The "Frameless windows on 4-doors" thread

[Electioneer]

Love 'em.







And the shameless self-plug.

[rlfletch]

[Son]

Are there any advantages, or 'real' disadvantages to frameless windows?

Sealing the windows at least before was more challenging with frameless doors. I bet then they didn't have the system that lowered the windows before opening the door. Not at least on cars that had crank windows. Anyway, the sealing challenges caused wind noise, at least.

Also, a friend of mine had a CC and he complained the frameless windows are a PITA in the winter when there was ice build-up on the windows' edges. You might get the door open but closing it was difficult.

I would say frameless windows are a pure design gimmick.

BTW, I had no idea they were so popular in Japanese cars. I thought it was a Subaru thing mostly.

[vwlarry]

[QUOTE=Son;78097082]Sealing the windows at least before was more challenging with frameless doors. I bet then they didn't have the system that lowered the windows before opening the door. Not at least on cars that had crank windows. Anyway, the sealing challenges caused wind noise, at least.

QUOTE]

To the best of my knowledge, the first application of partially-opening power windows to enable access and/or sealing was on the rear quarter-windows of the 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham. That small window in the rear would automatically move rearward into the C-pillar a few inches in order to get out of the way of passengers entering the car.



Another nice four-door hardtop not from America, where most of them originated, was the Mercedes Benz 300 line in the fifties:

[Grey Mouser]

Sealing the windows at least before was more challenging with frameless doors. I bet then they didn't have the system that lowered the windows before opening the door. Not at least on cars that had crank windows. Anyway, the sealing challenges caused wind noise, at least.

Also, a friend of mine had a CC and he complained the frameless windows are a PITA in the winter when there was ice build-up on the windows' edges. You might get the door open but closing it was difficult.

I would say frameless windows are a pure design gimmick.

BTW, I had no idea they were so popular in Japanese cars. I thought it was a Subaru thing mostly.

I've had cars with 'normal' doors ice up just as bad as frameless window doors. I don't see how that's any difference. Either the ice bridging glass and metal, or metal to metal with a framed window.. still causes problems opening/closing them when iced up either way.

I've had both styles living in Colorado and neither was advantageous or at disadvantage during the snowy season, IMHO.

[VTECeateR]

does this count?

[bubbagti]

didn't VW recently make a frameless window sedan?
Edit: Found it

[partario]

[Grey Mouser]

didn't VW recently make a frameless window sedan?
Edit: Found it

rozap like 16 times by now?

[burtonxbordr94]

If I see one more CC post I'm gonna poop everywhere. EVERYWHERE.

[Wanganrunner]

[Volvo_D]

If I see one more CC post I'm gonna poop everywhere. EVERYWHERE.

no one posted this yet!*



*prepare for poop everywhere everybody!