Window tinting advice?

[Robert D.]

My new Forester came without tinted rear windows.

The radio antenna is embedded in one of the rear windows. Would tinting
affect reception?

What kind of film, and what degree of tinting is best?

 

[QX]

My new Forester came without tinted rear windows.

The radio antenna is embedded in one of the rear windows. Would tinting
affect reception?

What kind of film, and what degree of tinting is best?

From my experience (2005 Forester XT purchased new in the desert
Southwest USA) the Subaru side/rear window tint is for all purposes,
pretty much non-existent, and they don't offer a deeper tint option on
rear windows like is optional with other manufacturers.

My other car is a Dodge Caravan which has a tint band on the
windsheild top, light tint on driver & passenger windows, and a deep
tint glass on all other windows. (50 states legal) Granted, that was
an extra $$ option.

I added an aftermarket tint film to my Forester. A while ago, I
questioned Subaru USA as to why they don't offer a Forester deeper
tint option, but got no answer. (Honda, Toyota & other imports offer
it for US models. No idea why Subaru declines it)

BTW, Subaru has the radio antenna mounted on the window. Some folks
say using metallic window films can adversely affect radio reception.

Formula One film makes a convincing argument for their Pinnacle series
which uses a non-metallic, ceramic material so as not to degrade or
disrupt radio signals. Go to http://www.formulaone.com/ and click on
<Pinnacle> Series for their story.

 

[JohnO]

My other car is a Dodge Caravan which has a tint band on the
windsheild top, light tint on driver & passenger windows, and a deep
tint glass on all other windows. (50 states legal) Granted, that was
an extra $$ option.

I added an aftermarket tint film to my Forester. A while ago, I
questioned Subaru USA as to why they don't offer a Forester deeper
tint option, but got no answer. (Honda, Toyota & other imports offer
it for US models. No idea why Subaru declines it)

The guy that tinted the windows on my Outback said that these are
listed as "cars" instead of trucks, which means the rules for tinting
windows are different. Vans and trucks can have dark tints, and cars
cannot. I don't know if that's legit or not.

All I DO know is that I really like my Outback with the dark tinted
windows. It's a lot cooler when sitting in the sun, and I don't feel
like I'm sitting in a fishbowl anymore.

-John O