Friends... Have been reading posts (mostly in the Yahoo 2004 boards) about rear visibility, blind spots, blind spot mirrors, etc. A few thoughts... I've not yet gotten my Prius (awaiting silver AI since Oct.) but I have a few day and night hours in a local TRAC car. The visibility out the back through the rearview mirror is a bit truncated, but no worse than my '96 Oddyssey minivan. The lower rear glass actually enhances rear visibility by giving a better view of the road just behind the Prius. The real reason for this post is to talk about the proper use of the side mirrors. Most people don't set them properly, and it's a pet peeve of mine. (OK, not an earth-shattering issue, but one that effects safety.) Most people set their side mirrors so that they can see down the side of the car on both sides. WRONG. These mirrors are actually for seeing the blind spots on both sides of the car. The correct procedure is to set the view farther out to the sides so that as a vehicle moves forward (in relation to your car), it comes into view in the side mirror about the time it disappears from the rearview mirror. As it continues to move forward, it begins to go out of view in the side mirror at about the time it comes into view in your peripheral vision. If the mirrors are set this way, the "blind spot" is virtually eliminated. Some use small auxiliary mirrors that tack onto the side mirrors for a wider look, but these should supplement the view, not act as the primary view of the blind spot. Here are a few good links to procedures for adjusting mirrors: http://safetynet.smis.doi.gov/SideMirrorAdj.htm http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/e...ck/blindspo.htm I learned this stuff in drivers' ed in the 70's, but a lot of people today don't seem to learn it. And, no, I'm not a driving instructor, just somebody who wants YOU not to change lanes into ME.
Of course, I WAS taught to verify that there was nobody in your blind spot prior to making a lane change by LOOKING before twisting the wheel.
Yep, you're absolutely right, I should have mentioned that as well. Thanks. Proper "looking" is especially true at night and when there are motorcycles about, which are harder to spot.
The rear visibility does stink I've been driving my 2004 for a little over 2 months now, about 3000 miles on it. The visibility out the rear really is bad... So much that my wife has been nervous driving it at night. Not an age thing either (we're both under 30). No matter how one uses side mirrors, I believe Toyota should have paid a bit more attention to the rear visibility.
Re: The rear visibility does stink I couldn't disagree more, and I'm not an ardent "Everything about the Prius is perfect b/c it's a Prius" kind of guy. I think the rear visibility is at least as good as 90% of production vehicles on the market. It's clearly better than any SUV b/c of the lower angle of view. The large side windows allow for excellent visiblity as well. I've got about 3500 miles on mine now, it does take getting used to and the unusual lines can be disconcerting, but the visibility is there. I challenge you, with mirrors properly set, to find a blind spot larger than a human body...I don't think you can do it. I tried with the first one on my dealer's lot b/c it had come up on the boards, and we moved a person around trying as hard as possible to 'hide him' from the driver's view....he was always visible, without contorsions to do it, by looking in either the outside or window mounted rear-view mirror unless way off to the side of the vehicle where a simple turn of the head would immediately reveal him...sounds like every other car I've driven. I'm NOT saying that the view may still be uncomfortable to you or your wife. I can say that it might be. But to declare the physical visibility to actually be bad--something that can pretty easily be objectively checked, I think is innaccurate. --evan
The rear visibility doesn't stink I feel pretty much the same way, Evan. It's taken me a little while to get the mirrors right, but I'm much more confident about what's to my sides and rear now than when I first got the car. I do a lot of backing up too - I have a long driveway that I share with the neighbors. It's the kind of driveway that the kids hang out in all the time so I have to be very aware of pets, toys, bikes, garbage cans and kids. But I never rely soley on the mirrors, I spend much more time looking over my shoulder (well, I also scope the area before I even get into the car). It's much better than my husband's Saab hatchback. My suggestion, jsorger, is to just spend some time. Go to an empty parking lot with some cones or empty cardboard boxes and play around with it. I think one of the most important things a driver can have is confidence in his car. That means knowing what it can and can't do and where you are in relation to everything else. That said, if you are uncomfortable and don't think that you will ever be comfortable, then I think you should find another car that will give you the sort of visibility you desire. I don't think there's any issue about taking a 'loss' on the car, plenty of folks would be happy to buy a slightly used one.
Rear Views I've driven the Prius for a month now. What was hard was changing my viewing expectations from my other car (Audi) to this one. I was "programmed" so to speak, to looking in a certain pattern that I was no longer aware of. At first I felt more vulnerable in the Prius, was startled if something appeared that I didn't expect. But, I notice that I am slowly shifting to a new pattern and much more comfortable. Subtle habits are hard to change. Terry
I agree that the Prius takes some getting used to, probably like any car that's new to someone. My issue is actually concerning cars that are farther behind then say 6 car lengths. For me, 5'7" the top of the car cuts off my rear view through the mirror so I can't see as far back as I like. Anyone else?
I am your size. The mirror has 2 joints, if you pull the mirror down as far as it will go and *then* turn it so you can see out the rear window your line of sight goes higher out the back. Learned this from a convertible with a narrow and low rear window.
I'm 6'0". My typical driving position is slightly slouched (long neck), so the view isn't all that cut off at the top. However, I do use the side mirrors for backing up, and have adjusted them so I can *barely* see the car. I need to see where the tail of the car is when backing into a space, and unless I stick my head out the window I can't get that by turning around. I find no discernable blind spot: as cars pass me, I see them enter my over-right-shoulder view almost exactly the same time I lose them in the right mirror. Same for any left problems. Now, I'm not saying that someone else should adjust the mirrors the same way, but for me, they work without special adjustments...
I am aware of that, I usually pos. mine high for the most fwd vis. under the mirror. I'll have to find a comprimise I guess. Thanks, Jon
Lower isn't better... The problem with this is that for people with EC mirrors, the rear "bar" casts a shadow across the light sensor, preventing the EC mirror from dimming correctly. Being short, I prefer it lower. However, I found out the hard way about the dimming problem, and have since had to keep the mirror higher, sacrificing "taller" vision. Keeping it lower also puts the mirror more in my forward perepheral vision which "Isn't a Good Thing". -Rick
Rear visibility is not good. Much worse than other cars I've driven. Two things help me see better. 1) Fish eye mirrors ($1.97 each) added to each mirror 2) A neck that allows me to turn my head to look in the blind spot. :wink:
In my 1100 mile test drive, I did come away with the feeling that the rear visibility was a problem. Yes, from a technical perspective, I agree that there are no blind spots if you check all the mirrors and turn your head. I had been in the habit of checking my rear mirror and turning my head when merging lanes right. Checking the right outside mirror wasn't necessary in other cars. But in the Prius I remember distinctly checking my rearview mirror and then turning my head, twice, to check before merging right at night. Something didn't feel quite right although I didn't see any cars. So I turned my head again and then the SUV whose headlights were in the right rear blind spot had moved forward and I saw it, just as I was about to merge into it. That experience taught me that I need to use my right outside mirror, and using that as well I feel it's possible to merge safely. But still, the right mirror isn't ideal; it's small image is harder to process and it's harder to figure out where the cars that appear in that mirror actually are. And taking the time to look at it (in addition to the center mirror and head turning) means less time looking forward which could increase my chance of running into someone in front who suddenly slammed on their brakes. The other issue with the Prius is simply that there's a lot going on to distract you back there. The spoiler bar, the wiper, wiper motor, the triangular blindspot shapes. All these things are geometric shapes that tend to distract the eye. I'm sure with time I'll adapt and this won't be as much of an issue, but it is worth mentioning to someone considering this car. Thanks for the tips on setting the mirrors. That's definitely worth experimenting with. But I still will sometimes need the right outside mirror pointing back for pulling out of parallel parking spaces on one way streets when there's vehicles blocking my back view. I suppose I can temporarily readjust the mirror for that.
