POLL: Should I put a strip of gloss black vinyl on my outer windshield to help block out the sun?

[vibenvy]

As we all know, tint, vinyl, etc. do not like to stick to the dot matrix around the mirror on the windshield of the Vibe. So, I have been tossing around the idea of just getting a strip of gloss black vinyl from Grafx Werks to put on the outside of the upper windshield to help block out the sun a little more in addition to the tint. The only thing I am worried about though is that this will look too "ricey" which I do not want. Let me know what you think.

[A Psycho Martyr]

I voted "Do It" but I'd like to add a note. There are laws stating how low from the top a vinyl can be on your winshield.As long as it is cut thin at the middle it should look very nice and not attract too much attention either. But I say find a shop that does vinyl in your area and give em a call to see their price.The place I go to here would charge $20-$25 for actually installing it and eveyrthing. AND guarantee their work.

[vibenvy]

As far as I know, the only law here in Illinois is that the tint/vinyl can't go below the AVS line which would mean it would be about 7.5" - 8" down from the top of the windshield so just enough to look good, but not one of those deals where it covers half the windshield like I have seen .

[cptnsolo77]

When I bought my Vibe it had a strip of tint at the top of the windshield. First car I owned like that & I have to say it REALLY helps. The edges are peeling a tiny bit, but when I clean the inside of my windshield I wipe going across not up & down so it wont catch the edge.

[star_deceiver]

Do it!!! Do they have a solid black decal with GenVibe in white lettering???

[vibenvy]

Quote, originally posted by cptnsolo77 »When I bought my Vibe it had a strip of tint at the top of the windshield. First car I owned like that & I have to say it REALLY helps.I installed a strip of black vinyl on the inside of the windshield of my Sunfire GT and it made a huge difference, not only with blocking out the sun, but it made the front of the car look better as well . I loved having it and I can't wait to have one on the Vibe!Quote, originally posted by star_deceiver »Do it!!! Do they have a solid black decal with GenVibe in white lettering???I'm going to! I have no idea.Okay guys, here's what I have decided to do. About 8 years ago I went to a vinyl shop near Chicago to have them put a car club banner on the windshield of my Sunfire GT. It came out great, so great in fact that my boyfriend at the time had them put a strip of white vinyl at the top of the windshield of his Supra to help keep the sun out. To this day that vinyl is still on the Supra. It hasn't faded, peeled, bubbled, etc. So, I found out this place is still in business and still does nothing but vinyl. I am going to give them a call Tuesday and see how much they would charge me to cut a strip of black vinyl and put it on the windshield for me. I am thinking it shouldn't be any more than $30.00 since from what I remember, it only took them about 15 minutes to put the strip on the Supra. If mine turns out well, my mom said she wants a strip of black vinyl on her windshield too . I will keep you guys updated .

[Blanco_Diablo]

I did a tint strip on the inside upper-windshield. My only issue with vinyl is that it tends to get dirty and break down if the wipers are constantly running over it, plus I like being able to see out of the windshield. I have 20% tint that still blocks the sun well without being totally opaque. Your call though, ultimately it will look fine.

[ponta2147]

Quote, originally posted by Blanco_Diablo »I did a tint strip on the inside upper-windshield. My only issue with vinyl is that it tends to get dirty and break down if the wipers are constantly running over it, plus I like being able to see out of the windshield. I have 20% tint that still blocks the sun well without being totally opaque. Your call though, ultimately it will look fine. The problem is, the '09s have that "dot" pattern on the inside by the rearview mirror that tint won't stick to, hence why she's going with exterior vinyl.J, tell me if it's good and cheap, that is something I would totally do.

[vibenvy]

Quote, originally posted by Blanco_Diablo »I did a tint strip on the inside upper-windshield. My only issue with vinyl is that it tends to get dirty and break down if the wipers are constantly running over it, plus I like being able to see out of the windshield. I have 20% tint that still blocks the sun well without being totally opaque. Your call though, ultimately it will look fine. Quote, originally posted by ponta2147 »The problem is, the '09s have that "dot" pattern on the inside by the rearview mirror that tint won't stick to, hence why she's going with exterior vinyl.J, tell me if it's good and cheap, that is something I would totally do.Yep, that dot matrix around the mirror p***** me off to no end . Last year I installed a piece of black vinyl on the inside of the windshield, but it would not stick to the dot matrix no matter what I did and it ended up looking like crap so I ripped it off.As far as it getting dirty, it's black so I'm not too worried about that. The white one on my ex's Supra never got dirty or crappy looking and it was white, so I'm sure a black one won't be any problem at all. I have thought about the wipers, but the way I look at it is I'll get it done and see how it holds up. Worst case scenario I will take it off and do without it or just get a new one every couple years. It's not going to be very expensive so even if I got it replaced every couple years, it wouldn't be a big deal. I would rather have a 5% tint strip there, but tint won't stick to the dot matrix either, so the strip of vinyl on the outside of the windshield is really the only option that will actually look good.Michelle, I will most definitely let you know how it turns out. The place is called X-Treme Graphics and they're located in Villa Park. I am going to try calling them tomorrow, but they will more than likely be closed for Memorial Day in which case I will call them Tuesday after work. I am hoping to get this done pretty quick now that summer is upon us.

[06pvibe]

If the matrix on the inside of the windshield is so troublesome, why not just trim the tint/vinyl around it?Same goes for the wipers.

[joatmon]

Quote, originally posted by 06pvibe »If the matrix on the inside of the windshield is so troublesome, why not just trim the tint/vinyl around it?Same goes for the wipers.Have you seen the matrix of dots? It would be a lot of detail work to cut out a tiny hole for each of those dots.==========================================My original 03 windhsield had the dots, all the replacement windshileds I've had came with a tint stripe along the top instead of the dotsI wouldn't go with an opaque stripe. I'm tall and the headroom was one of the reasons I ended up with a Vibe. I hate having to bend over to look up at a traffic lights, and wouldn't like losing even a couple inches of usable transparency at the top of the windshield. But you're not asking about installing it on my car

[vibenvy]

Well, guys and girls, after staring at the front of my GT from a distance for about 15 minutes earlier today I have decided not to get the vinyl. I just don't think I would be satisfied with the look so I am just going to leave it alone rather than waste time and money only to rip it off. Thanks for all the input and votes.

[A Psycho Martyr]

lol....no prob Carrie. It could have been "Should I put a peace sign on my back window?" and we all still would have chimed in and gave our 2cents I also put up a poll for vinyl and then didn't do it....yet

[vibenvy]

I despise that darn dot matrix! A simple strip of 5% tint would look so good on the windshield and would help out big time with the sun but nooooooooo !

[ponta2147]

Is there a way to remove the dots........? I would love to find out

[vibolista]

Quote, originally posted by ponta2147 »Is there a way to remove the dots........? I would love to find outYup, replace the windshield, and make sure you get the dark tinted top edge already in the glass. I would have the same trouble seeing traffic lights with an opaque vinyl piece across the top of the windshield. If you take your Vibe to a tint place, they should be able to cut the tint to fit around the troublesome dots at the top of the windshield. And they're not pesky Dot Matrix on our cars, they are pesky Dot Vibes!

[ponta2147]

Quote, originally posted by vibolista »And they're not pesky Dot Matrix on our cars, they are pesky Dot Vibes! Ba-dum-chhh!

[vibolista]

Quote, originally posted by ponta2147 »Ba-dum-chhh! Thanx. I needed that!

[vibenvy]

Quote, originally posted by ponta2147 »Is there a way to remove the dots........? I would love to find outQuote, originally posted by vibolista »Yup, replace the windshield, and make sure you get the dark tinted top edge already in the glass. I would have the same trouble seeing traffic lights with an opaque vinyl piece across the top of the windshield. If you take your Vibe to a tint place, they should be able to cut the tint to fit around the troublesome dots at the top of the windshield. And they're not pesky Dot Matrix on our cars, they are pesky Dot Vibes! Aside from replacing the windshield like vibolista said, no. This is a big issue on the J-Body website as well because Cavaliers and Sunfires have 10 times more dot matrix on the top of the rear window. People have tried sanding it off to no avail. They are ceramic and are part of the glass . I actually stopped and talked to the guy at Ziebart's that did my tint about tinting the top and than cutting around the dot matrix (Vibe ). He said he would do it and if I didn't like it he wouldn't charge me, but he said he thinks it would look weird. Perhaps I will have to give it a try for the heck of it.

[AKLGT]

Quote, originally posted by Blanco_Diablo »I did a tint strip on the inside upper-windshield. My only issue with vinyl is that it tends to get dirty and break down if the wipers are constantly running over it, plus I like being able to see out of the windshield. I have 20% tint that still blocks the sun well without being totally opaque. Your call though, ultimately it will look fine. My Subies have had the dot matrix around the mirror and the tint sticks just fine.

[vibenvy]

Quote, originally posted by AKLGT »My Subies have had the dot matrix around the mirror and the tint sticks just fine. Yeah, I think I might just have it tinted and see how it turns out.

[AKLGT]

Quote, originally posted by J_TO_ENVY »Yeah, I think I might just have it tinted and see how it turns out.if you have a reputable tint shop do it, they should guarantee the work so if it does peel, they should fix it.

[Toasted7]

I had a tint strip across the top of the inside of my windshield on my '05 Vibe and it was great! Sticks to the "dots" with no problem. Only issue I had was as the tint dried, I kept rubbing my thumb (wrapped in a soft cloth) up the tint strip from the bottom of the dots to the top. It helped the tint stick to and in between the dots and got rid of most of the gap between the dots. Looked great for 5+ years and no peeling... just be sure to wash the tint strip from side to side and not up and down when you are cleaning the inside of your windshield.I would do it, I thought it was one of the best "driver friendly" mods I did to my Vibe.

[vibenvy]

Quote, originally posted by AKLGT »if you have a reputable tint shop do it, they should guarantee the work so if it does peel, they should fix it.The guy at Ziebart's told me he would tint it and if I wasn't happy with it, he would remove it right away and wouldn't charge me. I am going to go down there one day after work and see about getting it tinted.