Filipino car owners are sticklers for customization, especially when their particular car model is a common one. There’s always the itch to personalize the vehicle even by just a little, to make it distinguishable whether just standing still or in motion.
Window visors are typically part of the average Pinoy car owner's accessories list
One of the usual accessories that car owners often use is the rain visor. Also known as a rain guard or wind deflector, these thin pieces of translucent or opaque plastic are stuck along the top edge of the car windows and come in varying shades of black or chrome finish. Some even feature intricate graphics.
As the names suggest, these accessories serve as extended covers against the elements such as the sun, wind, and rain. Whether for aesthetics or practicality, their use has become so widespread that a number of genuine and aftermarket options are readily available for a particular model.
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These accessories are useful in the rain
With a rain visor installed, you can roll down your window by a couple of inches or so without rain intruding into the car’s cabin, even under a regular shower.
The visor also serves as a sun visor of sorts, when you’re driving and you need to deflect the glare of sunlight coming at you from the side. There are questionable claims over how these devices can improve your car’s aerodynamics, but they do look good especially with matching tinted windows.
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However, there are certain disadvantages to using window visors. They’re usually fastened to the car through the double-sided tape, and constant exposure to the elements will eventually wear down the adhesive, making it brittle or altogether ineffective.
This is particularly true for stick-on rain visors (as opposed to the more secure in-channel deflectors), and one of them will be liable to fly off your car while you’re cruising along the expressway.
They're only available as a set, so you pay more even when you lose just one
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If you do lose a piece, you’ll end up paying more since rain visors often come in a set of four. And since they soak up the sun’s rays along with the rest of the car, rain visors are also prone to discoloration over time, and they’ll cease to complement that pricey tint on your windows, making replacement necessary.
Despite being relatively affordable as far as external accessories go, are window visors a must-have for your car? That’s up to you.
Catch more newbie tips at Philkotse.com.