HUD or heated windscreen

[mannyo1221]

Originally Posted by LRS

Test drove a Volvo with a Heated Windscreen and I’m so glad that I did not add this option. Once you know the wavy wires are in between the glass it makes you get double vision. I was hoping that since Ford patented it, the technology would have moved on from metal wires to a type of transparent heat conducting film.

I have the heated screen, initially you notice it because by instinct you tend to look at it, so you see the lines.

I've had the V90 for 2 months now, and to be honest you learn to look through the screen rather than at it, and I no longer notice the heater elements at all and do not find them a distraction.

[ustari]

Agreed with the above, very noticeable to start but get used to it and don't see them after a while.

[Nippy]

So voted Heated Screen, but the one I have just out the deposit on has the HUD

[XC90Mk1]

There really is no requirement for a head up display. HUD were a bit of a gimmick when first released but more so now a days as the dashes are real time digital anyway.

A winter heated screen is however a real bonus.

Some claim to see the wire mesh in the screen in which case HUD but for everyone else heated screen it is!

[Nippy]

Absolutely agree, if I had had two identical used cars next to each other with the only difference being the HUD or Heated Screen or if I was speccing a new one I would have had the Heated Screen

[Moonlanders]

I would disagree with you both. I wear varifocal glasses and find it much safer to look at the HUD than the dash as my eyes don't then need to take a short time to refocus. Even though it is only a fraction of a second to refocus it is surprisingly noticeable.

Remote start to preheat the car and defrost the windscreen works every time.

[Tony Harrison]

Originally Posted by Moonlanders

I would disagree with you both. I wear varifocal glasses and find it much safer to look at the HUD than the dash as my eyes don't then need to take a short time to refocus. Even though it is only a fraction of a second to refocus it is surprisingly noticeable.

Remote start to preheat the car and defrost the windscreen works every time.

I agree with every word of this. Having tried both I would always prefer HUD (if that was the choice). I would happily not specify either if that avoided an additional option cost. A bit of planning is all you need, provided the app works. Mine does.

[Saftlad]

Originally Posted by XC90Mk1

There really is no requirement for a head up display.

...

You could say the same for heated windscreen, depending on where in the world you are.

South of England, I'm more than happy to just set the timer to prepare the car in the mornings over the winter time, it's not as if it needs to handle 6 inches of snow every morning

The HUD I've found surprisingly useful to help keep my eyes to the front and as Moonlanders mentioned, means my bad eyes don't take any time to adjust focus.

If the car had neither, I wouldn't be losing any sleep over it, nor add them as a cost option

[XC90Mk1]

Originally Posted by Moonlanders

I would disagree with you both. I wear varifocal glasses and find it much safer to look at the HUD than the dash as my eyes don't then need to take a short time to refocus. Even though it is only a fraction of a second to refocus it is surprisingly noticeable.

Remote start to preheat the car and defrost the windscreen works every time.

I don’t wear varifocals and would prioritise winter clean screens over HUD. In your case HUD is better.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Saftlad

You could say the same for heated windscreen, depending on where in the world you are.

South of England, I'm more than happy to just set the timer to prepare the car in the mornings over the winter time, it's not as if it needs to handle 6 inches of snow every morning

The HUD I've found surprisingly useful to help keep my eyes to the front and as Moonlanders mentioned, means my bad eyes don't take any time to adjust focus.

If the car had neither, I wouldn't be losing any sleep over it, nor add them as a cost option

Indeed , Volvos historically have never had problems melting frost without a heated windscreen after just 2 minutes the ice is melting with the standard heater .that incudes the side windows too . The S40/V50/C30/C70 range and the Large MK3 V70 S60 S80 XC60 etc have electric ceramic heating elements in the heater anyway ...
The heated windscreen on a volvo is just a marketing tool .

Back in 1969 MOTOR magazine did a test on luxury car heaters , The volvo 144 came out on top heating up to 38C in the cabin on an icy day , second was a mercedes at 28c if I remember correctly ... they had huge brass heater radiators in them and most importantly a 92C thermostat .