Rear Wiper Delete

[RedRobin]

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Each to their own of course but surely Rain-X doesn't keep your rear window totally clear from all the muck thrown up by the GTI rear end.

I much prefer to be able to see as much as possible both behind and in front of my car while driving. Unless for the track, I don't understand the real benefit of a rear wiper delete.

I'll get my coat 

[stealthwolf]

+1. I use my rear wiper a lot. It seems that hatchbacks are prone to a lot more crap covering the back. I guess it also depends on weather, roads etc as to how dirty the back gets.

I also thought the rear wiper had to (or perhaps just could) be coded out with VCDS?

[dan1985]

When the motor is taken out it seems to take care of itself, and the rear washer pump automatically doesn’t work when the motor is unplugged

[Mk5 GTian]

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Each to their own of course but surely Rain-X doesn't keep your rear window totally clear from all the muck thrown up by the GTI rear end.

I much prefer to be able to see as much as possible both behind and in front of my car while driving. Unless for the track, I don't understand the real benefit of a rear wiper delete.

I'll get my coat 

Absolutely. I'd like to think that at least some of my braking is influenced by the distance and type of vehicle behind me. I was driving in the downpours of earlier today, and I  could see nothing at all without my wiper.

[RedRobin]

.
Each to their own of course but surely Rain-X doesn't keep your rear window totally clear from all the muck thrown up by the GTI rear end.

I much prefer to be able to see as much as possible both behind and in front of my car while driving. Unless for the track, I don't understand the real benefit of a rear wiper delete.

I'll get my coat 

Absolutely. I'd like to think that at least some of my braking is influenced by the distance and type of vehicle behind me. I was driving in the downpours of earlier today, and I  could see nothing at all without my wiper.

....And if you have particularly strong and effective brakes this becomes even more important. I like to see faster cars and motorbikes as they approach from behind as well. In fact, if the GTI didn't have a rear wiper I'd get one fitted as aftermarket. Rain-X has limitations.

[DFish]

Rain-X and all the over window sealants are ok above 30mph, lower than that if you've got a couple of coatings. The rear window on any hatchback is a magnet for water to sit and dirt to collect.

Yes it's good to see whats behind you, but as I rarely use it it's not that big a deal for me. As for some of the comments about seeing what type of vehicle is behind me.... if they are sitting that close that I am concerned about them hitting me if I brake hard then I make space and invite them past. You should drive to the conditions and not worry about stuff you cant control!

Fish

[RedRobin]

Yes it's good to see whats behind you, but as I rarely use it it's not that big a deal for me. As for some of the comments about seeing what type of vehicle is behind me.... if they are sitting that close that I am concerned about them hitting me if I brake hard then I make space and invite them past. You should drive to the conditions and not worry about stuff you cant control!

....Agreed about inviting them past, or accelerating to lose them, depending on the circumstances. Regardless of which driver is in the right or wrong, you need to do all you can to control the situation so you remain safe. You also need to see vehicles fast approaching you from behind at a distance. For example, on an unrestricted section of autobahn where speeds are very high. The point is that you can control - You can control what actions you take driving as a consequence of seeing what else is going on both in front and behind you.

Are you seriously suggesting that you don't need to see as much information as possible about what's behind you and that anything going on there (which you could potentially avoid) isn't your "worry" or concern anyway?

Do you know what the most common words said immediately following an incident are? - "I didn't see you"!

You have only to ask yourself why hatchbacks like the Golf have rear wipers as standard. Road safety, dear boy.

[stealthwolf]

Completely agree that visibility is important. Total situational awareness can be maximised by ensuring good visibility. If the rear window is dirty, then it limits what you know about what's going on around you. The rear view mirror becomes useless and hence you're relying on door mirrors (as well as checking your blind spots).

Remember the law:

windscreens and windows MUST be kept clean and free from obstructions to vision

[Daleek9]

All gone a bit far this has it not?

Personally they look x10 times better without an ugly rear wiper upsetting the symetrical appearance of the back end.

Each to there own. I drive a van that has no rear window. I seem to manage.

[Mk5 GTian]

All gone a bit far this has it not?

Personally they look x10 times better without an ugly rear wiper upsetting the symetrical appearance of the back end.

Each to there own. I drive a van that has no rear window. I seem to manage.

My Tranny connect has no rear windows, but it has mahooosive door mirrors to compensate. It's also a very different type of driving, pootling along in my Postman Pat van! 

As you say, it's each to their own, but IMO it's a case of style over function. It also reminds me of 1983 when the Mk2 was released and the base model had no rear-wiper, it was an optional extra if MSM.

[Gti_Mad]

Here it is. http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,6390.0.html

what is your lots obsession with cats 

[Top Cat]

Here it is. http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,6390.0.html

what is your lots obsession with cats 

[webby888]

if i was going to use a rubber bung for the hole what size would i need to get?

[DFish]

Red, yes I do look out the rear window, but as MK5 GTIAN said we also have wing mirrors, so it's not my only source of visual aid. Most of my driving is in London so all fairly slow paced at best, and normally with either a bus, lorry or van behind me so cant see much out of it. What would you do if you were in a saloon? No wiper on those.

Fish

Edited to add, MKVIKen, sorry cant PM as I'm too new. Payment made.

[RedRobin]

Red, yes I do look out the rear window, but as MK5 GTIAN said we also have wing mirrors, so it's not my only source of visual aid. Most of my driving is in London so all fairly slow paced at best, and normally with either a bus, lorry or van behind me so cant see much out of it. What would you do if you were in a saloon? No wiper on those.

....Hi Fish,

I had given up debating this aspect but am game to continue if that's what you would like  

Having lived and driven in Central London for over 25 years, including some of it in a back-windowless big red (of course!) double rear wheel Tranny van, I most definitely always prefer a clear rear window. It doesn't matter whether what I drive is a van, saloon, or hatchback, I want rear visibility and it's helped on a hatchback more than on a saloon which doesn't pick up the muck etc so easily. A hatchback needs a rear wiper (assuming you want a clear view rearwards) more than a saloon. Hence why Fritz and his Volks Wagen boffins in Deutschland have been considerate enough to provide one.

Of course, delete the rear wiper if you want - It's a free world. All I'm doing is sharing my opinion that it's a dumb thing to do unless a race car and I'm giving my reasons in response as to why. Call me Captain Sensible on this one if you like but I prefer my journeys to be not only fun but also safer.