So WPF was entirely new to me, until a few months ago leading up to the purchase of my 26 GX OT.
After digesting many posts relating the vulnerability of the GX windshield to cracking, due to its vertical orientation, I convinced myself to move ahead with WPF poste haste. Also, at that time, there was a hum about the scarcity of these windshields, and owners having to wait months to have them replaced under their comprehensive insurance.
The GOOD: So the good news about WPF is that it seems to do a pretty decent job of protecting my windshield from rock damage and the such. The cost is around $300-$400. And visually it didn’t seem to make any significant difference (perhaps slight light distortion at particular angles.. but not much not much).
The BAD: so a few weeks after installation, I started to notice that after washing and drying the windshield, stubborn calcium deposits appeared that were very difficult to remove. So much so, that I had to literally wash AND dry the window multiple times to get them out.. then I found out from an installer that this is a very common problem with WPF. Water deposit etching, as they call it, seems to occur to a far greater degree on windshields that have been covered with WP than the native glass. Also bugs and other particulate material can become imbedded in the WPF, at times leaving its mark indelibly. Added to this is the problem raised by some owners of minute scratches (some permanent) from dirt caked windscreen wipers…
The UGLY: So not only are these water deposits and imbedded particulates, and “non-self healing” scratches unsightly, and difficult to remove, the warranty on the WPF itself varies between 1-2 years for most WPF products. According to one installer, you can ceramic coat the WPF, but the cost of doing so is $150 (1.5 times my comprehensive deductible for a replacement windshield) - and to add to that cost, the ceramic coating product only lasts for a few months at best.
WPF End Analysis -
: In my case, now that I have WPF installed on my windshield, I’m less anxious about windshield damage, but I will be spending more time being meticulous about cleaning and maintaining the windshield, including applying some type of ceramic coating regularly. Truthfully, in hindsight, I don’t particularly regret having had WPF installation… But now that new information has surfaced (according to one of our members, windshields are “easily available within a few days across the country,”)… if I were a new owner with a GX or LC250, I would NOT get PPF, and just have a low deductible on my comprehensive insurance (as I do), and if by some poor twist of fate, I get a crack in the window, I would faithfully pay my $100 and have my insurance replace it…. And in the process save BOTH money and time.
After digesting many posts relating the vulnerability of the GX windshield to cracking, due to its vertical orientation, I convinced myself to move ahead with WPF poste haste. Also, at that time, there was a hum about the scarcity of these windshields, and owners having to wait months to have them replaced under their comprehensive insurance.
The GOOD: So the good news about WPF is that it seems to do a pretty decent job of protecting my windshield from rock damage and the such. The cost is around $300-$400. And visually it didn’t seem to make any significant difference (perhaps slight light distortion at particular angles.. but not much not much).
The BAD: so a few weeks after installation, I started to notice that after washing and drying the windshield, stubborn calcium deposits appeared that were very difficult to remove. So much so, that I had to literally wash AND dry the window multiple times to get them out.. then I found out from an installer that this is a very common problem with WPF. Water deposit etching, as they call it, seems to occur to a far greater degree on windshields that have been covered with WP than the native glass. Also bugs and other particulate material can become imbedded in the WPF, at times leaving its mark indelibly. Added to this is the problem raised by some owners of minute scratches (some permanent) from dirt caked windscreen wipers…
The UGLY: So not only are these water deposits and imbedded particulates, and “non-self healing” scratches unsightly, and difficult to remove, the warranty on the WPF itself varies between 1-2 years for most WPF products. According to one installer, you can ceramic coat the WPF, but the cost of doing so is $150 (1.5 times my comprehensive deductible for a replacement windshield) - and to add to that cost, the ceramic coating product only lasts for a few months at best.
WPF End Analysis -
: In my case, now that I have WPF installed on my windshield, I’m less anxious about windshield damage, but I will be spending more time being meticulous about cleaning and maintaining the windshield, including applying some type of ceramic coating regularly. Truthfully, in hindsight, I don’t particularly regret having had WPF installation… But now that new information has surfaced (according to one of our members, windshields are “easily available within a few days across the country,”)… if I were a new owner with a GX or LC250, I would NOT get PPF, and just have a low deductible on my comprehensive insurance (as I do), and if by some poor twist of fate, I get a crack in the window, I would faithfully pay my $100 and have my insurance replace it…. And in the process save BOTH money and time.
Last edited:
..
