Why Don't Rear Windows In Some Cars Not Roll Down All The Way?

[Santo_Rugger]

@TimeWinder

I’ve been told (no cite) that the half-down window is actually more dangerous than a fully down one; the glass edge acting somewhat like a guillotine in a side impact accident, and that as such you should never have a window down partway.

True?

I doubt it. If the window is in a position to act as a guillotine, you have bigger things to worry about. Also, the window will break more easily if it’s halfway down, because it will act as a cantilever instead of as a simply supported beam. If my head is what’s going to be breaking the window, I’d want it partially down, personally.

@Balthisar

There are a large number of cars out there that have child protection locks on the rear doors, i.e., like police cars, they can only be opened from the outside.

True, but those have a switch inside the door jam that allows you to turn it off.

[vetbridge]

@Balthisar

There are a large number of cars out there that have child protection locks on the rear doors, i.e., like police cars, they can only be opened from the outside.

I owned a Toyota Corolla with rear doors that could be set so that they could not open from the inside. It was never mentioned by the salesman, and I never read the f’n manual. The second day that I had the car, I picked up a young, female hitchhiker whose car was broken down. I pulled over to let her out when I reached my turn. I looked in the rearview mirror, wondering why she hadn’t gotten out yet, and there was a look of terror on her face. I can imagine what she was thinking. I eventually got out, opened the door, she got out and jogged a ways down the road.

[control-z]

@vetbridge

I owned a Toyota Corolla with rear doors that could be set so that they could not open from the inside. It was never mentioned by the salesman, and I never read the f’n manual. The second day that I had the car, I picked up a young, female hitchhiker whose car was broken down. I pulled over to let her out when I reached my turn. I looked in the rearview mirror, wondering why she hadn’t gotten out yet, and there was a look of terror on her face. I can imagine what she was thinking. I eventually got out, opened the door, she got out and jogged a ways down the road.

Heh, that’s actually pretty common now (the child locks, not the hitchhiker part!)

[FoieGrasIsEvil]

@vetbridge

I owned a Toyota Corolla with rear doors that could be set so that they could not open from the inside. It was never mentioned by the salesman, and I never read the f’n manual. The second day that I had the car, I picked up a young, female hitchhiker whose car was broken down. I pulled over to let her out when I reached my turn. I looked in the rearview mirror, wondering why she hadn’t gotten out yet, and there was a look of terror on her face. I can imagine what she was thinking. I eventually got out, opened the door, she got out and jogged a ways down the road.

To be fair, that coil of rope and roll of duct tape in your hands would have made me nervous, too.

[lobotomyboy63]

@FoieGrasIsEvil

Back in the day when cars were a lot more rectangular, back windows DID go all the way down, but I suppose with the newer shapes of cars that benefit from “cab forward” designs, as well as front wheel drive and aerodynamics in general have caused this design it be prevalent.

I remember cars whose rear windows went completely into the door, circa 1974. It’s probably not a coincidence that the current practice started around the time when manufacturers started taking fuel economy seriously.

[control-z]

The rear windows on my 08 Mazdaspeed3 go all the way down, I actually checked on this fact before purchasing one. I wonder if the manufacturers realize this is a selling point for some people?

[MrBelding]

It is a selling point for me. It’s obviously not as important as price or mileage or other stuff on the car, but I won’t buy a car that I can’t roll the back windows down.

[DudleyGarrett]

@MrBelding

It is a selling point for me. It’s obviously not as important as price or mileage or other stuff on the car, but I won’t buy a car that I can’t roll the back windows down.

But, but, what about the children?