I had a heated front screen on my old Focus and I really miss it on my (current) Mazda ! I never found the wires distracting and used it far more for demisting than defrosting - it would demist the windscreen in less than 30 seconds. 

 

In those days, you could add air-con, a heated windscreen and heated windscreen washer nozzles for only £500 as a 'climate pack', which is why you rarely see a mk1 Focus without it !

 

For me personally, cruise control and a heated screen are the only 'essential' upgrades - I wouldn't want to buy a vRS without either.

I didn't include the winter pack on my order for the following reasons.

 

1 - Thought £430 was a little expensive for two extras that I wouldn't really need/want - heated washer jets and seats

2 - Having had Fords with heated front screen causing havoc with my vision and contributing to migraines

3 - No vRS was available for a test with the heated screen fitted

 

The wife has just got a Fiesta and she has a smug look on her face when she simply gets in the car presses the button and waits a minute, whilst I am outside scraping my mk2 vRS, yes I can still see the elements in the screen on her car and others within the Ford product line, they are much thinner than previous generations, but still visible. Would have been nice to try a Octavia with a heated screen fitted to give me the chance to see if there was any glare, eye trouble from them. I may have been persuaded to pay for the screen.

 

I am sure I have read somewhere that a certain car manufacturer (Ford) owns the patent and rights to heated screens and all other companies have to pay royalties for the use of the technology, and as such Skoda and other manufacturers will not include them as standard.

I have the winter pack including the heating screen. Worth every penny. Very quick.

Regarding the elements it's only noticeable if you actually look at the screen up close. You wouldn't do this with a regular screen so I don't see why you would with a heated screen.

Guys we have been here before, some love it & some hate it. We all have our own opinions and neither are right or wrong.

 

Let's not turn this into another argumentative thread!

Guys we have been here before, some love it & some hate it. We all have our own opinions and neither are right or wrong.

 

Let's not turn this into another argumentative thread!

The OP title "heated" gave the game away, didn't it?

Lol

Regarding the elements it's only noticeable if you actually look at the screen up close. 

 

That may be true for you, but not others.

 

You wouldn't do this with a regular screen so I don't see why you would with a heated screen.

 

 

Why do you assume that it's the fault of those affected? Is it too much for you to accept that others may not see things as you do?

 

I'm not talking about preference here, I'm talking about a real problem. For some.

Tick the box regarding the winter pack. The heating elements are thinner than a model on the catwalk and you cannot see them as you are looking down the road anyway.

Her indoors will love the heated front seats but the sprogs will complain about none in the back.

Best of all the VW Golf, its not even on there options list so all Golf drivers you now just ask them about heated front windows and how you saved about £2,000 on a better spec'ed car.

Regards

Colin

That may be true for you, but not others.

Why do you assume that it's the fault of those affected? Is it too much for you to accept that others may not see things as you do?

I'm not talking about preference here, I'm talking about a real problem. For some.

I assume because to be able to see such fine elements in a glass screen when sat in the car must mean you are focusing on the screen itself rather than what's outside of it.

I'm no optician but I don't see how it would be possible to look out of the screen at the environment AND see the lines at the same time.

gt40 is very angry about heated screens, be careful!

Who?

If you're getting a diesel then yes it's worth it.

 

 

 

I am getting a diesel but why would that matter?

 

You'll find the same discussion on forums all over the place - it appears to be almost universal however that those that don't see the elements and are not distracted by them cannot understand, or even believe, that this can happen to others.  Which is why I said try before you buy.

 

It would be much easier if everyone accepted that this may, or may not be an issue - but it is real. Comments that disregard the issue are the same as people ignoring, say, nut allergies.

 

No anger here though.

Thanks GT40. I read this and have arranged with the sales person for him to bring his personal car into the Garage on monday so that I can see one for myself.

Unfortunately he wouldn't budge on price though....zzZZZzzzzz........£430 it is then.

I have a heated screen on my Focus, and it was the first thing I specced on the vRS.

So useful on cold days for deicing and demisting, especially on a diesel where it would normally take some time to get up to temperature for the fan to clear the screen properly.

You can see the elements if you look closely for them, but never noticed them during normal day to day use.

Guys we have been here before, some love it & some hate it. We all have our own opinions and neither are right or wrong.

 

Let's not turn this into another argumentative thread!

Is it??..... just banter W_k_b....surely

I had the heated screen on my last yeti. 200 quid option. wanted to get it on my rs but couldn't justify the extra for seats and nozzles getting heated too.

but have used the scraper that comes with the car. very good and doesn't scratch the glass!

Good info but would you have it again?

I have only had it 1 month so early too say ( so far yes....but keep glare in mind)

I have only had it 1 month so early too say ( so far yes....but keep glare in mind)

Thanks.

Is it??..... just banter W_k_b....surely

Yes, or at least the various reports in the backroom would indicate so. One mans banter is anothers annoyance. But if what Kai has said is taken on board then there shouldnt be any more problems.

I have the winter pack including the heating screen. Worth every penny. Very quick.

Regarding the elements it's only noticeable if you actually look at the screen up close. You wouldn't do this with a regular screen so I don't see why you would with a heated screen.

I specified the winter pack just to get the heated windscreen but have to admit I although I would only have ordered heated seats separately with leather trim even on the alcantara seats it is nice and snug on a cold morning to put the seat heater on - warms me up a lot quicker than the heater does! Think I'd have heated seats on any car now.

I am getting a diesel but why would that matter?

 

Thanks GT40. I read this and have arranged with the sales person for him to bring his personal car into the Garage on monday so that I can see one for myself.

Unfortunately he wouldn't budge on price though....zzZZZzzzzz........£430 it is then.

Diesels take a lot longer to warm up than petrol, so it takes longer before you get warm air to de-ice the screen

Thanks.

As someone else mentioned the Diesel does take a lot longer to warm up.

I think I would definitely order again....advantages far out way disadvantages.

So so glad its available on new Skodas as an option now! Its taken long enough.

Brilliant idea that I still miss from my Focus 10 years ago now....

So so glad its available on new Skodas as an option now! Its taken long enough.

Is it?

My 2010 Superb has it - I think it was an option back then?

Is it?

My 2010 Superb has it - I think it was an option back then?

The O3 is the first octavia to have it.

Had my first heated screen in a company Mk1 Mondeo - absolutely brillant device

so much so that I've got one fitted to my Hillman Imp - their availability seems to be better for classic cars than moderns. :think:

 

Whether you notice the wires or not will depend on your eyes - if your long sighted you will look straight through them but if short sighted they can be more apparent - try focusing on distant objects and learn to ignore them.

 

Scott

Had my first heated screen in a company Mk1 Mondeo - absolutely brillant device

so much so that I've got one fitted to my Hillman Imp - their availability seems to be better for classic cars than moderns. :think:

 

Whether you notice the wires or not will depend on your eyes - if your long sighted you will look straight through them but if short sighted they can be more apparent - try focusing on distant objects and learn to ignore them.

 

Scott

.

Didn't realise they were available as a "third-party" retrofit.

Wonder how expensive it would be to install one in a 3-series BMW?

I have had one fitted to my Sierra, it came in at around £150 with Focus heated washer jets.  It's ideal for demisting as well as deicing, I find that if I'm looking at the road I don't notice the heating elements, it's only when I think about them that I get fixated with them.