I think like others have said it really depends on the car. Our Lexus GX460 has one and I have used it twice in two years.

I just saw an older Mazda 6 sedan with a rear wiper!

I wouldn't be able to see out of the back window of my X1 when raining without the wiper.

As someone who's driven plenty of things with no rear windows at all, the "absolutely" answers make me chuckle a little.

Only if you need to see out the back glass.

Hate sedans. Most hatches have rear wiper. I use it every time the rain is coming down, helps tremendously with visibility. I constantly SIPDE when driving and use the rear wiper extensively. Daily driver and weekend car both have it.

Comes in handy on my Escape.

I wish my sedan had one. My previous wagon had one I used quite often. My wife SUV has one that I also use.

I very rarely use it (SUV).

On the truck, I don’t need it for the rain per se but for the sludge that forms on the window when it rains. Because of the rear aerodynamics the sludge build up becomes opaque.

With the advent of rear view cameras, a rear window wiper is not needed.

My wife and I went to Chick-Fil-A when we first got our Odyssey. I was backing out of our parking space and heard a beeping horn. Checked the mirrors, looked behind, didn't see anyone, so I stared backing up again. Someone then layed on the horn. I got out of the mini-van and there was a guy in a Miata with the top down behind me. I coudn't see him at all. That's when it dawned on me we had a backup camera in the new Odyssey. First time we had one.

For the last 1,500 miles, the only thing I see behind me is a 5th wheel.

Hey buddy, long time no "speak". Necessary?, no but nice to have. Rain X works great. Para's comment about having to drive backwards pretty much sums it up.

quote:

Originally posted by dave7378:
Hey buddy, long time no "speak". Necessary?, no but nice to have. Rain X works great. Para's comment about having to drive backwards pretty much sums it up.

Hey, Dave!

on MY! car that would be silly ,
but on her mini van,
a rear window wiper would be in the top 12 desirable gizmo's

( auto trans
p.s., p.b.
Pwr steer
disc brakes
air cond.
inter wipers
pwr mirrors )

wouldn't want to be without the one on my hatchback.
The sedan version of my car has the rear window at the very same angle but doesn't have the feature.

If your transmission is broken and your vehicle will go only in reverse.

Or if you had to execute a J-turn during a thunderstorm...

quote:

Originally posted by Phelen_Kell:
I just saw an older Mazda 6 sedan with a rear wiper!

1st generation Mazda 6 5-door. A liftback version of the sedan.
That'd be my guess.

I have used them, but very seldom.

Put me in the camp for better to have it than not.

On my hatchback it's necessary if you want to see out of the back window when raining or the road is wet. Without it there is no way to see out.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:

quote:

Originally posted by Phelen_Kell:
I just saw an older Mazda 6 sedan with a rear wiper!

1st generation Mazda 6 5-door. A liftback version of the sedan.
That'd be my guess.

My point exactly. I have the 5 door, it's almost identical to the sedan unless you know what to look for. So the "angle of the rear window" doesn't apply to this one.