Question for those with privacy glass

[joele]

So I have the Scout with premium pack which is meant to have 'privacy glass' from the B pillar back.. Did they change this to tinting instead without informing anyone?

I just thought privacy glass was very dark, but I have had the front windows also legally tinted (so shouldn't be as dark as privacy glass) and they are at least as dark as the back windows. From the inside they seem darker as the back windows are more just green than anything, but glare looks darker through the front windows.. From the outside they are all average tint looking, not like other cars I see on the road with 'privacy glass'..

So did anyone else get this pack, how dark are your back windows?

[k_rider]

Yes, I have privacy glass in my RS wagon. It's certainly nowhere near 'stretch limo' dark, but certainly darker than the front windows (which do appear to have a slight tint anyway) and dark enough for me. They certainly appear more green than grey/black.

The good thing about it is, when in a car park (under cover type), you can't easily see into the boot, handy with a wagon! I get the impression that the term 'privacy glass' simply indicates tinting from the 'B' pillars back, rather than the shade of the tint. I'm not a great fan of the look, but it was optioned on the car when I bought it (it was a floor stock car and fitted with all the available options).

At least on the Skoda, the variation in shade between the front and rear windows isn't that great, so it doesn't look as naff as it does on some cars.

[joele]

ahh ok, yeah I had my front windows done with normal tinting, and they are a much nicer colour, also seem to block heat more.. ohh well, I orignally also didn't order the privacy glass but did order full tinting, so they just tinted the front windows and said it would be the same..

[BottomScratcher]

I'm not certain, but I thought the term "Privacy Glass" as applied in automotive trade simply meant tinting of all the windows behind the center pillar.

True Privacy Glass is electrochromatic. It can be switched from transparent to translucent. I've only ever seen it on a house in an episode of Grand Designs. I don't know of any auto manufacturer that's using it, or if it's even possible to use it for auto applications. Saab experimented with photochromatic glass (darkens when exposed to UV rays) a while ago, but I think they canned it.

In the auto industry I think "Privacy Glass" is to "tinting", as "Thermo anti-misting control" is to "demister".

It shows how much attention I pay to web ads. I just noticed that when viewing this thread when not logged in there's an ad to the right for Switchglass, switchable privacy glass.

[drad81]

As others have said privacy glass is just window tint normally from the B pillar back. This is certainly what's included in the Alltrack Sports pack.

I think I'll be doing the same thing as you, when I take delivery of my car, and tint the front windows to match the same tint as the rear. Not a fan of the unbalanced window look

[joele]

i have been doing done research and some places are claiming there is a difference between film tinting and privacy glass on cars..

Apparently privacy glass just cuts down mainly visible light and some level of uv..

Tint films cut fat more heat as they block a lot of infrared and almost all uv (99.9 as opposed to around 80)..

If true privacy glass is all about looks, whereas film is about looks too but also to protect occupants safety and comfort..

[BottomScratcher]

Apparently privacy glass just cuts down mainly visible light and some level of uv..

Tint films cut fat more heat as they block a lot of infrared and almost all uv (99.9 as opposed to around 80)..

Ordinary glass blocks all UVB rays, but doesn't filter UVA rays at all. Many films claim to block 99% of "UV Rays". It's wise to find out which ones.

[joele]

Ordinary glass blocks all UVB rays, but doesn't filter UVA rays at all. Many films claim to block 99% of "UV Rays". It's wise to find out which ones.

yes sorry I meant UVA, you are right UVB is blocked 'by default'..

[Damo105]

My RS wagon had privacy glass, and as others have said, it doesn't block UV. I had always intended to get a proper tint done, but got rid of the car before getting around to it.

I spoke to tint-a-car who recommended a clear UV film for all rear glass, and a 35% UV tint for the front doors. In other words, tinting the front doors to match the factory privacy glass, and adding UV tint for the whole car. Was quoted $395 for a wagon in 2011.

[dArK5HaD0w]

on my11 models, they came with a light tint, as standard.
the privacy glass was an option, and only avaiable for wagons.

so 1st thing i did after getting mine was to get all the windows tinted.

[Mysticality]

My dealer explained to me that "privacy glass" was tinting from the B-Pillar backwards, so I didn't option it in. Figured I could get a full tint elsewhere.

Automotive glass is tinted by default. Windscreen tinting is illegal.
Compare the untinted windscreen to the default-tinted door windows one day - you'll be able to notice the difference.
I have no tint and the colour change is really quite obvious.

[joele]

Taking it to tint a car today to see what they can do, as I said the privacy glass in the back is dark from the outside, but not as good as a normal tint in regards to heat or glare..

Sadly I either took the privacy glass or no car in my colour, stock of the scouts is very low as out of production, not that the dealer knew or admitted that..

[joele]

Went into tint-a-car, they will peel off my front tint and replace with formula 1 which has a slight green colour so it matches the back privacy glass colour (unlike brown one essendon put on)..

In the back they will put (almost) clear ceramic tint, to cut 55% of heat, 99% uva and glare, he also confirmed that privacy glass is just aesthetic, doesn't have most of the advantages of metal or ceramic tints..

$495

[Rooboy]

In the back they will put (almost) clear ceramic tint,

Good choice to go with the ceramic as it won't interfere with the window aerials.

[cbay]

here's what mine looks like, crappy iphone colours and all.