I need your opinion on windshields...Please
 

If you had the choice of a DOT Approved traditional Tinted Glass Windshield or a DOT Approved Tinted Lexan Windshield which would you choose? If both windshields were heat pressure formed and had identical costs and as I stated D.O.T. Approved?

Tell me which one and why, please.

Clois Harlan

When did DOT approve Lexan for windshields?

I'd go glass - simply because it has better scratch resistance over any plastic.

Glass for me. I've never seen Lexan or any other plastic that wouldn't scratch, in spite of advertisements to the contrary. That's why I prefer my optical glass lensed Ray Bans..

Dave

get both......install the lexan, if it isn't what you expected you have the glass as a backup

Clois, I sell the windshields/glass, let me know if you need something.

Street or Track?????
 

Clois Harlan Which One???:confused::eek: Track the lexan would be safer. Not sure if they would let you drive on the street with a lexan and a couple of plastic covers to keep the scratches out of it. It's just like Nascar, 500 miles and throw it in the garbage. :( The wieght different is only a couple of pounds. Both will crack under high vibrations from the car. The question is do you like glass splinters or plastic???:eek:%/:rolleyes:;):LOL: Rick L.

Glass for durability.

I was just ask this by a glass mfg and like you said I had never seen Lexan that was D.o.T. approved or scratch proof. If I wanted just a track car then, yes Lexan for sure.

Clois

I replaced mine with Lexan after 2 glass ones cracked from rock chips. Now the rocks bounce off and scratching has not been a problem. Just clean it with a microfiber cloth.

Mine came with a lexan windshield and I have had the car for 5 years. The Lexan has fewer scratches than my truck window and none of the rock chips that the truck has. The one caveat is that I don't use the wipers (wiper motor removed to reduce weight:LOL:).

Di ck

Lexan for me
 

I have been upside down twice and the lexan window only scratched cant say glass would have done the same.:3DSMILE:Hmmm wonder if I should post that vidio;)

Lexan is available in a scratch resistant/windshield quality grade. It is legal in many states for street use, including here in New Hampshire. It is far safer in a race enviroment. I have driven one of my cars for 2 seasons with the lexan with out any scratches.

Lexan
 

MR10, scratch "resistant" both sides. After replacing 3 windshields for very minor rock chips that turned almost instantly into cracks from one side to the other I installed Lexan. Use Maquires #18 plastic polish, micro fiber towel and it will take a 1" rock at 70 and only leave a minor scratch. Nope, sorry, not DOT approved but neither are my tires ;).

Clois;

The only other thing I've noticed and not mentioned yet, is depending on the appication, I've seen Lexan windshields "vibrate" a lot at high speeds if there is no center brace, made for a "blurry" sight I could not get used too,looked like everything was out of vocus,went back to good ole glass for the race car and anyway, Lexan for my cars was about $350.00 compared to $105.00 for glass............

David

Interesting David, These windshields are being considered for the HCS Coupe as an option but the cost is less than $300.00 for either choice. I have caught a large piece of rubber right smack in the middle of my windshield at speed and not even a scratch just a nice black streek that cleans off with lighter fluid (3M adhesive remover).

Clois

Clois;

No doubt Lexan is the safer of the two, and the price seems very reasonable, perhaps because they hope to sell them in quanitiy.....

I haven't used Lexan for a number of years and I'm sure the w/s now are better than when I used them. Mine did scratch easily when cleaning if not careful and was badly pitted from sand and grit. I guess that happens when the Vintage cars are the slowest of the 4 classes in our run group, always following someone and catching a lot of debris (sand/grit/tire rubber), but my biggest problem was the vibration....Pretty much anything over 100 mph, it would start vibrating and after about 120 mph, vision was real blurry.... I added a center brace from the top to the bottom and that cured 90% of the problem....didn't really like the center brace either, for some reason, it always bothered me......

This may have been because of the size/shape of the windshield as well as the air flow hitting it.....The Coupes should be a lot better airflow wise and maybe, just maybe, you would not have much w/s vibration....

I just decided it was easier and cheaper to stay with glass....

David

Thanks David, that is exactly why I asked for others opinions. Mine will have glass (at least at first).

Clois

Windshield Glass.-

Windscreen, tinted glass. Includes bottom rubber. Each.$495 from Finnishline
A tinted piece of scratch resistance Lexan $125
The Lexan is so much lighter than the glass that it does vibrate even with the center rod but with my new hardtop that is almost eliminated. The guys racing their cobras at excessive speeds have had the Lexan windshields also still crack and break. This has been discussed many times before and if you have the scratch resistant Lexan most say the wipers will not scratch, I have yet to be caught in the rain.

I have been caught in the rain on more than on occassion and glass or lexan the bottom line is that the windshiel wipers are more of a decoration than a functioning accessory of the Cobra. Light rain...OK! Gulley washer .. forget about it!