Well, Rich (GS300Rich), the inevitable finally happened on the way home from work today. It looks like no more speckgate for me. Man, times like this make me wish I lived in Florida.

 

Im confused? Is that paint on it?

 

No, it's a nice juicy stone chip. The picture doesn't do it justice. The middle is chipped out (the part that looks white), and then it stars out in pretty much every direction. Every time a stone has hit my windshield in the past, it has sounded like a loud crack (even though the windshield hasn't chipped or cracked before). This one sounded much more muted (as if the windshield absorbed the impact as opposed to the stone just bouncing off of it).

Anyway, my windshield is pretty much a mess from 7 years of junk bombarding off of it. About 2 months ago, I was thinking to myself "I really wish something would just come up and nail my windshield so I would have a good excuse to replace it." I guess you should be careful what you wish for.

 

Oh man that looks terrible. I really hate to see this. I have a nice rock chip on my hood and a wee one on my windshield from a landscaping truck It sucks this had it happen, its just too bad it didnt crack so insurance would pay for it. Maybe this is a sign that you need to put some wheels and lower your GS. If the GS was lowered it looks like the rock would have missed it completely j/k

 

Hmm, Rich. I kind of assumed that insurance WOULD pay for it. What makes you think that they won't? It's not just the chip, but it's starting to spider out as well.

e

EDIT: I totally missed the comment about lowering the car. Knowing the way my luck has been running lately, if I had lowered the car, it would have been just low enough so that the rock would have cleared the windshield but smashed into the front of my roof.

 

Insurance might make you pay deductibles though, if you dont a plan that covers windshield. A new windshield install is about $200 (parts and labor) from an independent shop. Lexus doesn't do it themselves either. They hire contractors to do it for them.

 

Well, I had done quite a bit of research on this topic a few months ago. It seems like one of the leading aftermarket brands is PPG. I called my Lexus dealership today, and they told me that PPG is the company that manufacturers the Toyota/Lexus branded glass. I am going to insist on Toyota/Lexus glass, but I have a feeling my insurance agent is going to push back. I have a pretty good relationship with him, but I suppose his job is to save his company money, and if there's a way to do it for less, he'll suggest it. I don't have special coverage for the windshield, although I call my agent last summer to specifically ask him about it. He persuaded me not to get it because most chips can be repaired. I want to say it was something like an additional $10 per month, and, in hindsight, it was stupid for me not to elect the coverage. Maybe that will give me some leverage when it comes time to insisting on Toyota/Lexus glass. My comprehensive deductible is $500, so unless I go somewhere other than the dealership, it's going to cost me at least that. I believe the Lexus windshield is around $1,000 installed.

The funny thing is that I'm not all that upset about it. I always thought that I would just have to deal with all the specks in my windshield from years of wear, and this is a good excuse to get a new one.

 

I meant that you could get insurance to pay for a new windshield with nothing out of pocket. I know here in FL if you have a cracked windshield they replace the windshield and you pay nothing. I had a crack develop on the windshield of my Nissan P/U and the windshield was replaced and I paid nothing. Good luck E

 

Right, which is why I said that times like these make me wish I lived in Florida. I'll keep you posted on what the insurance company says today.

 

Sorry to hear what happened E.. I'm sure it looks more devastating in person than in the pic..I came up with an idea.. If we can protect our front end with the clear bra why can't we put the clear bra on our Windshield for protection? At least this would give some added comfort of protecting the glass from rocks.. I'm sure the clear bra company would do it . It would just cost some extra cash for them to cut it.. good Luck E...

 

Hopefully you wont have to pay your deductible just to get your windshield replaced. I am surprised that this isnt a state law. It keeps people from driving with cracks in their windshield because they cant afford to replace the windshield.

 

Chip? What chip?

 

Although you can't see it from the picture, the crack also goes up from the chip all the way to the top of the windshield as well.

 

Ouch. I wouldnt recommend an aftermarket windshield as they crack much easier.

 

Hey Lex. What do you base this on? I called Lexus Monday after this happened and they told me that PPG makes all windshields for Lexus cars (even though Toyota or Lexus is etched in the bottom left corner).