Why don’t saloon cars have rear wipers

nheather

Something I have wondered for a ling time but not bothered that much until recently because all my previous cars have been hatchbacks.

So driving out today, there is a little rain, front screen fine, side windows can be wiped by opening and shutting, but the rear window - covered in rain droplets and visibility is really obscurred.

So why don’t saloon cars have rear wipers - especially as the importantance of visibility and using the rear view mirror at all times is instilled upon us when learning to drive.

Cheers,

Nigel

rousetafarian

You aren’t driving fast enough, let the aerodynamics do their thing

mij

I had a Honda in the 80's that had one, it was useful...I think it was a Prelude.

un1eash

Google...
"Saloons do not have rear wiper because if their sloping rear glass which do not produces back pressure. By having a smooth air flow in that region it doesn't accumulate dirt and dust in the rear glass, unlike an hatchback"

"This means air can also travel across the windscreen and remove water sitting on the surface – so there's no need for a rear wiper blade. If the car did have a rear wiper, the more aerodynamic airflow would actually cause the rear wiper to lift, making it about as much use as a chocolate teapot"

PSM1

I have a Superb which is a saloon shape but hatch opening (so a sloping rear screen as described above). I have a rear wiper at is certainly more useful than a chocolate teapot and does not lift off the screen when used but instead wipes the dirt and water that accumulates (and believe me I do not drive too slowly!!!).

nvingo

There was a Mazda 323 saloon model circa 1986, and the Ford Orion/Escort saloon circa 1990 both had them.
as said above, the shape of the bootlid or tailgate can limit roadspray.

Sonic67

With a hatchback, the airflow tends to go over the front windscreen, along the roof and then where the rear windscreen is it tends to curl round depositing any collected dirt in the atmosphere on the rear windscreen.

With a saloon it starts of similar but the rear windscreen tends to be less vertical and then the boot is also part of the airflow. The curling of air and depositing of dirt happens on the rearmost part of the boot.

It's why the Ford Escort Mk3 had a small step of a boot rather than being a true hatchback.


                                                                                 

Windscreen wiper - Wikipedia

Rear wipers

Some vehicles are fitted with wipers (with or without washers) on the back window as well. Rear-window wipers are typically found on hatchbacks, station wagons / estates, sport utility vehicles, minivans, and other vehicles with more vertically-oriented rear windows that tend to accumulate dust. First offered in the 1940s, they achieved widespread popularity in the 1970s after their introduction on the Porsche 911 in 1966 and the Volvo 145 in 1969.

psychopomp1

Definitely something to do with the slope of the rear glass. Until recently I had an Audi A4 saloon (B7) without rear wipers for 13 years and always got crystal clear vision through the rear....even when it was chucking it down. I've now replaced my saloon with an A4 Avant (2018 B9) and the slightest bit of rain causes an absolute mess on the rear windscreen - hence why it came with a rear windscreen wiper.

djbsom

Rainex, that's your answer. Coat front and rear screens with rainex and water beads and flies away. Not only does it improve visibility but it reduces wear on the wipers. Win win

Trollslayer

You could eat that!