Windshield replacement

[ganesh]

I need to replace the windshield on my wife's 2008 Nissan Altima. It is not an insurance claim so I will be paying from my pocket.
Phoned Speedy auto and got a quote for $560 and called Kings Auto glass and got a quote for $205. Kings Auto glass windshield is aftermarket and Speedy Auto glass is OEM.

The questions I have is because of the age of the vehicle does it matter if I go with the after market glass?
Has any one dealt with Kings Auto and if so whats your feed back?

[dj_rice]

All windshields need to pass certain safety requirements. So whether aftermarket or OEM, either is suitable. Its all dependant on your wallet. As well, you do pay for the quality as I've seen some aftermarket glass, it looks wavy in certain spots but what do you expect when the glass is probably manufactured in China.

Due to your age, I'd go aftermarket. I got a quote for my 2002 Pathfinder from Nissan, windshield was $790 just glass. Called Glassmasters and it was $169 INSTALLED lol. No brainer which is mind boggling how cheap glass can be priced aftermarket.

[ganesh]

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All windshields need to pass certain safety requirements. So whether aftermarket or OEM, either is suitable. Its all dependant on your wallet. As well, you do pay for the quality as I've seen some aftermarket glass, it looks wavy in certain spots but what do you expect when the glass is probably manufactured in China.

Due to your age, I'd go aftermarket. I got a quote for my 2002 Pathfinder from Nissan, windshield was $790 just glass. Called Glassmasters and it was $169 INSTALLED lol. No brainer which is mind boggling how cheap glass can be priced aftermarket.

I will give a call to Glass Masters as well.
Thanks

[Mosquito_R]

Just got my windshield replaced by Glass Masters yesterday - it was a mobile service and it all went very well.

[Kloubek]

I too tend to go through Glassmasters. Always been decent service, and they are usually on the lower scale of price - if not the lowest. (I did a fair amount of calling around a couple of years ago, and they had the obviously best price for one vehicle, and the other I was getting done was on par with the cheapest other places.

As far as what to get, absolutely get the aftermarket for a car like that.

[The_Penguin]

Mrs. Penguin has used King's in the past and has been happy. My go-to is always Crystal glass (except for the one time below), have used them for years, quite happy.
Aftermarket is (usually) fine. I was getting some hail damage fixed at Contemporary. I don't have glass coverage, but since they had to remove the windshield to fix some damage, insurance was covering the labour, I had them get an aftermarket windshield, and it's fine. That said, as I mentioned in another thread somewhere, there seem to be some pretty shitty windshields out there, really wavy when you look at them from beside the vehicle. Not sure where people are getting them. Can't imagine these are coming from any decent shop (King's Glassmasters etc.)

[Maxx Mazda]

I always use CalAlta on Edmonton trail. Bring in 5-10 cans of food for the Calgary food bank, and they give you $150 off your invoice. Paid $220 out the door for my 2013 F150. My third windshield from them for various cars.

[speedog]

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I always use CalAlta on Edmonton trail. Bring in 5-10 cans of food for the Calgary food bank, and they give you $150 off your invoice. Paid $220 out the door for my 2013 F150. My third windshield from them for various cars.

Same here, excellent service and never any issues with any vehicle I've taken to them.

[ganesh]

Thanks for all the feedback guys.
Will give CalAlta a call tomorrow.

[rage2]

With Calgary being Calgary, your new windshield will get pitted and look like shit after a couple of months you won't notice any difference between OEM or aftermarket.

[heinz256]

If you go with Cal-Alta, you can buy a groupon for $29 that saves you $130.

https://www.groupon.com/deals/cal-al...-glass-ltd-2-2

[gyu]

Easy Auto Glass in the SE.

Great customer service, and they just recently started this new promo in April so if you buy&install a new windshield there, you can get rock chips repaired for free from them for the lifetime of the windshield.

I bought mine from them back in 2014 and so I do not qualify , for those who are wondering if old customers can get in on that deal.

[Tik-Tok]

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With Calgary being Calgary, your new windshield will get pitted and look like shit after a couple of months you won't notice any difference between OEM or aftermarket.

My Saabaru glass was OEM when I bought it, and it lasted over 2 years with barely any pitting, and only cracked because of a rock chip I didn't notice I got (out of sight, behind the A-pillar), so never filled. Replaced it with aftermarket, and it only took 3 months to look way worse than the OEM one was after 2 years.

[Xtrema]

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If you go with Cal-Alta, you can buy a groupon for $29 that saves you $130.

https://www.groupon.com/deals/cal-al...-glass-ltd-2-2

Or just ask if they have donation drive going and drop some non-perishable food and get $100 off and cut Groupon out of it.

I have not had a windshield from them that cost more than $300.

[jaylo]

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With Calgary being Calgary, your new windshield will get pitted and look like shit after a couple of months you won't notice any difference between OEM or aftermarket.

OEM also helps in sound insulation and big debris going through your windshield. Pitting is also horrible on aftermarket ones.

[ExtraSlow]

Savage Honda fit had a lot of pitting from before I bought it, but got a crack directly in my vision this week.
Anywhere give a deal if you do two windshields at once? Wifes van could use one too.