Windows?

The tension of the window against the frame is adjustable. Some people experience whistling of the windows, but it's easily corrected by this tension adjustment. So, no real functional issue there.

As for ease of entry, like convertibles, you can slide something between the gasket and the glass on the vertical edge, but I'm not sure if you could maintain enough stability on such a tool to actuate the door locks especially with the deflection involved of the gasket--the glass isn't terribly flexible, and does have a top hard ridge that will prevent the window from being bent back. But, at the end of the day, nothing keeps a crook from getting in your car. The low tech brick works everytime on every car. Keep valuables out of sight, park in well lighted areas, and pay yer auto insurance. :-)

In short, I'd not discount a Subaru or any convertible based on the frameless windows.

-- Todd H.

2001 Legacy Outback Wagon, 2.5L H-4 Chicago, Illinois USA

Bought a new Forester X a month ago. The salesperson demonstrated the flexibility of the glass by placing his fingers across the rubber gasket along the B-pillar and slammed the door shut. Surely, his fingers were wedged between the gasket and the window glass but he was not screaming in pain. He said it was a safety feature on all Subarus, so people would not lose appendages in the event the a body part gets pinched between the glass and the car.

I've had no problems. I've had a 2003 Forester for almost 2 years now.

I really like the way the doors look when you > I need a new car and have narrowed it down to the Forester, Honda CRV,

Frames don't mean they can't get in. A friend had their civic opened by someone bending the frame out on the window.

F. Plant

my 92 legacy has yet to develop any problems with the windows. in fact, everyone kinda thinks its cool. people always make the comment that they never see that on a small japanese car. i love it!

Cars are incredibly easy to get into, for someone who doesn't care about damaging it in the process (unlike us, when we lock our keys in). Skilled guys (locksmiths or tow operators, depending on your state) will make you say bad words, at how fast they can get in, without causing damage. I wouldn't base a purchasing decision on how difficult/easy a car *appeared* to be, to break into.

Steve

How hard is it to get past with an improvised slim-jim bar?

On the vertical edge of the drivers window, quite easy. If I locked my keys in somehow, that'd be my route--through there to the power lock switch.

For all makes of vehicle: a) Never leaves valuables visible. b) Someone who wants to steal your car will one way or another. c) Pay your insurance on time. b) is what it's for.

-- Todd H.

2001 Legacy Outback Wagon, 2.5L H-4 Chicago, Illinois USA

Simple. What you ought to invest in and I did just that is an alarm system which reads voltage drops. As the door opens and the interior lights come on, the alarm is making too much noise for the fools to go any father. I am a locksmith and today's cars are indeed easy to get into. You job, should you wish to accept it, is to make it an unwise thing for a thief to do! Few thieves hang around cars making lots of noise and those who do tend to spend their free time in jail.

snip

Sad to say it, but it makes you also appreciate a skilled thief, who just takes what they want w.o. destroying everything in the process.

F. Plant

Reading this for the third time, I'm reminded of a similar demonstration. A

*long* time ago I took a tour of the Guardian Glass factory outside Detroit. They took a 4' x 8' sheet of tempered glass, and put each corner up on a 6" square block. Then the guy stood in the middle, and the glass had no trouble flexing from 6" at the corner to the ground in the middle. To cap off the demo, he took a long steel rod and *tapped* the edge of the glass, and it shattered immediately.

My point? That salesman demonstrated a property of all tempered glass, or more likely the flexibility of the glass mounting system. Big whoop.

-John O

I helped a friend get into his car that way after watching a locksmith do it. You can pry the frame out enough to slip a coat hanger in........

Those seem to be a rarity. I'd guess the "industry standard" involves something along the order of 300-500% cost to repair damages, relative to value of item stolen.

Steve

Speaking of skilled thieves, we had an incident here where the local electronics shop was copying keys. They'd go to the customers home with a key, take their sweet time removing what the customer had bought from the car, lock the car back up, smash a window and run to cover it up.

Henry

Hey John O. I work for Guardian Glass, what plant did you tour?

-Kurt

John O wrote:

Carleton, I think? Off of 275 between Monroe and the airport. This was probably 1979-80. Cool place, I still remember a lot of that tour. Molten glass will do that, I suppose. :-)

-John O from Detroit Beach back then