YACT: How much should I spend on windshield wipers?

[duragezic]

I need to get new wipers for both sides after the wiper blades/inserts ripped halfway off when I was trying to free them from being stuck to the windshield.

Should I get whole new assemblies instead of just the refill inserts/blades? I thought that I read somewhere that there was not much point to getting just the refills.

So I went to Walmart and seen the following (for 21"/20" or 20"/20") entire windshield wiper assemblies:

Pylon: $2.67 each
Anco: $4.27 each
Michelin: $6.27 each
Tripleedge and/or RainX (don't remember): around $7.27 each


I forgot the prices of just the inserts themselves. Now given the big price difference between them and considering I could get a pair of the cheapest ones for less than one of the more expensive ones, I wasn't sure what to get. I couldn't really tell much of a difference by looking at the packages or the wipers.

I don't want to get complete junk, and no matter what wipers you get, they're gonna need to get replaced, especially with the harsh weather we get in the winter.

From your own experiences, what should I get as far as the best value for decent quality wiping and durability?

 

[KLin]

You typed all of that just to get opinions on windshield wipers?

 

[radioouman]

Advance Auto Parts has 25% off wipers right now.

Anco and Trico are good wiper brands. I installed RainX this past time on my vehicles and I've been very happy with them. I bought them at Meijer, buy 1 get one free.

 

[thomsbrain]

the rubber will get hard and they won't work in a year anyway, so why bust your wallet?

 

[FoBoT]

i go with the middle ones, not the expensive ones, and not the cheapest, like anco

 

[SmoochyTX]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
i go with the middle ones, not the expensive ones, and not the cheapest, like anco

Same here

 

[Gibson486]

I have silablade. They are good until you use them with snow.....

 

[spidey07]

1) always by the replacment wipers - blade and all
2) don't cheap out
3) do this twice per year
4).....
5) Enjoy great visibility in any conditions

<---drive 150 miles per day and can testify to having decent wipers.

 

[tomywishbone]

I hold the line at $45,000 per blade.

 

[duragezic]

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll pick up the Anco.

I read elsewhere on the internet that people were recommending Anco as excellent blades for snow. But there was some comments about them being bad for all-season weather (like these people swapped them out in spring like you would with snow tires, no way I wanna do that). Plus they might've been talking about some specific Anco model when I only recall them having one "regular" Anco model at Walmart.

There is pretty much no other stores here to buy them except Walmart so I can't get any sort of good deal.


As for typing "all of that", considering I would save $5-$10 from getting cheaper or cheapest ones compared to the more expensive ones, of course I'd take the 10 minutes I've spent on this thread, then use the money saved on some beer or smokes. Plus I'll know for future situations if someone asks me if they need to get the expensive ones. Besides, with the hours spent by some people on here posting useless crap like "OMG teh internets", I think this is somewhat useful.

 

[chuckywang]

http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/valeo/ultimate.jsp

Valeo Ultimate from tirerack: B1G1 free.

Don't get crappy blades.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: KLin
You typed all of that just to get opinions on windshield wipers?

Probably better than the time you spent actually needing to reply.

 

[alkemyst]

I like good wipers, but don't necessarily need PIAA or Bosch at $10 a pop. I usually pick the Anco Aerovantage for the looks over the standard Anco...but the performance is the same.

In florida I change blades every oil change.

 

[holden j caufield]

why the whole assembly and not just the replacement stuff?

 

[GagHalfrunt]

I get the cheapest ones possible. Costs about $6 a set and replace them once a year. The more expensive one *might* last longer, but I've never noticed any difference in how well they keep the windshield clear. If you're replacing once a year anyway that's long before the point where the rubber will decay even on cheapo blades.

 

[Farbio]

i love my bosch icons....just replaced 'em today, i realize they are a lil expensive, but my last set went almost a year still cleaning perfectly, and i don't have to change them for snow! definitely worth it to me!

 

[slackerinabox]

Originally posted by: duragezic
Thanks for the replies. I think I'll pick up the Anco.

I read elsewhere on the internet that people were recommending Anco as excellent blades for snow. But there was some comments about them being bad for all-season weather (like these people swapped them out in spring like you would with snow tires, no way I wanna do that). Plus they might've been talking about some specific Anco model when I only recall them having one "regular" Anco model at Walmart.

.There is pretty much no other stores here to buy them except Walmart so I can't get any sort of good deal


As for typing "all of that", considering I would save $5-$10 from getting cheaper or cheapest ones compared to the more expensive ones, of course I'd take the 10 minutes I've spent on this thread, then use the money saved on some beer or smokes. Plus I'll know for future situations if someone asks me if they need to get the expensive ones. Besides, with the hours spent by some people on here posting useless crap like "OMG teh internets", I think this is somewhat useful.

Dude, you need a "deal" to get $5 wipers.. Seriously, I thought I had money problems. I would be very sad if I had to put this much thought into trying to save (or not) $4 or 5 dollars..

 

[Zenmervolt]

I just buy the basic Anco wipers. They are fine. Honestly, they all dead after about 6 months no matter how much you spend. I don't see any point in spending a bunch of money on them.

ZV

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: chuckywang
http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/valeo/ultimate.jsp

Valeo Ultimate from tirerack: B1G1 free.

Don't get crappy blades.

At $20 for ONE, they damn well better be "buy one, get one free". The $4 Anco blades to exactly the same quality of wiping, and even the Valeos are dead after 6 months.

ZV

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: KLin
You typed all of that just to get opinions on windshield wipers?

Of course. This is ATOT.

 

[angminas]

I bought a pair of Tripleedge once and I'd have gotten better performance and less noise with a couple of cats tied to my wipers.

 

[mugs]

I replaced both of my wipers at the same time - one with the cheapest option (Car & Driver brand) and one with the most expensive brand (Rain-X brand). The cheaper ones lasted longer than the more expensive ones. I'd just get the cheap ones.

I bought just the rubber refills once, and they sucked. They kept sliding out of the wipers. I don't think I installed them incorrectly.

 

[HiTek21]

PIAA Silicon wipers. A bit pricey but they last for a long time. The Bosch micro edges I bought from Kragen only lasted 2 months, these PIAA wipers have lasted me over a year now and they still work great.

 

[clickynext]

I guess I'm the only one who gets them from the dealer. They're average priced and work just fine, better than ones I've gotten in stores.

 

[0roo0roo]

just buy the cheapest as said, the refills for the ancos are slightly cheaper than a frame refill. go either way, both are cheap. rubber + weather + sun.. its better just to replace once or twice a year instead of buying some insanely fancy model. i guess those might be for places where the weather is so insane normal wipers would go bad too quick or something. i live i mild cali so no idea on that. i do it once a year and its fine.