Windshield replacement: Now or later?

I tried entering this post a while ago and pressed "next" then realized I needed to change something (actually, I was gonna have a poll and I'd selected a wrong poll option), and so I hit "back" and it was, of course, all gone, thanks IE. So instead of the nicely worded and prose-friendly version, I'm typing this all in shorthand, so forgive me if it sounds flippant.


- Time for a new windshield, mine's got a great big crack in it.

- Crack doesn't impede my view of the road (it's down low on the windshield), but it would be really nice to replace the windshield.

- I have SWMBO approval for it. She just replaced hers.

- This is not covered by insurance, it's out-of-pocket, hence the need for SWMBO approval.

- SWMBO got a star in hers less than a week after replacing it, though.

- Trip to Portland coming up early November. Drive is ten hours each way on I-5.

- Would really like a fresh clean new windshield with fresh wipers for the trip.

- Portland trip is so long that it would exponentially increase the chance that I'd get a stone from a big-rig's tire and waste the money on the replacement.

Opinions?

I've been driving for 15 years and I've never had a bad chip (nothing more than tiny glints) or a crack. What are you people doing?

If you have glass insurance, just throw a brick through it, and have them replace it or try and make the initial crack longer/larger so it goes at least 6 inches on the wiper path.

I guess if that's not an option, just get the new window before your trip and get the glass coverage added anyways onto your plan. I've checked (and my insurance rates are pretty high around $1600/6months) but it’s only an extra $20/year for the glass coverage over here in NY. Even if you go 5 years without a replacement, that’s still way cheaper that paying out of pocket for a new windshield. A buddy of mine actually had his insurance canceled after 3 windshields in his jeep were claimed. The first was a turkey flying through the window. The second cracked on the way home from the glass repair place, and the third cracked about 3 months later in the winter taking ice off the window with a scraper.

I was surprised when my window cracked from a rock, well not really surprised just startled I think I was going near 85 passing a large dumptruck on a back country road, I couldn't remember if I had glass coverage, but after a phone call it was already on my plan and they let me call any glass shop of my choosing for the replacement.

I think it depends a lot on the amount of highway driving that you do and the amount of trucks on the road and construction areas you go through. My first company van had a cracked windshield within weeks and so does my current van. Replacement would be free but I know it would get hit again very soon by something thrown up from the road so I won't bother unless it impedes my vision.

what year / model / make is your car?
how much have you been quoted for the glass replacment?

is your car parked in a secure lot?

just how long is the crack?

I would recommend getting it done now. The last thing you need is to turn on a windshield defroster and have the crack spread further when you least expect it. Better to get it over with while you have the time, resources and approval to do so.

Quote:
What are you people doing?

Driving in the West. Much less asphalt, much more concete/macadam and more little bits flying around.

And noisier, too, as I was sad to realize when I moved here.