That tiny strip of glass under the rear spoiler is so poorly designed. Dirt got trapped on it so easily and it gets worse in the rain, it's like frosted glass. I wonder why not many here complains about the lower rear visibility. Maybe most here have the rear camera.
Yeah, with my kid's carseat in the middle, I can't even see out the lower window at all. I'll probably install a rearview camera at some point. On a positive note, it blocks out the tailgater lights fairly well
I also notice that the lower glass always gets dirty very quickly, especially when it rains or your driving on wet streets. I may try some rain-X on it to see if that helps...
I've noticed that if you lower (fold down) the headrests on the rear seats it helps allot. Does get dirty though.
I actually think it is useful when backing up - while I have a camera I rarely use it preferring to look over my shoulder. I find that the small lower strip of wind helps get an idea of distance from obstacles when backing up. It is not great, but better than it would be if it were blacked out.
Yea, well that little wiper on the Prius is practically useless as well! I did Rain-X that window and it seems to help more than the 1/4 of the rear window that's cleared by the wiper!
I agree. For those of us who don't have rear camera, the window helps a little, but still not much. I'm certain that the aerodynamics are pushing dirt and moisture across the back end; i.e. the window, etc. My bigger complaint, is the rear window wiper. What a joke. I'd wish we had the option not have it as it just clutters up the rear look of the car. BTW, I put a little pledge across the rear end to help debris from accumulating. It seems to work nicely for me. Happy Motoring! Tom
Like the rear glass above the spoiler, it has what appears to be heating (defogger) elements running horizontally across it - though arranged not nearly as close together. Maybe it's just me, but they don't seem to work nearly as well (or at all) as the defogger wires do, in the glass above the rear spoiler. Anyone else notice this?
I use the defroster all the time and it clears the lower window no problem. I'm thinking about doing a rear wiper delete and using a cap to fill the hole like what the Gen1 xB guys have been doing.
I've used the rear wiper exactly once since getting the car. I'd be better off without it. As far as the lower glass...it's a good place to put a bumper sticker! (not good for much else...) One of my previous cars was a Miata, so it's a little nostalgic having the crappy rear visibility. It's all part of the 'character" of the car...
Interesting... Personally, I haven't had any problems with that. However, I do wash my car twice a week because I live in the desert.
Good luck with getting your IV! If you can put up with its idiosyncrasies, the Prius is a pretty good car. Don't forget to make them disable the rear beeper (single beep mode) before you sign papers, and if the Prius you pick has plastic wheel covers, get them to throw in a set of center caps for the alloys that are under the plastic covers.
You are all mistaken! If you drive in very poor winter conditions a lot like I do, you'll notice that in most conditions you'll be able to see out of one window or the other. When driving fast, the big window stays fairly clear. When driving slow the big window ices up but the lower window is clear.
You can see out more if you remove the rear headrests and the split window is fairly effective at blocking headlights from tailgaters.
