Where Have All the Vent Windows Gone?

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Dear Car Talk

Apr 28, 2015 (Archives)

7 Comments

windows, air conditioning

Dear Car Talk:

I had a '73 MGB, and it had the vent windows. I now have a 2007 VW Eos, and like all new autos, it does NOT have vent windows. I miss the vent windows. Why were they designed out of the newer vehicles?

-- John

For two reasons, John. One is that they're no longer really necessary. 

For those too young to remember vent windows, vinyl seats that left branding marks on your thighs and car interiors that felt like ovens, cars used to have small, triangular windows in front of the driver and passenger windows. Those vent windows could be unlocked and then angled outward, so they would catch the wind and blow it directly onto your face ... or other important areas of the body that require cooling.

And back before air conditioning, those vent windows could mean the difference between showing up at work ready to suck up to the boss, and showing up for work looking like you'd just played two hours of one-on-one with LeBron James.

But almost every car now comes with air conditioning. So if it's so hot that simply lowering a window won't cut it, you always have the option of rolling up the windows and turning the temperature down to 70 degrees.

And that leads to the second reason why you don't see vent windows anymore: Cars are actually more fuel-efficient with all of their windows closed and the air conditioner on -- even when you factor in the energy used to power the air conditioner. 

A lot of work and science go into making cars aerodynamic these days so as to maximize mileage. And in order to make the wind flow around the car, the windows have to be closed to create a smooth exterior surface. If you open the windows, you increase the car's wind resistance and reduce its fuel mileage, especially at higher speeds.

And that's just with the regular windows open. If you were to push out one of the windows, so it was perpendicular to the car -- which is what vent windows did -- it'd be like mounting a pizza box on your door. It would kill the aerodynamic profile of the vehicle.

So that's why you don't see them anymore, John. But if you're really nostalgic, next time you go to the local pizza joint to get indigestion, save the box and stick it out your window on the way home. 

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windows, air conditioning

• 7 comments
• Car Talk

bluewater • 9 hours ago

I miss them. Not that fond of A/C. A/C is unreliable and expensive to keep up with. I have only purchased 1 new vehicle in my life. 1982 Toyota PU. I bought the "window package" which included vent windows and sliding rear window. I wasn't aware that all car manufacturers stopped installing them. If all things were equal, I'd choose the car with rather than without. I personally don't give a darn about increased wind resistance and reduced mileage and I though A/C compressors put a extra load on the engine and cut mileage anyway. The nicest wing windows I ever had were on my 56 Chevy. The cranked open and closed. Very classy.

RealDonn • 6 hours ago

I'd think another big reason for their elimination would be - it's cheaper to make a car without vent windows.

Dr.Jose • 8 hours ago

I miss them too. I can see the aerodynamic argument on something swoopy and curvy, but not on my Jeep Wrangler, which is as aerodynamic as a refrigerator box. I've never seen a ventilation system on any vehicle work as well as a wing window.

auto-owner • 41 minutes ago

Thank goodnesss for AC and good riddance to wing-windows, as we called them. Every now and then they'd direct an angry bee/wasp right smack into your sweaty, windblown body.
Give me the calm & cool of AC any day.

foolishfish • 6 hours ago

Who wrote this?? You were obviously born too late to have enjoyed the blast of air in your face from the wing window. (and the squeal of a leaky window gasket)
The wing window could have been upgraded into a little pop out vent.

•Buglecorps • 3 hours ago

I can't imagine getting a glass panel that protrudes from a car past NHSA today...
Another thing was after even non AC high end cars came with dash vents, (remember "Astro Vent"?) those little windows were seen as down market, and makers quickly figured out that adding a little ducting to base models would gather raves from the press, and allow them to bump up the bottom line with " flow thru ventilation " I still remember every magazine commenting on how the three tiny dash vents on the BMW 320i were such a huge improvement over the 2002's vent windows ( opened with a unique wheel system) that, "Most buyers will chose to forego A/C " ; yea right the vents in my 02 coupled with the pop out rear side windows could move massive amounts of air thru the car, those dash vents were meh at best. The only non vent windows car that could move air thru the car like the old days was the original SAAB 900, the controls had a unique "all open full blower" setting that was like being in a wind tunnel.

•kazman • 3 hours ago

Total nonsense! Myth Busters totally destroyed argument 2 of the author, Windows up or down do not contribute fuel efficiency at all. The only reason you don't see vent windows is the cost. I would love them to come back. Not an AC guy unless its high humid 90's.