Window deflectors

[Swordsmith]

Now that summer is upon me (I'm in Texas at the moment, so 95 degree days have been beating down on me on and off) I've been leaving my windows cracked to prevent having to get into an oven. Makes a big difference... but Texas also has unpredictable sudden rain events. Looking around I see a number of vehicles with these window deflectors, and auto parts stores sell them... but only for trucks. So I figured they were unobtanium for small cars.

Today for some reason I was searching around on gmparts and found them for the Sonic. Crate Engine Depot also carries them. Further searching found that Chevy Dealers actually carry them too, at a competitive price since I wouldn't have to pay shipping.

Any thoughts as to pros and cons of this? Are they enough drag to affect my mpg? Do they do a decent job of keeping rain out of windows that are only open a crack while sitting parked? That's really all I ask of them, keep my butt dry and my car under 120 degrees without costing me an arm and a leg in bushels per mile.

Anyone actually have them on their Sonic (as opposed to on previous or alternate current rides?)? Pics?

 

[1KULSOL]

Now that summer is upon me (I'm in Texas at the moment, so 95 degree days have been beating down on me on and off) I've been leaving my windows cracked to prevent having to get into an oven. Makes a big difference... but Texas also has unpredictable sudden rain events. Looking around I see a number of vehicles with these window deflectors, and auto parts stores sell them... but only for trucks. So I figured they were unobtanium for small cars.

Today for some reason I was searching around on gmparts and found them for the Sonic. Crate Engine Depot also carries them. Further searching found that Chevy Dealers actually carry them too, at a competitive price since I wouldn't have to pay shipping.

Any thoughts as to pros and cons of this? Are they enough drag to affect my mpg? Do they do a decent job of keeping rain out of windows that are only open a crack while sitting parked? That's really all I ask of them, keep my butt dry and my car under 120 degrees without costing me an arm and a leg in bushels per mile.

Anyone actually have them on their Sonic (as opposed to on previous or alternate current rides?)? Pics?

I have WeatherTech Front & Rear Side Window Deflectors and they are great ... no pictures but these are the ones that fit in the window channel and not the ones that stick to the car above the windows themselves .. if I remember correctly it cost me +/- $95 including shipping.

 

[Wong]

I have been looking at the weathertech ones, and am really close to buying them....just havent pulled the trigger yet.

 

[Papasonic]

I too have the Weathertech vent visor/deflectors on both a sedan and a hatch. They look so much nicer than the factory surface mount type, and fit and work quite well. I believe it says they're made in Germany.

 

[Kyle1993]

2012 Chevrolet Sonic | WeatherTech Side Window Deflectors, Rain Guards, Wind Deflectors | WeatherTech.com

I know a few of the people that work at weathertech, they use our Haas machines for making the molds for the floormats and I know the mats are good quality but I still haven't pulled the trigger yet on these either nor do I know much about them but I'll ask around tomorrow at work. $100 seems kinda pricey to me but if they actually mount real nice and look good I guess its worth the money.

 

[Swordsmith]

Mount on windows? What on earth would be the point of that, I need them in the channel ABOVE the window so they prevent rain from getting in. Mounted on the window they'd do the opposite of that, if anything, wouldn't they?

 

[Thaifight-R]

I know eBay carries some of these for like $30-$50.

 

[Swordsmith]

I looked around some, all the prices I found were in the 76-100 range. I went with ones from a local Chevy dealer, figuring all things being equal I might as well go with ones Chevy thought would fit, and not have to pay for shipping.

They listed at $89, but for some reason they sold them to me for $75, with tax $81 for the set of four.

They go on very easily, it took perhaps 5 minutes and half of that was cleaning the surface with their included alcohol wipes. They stick to the door above the window, and come down around the sides; the front ones are molded to fit onto the mirror, the rear ones are molded to fit onto the door handle area, both of which stick out from the metal surface.

I'm comfortable leaving my windows down an inch and a half or so, don't see any way water's going to get in unless it starts raining up or there's a flood past the top of my windows.

 

[DD2012sonicLT]

http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/members/dd2012soniclt-albums-dd-sonic-picture1107-a.jpg

best shot of mine with them, i love them.

 

[Swordsmith]

Got in the car around 1pm, parked where I've been parking it for weeks. Temps inside have been as high as 150 with ambient temp in the 80s, according to both my UG (whose alarm goes off!) and my forehead gauges. Today, ambient temp 90, inside temp 100. I could barely even tell it was warmer inside than out!

I still can't call this proof of concept, because it hasn't rained. I already knew that leaving my windows open up top would lower the "oven" temp, the point here is to get that plus still have a dry place to sit. I'll find out next time it rains I guess.

 

[Swordsmith]

These are just stick on, and the weathertech ones don't sound all that much more expensive, I wish I could see them side by side but I'm thinking the weathertech is probably worth the few extra bucks if they mount nicer.

What I'm currently thinking though is that I can't believe all cars don't come standard built this way, and that I can't believe we aren't all buying them aftermarket for every car. I mean, it's that big a deal, who doesn't live somewhere with summer weather and unpredictable rain?

OR that they won't really stop the rain and that's why they are so rare.

 

[NotMySonic]

My mothers sonic has the ones from the Dealer and they look good.They stick onto the outside of the window frame with 3m tape...

now about the weathertechs.....Alot of people love weathertech rain guards. But I just had to return a set because they wouldn't fit in the window channel of my Scion tC. Weathertech told me to force them in and then "help" the window up. I wasn't going to do that so i returned em and ordered a set of Wade In-Channel Wind Deflectors and saved $40 bucks. They look the same as weathertechs and installed without forcing them. I know that is not a sonic but wanted to share my experience.

OR that they won't really stop the rain and that's why they are so rare.

Just don't leave them open if it snows. the wind will blow the snow into the car...... i found that out the hard way

 

[Swordsmith]

Rained a couple days ago, I ran out through the downpour and sat in the car through the storm. Left the windows cracked as I have been leaving them since getting deflectors, and watched as rain didn't come in at all. And then since I was trapped, I read some Nero Wolfe. But it was for Science!

 

[ColonelPanic]

I've had both the GM and Weathertech styles on two identical cars. Personally I prefer the GM stick-on style over the Weathertech in-channel design...

I never could get the Weathertechs to stay in place on the rear. They would occasionally fall out when the rear windows were down. Luckily we never lost them. I suspect they also contributed to some deformation on the window run moulding on both front windows. In terms of looks though, they probably did look quite a bit better. I don't think my results were necessarily typical with those, many seem satisfied with them. I do like Weathertech's other products very much.

 

[Papasonic]

I've found that the deflectors are good at keeping out the rain; but the interior gets quite dirty as dust and debris blow right in when it's windy and dry outside.

 

[RoXXXanne13]

hmmmmm I wonder if I should get em white? I though about doin my front winsheild tint strip white too.. hmmm lol

 

[rabidbasher]

They go on very easily, it took perhaps 5 minutes and half of that was cleaning the surface with their included alcohol wipes. They stick to the door above the window, and come down around the sides; the front ones are molded to fit onto the mirror, the rear ones are molded to fit onto the door handle area, both of which stick out from the metal surface.

FYI there have been issues with other cars (this will be no exception) with those stick-on visors.

Dust will collect where they adhere to the paint, and it will leave a thin wear line as the vibrations + grit essentially sand your pant down along that line.

As long as you keep them on your car you'll never notice, but if you remove them after a couple years it will be pretty obvious.

FYI: Probably not much to worry about as you could buff or clay bar it out of the finish...it's just some unnecessary application of elbow grease.

 

[Black Turbo LTZ]

I've been running the OEM ones since the day I bought the car and no complaints, they are super thick plastic compared to the AVS ones. I like the look and the serve their purpose. I have had in channel ones and I prefer the oem.

 

[BriG21]

I just received the weather tech deflectors. Putting them on tonight

 

[Natesriv]

I bought a set off eBay. Cheap Chinese ones..the front two came damaged so they sent replacements. I liked the chrome so that's why I purchased them.
They stick to the outside, but they seal tightly, so water doesn't get past them. It's just a row of 3M tape...so there's no permanent part. It also came with odd holes which they wanted you to use little metal struts to fit inside the window channel. But they're not necessary.
I like them, the only downside to any deflector, is when you wash the car the underside of the deflectors get wet, hard to dry off.. small issue really.

SORRY TAKEN FROM MY PHONE, SO I DIDN'T ROTATE THEM.. THE FUZZY THIRD PIC SHOWS WHERE I USED PARTS OF THE WEIRD STRUT ASSEMBLY TO FILL THE HOLES.