Mazda 3 2014 - Heated windscreen?

Cyber-Mav · 24 Nov 2020 at 18:12

My 1995 ford fiesta has a heated front screen so why dont dont these newer cars have it?

Hedge · 24 Nov 2020 at 18:21

My 2011 superb also has a heated windscreen which came as a surprise to me. I guess ford have licenced it out or lost patent earlier than i thought.

ShiWarrior · 24 Nov 2020 at 21:33

Cyber-Mav said:
My 1995 ford fiesta has a heated front screen so why dont dont these newer cars have it?

Patent by Ford

ShiWarrior · 24 Nov 2020 at 21:33

Hedge said:
My 2011 superb also has a heated windscreen which came as a surprise to me. I guess ford have licenced it out or lost patent earlier than i thought.

i am suprised

my father has a top spec Octavia VRS 2017, that does NOT have it

Cyber-Mav · 24 Nov 2020 at 21:47

ShiWarrior said:
Patent by Ford

how can you patent wires going through glass with a current put through it? all cars have rear window heating hows that not patented?

ShiWarrior · 24 Nov 2020 at 21:50

Ford have the patent for Front Windscreens, that's why its standard on Zetec spec across the board from the 90's

--Mike-- · 24 Nov 2020 at 22:14

Our 2010 Mini has a heated front screen and think it was an option on the first gen cars too.

Frozennova · 24 Nov 2020 at 22:28

I highly doubt it was patent related, as I understand it patents are only valid for 10 years. Ford were fitting them as early as 1985

--Mike-- said:
Our 2010 Mini has a heated front screen and think it was an option on the first gen cars too.

You're right it was

Diagro · 25 Nov 2020 at 01:07

Cyber-Mav said:
how can you patent wires going through glass with a current put through it? all cars have rear window heating hows that not patented?

Because it's full of wires that you can't really see

Cyber-Mav · 25 Nov 2020 at 08:04

you can see the wires, i can take a photo for you if you want. they are faint but they are there, and there are 100s of them. they are just thinner so harder too see.

jpaul · 25 Nov 2020 at 08:07

except the vw one wasn't wires ! so patent, was presumably the overall idea

... would, now, be useful for spectacle demist wearing covid mask

Nasher · 25 Nov 2020 at 08:11

TBH there are down sides to them so maybe thats why. It makes the screen super expensive and the wires do reduce visibility slightly.

It really isnt needed if you have a bottle of water and a heater/AC...

robj20 · 25 Nov 2020 at 08:24

Nasher said:
TBH there are down sides to them so maybe thats why. It makes the screen super expensive and the wires do reduce visibility slightly.

It really isnt needed if you have a bottle of water and a heater/AC...

Heated seats, heated steering wheels, heated mirrors aren't needed but are nice to have. Same with heated windscreen the lack of one wouldn't stop me buying a car but as far as optional extras go it's at the top of my list.

I have never seen a downside to having one, still the same £70 or so to replace via insurance. Never noticed a lower visibility either, yes in the right light you can see the lines but it doesn't stop you seeing out the car.

BigChin1 · 25 Nov 2020 at 12:37

DanTheMan said:
Does the button that looks like a heated windscreen onejust blow air at the inside of the screen?

Yes just blows air.

RockLobster · 26 Nov 2020 at 06:58

Hedge said:
My 2011 superb also has a heated windscreen which came as a surprise to me. I guess ford have licenced it out or lost patent earlier than i thought.

Same here. My 2013 Superb had one. My 2019 Superb has one. And my my wife’s Volvo XC40 (delivered tomorrow) has it.

It really is a god send in this weather.