Liftgate Design - Fixed or Flip Glass?

[Jeff M.]

How important to you is the flip-glass (a.k.a. 2-piece liftgate) feature on your Toyota Matrix or Pontiac Vibe?

[illusion]

I use my glass all the time to toss stuff in the back that doesn't need the full liftgate to be opened.

[joatmon]

So, this is like drunken's thread http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=17864 but with voting? my opinion's already over thereHey Jeff, Welcome to genvibe! What's your opinion of the lift glass?

[Mase]

Cool. Seems like a market researcher is checking out our opinions now...

[bud_one]

I think I've opened my hatch glass three times since I bought it in Nov. '02once to use it and the other two times to clean underneath....

[GMJAP]

It's a great feature that I'm really glad to have, and I think is an edge over competing vehicles without it, but I would've still gotten the Vibe without it.

[jasonvibe]

I could not have hauled the recliner home unless the glass lifted up...

[Baltovibe]

Quote, originally posted by bud_one »I think I've opened my hatch glass three times since I bought it in Nov. '02once to use it and the other two times to clean underneath....The only times I open mine, is accidentally when I turn the key the wrong way!

[BlueCrush]

I use mine all the time.

[ZubenElGenubi]

It's a waste of a perfectly good solonoid, if you ask me.

[mcgusto82]

could we live without it? sure. is it usefull? yes.i think it's one of those amenities, that we over look until we need it. then when we do, we're glad it's there.like airbags, un noticed and unused. then we're glad when it's there.

[michaelgt]

JoatmanThe guy works for Kia at the American Technical Center. He is researching the importance. So, the correct question should be, "On the next KIA that has a hatch, should the glass open?"He registered today just to take the survey.

[ColonelPanic]

Very cool that someone from a competitor has stopped by to see what we thought. We can all learn from each other. From what I've seen from Hyundai and Kia over the last several years, I do have to say they really have done their homework. Hence the reason that the '06 Sonata will be replacing my Vibe as soon as I can afford to do so. For the question at hand, on the Vibe, I don't find it that useful. For loading non-fragile, lightweight items, it works fine. But being short with short arms, unloading anything through the glass is out of the question, it is not possible for me to reach in to grab hold of the items. And with the poorly designed cargo cover our cars have, it is impossible to use the glass anyway, if the cargo cover is in place. Now, the glass would be extremely useful if there was a plastic shelf/storage box of some description about midway up the hatch where you could store things and they would be sitting up higher, and you could actually reach in to remove items.

[russd10089]

I've been using it, mostly only because the keyless remote doesn't open the hatch, only the window. Otherwise, it's nice to have, but not necesarrily needed.

[damronjr]

I like it, I think it would be better if it was an automatic window that rolled down like other SUV's. Then you could leave it open without having to have it flapping in the wind like a giant spoiler!

[joatmon]

Interesting. If it was a Pontiac person investigating user opinions of the rear glass, then if they are considering redesigning the rear glass, my suggestion would be to keep it openable and increase the clear glass area to improve the visibility out the back. Since it's for a Hyundai/Kia Vibe clone, then I would say they should make it not open and also paint it black to reduce that troublesome light coming in through the back window

[mcgusto82]

Quote, originally posted by damronjr »I like it, I think it would be better if it was an automatic window that rolled down like other SUV's. Then you could leave it open without having to have it flapping in the wind like a giant spoiler!point well made. a really usable rear hatch would be to have it roll down.that should be a option on the poll.

[Mavrik]

I only lift it to dry off the water around it when I wash my car. However I'm sure the moment it no longer opened... I'd have a need to lol. I vote keep it as it is.

[michaelgt]

Maybe the Sonata will be coming in a 5 door, and you can replace the Vibe with another station wagon

[BOZACK]

I use it all the time. But it would be nice to lock it open.

[ColonelPanic]

Tonight, I remembered a feature that many GM cars have for trunk/hatch/etc releases have had for a while, which the Vibe does not - and it sure would have been helpful. If the decision is made to have a liftgate glass that opens and it has an electric release, I have something to drop into the suggestion bucket that I think some customers would appreciate:If the shifter is in any position other than park or neutral, your customers may appreciate having something disable the liftgate glass release solenoid so it will not allow the glass to unlatch and possibly fly open. I don't know if the Hyundai and Kia vehicles already have that feature or not. It seems like the only time I hit the button on the dash to release the glass is when I do it on accident. Had the car been smarter than me, I wouldn't have had to stop and latch the thing again. (And of course, I wasn't in an area I felt safe to get out of the car and do so, so I had to wait for a few miles.) lol

[RIT]

It allowed me to carry a freezer with the hatch closed once. I thought that was cool. Also useful when unpacking after camping, so everything doesn't fall out into the driveway. Agree that a roll-in-the-hatch window would be even more useful.

[ToolGuy]

I actually wish my PT Cruiser had this feature. Makes it great for hauling long pieces of what ever around...The PT is leased so not loss there but the 06 PT still does not have it, not until a redesign year.

[Pick]

I use it very often. I could live without it, but it's definitely a plus.and for the rest of you who never use it and say it's a waste, we could also do without power mirrors, locks and windows.

[BOZACK]

Personally I prefer the lift window. I had a '77 Cherokee with a roll down window. First, it made the gate very heavy. Second, it would break all the time. The constant slamming of the gate would rattle parts loose. Can't tell you how many times I had the gate disassembled to repair the window.

[Gandalf]

I keep a lot of stuff under the cheezy plastic cover, so I don't EVER open the glass. If I need to put something in the back, it goes *under* that cheezy plastic cover, so I have to open the whole liftgate.But, FWIW, I REALLY wish the cheezy plastic cover over the 'trunk' area was nicer. It sags in the middle, no matter how tight you try to get it. It looks really, really CHEAP, like it belongs on a bottom of the line Chevette, or something.I'm sure there are some people who don't care if there even IS a cover or not, but I sure wish there was a better one. I've seen some that roll up like windowshades, and rigid ones with a hinge in the middle.The cover on the Vibe works, but let's face it: it's really a POS.I paid around 20K for my '05 Vibe, delivered, and for that kind of money, they could have put another $50 into the trunk cover. The rest of the interior of the car is reasonably nice, but the trunk cover is really a piece of cr@p!

[ColonelPanic]

Looks like Chevrolet copied the PT in that respect too (surprise!,) the hatch on those cars have a fixed glass as well. Speaking of that beast and just seeing how horrid our cargo cover is, which I totally agree, I really think this setup is quite nice:I guess you can throw a bunch of junk down there in the bottom and use that piece as a cover? If that was more like a box was mounted lower, you could store stuff in it, that would be perfect for those like me so they could actually use the glass, reach in there and get stuff out... Of course, that would only work if you had a hinged glass. Which this thang ain't got. Obviously the above isn't the "cover" as it is the floor itself, so I don't know what kind of cover they are actually using in the HHR. It's probably the same if not better than what we have though since it is obvious where GM's interior design inspiration came from, just go out to your Vibe and take a peek.

[stalinb12]

Hi, been lurking for awhile. Decided to register just to chime on on this. I find the opening feature on the glass part of the hatch to be totally useless.

[iDahoVibe]

Quote, originally posted by Gandalf » The rest of the interior of the car is reasonably nice, but the trunk cover is really a piece of cr@p! I completely agree. I would use it all the time, but I'm too embarrassed. And regarding the lifting glass - I couldn't live without it. I chose this car over a pickup truck. I've hauled matresses, 2X4 studs, etc. I would be screwed if I owned a sedan.

[Gandalf]

From reading what other people have said, while I haven't had occasion to use the flip open glass in the three months and 7 days since I got my '05 Vibe, I can see where it could be *really* usefull.I purchased the Vibe *specifically* because of the fact that it is a far more versatile design than a common sedan; while many months might go by between times when I need all that space with the rear seats folded down, I bought the Vibe for it's versatility in interior room, and cargo hauling ability, even if I don't use it on a regular basis. But it will be there when I need it. I guess the flip up glass does add to the Vibe's versatility. I just haven't had used it, so far.

[ZubenElGenubi]

Quote, originally posted by Gandalf »I'm sure there are some people who don't care if there even IS a cover or not, but I sure wish there was a better one. I've seen some that roll up like windowshades, and rigid ones with a hinge in the middle.I may be hijacking this thread a bit, but after hearing you, Gandalf, and then seening CP's pic of the HHR, it's got me a bit inspired. I mean, how hard could it be to fabricate a hard cover to replace that cheap thing in there now? You could use hooks to suspend it from the rings on the sides. When you don't want to use it as a cover, it should be able to sit on the cargo floor flat.I guess I could start with a plywood mockup and see how it takes...

[Atomic]

The flip glass is real handy for me, as I can open it to load tha last little bit of groceries, or reach in to get something in the back without opening the whole hatch and have stuff fall out.Real handy when you are camping or parking lot parties, just leave the glass unlatched, and you can reach in and open the cooler to grab stuff.There's a trunk cover?Oh, you mean that rolled-up piece of USELESSNESS.What would be really cool is a spring-loaded, retractable cover that comes from the side, and hooks onto something on the opposite side.It could be done in a three-piece fold, and since it would be vinyl or fabric, could roll up nicely into the interior panel, and be completely hidden. The removable bar-type covers are a pain, (my wife has a Saturn wagon) because if you need to fold the seats down, you still have this 4 foot long thing that you have to put somewhere.And I seem to be the only one who can re-install it. LOL.

[Toolman]

I use it all the time, if I am throwing a six pack of Sam Adams back there, or just putting some groceries in it. My wife does not use it cause she is too short.

[briandb]

I would gladly trade the "flip-up" glass for a good glove box light.