Those of you with hatchbacks that have the rear wiper, any of you wish you hadn't bothered, and those of you with hatchbacks that didn't tick the box, do you wish you did?

We've had some pretty crappy weather for the last two months so I guess you will have formed an opinion one way or the other.

I'm considering getting the hatch, but I'm undecided on the rear wiper.

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Mine was ordered with but came without and it's an absolute nuisance. Even with water repellent on the rear screen it's a pain.

Order with a wiper and check the dealer has actually ordered it as there are still cars being delivered with the wiper missing.

This is obviously quite an emotional subject for some.

 

I based my decision not to order the rear wiper on the fact I was coming from a MKI Superb which had no rear wiper (but I used Rain-X on the windows) and I had never thought ‘I wish it had a rear wiper’ 

The MKIII Superb hatch’s rear window is in a similar position (angle and distance from the rear of the car) to the MKI’s, since my car has had the Gtechniq treatment the car was virtually dry when I pulled up to fill her up.

 

Before the treatment I also had no problem with rear visibility in the rain.... BUT I do not do much 30mph driving, if you do then maybe a rear wiper may be of use to you?

 

If I re-ordered a MKIII (hatch) today would I include the rear wiper? NO.

Answering this question may help:-

 

Is there a "critical speed" above which rain does not land on the rear screen? I've driven other hatches on which there was, at about 30mph.

Answering this question may help:-

 

Is there a "critical speed" above which rain does not land on the rear screen? I've driven other hatches on which there was, at about 30mph.

 

I need to view my rear dash cam footage from this week to confirm what speed it clears but 30mph wouldn’t be far off IMO.

I need to view my rear dash cam footage from this week to confirm what speed it clears but 30mph wouldn’t be far off IMO.

I bet your rear dash cam footage is pretty useless for providing a clear view of registration numbers?

I didn't spec the wiper for aesthetic reasons. I'd seen photos of the car both with and without and decided that the visual benefits of not having it outweighed any potential visibility issues.

4000 miles completed and I haven't had any reason to regret my decision.

I bet your rear dash cam footage is pretty useless for providing a clear view of registration numbers?

 

What makes you think that?

 

(I will have no idea until I have viewed the footage)

I would not have a hatchback without a rear wiper. I believe a clear rearward rear is vitally important for safe driving. The only saloon I have driven in the last 30 years was an A4 (obviously with no rear wiper) and I hated the occasional lose of clear view rearwards.

Edited 24 December, 201510 yr by philbes

Oops who forgot to unplug the camera   (the 12v socket in the boot is permanent 12v NOT ignition live) so most of my footage has been over recorded.

 

Not great footage as it’s at night, but when you compare it to the forward facing camera you can see how much it is actually raining and how clear the rear window is when I pull under the canopy:

 

Rear view:

 

Front view

 

 

Oops who forgot to unplug the camera   (the 12v socket in the boot is permanent 12v NOT ignition live) so most of my footage has been over recorded.

 

Not great footage as it’s at night, but when you compare it to the forward facing camera you can see how much it is actually raining and how clear the rear window is when I pull under the canopy:

 

On this basis, I think I'd save my money.

If you live in Cornwall you need a rear wiper, the mess left by farm vehicles, and harvesters + lorries from building sites would not clear at top speed and rain downpour. O to live with clean roads and only have rain to cope with.

 

As  to rain clearing at above 30 MPH +, I have several stretches of dual carriageway even driving at 70+ the rear window still needs awiper for clear view.

 

The wiper fitted to the Hatch with the two jets in line with the blade is excellent and well worth any extra money, mine came with one and will never regret it.

What makes you think that?

(I will have no idea until I have viewed the footage)

My point is that in proper rain, or with dew it is not possible to see clearly out of the rear window. It's clear that you don't value your rearward visibility as much as some of us Gizmo, and that is of course your right, but please allow people to have their valid opinions on this rather than constantly trying to prove that you're right and we're wrong. Thanks.

On this basis, I think I'd save my money.

On a rear wiper? It's a no cost option...

Better to have than to not have especially if it's free. (IMO!)

On a rear wiper? It's a no cost option...

In most countries there's cca. 80 € extra cost for it in all trim levels.

My point is that in proper rain, or with dew it is not possible to see clearly out of the rear window. It's clear that you don't value your rearward visibility as much as some of us Gizmo, and that is of course your right, but please allow people to have their valid opinions on this rather than constantly trying to prove that you're right and we're wrong. Thanks.

 

1st as a professional driver I do value my rear vision equally as much as my forward vision (one reason I ordered the rear view camera)

 

There is no wrong or right answer here (hopefully) what I am trying to prove is ‘there is more than 1 way to skin a cat’,

either order the rear wiper OR use a rain repellant on the windows, this obviously will only work when you hit a certain speed and the aerodynamics of the car will move the rain from the rear window (so probably pretty useless if most of your driving is at less than 30 mph)

Wiper for me is a no brainer. Hardly spoils the aesthetics and is not something that can be added later. For no extra cost I would go for it.

1st as a professional driver I do value my rear vision equally as much as my forward vision (one reason I ordered the rear view camera)

There is no wrong or right answer here (hopefully) what I am trying to prove is ‘there is more than 1 way to skin a cat’,

either order the rear wiper OR use a rain repellant on the windows, this obviously will only work when you hit a certain speed and the aerodynamics of the car will move the rain from the rear window (so probably pretty useless if most of your driving is at less than 30 mph)

Exactly, water repellant treatment only comes into play once the car is moving at some speed. I think most people would prefer to be able to get into the car when raining (or dew covered) and be able to manoeuvre immediately with unobstructed rear windscreen visibility. The lack of a rear wiper prevents this.

That is not an issue for me, I revers onto my drive and into the parking bay at work and in the supermarket car park etc, so I can get in and drive off, my rear window is virtually clear by the time I am out of my road (less than 100 yards).

 

FWIW I wouldn’t entertain not using the rear wiper on an estate (mainly because of the dirt kicked up), the Yeti is the same, but I have not had the same issues with any (non estate) Superb I have owned.

On a rear wiper? It's a no cost option...

Fair enough; I had the impression that it was £several_hundred from the fact that the OP bothered to ask.

Fair enough; I had the impression that it was £several_hundred from the fact that the OP bothered to ask.

My reasons for asking were simply aesthetics Vs practicality.

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Gizmo isn't the front 12v permanent .... I've been unplugging my cam but I thought I'd left it on the other night and it had kept recording...

Not sure Nick, my cameras only needs one power supply (should be the front camera) which is then connected to the rear camera via a micro USB cable... however due to the Superbs mirror housing being so large and also the Thinkview F750 front camera is a bit bulky, so I am using the rear camera in the windscreen and the front camera in the rear window .... confused?? lol

If needs be I will run a ignition switched 12v feed from the fusebox but this will be my last resort.

It is strange how something as simple as a rear wiper proves to be such a passionate topic 

 

The fact Skoda offer it as an no-cost option suggests the guys at head quarters are also equally divided!

 

I own a MkII twindoor Superb and coming from an Octavia I very much miss the rear wiper. After a few years and close to 80,000 miles it is one of those very few minor niggles on the car.

 

I am lead to believe the complexity of the saloon / hatch mechanism on the MkII prevented the inclusion of the rear wiper.

 

Aesthetics of the car are quite a bit lower down my list of priorities (hence the reason I drive a Skoda  :sun:) so I'd have it added to the order, especially as it's free.