craigq (09-12-2021),davidricardo86 (09-14-2021),inuvik (02-08-2021),MetroMPG (02-10-2021)
Me, I removed it mostly for weight reduction (all of 2.5 pounds) because I was competing in the car. But, also because I didn't like how it looks, and I don't ever use it. I might feel differently if I had to drive in snow and ice (or even if I had to drive dirt roads regularly) where such a thing is very useful. But, here in FL... I clean the back window when I get gas and it's fine.
Simplify and add lightness.
Loren - Looks good and clean. Since mine has it, I'll just leave it. But I often wonder why a car that was built to be CHEAP would bother having a rear wiper. It is unneeded. My wife has a 2009 Toyota Matrix (just like Scotty Kilmer's), and it has no rear wiper.
As soon as Mitsubishi hires me as a design engineer, I'm going to ECN out the rear wiper, and bask in the millions I just saved the company! I told Hyundai-Kia leadership that if they would give anyone (engineer or line worker or anyone) 2 measely % of the certified VAVE savings over just 1 year of production, they'd wind up with a car that is nearly free to build. Let's say you save $400,000 a year. What ... H-K can't afford to give you $8,000? Gimme a break. If they did that, VAVE ideas would flood in so fast they wouldn't be able to deal with them all.
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View my fuel log 2020 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 42.5 mpg (US) ... 18.1 km/L ... 5.5 L/100 km ... 51.0 mpg (Imp)
I not only use my rear wiper quite often, but I also use the rear washer fluid quite often. Roads are horrible this time of year. Sand truck just went by my house again today, & we haven't had any new snow since last Thursday. If it's not snow, the sand/salt mess up the rear windows on a hatchback quite bad.
Could I survive without a rear wiper? Sure! I am not big on extra features, but I do use the rear wiper blade on my Mirage & Forester. Wisconsin (Driftless Area)
I use my too, because it's there. But it's not needed, especially down here in the southeast.
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View my fuel log 2020 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 42.5 mpg (US) ... 18.1 km/L ... 5.5 L/100 km ... 51.0 mpg (Imp)
I just made a quick trip to town & back (approximately 25 miles round trip). I used my front washers twice (got behind a semi trailer) & used my rear washers once on this trip alone. Most everyone I saw with a hatchback had a clean swipe left by using their rear wiper recently. The one that didn't looked pretty filthy in the back.
I realize they may not be needed there, but they are used quite a bit here. That's the only point I am trying to make.
Last edited by mitsumi; 02-08-2021 at 10:36 PM.
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View my fuel log 2015 Mirage GLS 1.2 manual: 3,108.4 mpg (US) ... 1,321.5 km/L ... 0.1 L/100 km ... 3,733.0 mpg (Imp)
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View my fuel log 2015 Mirage GLS 1.2 manual: 3,108.4 mpg (US) ... 1,321.5 km/L ... 0.1 L/100 km ... 3,733.0 mpg (Imp)
Another reason I removed mine: I absolutely hate that rear window wiper clean spot! It just make me see that much more how DIRTY the back window is. As mentioned, I understand if you NEED it... snow, dirt roads, whatever. But, I don't drive in those conditions. I'm no clean freak... but, I prefer a consistent "patina" of dust to a streak of clean.
So, there's that. AND... the wiper gets in the way when you just want to grab a squeegee and clean the back window. That's all I want to be able to do... use a simple squeegee at the gas station!
Simplify and add lightness.