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?

I don’t like to breastfeed in public, blackout glass is handy for sitting in the back and feeding.

We have it in the back windows (although not completely blackout) and we’ve never had to get stuck on blinds to stop the sun irritating the baby. That’s a good enough reason for me!

I don’t like it. I find it a bit hypocritical that car reviews will rave about the excellent visibility of certain cars when they are causing visibility problems for all other road users. So I was mortified when I bought my last car (second hand) and completely failed to notice that the back windows are tinted. It is nice though not to be able to see the dc fighting in the back when I’m filling the tank

My back windows are dark to keep the car cooler and to keep the sun off the kids/dog.

I'd ban them, just so no-one can hide in the back seat of a car. Such as a dodgy business person or politician.

My husband had it on the back windows of a company car. It meant that every single time we weren’t through the eurotunnel we were checked.

That bloody car was the cause of one of my most embarrassing moments. My daughter was about ten, and my mum had taught her to whistle. I was in the passenger seat. My husband stopped at a zebra crossing, all our windows were down, and my daughter, hidden from sight let out a huge, shrill whistle. There were two early teenage boys at the crossing who immediately turned to see where the sound came from, and saw me sitting like a fat, middle aged pervert. I’m still embarrassed now

@mrsdavegrohl

Clear windows are for doggers.

As someone who didn't know the preferred car specs for dogging until you posted... that wasn't really our criteria when buying ours.

We'll be sure to list it in the resale description on Autotrader just in case anyone missed the advantage

It helps make the gold bars that I have inadvertently left openly on the rear seat less visible to thieves and ne'er do wells.

Agree about the (perhaps misplaced) feeling of a bit more security when it comes to stuff left in the back of cars. I'm aware it's not really all that much more secure, but certainly gives me that little extra safe feeling. I have too much community nurse stuff already filling up my boot, so it naturally has to spill over into the back seats.

I didn't get my car with privacy windows deliberately - rather, the only one that ticked all the other boxes in my price range on the day I bought it, happened to have them - but it's handy now! Also agree about the reduction of glare from cars behind you.

However I did think it was odd when I bought it... I'd only ever seen it on limos etc., as you mentioned. I'll certainly pay a bit more attention from now on.

I like the privacy & security and am not really bothered what my car looks like, for the most part.

We just had ours done on our secondhand car. It looks brilliant now. Plus what everyone else said about people not being able to see in. It feels a bit more luxurious now and definitely improves the look of it.

I have it on the back windows. I don't like strangers peering in to the car at my kids!

When we lived somewhere HOT, DH went and got tinting on all the windows in the car. It made a massive difference to the temperature inside the car. So as a solar reflective shield in sunny places, I'd say it's great. Less essential in UK, but does it really matter?

@nc8765

I have it on the back windows. I don't like strangers peering in to the car at my kids!

You know they're visible once they get out of the car at their destination.

Agh sent before question mark, but you know what I mean..

I've just been reading about the five year old who died in a hot car when his dad forgot to drop him off at school on the way to work (the kid had dozed off).

The coroner said that the tinted windows in the back meant people who'd otherwise have noticed him alone in the car and distressed, couldn't see him.

@thelegohooverer

I don’t like it. I find it a bit hypocritical that car reviews will rave about the excellent visibility of certain cars when they are causing visibility problems for all other road users. So I was mortified when I bought my last car (second hand) and completely failed to notice that the back windows are tinted. It is nice though not to be able to see the dc fighting in the back when I’m filling the tank

How does my rear windows having tinted windows affect visibility for all other road users? I have tried and cannot think of anything, especially as it is no different from a car based van that has no windows in the back.

And as for the poster banning them because of dodgy businessmen or politicians, what a weirdly specific reason. The fact it reduces glare and keeps cooler and potentially helps with security is irrelevant because of all those dodgy people hiding. 🤔🤣

I agree with your sentiments original poster. One of my cars is a soft top fabric roof sports convertible with shinny silver paintwork, blood red leather interior and red roof. The point being I enjoy al fresco driving as if sitting in the natural environment with the roof lowered and car fully open to elements even in sometimes crisp chilly conditions with appropriate layering, heated seats and steering wheel etc. And so yes I dislike this gangster tinted blacked out murdered out vibe on menacing pimped out cars. Some look better suited at places of rest than for transportation of a lively family. I think this car trend may have been initiated transatlantic with certain car outlaw communities and then went big in fossil fuel gulf states and parts of east Asia before it became a thing in usually dull rainy temperate climate UK. The blacked out murdered out look (black bodywork ascents de chromed) do suit VIP transportation as I see senior politicians and presumably royalty (can’t see through extra thick privacy bulletproof glass) being shuffled along in blacked out armoured Range Rovers, BMW 7 series saloons and normally accompanying unmarked Land Rover or BMW X5 protection vehicles in black or dark grey flashing blues and twos with uniformed police motorcycle outriders for them to continue through central London traffic to ensure subjects/plebs don’t delay their terribly important “working engagements” etc. My other vehicle is currently a multiple row seating Chelsea tractor but again in silver paintwork and normal tinted transparent windows. Can’t do the murdered out look as just not to my taste. It may suit brands like Mercedes Barbus or Rolls Royce Black Label but I am more a fan of Mercedes Maybach or not too aggressive toned down AMG. Each to their own and as long as no drugs or weapons are carried I don’t care! Interesting car counter culture.

I wanted privacy glass on mine. So any mess on the back seats/in the back is hidden (it's not in the boot with a cover over it coz the boot is a dog zone)
And it looks better.
Not noticed any problems with my visibility.

I like being able to see out of a window! Give me light or give me death.

I have it on all the windows, including the windscreen. I can see out perfectly but people can barely see in.

if 80% of them have don't you think that suggest that you are weird?

My son who had autism feels really secure in my car with blacked out windows. So I didn't buy the car specifically for that feature but it's an added bonus for him.

Has* autism..

Redues glare, means stuff isn't visible, children can get changed in the back on the way to activities (e.g. into work / volunteer uniform). Not saying there shouldn't be a choice but we find it useful.