Ricky Evans heated front screens - anyone got one?

[Jamesemt]

Thinking of buying one of these for winter. Just wondered how similar they are to an oem heated screen. My wife has a Fiesta with a Ford one which I love. How would one of these would compare?

[FurtiveFreddy]

Ford: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOiruARy7NQ

Aftermarket: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYP2NyUT1zY

[GTIR]

Any product called "Ricky" I'd be inclined to avoid.

[Mr2Mike]

A friend has had several aftermarket heated screens fitted to his Pug 205 rally car and whilst they work very well in terms of demisting, they also crack far more easily than a standard screen (which is why he's now on his third one, which already has a crack in it). I don't know if they are made by "Ricky" however.

[windy1]

I have one, he supplies screens to us rally folk, friendly chap, proper petrol head and his son is in the process of building an Imp for motorsport.
The heating element is divided into 2 circuits, one on the LH side and one on the RH side. I am guessing it is not the same type of electic element as the OE screen - I'd suggest you phone him to find out.

[Jamesemt]

Thanks for all the replies.
Windy1 - would you recommend the screen on a non rally car?

[oliverjthomas]

I have one on my race car. Works really well, even in a stripped out tin can that mists up for fun. Sizes are bang on and they don't seem to have the very prominent heating elements that Ford, Jaguar, etc, do. Dual circuit, wired with two relays and two 30 amp fuses so they are fairly easy to fit. I can recommend one.

[windy1]

You might not like the look of it. There are some silvery sections where the element starts at the top and bottom which you might see if there are no black borders on the screen to hide it.
It is purely a functional necessity in a rally car, stops the screen misting up inside which happens when you are making a lot of effort in the car on wet stages, even if you have a heater / blower anyway.
Also my screen isn't bonded, it's got the old style wraparound rubber to hold it in place. You have to be careful to seal the edges of the laminate with sealant to stop water getting between the layers. Not sure what you would do here with a bonded screen?