I really hope toughened glass come standard on the 8. My dad's new Vr-4 was broken into and the stereo stolen 1 day after we bought it and this made my think how easy it is to break a car window. God forbid it would happen to anyone's Rx-8 but you have to be prepared for the worst.

 

Toughened Glass = Heavier = Bad. RX-8 is all about lightweight performance.

Anyways, if somebody wants to get into your car, they will get in. The good thing about the stereo in the RX-8 is that it will be near impossible to steal. The only thing worth a damn is my radar detector which is shoved in my glovebox after I drive... so I am not worried about it.

 

I don't know of any automotive glass that can withstand a blow with a crowbar (for example). No auto glass is shatterproof. Safety glass, as it is known, is actually supposed to break up easily and into little itty bitty pieces that you have to vacuum up for about 2 years after getting broken into (ask me how I know...). Otherwise, if you got into an accident, you'd get decapitated or seriously injured by big hunks of glass.

 

If you want to add protection to your windows, you can try this: SECURLUX protective glass film
I haven't tried it or know anyone who has it, so I can't say if it's any good. But it's better than nothing. Maybe someone can try it...?

 

Not so fast now Grimace… I remember going to the auto show about 3 to 4 years ago and this one BMW 740iL had the optional “protective glass” option ($3,500.00 CDN if I remember correctly). I asked the salesman about the glass and he said that you couldn’t break it with a hammer. The idea was to keep undesirables out.

 

Wow, thanks ZoomZoom! I stand corrected. Interesting, I'll have to look that stuff up. I wonder if it still shattered like safety glass does. I imagine it would have to, since thats a fed. law.

 

Not to pick an argument, but do you have any sources on such "glass" other than a salesman?

I know that there were some people who would put bulletproof glass in their car, but it was so thick that you would get a little "aquarium" effect, you could never roll the windows down, and they added a bit of weight.

And if you got some glass that would actually keep a thief out, it would also keep any rescuers out, and you in, in the event of an emergency.

---jps

 

The toughened glass im talking about is actually normal glass but with a special film on it from a company called Pentagon. It is perfectly clear (or tinted if desired) and can stop reapeated attacks on the window and is approved by Thatcham. Correct me if im wrong but i thought because it is just a film it shouldn't add too much weight. In an event of an accident the whole window can be pushed out from the inside. Sounds pretty good to me:D

 

I think that the protective film (in the form of window tint of course) is one of the more realistic requests on this forum(An a really great idea). Unless it is ungodly dense, i dont see the harm. films cant weight too much!

 

I couldn't find it on the current Mercedes-Benz site, but I know that they used to offer (they still might) an S-Class that was totally bullet-proof, including windows.
It's been a while so my facts may be distorted, but also I think that it could be shattered by either impact or some other way to comply with the safety reason if that boat of a car should ever get in a wreck.

Strider-

 

Which is why I said, if it can be breached in the event of an accident, it can be breached by a thief.

---jps

 

Pentagon

 

I did a quick scan of their site - too bad they don't seem to have any aftermarket outlets or sources here in the states other than Dania Florida ... I've bookemaked their site. Maybe as time gets closer to buy my new RX-8, I'll explore them better.

 

Like I mentioned earlier, I noticed the $3,500.00 “optional glass” on the BMW and I asked the salesman what that was all about - that is what he told me.

And no the glass did not make it look like an “aquarium”.

 

If you don't want your car to get broken into...theres one simple key:
Don't get a car.
Now this may sound outrageous, but they can't steal what you don't have.
Unless the car was in your imagination. They could suck your brains out and take your car forever!

 

The bottomline is, bullet-proof doesnt mean shatter proof. And there is NO WAY to stop a PROPERLY EQUIPPED thief from getting into your car. And in most cases, properly equipped means windopick and wire cutters.
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PUBLIC VIDEO

 

Agreed. A determined thief with a chop-shop quota to make will find a way. If they want it bad enough, they will find a way to take it. Our job is to make our pride and joys the biggest time-consuming obvious pain-in-the-*** to break into so they move on to other fresh targets who don't take protective measures.

 

Just get a garage, and a gun. Never leave your car if you're going out. And if someguy hops up to your car with "tools" Wait for the right minute then jump out of the back seat and shoot him in the feet! :D

 

Well that sort of defeats the purpose of going out.

"Honey, have fun at the dinner/show. I'll stay here with the car."
:D

 

Hell yes!
I don't care about my girl, I care about my BABY....lol