 in the same time period to have matching glass production numbers

To which, Ineos said, "Only 77? Hold my beer."

 

[Zimm]

These films may ward off abrasion but for impacts, there needs to be an air gap. If I were planning a long dirt trip in the middle of nowhere Oz, Africa or Asia, I'd get a removable screen frame and suction cups, since there is no external Security Devices roll cage to utilize like a real defender.

 

[HereinDaRockies]

These films may ward off abrasion but for impacts, there needs to be an air gap. If I were planning a long dirt trip in the middle of nowhere Oz, Africa or Asia, I'd get a removable screen frame and suction cups, since there is no external Security Devices roll cage to utilize like a real defender.

lol that’s the grenadier equivalent of those plastic shrink wrapped couches

 

[IslandFalconer]

I’m also in a holding otters waiting for glass. Meanwhile my local glass cutting shop can cut a 3mm safety glass sheet, and move over the camera mount and paint the edges for $300. I’d have to get it installed. I’m starting to consider this idea. Seems wild the price of the glass

 

[Commodore]

These films may ward off abrasion but for impacts, there needs to be an air gap. If I were planning a long dirt trip in the middle of nowhere Oz, Africa or Asia, I'd get a removable screen frame and suction cups, since there is no external Security Devices roll cage to utilize like a real defender.

Not a bad idea at all. How about utilizing the snorkel mounting points and a lexan screen that goes over the wipers. Maybe a quick disconnect for easy cleaning. You can pop it off once off highways and onto trails. The damage seems to come from rocks at highway speeds. Perhaps a storage mount that attached to the roof grab bars.

 

[pmatusov]

These films may ward off abrasion but for impacts, there needs to be an air gap. If I were planning a long dirt trip in the middle of nowhere Oz, Africa or Asia, I'd get a removable screen frame and suction cups, since there is no external Security Devices roll cage to utilize like a real defender.

Not at all.
Impacts are different. That film won't save you from a brick, but a half-finger-sized pebble - maybe. It definitely saves you from sand pitting - which I started to notice (but you wouldn't know for years since you don't drive yours )

 

[Zimm]

Not a bad idea at all. How about utilizing the snorkel mounting points and a lexan screen that goes over the wipers. Maybe a quick disconnect for easy cleaning. You can pop it off once off highways and onto trails. The damage seems to come from rocks at highway speeds. Perhaps a storage mount that attached to the roof grab bars.

I'm just trying to keep it simple. I used suction cups and netting, and stuck it to my overhead windows for storage, so, I was just thinking of replicating that with large cups and framed piece of 1/2x1/2 galvanized wire fence. I contemplated a piece of lexan as the brick shape kinda reduces any high pressure at the windshield base, but depending on the weather conditions if air got under it there would be a chance of it taking flight at higher speeds.

Defiantly janky, but better than 2000 bucks after a couple days playing on dirt roads. Maybe it'll be "janky cool" looking.

 

[Zimm]

Not at all.
Impacts are different. That film won't save you from a brick, but a half-finger-sized pebble - maybe. It definitely saves you from sand pitting - which I started to notice (but you wouldn't know for years since you don't drive yours )

Here's what I don't get. My G has 300k on it with the original windshield. In evening light, its.... challenging. but if a film application is 400 bucks, and it looks like that after 10-20k, where the f**k is the savings? And if you use your wipers to clear cruddy mud, you get streaks which are even MORE irritating than random fuzziness from slowly blasting the glass.

So far, I'm not sold on there being an aggregate cost savings with the film.

Hey, Ive got 14k in hard city miles so far.

 

[pmatusov]

So far, I'm not sold on there being an aggregate cost savings with the film.

It may be palatable until Safelite gets cheap Chinese glass for Grenadier state-side.