windshield wiper blades

[Jvan]

Time to change blades and there are so many choices/brands. Some of the old standards are a few bucks and some silicone are $20+. Consumer reports recommended Anco or Michelin RainForce but I've seen recommendations for Bosch icon, Piaa Super Silicone, RainX Latitude, and Valeo 600 series. The svx uses two different length for the driver/passenger and another one for the rear.Any suggestions/recommendations? Here in lower NY, we don't usually get extremes of rain/snow/ice or heat but when it's raining heavy, I'd like to see in the dark/mist without smirring the windshield and have the best value for my money whether it;s $7 or $20+

[SoCal LS-L]

Time to change blades and there are so many choices/brands. Some of the old standards are a few bucks and some silicone are $20+. Consumer reports recommended Anco or Michelin RainForce but I've seen recommendations for Bosch icon, Piaa Super Silicone, RainX Latitude, and Valeo 600 series. The svx uses two different length for the driver/passenger and another one for the rear.Any suggestions/recommendations? Here in lower NY, we don't usually get extremes of rain/snow/ice or heat but when it's raining heavy, I'd like to see in the dark/mist without smirring the windshield and have the best value for my money whether it;s $7 or $20+

A quick forum search brings ample threads and info regarding this subject.......

http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=50749&highlight=wiper+blades

+1 for the search function..... ;)

[BoxerFanatic]

I just put ANCO frameless blades on my SVX. 22" driver, 20" passenger, 18" rear. They fit great.

(I also re-painted the wiper arms and the metal windshield cowl panel while I was at it... bare metal not good for the winter. Mar-hyde trim-black looks so much better.)

The Ancos were on sale 2 for the price of one at O'Reilly Auto Parts, I believe through October 20th, or something. They came higher recommended than the Bosch Icons. I haven't had them out in the weather myself yet, but supposedly they have a bit more silicone content in the rubber, which is a good thing, and helps keep them from wearing so fast, and keeps them pliable in the cold, like "winter blades".

I have one Valeo blade on my Legacy (had to buy a Michelin blade for the passenger side, as the store was out of stock of the smaller size) and it is quite good, but harder to find, unless you want to mail-order. The Michelin blade, along with two more on the Miata, do ok... they are starting to get streaky, though... I have one more new Anco, and may pick up two more before the sale ends... to finish off the Legacy and Miata.

3 cars... and 4 18 inch blades between them, plus a 24, 22, and 20 inch blade, between the two subarus.

I do wish my Legacy had the rear wiper that Japan and other countries got, that the US built legacys did not. I sure like it on the SVX.

[Jvan]

Thanks. I tried the forum search before posting and nothing showed up. I guess I needed to include the wiper + blades not just wiper blades. That other thread didn't really reach a recommendation on blades. Many recommended the Bosch blades and some the cheap rubber blades but nothing about the new silicone or the new blades w/out spring clips. I guess it's amatter of person choice and price.

[BoxerFanatic]

The 2-for-1 deal is big. Each blade costs 14-18$ roughly. 4 blades would have cost ~$60, but I got 4 for (all three SVX sizes, and another 18" for the Miata or the Legacy...) for 42$ including tax, and a 4$ relay to fix the intermittent start issue on the SVX...

I may go back before the deal expires, and get two more 18" blades, to completely fit the Legacy passenger side, and both Miata blades... The Legacy driver's side has a Valeo that is still going well.

Another 40$ for two pairs of headlight bulbs for the Miata and SVX low-beams... and those being the cheapie Sylvanias from Walmart.

Seems like $100 doesn't go as far as it used to, in terms of consumable auto supplies.

This week, it is going to be 15 quarts of motor oil, and three oil filters... and changing 12 wheels over to snow tires for the season, on all three cars. (SVX getting it's Michelin all-seasons that I picked up from Anthony Buchanan a couple weeks back... thanks again, they cleaned up great, and got their re-balance now...)

I am not sure what has colluded to get them all to need their oil changes all at once, mileage wise... but I guess that is what happens sometimes. I wish my good aluminum jack weren't out of commission... :D

And here's crossing my fingers to not get another cross-threaded, broken wheel lug and stud on the SVX again... No impact gun on those wheels ever again. Knocking on wood, rabbit's foot, praying, whatever....

[ensteele]

I use the ANCO as well. I like them. :)

[dcarrb]

Another vote here for ANCO.

dcb

[msvx95]

I just bought Anco Contour blades for my truck and they feel like spring steel that apply evenly to the windshield surface. They work well for me so far.

[Green1995SVX]

I have bosch icons on my svx. Technically, the only wipers that fit properly are the ones from Subaru. They have special nubs on them and a built in spoiler.

[Jvan]

The 2 for 1 deal sounds good but I found the sane deal on another forum at Pepboys for the Bosch icons. Since there is no 'reilys near but but there is a Pepboys,cost will be the deciding factor.I need to get 3 blades for the SVX, 2 for a Forester and 2 for my Impala, 2 for my pickup, 2 for the jeep. 11 at half price will be a savings..

[Hop]

I've tried the rainX lattitudes and liked them so much I put them on all of my cars (4) as well as my kids cars(5). I like the looks of them as well as the performance. I've had them on my Outback for over a year and have used them hard (lots of mud) and they seem to be holding up very well.

[Jvan]

The Pepboys discount for the Bosch is good until Nov. 15th but it appears that it's not for the icons. Need to check it out more.

[kwren]

Bosch icons is a whole new world.

Keith:cool:

[zavikan]

I have bosch icons on my svx. Technically, the only wipers that fit properly are the ones from Subaru. They have special nubs on them and a built in spoiler.

Thats a thumbs up for mentioning the stock blades and a thumbs down for not HAVING THEM. shame mike. shame....feel it.

I personally smacked myself around for paying for the stock blades for my svx...but seeing the prices of the bosch icon style (which I have on my sonata), its almost economical to go stock. And like mike said. Stock fits better, has an integrated spoiler for highway rain...and is more low-profile than the bulky bosch icon styles.

[Jvan]

Do any of these high tech blade manufactures make replacement inserts so that you can still use the stock wiper holder w/the windwing? Use to be, that's all I would do. Buy replacement blades and just remove the worn wiper and install the replacement.

[zavikan]

the insert on blades have not changed over the years interestingly...

You could take the insert from a bosch icon and put it in the stock 92 wiperblade assembly...

But most of the inserts are the same, so buying a $20 blade for the rubber would be silly.

[dannmarr]

Does anyone have a problem with the blades sitting properly when not in use? One of my blades stays on the glass but the other is on the bottom trim. Because of the different hights, the rubber blade tends to rip with time. I adjusted the arms but then it sits too high on the glass. Is there something I'm missing?

[dcarrb]

Does anyone have a problem with the blades sitting properly when not in use?
My silver: The driver's side wiper sits hard on the bump stop and still sweeps all the way to the A-pillar. Nudge it up ever-so-slightly and it smacks the pillar; once with such force the blade assembly snapped apart. The teal's got a sloppy sweep, too, but not so extreme.

dcb

[Jvan]

I agree that it would be dumb to spend the money on the Bosch blade just to get the rubber but maybe someone still makes the insert. Just that with reduced inventory, the stores don't want you to spend $5 when you can spend $25+ for a new set. Or maybe, people want the convience of just taking off the entire blade assembly and simply snapping a new assembly on the car. People are lazy and use to easy, simple solutions.

[kwren]

But most of the inserts are the same, so buying a $20 blade for the rubber would be silly.

Only if you don't really want to see where you are going on a dark rainy night.

Don't know about your self esteem, but I think I am worth it.

$20? Yes... there is that much difference.

Keith:cool::cool:

[ensteele]

the insert on blades have not changed over the years interestingly...

You could take the insert from a bosch icon and put it in the stock 92 wiperblade assembly...

But most of the inserts are the same, so buying a $20 blade for the rubber would be silly.

I think you should drive around the block with some different blades and see the difference. There is a big difference in the brands and how they move water on the windshild. In my neck of the woods, there is rain most of the year and I don't want a blade that I have to replace all of the time. jmt :o

[zavikan]

My self esteem is quiet high thank you (im a musician, goes with the territory) :lol:

You misread my post. We were talking about the INSERT not the BLADE. the insert is simply the rubber edging. To my knowledge, there is very little difference between the bosch icon insert and the rubber on a standard blade, if any. If you want to try a sweet sweeping blade, try the teflon edge ones (they wear out fast tho)

As to actual BLADE... the Bosch icons are my favorites. run them on all my cars, except for the svx which is oem. The built in bumpers on OEM make them seat properly.

I think the fact that we are all having such a large discussion about blades is hilarious.

[kwren]

Like ensteele, I live in western Washington state.

Didn't know what the word "rain" actually meant till we moved here.

With me it is a safety factor. The world gets darker every year, not just because of Obama, but as we age a bit the eyes do some silly things like don't see as well in dimmer light.

The HID's and then the Bosch icon wipers open up a whole new world for me.

Safety is the most important thing between being able to continue to breath and to stop breathing. How many chances do we get to miss seeing something dangerous on the road and continue to keep breathing. It could just take one.

No... no stock in Bosch here! :lol:

Keith:cool:

[zavikan]

I think the fact that your basically saying regular blades are a safety hazard, while driving a 12ish year old sports car is cute. :)

[JaySVX]

http://www.autohausaz.com/html/wiper_blades_icon.html

I had them on my SVX, I have them on my truck, I bought them for my mother's volvo and my father's escalade. I always hated the short life and poor performance of regular blades, the 'double blades' would always jump around my windshield, and replacing just the inserts got annoying. I tried these on my legacy and loved them. I then put them on everything I own and gave them out to family for christmas presants. You can get them at most any auto store.

[kwren]

Like I said, it's a whole new world out there with Bosch icons!
Simply put, bracketless wiper blades are designed without metal or plastic brackets, joints or hinges, offering design and performance improvements over conventional wiper blades. Bracketless wiper blade design is the very latest in original equipment wiper technology. Each year, more and more vehicle manufacturers are specifying bracketless blades.

Bosch is the leading OE supplier of bracketless wiper blades, equipping manufacturers such as Ford, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Porsche. Bosch's advanced bracketless wiper blade design is the recipient of three major design awards: 1) Motortec 2001, Madrid, Spain; 2) Automechanika 2002, Frankfurt, Germany; and, 3) Automotive News PACE Award 2002, Detroit, Michigan.

Keith:cool:

[JaySVX]

Like I said, it's a whole new world out there with Bosch icons!
Simply put, bracketless wiper blades are designed without metal or plastic brackets, joints or hinges, offering design and performance improvements over conventional wiper blades. Bracketless wiper blade design is the very latest in original equipment wiper technology. Each year, more and more vehicle manufacturers are specifying bracketless blades.

Bosch is the leading OE supplier of bracketless wiper blades, equipping manufacturers such as Ford, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Porsche. Bosch's advanced bracketless wiper blade design is the recipient of three major design awards: 1) Motortec 2001, Madrid, Spain; 2) Automechanika 2002, Frankfurt, Germany; and, 3) Automotive News PACE Award 2002, Detroit, Michigan.

Keith:cool:

La la la, science and statistics... They just work.

[kwren]

La la la, science and statistics... They just work.

Couldn't have said it better myself!

:lol:

Keith:cool: