Louvers........asdfghjkl;~!!!

[MrDinkleman]

I don't have louvers on my FRS but I do have them on my '79 Celica. I prefer louvers over tinting because louvers don't cause distortion, bubble up and peel off, reduce rearward visibility, or potentially screw up the defroster grid. I think they keep the car cooler in direct sunlight but I've never really compared a louvered car vs. tinted car.


Having said that, as much as the Twins look cool (to this "dinosaur", anyway) with louvers, I wouldn't get the TRD set just because of the mounting method: "glued" to the rear window. Seems like a disaster waiting to happen...


I am guessing that most people don't know/remember that originally, louvers' top hinges and bottom latches were mounted to the metal, with screws, right above and below the glass. The earliest ones I can think of are the 1969 Mustang Sportsroof (fastback). It was the aftermarket that came out with the louvers that had brackets that you slide in under the weather stripping and advertised as "No Drilling!" But manufacturers now bond all of the fixed glass so there is no chance for those kinds of louvers any more.


If Toyota would come out with a factory louver option/package that mounted with screws on/through the roof, I would get one; but I would have it installed by the dealer as well to maintain the rust and leaking warranty.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Nobody can ever accuse me of not actually reading posts!
I laughed a solid 2 minutes (and I am well aware I make the same errors damn spell cheque)

I can't blame spell check this time ........ however, I will declare a "senior moment" .......


humfrz

[Dake]

Originally Posted by MrDinkleman

I don't have louvers on my FRS but I do have them on my '79 Celica. I prefer louvers over tinting because louvers don't cause distortion, bubble up and peel off, reduce rearward visibility, or potentially screw up the defroster grid. I think they keep the car cooler in direct sunlight but I've never really compared a louvered car vs. tinted car.


Having said that, as much as the Twins look cool (to this "dinosaur", anyway) with louvers, I wouldn't get the TRD set just because of the mounting method: "glued" to the rear window. Seems like a disaster waiting to happen...


I am guessing that most people don't know/remember that originally, louvers' top hinges and bottom latches were mounted to the metal, with screws, right above and below the glass. The earliest ones I can think of are the 1969 Mustang Sportsroof (fastback). It was the aftermarket that came out with the louvers that had brackets that you slide in under the weather stripping and advertised as "No Drilling!" But manufacturers now bond all of the fixed glass so there is no chance for those kinds of louvers any more.


If Toyota would come out with a factory louver option/package that mounted with screws on/through the roof, I would get one; but I would have it installed by the dealer as well to maintain the rust and leaking warranty.

Someone on here modded the louvers to bolt down. I'm too lazy to search, but I remember reading about it.

[Packofcrows]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Well, now, Packofcrows ...... you just go for it. Yep, December will be a great time for the critters. The swallows will like the ledge effect; great place for the mud dobbers to build; the sparrows will appreciate the protection from the rain; the mice will find it a handy place to nest and it will be one stop grocery shopping for the birds of pray. At levast, they will keep the seagull poop off the back window .......


humfrz

Sh!T literally. I forgot bout bird poop.

Nesting I don't think so. They can't keep up with me when I'm gripping canyons. Lol

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Packofcrows

Sh!T literally. I forgot bout bird poop.

Nesting I don't think so. They can't keep up with me when I'm gripping canyons. Lol

Birds can be pretty aggressive at nesting time!

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Pretty sure there are guys here that take their wheels off to clean the tires!

And a few that probably remove the tires to clean the wheels.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Dake

Someone on here modded the louvers to bolt down. I'm too lazy to search, but I remember reading about it.

Actually, the TRD ones do bolt down, at the bottom. I'm OK with the install method frankly because anything else would require drilling into the car.

And, yes the price (including shipping) is killing these for me.

[SK86]

I got some a couple of months ago.

How is your DD overall visibility? It was weird at first, but now I don't notice them

Night visibility good? No problems at night, the louvers don't occupy that much real estate

Which louver did you purchase? TRD

Price? ~$1100 after shipping

Worth it? 100%, easily my favorite mod for this car

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by SK86

I got some a couple of months ago.

How is your DD overall visibility? It was weird at first, but now I don't notice them

Night visibility good? No problems at night, the louvers don't occupy that much real estate

Which louver did you purchase? TRD

Price? ~$1100 after shipping

Worth it? 100%, easily my favorite mod for this car

They really balance out the rims and tails nicely. Just the right proportions of dark to highlight the light blue. Very nice!
If the dollar ever levels out some more I will be going for it (right now it would probably cost me $2,500 or more with exchange, duties, taxes, etc).

[SK86]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

They really balance out the rims and tails nicely. Just the right proportions of dark to highlight the light blue. Very nice!
If the dollar ever levels out some more I will be going for it (right now it would probably cost me $2,500 or more with exchange, duties, taxes, etc).

Thanks! And that is insane, just have a buddy import to US and meet you at the border...

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by SK86

Thanks! And that is insane, just have a buddy import to US and meet you at the border...

Doesn't help with exchange my dollar is still only worth about 75 cents there right now. Besides they take pictures of the car crossing the border and odds are they will notice the louvers. If I declare them I would have to pay all the fees. If I take a chance and don't declare then I have to pay the fees, plus a penalty and it will be recorded so they will watch me close every time I cross. Really no safe way around the shipping.

[SK86]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Doesn't help with exchange M\my dollar is still only worth about 75 cents there right now. Besides they take pictures of the car crossing the border and odds are they will notice the louvers. If I declare them I would have to pay all the fees. If I take a chance and don't declare then I have to pay the fees, plus a penalty and it will be recorded so they will watch me close every time I cross. Really no safe way around the shipping.

Dang, I had no idea.

[jawn]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Doesn't help with exchange M\my dollar is still only worth about 75 cents there right now. Besides they take pictures of the car crossing the border and odds are they will notice the louvers. If I declare them I would have to pay all the fees. If I take a chance and don't declare then I have to pay the fees, plus a penalty and it will be recorded so they will watch me close every time I cross. Really no safe way around the shipping.

Importing them directly to Canada from Japan would likely be the cheapest option. Shipping from Japan to the US, and then to Canada would be kind of silly.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by SK86

Dang, I had no idea.

The Canadian economy is very strongly tied to the price of oil. Until the price of gas goes back up our dollar is going to suck. The $79 defuser I ordered off Ebay cost me $200 so louvers are right out of the question for now.


Now how hard are the louvers to remove and where do you usually park the car for prolonged periods?