How cute! Ok, not really.
That little guy is tasked with only having to clear about one-third of the windshield; the third directly in front of the passenger. You see, the other wiper blade is so huge that its sweep takes care of the rest of the Fit's sizable windshield. I wouldn't have given it a second thought but for not having to look through the 'seam' created where the passenger side wiper usually stops in the center of the windshield. It's a minor distraction to be sure, but over time, that 'seam' tends to get etched into the glass and becomes visible rain or shine.
Hit the jump (I've always wanted to type that) for a special bonus question.
1230 points and the undying respect of no one in this office for the first person to tell me the name of the body of water in the background.
Kurt Niebuhr, Photo Editor @ 17,601 miles
ckk2 says:
01:59 PM, 12/14/09
"tends to get etched into the glass"
really? I've never had this happen.
felonious says:
02:20 PM, 12/14/09
Lake Cuyamaca?
yellowmiata says:
02:24 PM, 12/14/09
I've noticed that as windows become more square, the disproportion of the wipers becomes more pronounced. I don't mind this, but find the itty-bitty wipers funny & sorts cute. Cute, that is, until I had to replace one and it cost the same as the gigantic one!!! I know, I know, the size doesn't matter b/c the same number of parts are needed to create one wiper (just like shoes sizes vs cost), but its funny to purchase a 2 foot wiper for the same prices as a 11" wiper.
The funniest wiper situation I've seen on a car is on the Toyota FJ - it has 3 front wipers, looks like a tri-clops.
lowmilelude says:
04:18 PM, 12/14/09
Loch Ness.
kurt_ says:
04:20 PM, 12/14/09
"Lake Cuyamaca?"
Sorry, no.
Zero points.
subaru123 says:
05:42 PM, 12/14/09
Castle Lake?
allthingshonda says:
06:15 PM, 12/14/09
Wipers on Hondas have great coverage. That little wiper looks silly but probably 90% of the Fit's windshield is cleaned by the wipers. Honda seems to spend a lot of time engineering the wipers. Different sizes for driver and passenger and the wiper arms usually have a bend in them to maximize coverage and still fit on the glass (notice the bend in the Fit's passenger wiper). They are able to do this without complex mechanisims like european cars and domestics tend to use the same wiper size for driver and passenger which usually means that a lot of the glass is not cleared. I live in an area of the country where severe thunderstorms are common and wipers could easily determine how much you like your car. Wipers with good coverage and actually have a good high speed are appreciated. All of the Hondas I've had clear a large percentage of the windshield and move fast enough on high speed to actually rock the car from side to side.
kurt_ says:
08:14 PM, 12/14/09
"Castle Lake?"
Nope.
No points.
jrcarch says:
09:21 PM, 12/14/09
This is really killing me. I have been searching a mulling for over an hour and the only conclusion I can somewhat come to is that this is likely a burn area. But all the roads were washed out with mud on Angeles Crest so I just do not know. I am going to throw out Lake Casitas.
I think a mild hint is in order.
dalaw says:
10:08 PM, 12/14/09
Irvine Lake?
kurt_ says:
12:05 AM, 12/15/09
A hint...
The lake is located in Northern California.
zoomzoom22 says:
04:40 AM, 12/15/09
Based on the foliage, it can't be any of the lakes near Mt. Shasta, etc.
Therefore, my guess is a lake closer to wine country...Clear Lake?
brdmn says:
06:19 AM, 12/15/09
Never had the "seam" problem either.
mjp16 says:
11:58 AM, 12/15/09
I've seen the "seam," but only when rain has coated the windshield with the wipers off. It's never bothered me, since generally when I'm driving, rain coating the windshield is a bad thing.
fadetoblackii says:
08:08 AM, 12/16/09
You don't get the seam if you clean your car/wash your windows regularly...
nippononly says:
10:23 PM, 12/29/09
I'm guessing Lake Berryessa.