4 ms·

My previous car had electric heating in the windshield. Took a minute or two to clear the ice. Still had to remove the snow though. Usually I started the car an

by Thlom 4y ago

My previous car had electric heating in the windshield. Took a minute or two to clear the ice. Still had to remove the snow though. Usually I started the car and then cleared snow starting at the roof and working down. When I came to the windshield I could basically just push the snow off. I do the same with cars without heating in the windshield, it just takes a bit longer.

gambiting 4y ago
Well, try that in a diesel, you'll be waiting 20 minutes before any hot air starts coming out and blowing on the window. I've had several and they were all a nightmare in winter, literally no warm air for ages unless you started driving, but how can you start driving with 3 inches of snow on the window. (but yes, now I have a car with an electric heated front window and it's the best thing ever)
- hnbad 4y ago
  I have a diesel car with electric heating (via wires) in the windshield and rear window. I get warm air within seconds and the electric heating wires obviously also heat up immediately. It's part of the "winter" package. I think you're comparing new vs old cars, not diesel vs electric.
  - gambiting 4y ago
    Well depends how "old" is old for you - my last diesel was a 2016 1.6dCi Nissan Qashqai and that car was hopeless in winter - it would honestly take the better part of 30 minutes for hot air to come out if you were just sitting there idling. That sounds like whatever car you have has an additional electric coolant heater, if the warm air comes out "in seconds". I think some Mercedes cars have that? It's definitely not a standard everywhere.
    - hnbad 4y ago
      It's a 2016 Ford S-Max (2015 edition). The electric windshield heating was, I think, part of the "winter" package and not standard issue but it's an option available in many models from many different car companies. I'm not sure how the electric hot air works but I'm guessing it's part of the A/C (likely literally just a heating coil that is turned on if the supplied intake air is colder than the A/C setting). The only issue with electric windshield heating is that the wiring in the windshield makes them more expensive and thus more expensive to replace. It's definitely more common in temperate to colder places (for context: I'm in North Germany).

by Thlom 4y ago

gambiting 4y ago

Well, try that in a diesel, you'll be waiting 20 minutes before any hot air starts coming out and blowing on the window. I've had several and they were all a nightmare in winter, literally no warm air for ages unless you started driving, but how can you start driving with 3 inches of snow on the window. (but yes, now I have a car with an electric heated front window and it's the best thing ever)

hnbad 4y ago
I have a diesel car with electric heating (via wires) in the windshield and rear window. I get warm air within seconds and the electric heating wires obviously also heat up immediately. It's part of the "winter" package. I think you're comparing new vs old cars, not diesel vs electric.
- gambiting 4y ago
  Well depends how "old" is old for you - my last diesel was a 2016 1.6dCi Nissan Qashqai and that car was hopeless in winter - it would honestly take the better part of 30 minutes for hot air to come out if you were just sitting there idling. That sounds like whatever car you have has an additional electric coolant heater, if the warm air comes out "in seconds". I think some Mercedes cars have that? It's definitely not a standard everywhere.
  - hnbad 4y ago
    It's a 2016 Ford S-Max (2015 edition). The electric windshield heating was, I think, part of the "winter" package and not standard issue but it's an option available in many models from many different car companies. I'm not sure how the electric hot air works but I'm guessing it's part of the A/C (likely literally just a heating coil that is turned on if the supplied intake air is colder than the A/C setting). The only issue with electric windshield heating is that the wiring in the windshield makes them more expensive and thus more expensive to replace. It's definitely more common in temperate to colder places (for context: I'm in North Germany).