Orwell
January 31, 2014, 6:44pm
41
It’s a small pattern of heat elements (like typically used on rear windows) under where the windshield wipers sit. It comes on at the same time as the rear window defrost and heated mirrors. It’s part of the cold weather package. In my Subaru, when I remote start it, the front defrost, rear window defrost, heated mirrors and above-mentioned wiper defrost all come on automatically.
The block heater is a separate option.
Chefguy
January 31, 2014, 6:45pm
42
Telemark:
My Subaru came with heated seats when I bought it 10 years ago, and they told me that all new Subarus sold in New England had to have the “Winter Package” which included heated seats, heated side mirrors, and heated windshield. But no block heater or bigger battery.
It was most likely for either a 2001 Jeep or a 2003 Honda CRV. Can’t remember. But I was really annoyed that I couldn’t get that option in Alaska.
enipla
January 31, 2014, 7:04pm
43
Orwell:
It’s a small pattern of heat elements (like typically used on rear windows) under where the windshield wipers sit. It comes on at the same time as the rear window defrost and heated mirrors. It’s part of the cold weather package. In my Subaru, when I remote start it, the front defrost, rear window defrost, heated mirrors and above-mentioned wiper defrost all come on automatically.
The block heater is a separate option.
OK, I’ve heard about that, and I wish I had it. I thought he meant a complete heated windshield.
Orwell
January 31, 2014, 7:15pm
44
You know, now that you mention it, I believe Ford had heated windshields for awhile back in the 90s or 00s. It was an option, and you could tell what vehicles had it because the windshield was a reflective coppery/yellow color. I’m sure it worked from some sort of electric resistant film that heated up when you applied electricity. I don’t know if it worked or if Ford or anyone else still offers it.
Slate’s article is on point. Google Image Yakutia. lots of great pictures.
Yakutsk, located in Yakutia, a republic in Siberia, is the world’s coldest city. In January the mean temperature hovers around minus 40 F, but days in the negative 70s are not unheard of. At this level of coldness, it’s best not to wear glasses outside—the metal freezes and sticks to your face, making it difficult to remove your specs without tearing off chunks of cheek.
The 270,000 residents of Yakutsk have a few key methods for surviving the unrelenting cold. The first is to spend as little time as possible outside. Five to 10 minutes in the fresh air can be enough to cause fatigue, stinging pain in the face and long-lasting aches in the fingers and toes. Twenty minutes is the point at which even the most hardy Yakutsk resident thinks it’s time to go indoors.
Fortunately, Yakutsk has a decent public transport system that functions even in extreme cold. People travel to work and school by bus, or hail a taxi if it’s late at night. Those who own cars park their vehicles in heated garages with a blanket wrapped around the battery. When they drive, they keep the engine running all day.
The right clothing is crucial. For maximum warmth, it’s all about fur: reindeer boots, muskrat hats, and fox coats. Such gear is pricey—a pair of decent reindeer boots costs around $600—but it’s a solid investment in not freezing to death.