What you HATE the most on your FR-S/BRZ/GT86/FT86?

[Sarlacc]

Now we've crossed the threshold for one of my self-imposed rules of internet conduct, so

[notout86]

After adjusting my wiper arm, I have just thought of another thing I hate, and this is common to many cars .... the wiper leaves an unwiped strip by the pillar. This is dangerous as visibility is reduced. They should go into the black area.
The manual states to align the tip of the arm with a dot in the black area (half way between the top and bottom of that area). It is possible to adjust so the tip is about 30mm higher and that helps but the arm metal could be angled better to have the blade align parallel with the pillar.
Also, I reckon all wipers should park vertical against the pillars. They could be out of the drivers vision on the black band, they would be more aerodynamic and grit would get blown off and not come to rest along the top of the blade where it scrapes dry across the screen.
None of this is rocket surgery!

[paulca]

On modern cars the wipers "stow" into the recess between the window and the bonnet, so out of the airflow.

[Uplink]

I'm not sure if this has been covered but, the power...

No, seriously though, the thing I hate most is the 'tuner tax'. What I mean by that if you're unfamiliar with the term is, the cost of aftermarket parts simply for the fact that the vendors can charge it and people will pay it. Here's 2 staggering examples comparing parts for my 25 yr old Corvette (which has probably less aftermarket sales volume than the twins):

Carbon Driveshaft - Twins, ~$900 for the driveshaft ONLY from Driveshaft Shop or Precision Shaft Technology for a standard unit with weaker greaseable u-joints and a standard slip yoke.
I purchased a PST set of drive shaft, both half shafts, with 5 1350 spicer u-joints, 1 1320 spicer u-joint, and slip yoke, all joints and yoke cryo treated... $1,100.

Exhaust - Lets use HKS as an example for giggles, I know there's oversea shipping but still... For the twins, header, overpipe, midpipe, and back, you're looking at about $3,000 conservatively and you still have to install it or pay someone to do so.
On the Vette I installed ceramic coated Hooker headers for $500 then dropped the car off at Kooks to have a custom stainless racing exhaust with x-pipe built from collectors back. After all materials, fabrication labor, and installation I picked up the car 3 days later... $1,200 turn-key.

How is it possible that popular, mass produced, lower overall material, volume sale units are almost twice the price as parts for a car that nobody is shopping for? That's the thing I find truly infuriating. That and the crickets.

Sorry, rant over.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Uplink

How is it possible that popular, mass produced, lower overall material, volume sale units are almost twice the price as parts for a car that nobody is shopping for? That's the thing I find truly infuriating. That and the crickets.

Sorry, rant over.

Simple - Because people will pay it!

[Uplink]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Simple - Because people will pay it!

Crazy, right?

[notout86]

Originally Posted by paulca

On modern cars the wipers "stow" into the recess between the window and the bonnet, so out of the airflow.

Yes. I just checked and now that I have adjusted the arm up 30mm it is not stowed completely.

It will be interesting to see if that means the grit blows away but the inferior aerodynamics means fuel economy suffers and wind noise increases.

You win some and you lose some.

If the wipers parked vertically, attention to pillar and wiper shape would be necessary to ensure good aerodynamics are preserved.

[Hot Lava]

Originally Posted by notout86

Yes. I just checked and now that I have adjusted the arm up 30mm it is not stowed completely.

It will be interesting to see if that means the grit blows away but the inferior aerodynamics means fuel economy suffers and wind noise increases.

You win some and you lose some.

If the wipers parked vertically, attention to pillar and wiper shape would be necessary to ensure good aerodynamics are preserved.

How could this be a concern. You live in Australia. Probably hasn't rained in like ten years.

[paulca]

I live in Ireland where the default weather is rain. Usually light, drizzly, annoying rain that's too light to run the wipers constantly, but enough to spoil you visibility.

I have no issues with the GT86 wipers. Though I did upgrade to Bosch Aerotwin wiper blades.

The rear window is more of an issue and I put RainX on it and use the rear window heater to clear it, which takes ages.

[notout86]

It is true that where I live we have missed out on rain for all of February so far, but other parts have had 359.2mm in the last 11 day(s). Another place recorded a 24-hour rainfall total of 348 millimetres.

I tested my 30mm wiper adjustment today at 94kmph and wind noise sounded the same inside the cabin.

[HunterGreene]

Originally Posted by notout86

Yes. I just checked and now that I have adjusted the arm up 30mm it is not stowed completely.

It will be interesting to see if that means the grit blows away but the inferior aerodynamics means fuel economy suffers and wind noise increases.

You win some and you lose some.

If the wipers parked vertically, attention to pillar and wiper shape would be necessary to ensure good aerodynamics are preserved.

I doubt your fuel economy is going to be affected that greatly. I don't have the wind tunnel to prove it, but the wind coming off the hood is probably still largely going over the wipers at this point.

And if you park the wipers vertically, the leading edge (the lowest point on the wiper) is now exposed to constant wind, dust and debris damage. Your wipers would be shredded in a fraction of the time it would take them to wear out in the lower position.

[notout86]

Originally Posted by HunterGreene

I doubt your fuel economy is going to be affected that greatly. I don't have the wind tunnel to prove it, but the wind coming off the hood is probably still largely going over the wipers at this point.

And if you park the wipers vertically, the leading edge (the lowest point on the wiper) is now exposed to constant wind, dust and debris damage. Your wipers would be shredded in a fraction of the time it would take them to wear out in the lower position.

Agreed. I was tongue in cheek about the fuel economy. Maybe a small deflector on the leading edge (the lowest point on the wiper) would be needed.

[RojerLockless]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

She keeps telling me it's not a problem.

[Uplink]

If it hasn't been mentioned before... the paint! I understand maybe going thin to save weight but for f's sake, a stiff breeze could take chunks out. My car just turned 5k miles and it looks like it may as well have been 500k. There are deep chips EVERYWHERE, including the roof and upper trim above the door window glass so a clear bra wouldn't help. The worst part is, the primer is white which stands out like crazy on Ultramarine.