Maybe you can't just exchange the wiper arm. Yesterday I was driving in heavy rain, and I tried to visualize what would happen if my right wiper arm was bent, North America style. I think the arms would collide. On my car the arms are moving the same, so that they are always parallel. I searched youtube for 'Mirage in rain', and found this one:
It's hard to see, but I think the end angle of the right arm is less than the end angle of the left arm, to compensate for the bending. Here is a straight arm:
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View my fuel log 2013 Space Star Cleartec Intense 1.0 manual: 55.7 mpg (US) ... 23.7 km/L ... 4.2 L/100 km ... 66.9 mpg (Imp)
yeah that lower wiper seems nicer until your windshield gets covered in ice and the tiny defroster only hit the window halfway up. If you live anywhere there can be snow you want the bent one.
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View my fuel log 2013 Space Star Cleartec Intense 1.0 manual: 55.7 mpg (US) ... 23.7 km/L ... 4.2 L/100 km ... 66.9 mpg (Imp)
For the reason he stated. I've seen vehicles that tuck the wipers down quite low when turned off, which is great for aerodynamics most likely. The window defrosters, however, aren't hitting where the wipers rest & they don't work as well during heavy snow or freezing rain conditions.
If the windshield is buried in snow & ice, wipers that rest really low are also harder to dig out. Wipers that sit a little higher (where the defroster vents are hitting them) are easier to thaw out & free up.
The Mirage has a few quirks that makes it special. I view the bent passenger wiper arm as one of them.
Women with straight hair want a perm or curls. Women with curly hair want their hair straightened. If saying that is is sexist, I claim stupidity! These Mirage/Space Star wiper arms remind me of this!
Last edited by Mark; 04-13-2021 at 03:44 AM.
Fair enough. But that is also true for the (more important) left arm. So when that one isn't bent, the car still is not snow proof. On my car both wipers are on same height when idle.
About the hair, that is true. But of course we can't really probe&validate women's rationale here. You can't exclude that they have a valid reason for this.
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View my fuel log 2013 Space Star Cleartec Intense 1.0 manual: 55.7 mpg (US) ... 23.7 km/L ... 4.2 L/100 km ... 66.9 mpg (Imp)
idk about all that. this car has been the best snow car ive ever had. the low power front wheel drive and narrow tires and CVT are awesome in the winter. i fly right by subarus and all sorts of 4x4s in the winter. though I have also heavily trained myself in those conditions too. just wish the suspension was a tad better.
My 1990 Ford Festiva with 145SR12 tires was much better in the snow than my current 2017 Mirage. Skinny tires do help.
My Subaru Forester with snow tires, however, will climb snow covered hills that my Mirage can't climb & it will do it without even spinning. Even with snow tires on my Mirage, there's no comparison. The Mirage does well, but it has its limitations, too.
Tires do make a difference. Factory tires on my Subaru were worthless. Worst tires in the snow I have ever driven on.
How this applies to bent wiper arms is a bit of stretch? I can't come up with anything!
Mark (04-14-2021)