Windshield Replacement

agreed but i'd never run it through my insurance... it will impact your rates in the future, and offset by the extra cost plus deductible maybe not even worth it. insurance is for major items, not nickel and dime stuff.

 

Comprehensive claims will not impact your future rates. I've used my insurance to pay for three new windshields and repair vandalism to my car in the past and even when I switched insurance, none of the claims even showed up. Only liability claims can/will impact your rates. And if you're worried about that, pay a little more for the "accident forgiveness" policies and you won't even have to worry about liability claims (unless you want to switch insurance companies)

 

This is why you should fight your insurance company to get OEM glass, seals, moldings, & misc parts if they pay for it..

Also you don't have to get Toyota OEM. Companies like AGC, PPG/PGW, Pilkington, & Guardian are OEM manufacturers for other auto manufactuerers so any of these aftermarket glass is also good.

Just because it's meets DOT doesn't mean it's not crap. SCG & FYG also meet DOT but they're and bottom barrel glass that is usually used in $200 windshield jobs. Lot of complaints of waviness, distortion, & durability.

 

Well, we'll see how it goes. I wasn't about to go thru my insurance and pay a $500 deductible. I'll see what GEICO charges for a lower glass-only deductible/claim and make a decision for future occurrences.

Not sure about you guys replacing windshields like you're changing your underpants, but in my 35+ years of driving, this is only my 3rd window replacement (knock on would), so I would have pissed away quite a few dollars for the lower deductible.

 

It really doesn't make much of a difference (at least for me) in the premium. I didn't start going thru windshields until I got up here. In fact, I don't recall ever having one replaced until we moved here.

 

Anyone have any thoughts about the rear-view mirror vibe that I posted about?

 

Don't forget, I'm in NJ, so logic goes out the door as it relates to insurance.

 

The rear view mirror should not vibrate... period. Take it back asap and raise Cain.

 

I agree that it shouldn't, as it didn't before I took it. I was just wondering if there's an adjustment that I can do?

 

Never mind. I got it off. It was not properly put on the mount. I seated it back on correctly. Hopefully, this will fix the shakes issue. Thanks for the help.

 

1. some companies will raise your rates; and some will when you have multiple claims
2. it goes into your CLUE report with can and will affect your future rates from other companies.
3. if you can afford it, it's often best to have a higher deductible and lower premiums anyway.
4. insurance is not meant for nickel and dime stuff like this, it's meant for catastrophic coverage - and if you're insurance against stuff like this, you are paying for it. it's like people who insure their wedding rings, electronics (warranty coverage), etc. almost always a bad idea financially.

 

My premiums are dirt cheap for the coverage I have. And raising my deductible on Comprehensive from $0 to $500 would have only saved me like $7 a month. Given my new OEM Toyota windshield cost over $1200 I think I got the better end of that deal. I also have a jewelry policy that costs me less than $6 a month. Considering it covers not only theft but also "accidental loss" you better believe that peace of mind is well worth $6 a month to cover the cost of my wife's jewelry. As for using insurance on small stuff, I wholeheartedly disagree. Insurance is a rip off no matter how you look at it but it is needed in case something horrible does happen. However, if I'm going to pay an outrageous premium each month because of what other people who drive the same car or live in the same area do, you better believe I'm going to use it every chance I get, especially for comprehensive stuff. Why pay to repair vandalism or a broken windshield out of my pocket when insurance will cover all of the above at no cost to me? I'm not going to be switching insurance companies every year and in fact, since I've been driving I've only used two insurance companies and in that 15+ years I've filed maybe four claims, all of which were comprehensive. So far I have yet to find a downside, especially with my brand new OEM Toyota windshield.

 

I usually go through one per year living on the mountain.

I've had every one replaced with OEM with 0 deductible.

 

This was the cause of the shake/vibration. It's all taken care of now.

 

You can disagree all you want about insurance, however you would be incorrect (this is common knowledge, even to your insurance broker who will gladly have you insure anything and everything). This is part of what I do professionally as a CPA and risk manager for our company. The fact is you were charged $1,200 for a new window which is a total joke - I've never paid more than $250 for one, including installation. Just because you're comparing against something costing almost 500% more than it should. And for 7 a month - probably more - I'm personally way ahead over the long run. What I posted are the facts, and the reality is, you are using your sample size of one to prove your point - however you have to spread it across the average person - across millions of people to average out what you are most likely to incur. Hell, in 30 years of coverage I haven't filed one comprehensive claim - your four are WAY out of the norm. Get high coverages on liability, etc. - things can and do wipe people out. That was one of the points of the ACA - many peoples health coverage included caps on payments and when people got truly sick (cancer, etc) they'd end up using their entire cap (assuming the insurance company didn't find some b.s. excuse to drop them) and it would wipe them out. Those types of policies are now outlawed thankfully.


http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2013/03/29/7-ways-youre-being-foolish-with-insurance/
(it pains me to quote fox news on anything)
http://www.daveramsey.com/article/s...ry-insurance-policies/lifeandmoney_insurance/



I'm sure there are some cases where someone lives somewhere that would incur unusually high rates of windshield damage - those MIGHT warrant using insurance - but you'll still risk what I've already noted. Again, the intent of insurance is really to cover you for thing that are catastrophic, and you couldn't cover yourself. Anything small is simply consumers falling for marketing campaigns dreamt up to find additional revenue. Hell, I used to cost out warranties for an electronics manufacturer. I know all about failure rates, etc. and the odds of electronics failing - we made a killing selling warranties, which is why I've rarely ever bought one - between those, and not insuring nickel and dime stuff like this, I've saved thousands and thousands of dollars over the years and come out way ahead.

 

I completely agree with this. On my FJ (they have big windshield issues) the OEM windshield lasted 3 years until a rock that would have smashed any windshield hit. It almost came through into the cab. Over the next 8 months the Safelite windshield was replace three more times and covered by insurance. One was 5 days after it was installed. Every time Safelite said it was a rock strike that caused it. I was told all the replacement windshields were OEM. I don't remeber which brand they were, other than crap. After one of the installs I could see waves in the glass at the edge. It looked like there excessive amount of pressure on some spots. On the last repair, it required a company to come and touch up the scratches they put in the A-pillars. The windshields cost $1100 including the painted roof strip.

The last one I went to a different windshield company and insisted that they replace it with Toyota factory glass, it has Toyota printed on it. I got insurance approval and have had it for the last 4 years. The windshield and roof strip cost $1200.

 

I have a really stupid question that I'm going to ask anyway. Is it possible, at all, that this new windshield replacement would let more heat into the cabin compared to the original?

I'd swear that the sun coming thru this new glass is much hotter than before the replacement and it's not even summer yet. My radar detector, etc, that I keep on my dash also feel much hotter to the touch now, as does the overall temp in the cab.

Crazy. I know......

 

No one with an opinion on this?

 

In the aftermarket, most windshield parts have whats called "solar control" in the glass which helps reflect energy entering through the glass. In older model vehicles, aftermarket parts exist without it, which may allow more heat to enter. If youre referring to your 07, the NAGS part is a FW2500, which is a solar part.

Also, anyone wondering about OEM vs aftermarket - Pilkington has been the OEM manufacturer on most Toyotas for years. The Tundra did a small stint with PGW as their OEM in '12 and '13 but not sure if they changed for the new body styling. Safelites SGC windows are OEM to NO ONE. I cant count how many replacements Ive done on SGC windows where the rearview mirror had fallen off and taken glass with it.

 

Thanks for the reply. It feels to me that more heat is getting into the cab from the windshield.