To really dislike privacy glass on cars?

[Ginuwine]

My sister in law thinks I'm nuts, old fashioned and behind the times (I was born in the 80s so maybe..)

But AIBU to wonder why 80% of new cars I see have this weird blackout glass as standard?

When I was a kid in the 90s, the two types of cars which had privacy glass were:

• Cheap hatchbacks that had been given a "'Max Power" makeover. Blacked out radiator grills, big tin can exhausts, and the privacy glass
• Limousine and stretched saloon drivers for VIPs (hence privacy!)

And that tended to be it. Most cars round my way had normal glass. All round.

Today, it's hard to find a car WITHOUT privacy glass. I mean, normal hatchbacks have it. Saloons have it. SUVs can't be sold without it. Coupes have it (hilarious - some Porsche 911s and Ferraris look ridiculous with the tiny side window blacked out).

My other half's car took us 4 months to find second hand, because almost every single model has privacy glass optioned - despite the original designer Charles "Spen" King creating a "floating roof" effect on the first model of the car. Forget floating roof - most of them now look like vans.

AIBU to wonder why this privacy glass, chav pack (sorry, black pack) and smoked lights thing is now mainstream on cars?

Before anyone asks, I have DCs and they have sun blinds we bought and fitted in both cars. They are happy and comfortable without privacy glass. We have never had our cars broken into.

So who likes it? What am I missing? AIBU?

You missed the ‘can’t see through them when you need to pull out’ bit

@BluebellsGreenbells

You missed the ‘can’t see through them when you need to pull out’ bit

Haha yep! Although that seems to countered by the arms race of greater height. If you can't see through, try and see over...

But yeah it's a pain. It's here to stay and I get that, but it just seems so bizarre to see a white Vauxhall Mokka or Honda Jazz for example with really black glass, it looks almost absurd

Windscreen and front windows must let a high percentage of light through and won't be tinted or privacy glass.

Back windows can be as dark as you like.

Personally, it's not something I give a lot of thought to. Obviously it's a feature most people want on their cars, or the manufacturers would be offering clear glass as standard and the tinted as an option only.

I have them because I have dogs and what to keep them cooler and calmer in the boot. I also like that I can leave to pay for fuel and know people can’t see in. They’re less likely to be stolen.

@RaspberryCoulis

*Windscreen and front windows must let a high percentage of light through and won't be tinted or privacy glass.

Back windows can be as dark as you like.*

Absolutely - was aware of this.

I just can't understand why everyone , no matter what car class, seems to want this.

You now can't order higher spec hatchbacks or saloons without privacy glass options. It's a "no delete" thing.

Personally, it's not something I give a lot of thought to.

That could count for 90% of posts on here. I'm just keen to hear the pro arguments as I have the cons in my head.

@Wolfiefan

I have them because I have dogs and what to keep them cooler and calmer in the boot. I also like that I can leave to pay for fuel and know people can’t see in. They’re less likely to be stolen.

Hmm ok. Fair enough. Although just saying, your dogs may overheat in spite of the privacy glass - it's not solar control glass - it still gets hella hot in there.

I was born in the 80s so maybe

I was born in the 80s and I'm 33

So we got it added to our new car. Reason because it’s a seven seater even though the two in the boot can be folded down as a second hand car it either wasn’t purchased with or they had lost the boot cover so if we say went shopping etc you would see everything in the car. It was £90 to buy a replacement or we talked the dealership into adding the tinting for free. No brainer for us because even with say getting a replacement of you have all seven seats in use again what is left of the poor would of been totally visible.

I honestly had never noticed, so just looked out my front window and of the 11 cars I can see only 3 have darkened back windows (including mine)

It doesn't bother me personally, but on some colours the darker just looks odd (same sort of aesthetically displeasing as your smaller window example)

There was, and always has been a third category

Drug dealers

@shouldistop

I was born in the 80s so maybe

I was born in the 80s and I'm 33

It's a big decade. It was a comment about me. It wasn't targeted directly at you.

@LaurieFairyCake

There was, and always has been a third category

Drug dealers

Ahaha how could I forget!!!

Boot not poor but yeah.

@Horst

So we got it added to our new car. Reason because it’s a seven seater even though the two in the boot can be folded down as a second hand car it either wasn’t purchased with or they had lost the boot cover so if we say went shopping etc you would see everything in the car. It was £90 to buy a replacement or we talked the dealership into adding the tinting for free. No brainer for us because even with say getting a replacement of you have all seven seats in use again what is left of the poor would of been totally visible.

That's a pretty specific use case! Glad you got a great deal.

Because sun blinds fall off, don't fit the full window and are a pain in the arse.

Yabu. We love our privacy glass on our rear windows, especially for when the kids were younger. Also helps if you've got things in the car you don't want people to see.
I'm trying to find a particular model of car with it and a tow bar and I haven't yet found one.

Sorry I should add we didn't have a choice as we bought our car second hand and it already had them, but I find sunblinds a pita especially now ds knows just how to detach them. So the next car will most likely have them too.

@longtompot

Yabu. We love our privacy glass on our rear windows, especially for when the kids were younger. Also helps if you've got things in the car you don't want people to see. I'm trying to find a particular model of car with it and a tow bar and I haven't yet found one.

Also helps if you've got things in the car you don't want people to see.

Isn't that what the boot load cover is for?

I love it on my car. We live by the beach and keep Cossies, wetsuits and towels in the car permanently from May onward, we often get changed in the back of the car when we go for an impromptu beach trip.

I have a black estate car and I think the tinted windows make it look better (our other car is a light coloured estate and would look very weird if it had tinted windows) however aesthetics aside:

You cannot see into the back so it gives a surprisingly high degree of privacy and security.
The rear window means it cuts out headlight glare from cars behind me at night.

So I like it however I also understand people like different things and respect your opinion.

I don’t mind it. I have no pros for it, but I suspect most people don’t, and it’s just standard issue now. It’d be weird without it at this point, although I don’t think I’d care either way.

@QuitMoaning

I have a black estate car and I think the tinted windows make it look better (our other car is a light coloured estate and would look very weird if it had tinted windows) however aesthetics aside:

You cannot see into the back so it gives a surprisingly high degree of privacy and security.
The rear window means it cuts out headlight glare from cars behind me at night.

So I like it however I also understand people like different things and respect your opinion.

Never thought about the glare bit - I'm very lucky to have auto dimming rear view mirrors on both cars.

Lovely last sentence and agreed - we all have different tastes and needs. I just noticed while browsing the classifieds recently that nearly EVERY car I saw had it / was curious what has changed out there!

We had our car tinted 5% limo tint a few months ago simply to protect DD2 from the sun

I like it for privacy and security, we also have dogs. I was born in the sixties too, so not related to age in my case!

Clear windows are for doggers.