Effectiveness of new plexiglass wind restrictor?

[Lee123]

I have the GM wind screen that folds up and down directly behind the front seats. My wife loves it because it keeps her hair from blowing into her face and I like it on colder days when I want the top down. It is really quite effective, but not much to look at.

Lately I've seen the new plexiglass wind restrictor that mounts behind the back seat and light up at night. I really like the way it looks, but wonder if it would do much good for the front seat people since it is smaller and further back. If anyone has had both, please give your opinion of the effectiveness of the new wind restrictor compared to the GM version. I don't want to spend $400 and find that it looks great but doesn't do much.

[goldappa]

It looks great but doesn't do much!

[Lee123]

Originally Posted by goldappa

It looks great but doesn't do much!

Thanks for answering. Do you have one?

[Baba]

Unfortunatley, there's usually a trade-off with some of these things. The OEM windscreen, from what I've read and pics I've seen, doesn't allow for backseat passengers when it's in place and takes a bit of room to store. At ~$400, it isn't exactly inexpensive, either.

The windrestrictor is quite small and too far back in the cabin to be as or very effective on a car as large as the 5th Gen. On a smaller vehicle, in particular the Saturn SKY and Pontiac Solstice, they are VERY effectve due to their much smaller cabin and it being a small, 2 seat roadster. They are VERY popular among SKY and Sol owners. The other advantage of the windrestrictor is that it is customizable with graphics and lights and is, for many, a purely or mainly aesthetic mod for their vehicle.

[Lee123]

Thanks for answering. Looks like I'm going to stick with the old wind screen. The main reason I bought it is that it keeps my wife's hair from blowing in the face. The new one looks great, but it's really important that it be as effective as possible. I seriously doubt that anyone will ever sit in the back seat anyway.

[Nutbutt]

I have the plexiglas Windrestrictor and while it looks small it actually stand pretty tall based on the mounting on the back deck.
As for it effectiveness, it is not as effective as the GM one that sits right behind the front seat. However it does cut down the wind backlash quite a bit and with the side windows up it is very effective, again not as good as the GM one but still really good.
The two big things for me was I don't have to remove it and remount, this is a big pain, really big pain. And secondly I can use the backseat at any time.
Lastly the looks are simply great. One of the biggest attention getters. This may or may not be that important.
I had both and ended up selling the GM screen recently.

[Lee123]

I still haven't given up on the idea, just because it looks so good. I'm going to look for the installation instructions later today. Do you drive your car with the top down and no tonneau? If so, how does this effect the top fabric blowing around? I'm thinking being closer to the top it might calm the air back there a bit.

[pocketcthulhu]

Originally Posted by Baba

Unfortunatley, there's usually a trade-off with some of these things. The OEM windscreen, from what I've read and pics I've seen, doesn't allow for backseat passengers when it's in place and takes a bit of room to store. At ~$400, it isn't exactly inexpensive, either.

The windrestrictor is quite small and too far back in the cabin to be as or very effective on a car as large as the 5th Gen. On a smaller vehicle, in particular the Saturn SKY and Pontiac Solstice, they are VERY effectve due to their much smaller cabin and it being a small, 2 seat roadster. They are VERY popular among SKY and Sol owners. The other advantage of the windrestrictor is that it is customizable with graphics and lights and is, for many, a purely or mainly aesthetic mod for their vehicle.

I agree They worked wonders on the saturn skys but i Honestly can't see it doing anything but looking good on the camaro.

[Nutbutt]

Yes, without the cover with the top down there is a lot less shifting of the folded top even at highway speeds.

[Lee123]

Originally Posted by Nutbutt

Yes, without the cover with the top down there is a lot less shifting of the folded top even at highway speeds.

That's a really good thing! I'm going have to think about this one a bit.

[plan-b]

Originally Posted by Nutbutt

Yes, without the cover with the top down there is a lot less shifting of the folded top even at highway speeds.

That's the first thing I noticed when I installed mine. The buffeting in the cabin is reduced perceptibly, but not dramatically. The folded top, however, moved around a lot less after installing this. I almost never use the boot cover.

I posted an install thread when I got it and my conclusion is not to buy it as purely a functional piece. I'm very happy with mine because I wanted both function and aesthetics. It has enough of each to have been worth the cost for me.

[goldappa]

Originally Posted by Lee123

Thanks for answering. Do you have one?

I do have one. If you're looking for a significant reduction in wind, don't get it. If you want some reduction and lots of cool factor. Go right ahead.

[Lee123]

I can't seem to find install instructions so I have a couple of questions. Does it only fasten with 2 bolts? How sturdy is it once you get the bolts tightened? How does the lighting hook up?

[plan-b]

Mine isn't illuminated so the install was about a 3 minute job. You take the allen key that they provide and loosen (but not remove) the 2 lugs that the boot cover snaps/loops onto. The slide the brackets on the Wind Restrictor down onto them. Then tighten them back up. The lugs are held on by nuts on the inside and there's no way to get a wrench back there (not that I can see anyway) so getting it properly tightened up isn't easy. But even with just moderate snugness, it holds on fairly well. You'll see it wobbling while driving though.

[classicrockr]

Originally Posted by Nutbutt

I have the plexiglas Windrestrictor and while it looks small it actually stand pretty tall based on the mounting on the back deck.
As for it effectiveness, it is not as effective as the GM one that sits right behind the front seat. However it does cut down the wind backlash quite a bit and with the side windows up it is very effective, again not as good as the GM one but still really good.
The two big things for me was I don't have to remove it and remount, this is a big pain, really big pain. And secondly I can use the backseat at any time.
Lastly the looks are simply great. One of the biggest attention getters. This may or may not be that important.
I had both and ended up selling the GM screen recently.

But does it keep the top from flapping with the wind when the top is down? My top has a small part that touches the car body when it's down & without the tonneau cover on, the top flaps up & down some while driving. The area that contacts the car body while driving is getting a scar mark on it & if this plexiglass wind restrictor keeps the top from flapping, I may get it.

[Nutbutt]

It will stop most if not all of the top flapping around town and speeds up to about 55, but at highway speeds there is a little.

[H0peful1]

I imagine it'd help for rear passengers too? I think I've seen that posted on some other threads. My son didn't seem to mind too much when we rented one, but he looked a bit buffetted! If it helps the top flapping and looks good, that's good enough for me.

[Nutbutt]

Really helps the rear seat passengers. It really is a great mod, I just love that I don't have to take it out!

[H0peful1]

Originally Posted by Nutbutt

Really helps the rear seat passengers. It really is a great mod, I just love that I don't have to take it out!

Good to hear. Thank you!

[Lee123]

One other thing I'm wondering about is how sturdy is the wind restrictor? I thought about that today when I took a short trip on the freeway. About 10 miles out of town the limit goes up to 75 and everyone is driving 85-90. I had the top up today due to the 100+ temperature, but last week it would have been down. Since it won't fold down, the wind restrictor would just be sticking out there. Think it would hold up to that?

[H0peful1]

Originally Posted by Camaro/ss/rs

Get app Tapatalk... Can post pics then

Thanks!

[Lee123]

Originally Posted by H0peful1

It's safely inside the top when it's up. Haven't figured out how to post pix from iPad yet, so see link here:

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showpo...2&postcount=57

Thanks, but I realize that already. I probably didn't say it too well, but what I'm wondering about is how the wind restrictor would hold up at 90 mph with the top down. I don't want to have to put the top up just to protract an accessory. Someone said you can see it wobble around in the rear view mirror. Since I can't just go to the store and see one, I'm curious how sturdy it is and how tightly it fastens on.

[H0peful1]

Posts #4 & #6 here for how to tighten:

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219704

[dakota74]

Does anyone live in NJ who has this so maybe I can check it out before buying it?

[SUX2BU]

Originally Posted by Lee123

One other thing I'm wondering about is how sturdy is the wind restrictor? I thought about that today when I took a short trip on the freeway. About 10 miles out of town the limit goes up to 75 and everyone is driving 85-90. I had the top up today due to the 100+ temperature, but last week it would have been down. Since it won't fold down, the wind restrictor would just be sticking out there. Think it would hold up to that?

Originally Posted by Lee123

Thanks, but I realize that already. I probably didn't say it too well, but what I'm wondering about is how the wind restrictor would hold up at 90 mph with the top down. I don't want to have to put the top up just to protract an accessory. Someone said you can see it wobble around in the rear view mirror. Since I can't just go to the store and see one, I'm curious how sturdy it is and how tightly it fastens on.

It wiggles a little at really high speeds, but it is very sturdy. I did the prototype testing on it and had it up to twice the legal speed limit top down in my own closed course testing.