Choice posted an article in March last year “New car? The extras that are worth getting” (https://www.choice.com.au/transport/cars/new/articles/useless-extras-revealed) which said about window tinting: “This is already standard on most cars. Do you really need even darker windows?”
However, the article did not mention the UV protection that window tinting (allegedly) provides.
I’m about to buy a new car (Kia) which has “Solar Glass” and is already tinted. Is it worth spending another $600 on a ceramic window tint (which can be clear for windshields) that block 99% of UV rays?
Auto glass is market and product (make and model) specific so Kia would be your ‘go to’ to get answers on their ‘solar glass’. Getting that response might not be timely to help your decision and Kia might be more inclined to help a dealer sell something than not.
However virtually every product a dealer offers prior to delivery is often called a ‘deal pack’, a pun, in that it is both a dealer offered package as well as packing their profit.
Over time there have been a number of articles citing trustworthy sources in a general case. John Cardogan is generally recognised as providing good advice.
This Soul user forum is US based so the dated discussion could be irrelevant for other models and Australian models. One anecdotal comment, again from the American market Soul, is ‘My dealership called me back today and said they confirmed with Kia that the windshield is indeed 98% protected for UV A/B.’
Products offered need to be scrutinised in fine detail to understand the value of any warranties. Many, such a their scratch and dent repair programs are generally worthless because one pays up front, one pays for each service, there are T&C of what they cover as included, and one sometimes has to perform specified, periodic, and often expensive maintenance or recoating. This includes ceramic coatings.
If you are still interested seek after-market application quotes and compare the warranties as well as prices. One danger of an after market company is how sustainable their business will be into the future and what happens to their warranty if they cease trading.
I hope this is helpful.
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Hi PhilT, We have had window tinting installed on our last three cars and strongly recommend the installation. Why you ask? The inside temperature is quite significant, comparing tinted windows to non-tinted windows. There is also a small fuel saving when the air-con is turned on in vehicles with window tinting.
There is also the privacy aspect with people peering through your untinted windows looking for items to steal.
I had a company vehicle, without window tinting, driving throughout western NSW. The inside heat even when parked in the shade was way more intense when compared to a tinted car, (my boss), in the same town and at the same time.
If you don’t want a dealer to fit the tinting, it may be advantageous for to visit a reputable aftermaket window tinting outlet. EG, Tint a Car. I believe that this is a franchise outlet.
