Is there a better quality windshield than OEM?

[Noggles]

2800 miles and I already have a massive crack in my windshield. I wasn't able to see a rock impact spot but it was dark while I was looking so I will check later. My old Fusion had a terrible windshield with lots of pitting and little marks on it after 50k miles. I never follow dump trucks or trailers and this morning was no different. It probably was a rock but after seeing and feeling the glass in my old car and having this one crack already makes me a little uneasy about buying the same crap quality glass to replace it.

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[The_Phantom]

OEM is the best option when it comes to replacement. Anything else will be of a lower quality.

 

[melwff]

If there was an OEM issue you would see lots of posts complaining about it on this forum.

 

[wanted33]

Probably not, go with the OEM.

As an aside, there's so much crap on the roads in my area no windshield is safe.

 

[Noggles]

If there was an OEM issue you would see lots of posts complaining about it on this forum.

I think it’s ford being cheap on their glass quality. Like I said my fusion glass was littered with marks and several ford owners I work with have or had damage of some type. Most all of them have or had cracks.

And I was afraid it didn’t get any better than oem. Wonder why there isn’t a better quality option??

 

[Nagare]

Wonder why there isn’t a better quality option??

Because people don't upgrade their windshield like they do wheels or any other part. You do it because you have to and at that point, most people just want the cheapest they can get. The only other reason would be a race material for lighter weight but then you've got noise issues and it probably scratches pretty easy because its plastic.

 

[Grimace427]

If there was an OEM issue you would see lots of posts complaining about it on this forum.

When the S550 first launched there was nearly a thread a month about cracked windshields.

 

[Noggles]

Because people don't upgrade their windshield like they do wheels or any other part. You do it because you have to and at that point, most people just want the cheapest they can get. The only other reason would be a race material for lighter weight but then you've got noise issues and it probably scratches pretty easy because its plastic.

I have read that a lot of people would prefer better quality glass after they get their first replacement, especially when it comes inside the first year of ownership. I guess the voices just aren't loud enough.

 

[Bartly]

Saw the soundscreen logo on my glass and saw this thread a while back, saw they were talking about cracking.

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/windshield-question-soundscreen.29931/

 

[Noggles]

Saw the soundscreen logo on my glass and saw this thread a while back, saw they were talking about cracking.

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/windshield-question-soundscreen.29931/

I'm worried about replacing mine and having yet another crack soon after. I hate that there aren't better options but what exactly makes the "aftermarket/non-oem" windshields worse quality wise? Are they even more prone to cracking or is it a fitment issue?

 

[Bear376]

The problem is too little investment in better roads and the destruction caused by the vast increase of trucks on the roads. Not to mention drivers with no consideration for others. Nothing is more maddening than to have a car repainted and then two weeks latter a dump truck without the mandated tarp, blows past you and sand blasts the front and hood while you are stopped to make a turn and unable to catch them.

Stock glass is better, but nothing can stand up to road abuse. You can have a ceramic coating put on the hood and glass to protect them, but they are limited protection and anything must be certified not to hinder or distort visibility.

 

[TaraFirma]

Short answer. No

 

[Nagare]

I have read that a lot of people would prefer better quality glass after they get their first replacement, especially when it comes inside the first year of ownership. I guess the voices just aren't loud enough.

Tradeoffs and priorities. Better quality is more weight is lower performance. Nobody is cracking windshields driving on perfect roads, it is based on the conditions of the roads and areas you drive on or through.

I really don't see many people buying their car then calling Super Durable Glass Co to upgrade their windshield in the first year, it just isn't something people do. That's why there isn't an aftermarket upgrade. With other components you're targeting enthusiasts that want the best on their cars, with windshields you target the general public that HAVE to get it replaced at an inconvenient time. Say 10% of cars have cracked windshields, 1% of those people would want an upgraded one and that just isn't worth the tooling and manufacturing costs (probably).

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