schiefergrau

I would guess that about 70-80% of the coupes and targas has a rear wiper. My first thought was it might be a standard equipment but is was at extra cost. You rarely see one on a G-Model and even rarer on a 993, I would say it is vice versa, maybe about 10% of them has a rear wiper. I personally think a more or less useless item which disturbes the clean lines of the car. I can say for Germany that a car without a rear wiper is more desirable. You often see in an advert the remark 'no rear wiper!'
So whats the story behind this? Was it a short term fashion or a clever marketing campaign by the factory?

Michael

cobalt

Not sure of the ROW cars but in the US it was an option. I agree a lot came with them and although they occasionally have a purpose I would prefer the car without it. We have been discussing sunroofs on another thread. It is listed on the option sticker of all US cars but was Standard equipment. In fact although one or two might exist without a factory sunroof all of them have it. A non sunroof car would be a big seller here today.

My guess is it was an easy mark up for the dealers to make a few extra $$ on and they automatically marked the box or convinced the customers to order one. IIRC the dealer made more on some options than Porsche at the time.

me61ic

My 1990 German targa does NOT have rear wiper

cool whip

My 92 cabriolet doesn't either.

kreeshp

My 1990 U.S. spec 964 C2 coupe doesn't have the rear wiper.

My 1995 Canadian spec 993 C2 coupe has the wiper. I read somewhere that many (or most?) of the Canadian spec 993's had the rear wiper.

John McM

In New Zealand (ROW) it's very unusual not to have a rear wiper, and most of those cars are ex Asia. Same for sun roofs, except notably sun roofs were rare in ex Japan cars.

Personally, both are pointless in fast road driving. However, as my air con doesn't work and I commute occasionally I find myself using both. The sunroof helps to cool the car and the wiper clears the rear screen in rainy commuting.

Deserion

My '91 Targa has the wiper. Need a new arm, actually...

kokolyia

Same. It snapped the first day I picked up the car.

JohnK964

My MY 91 US spec C2 no rear wiper

boostedt0y

My 90 C2 has a rear wiper and did the rear wiper delete with OEM plug as soon as I got the car.

Leica 993

I love the rear wiper, one of the coolest features about an all-year-round sports car in my opinion!

Marine Blue

Thankfully no wiper on my 90 C2 Targa

freno a mano

My ROW '90 coupè has the rear wiper but it was an option. Deleted the firts day I bought it.

911Jetta

US '90 without rear wiper. I'm also glad my car doesn't have headlight washer nozzels in the bumper.

Gregg-K

Before judging what Porsche did, you have to consider the time during which the 964 was designed. A rear wiper was a rare thing, and having one was a feature of distinction. To my eyes, I have always thought the 964's rear wiper integrates well with the car's lines, and is something I would not delete.

By contrast, the front wipers are terrible ...

.. Gregg