Does anyone else drive with side mirrors out?

Mirrors out, all the time, that's what I was taught in driver's ed back in the 80's.

I'm a frequent head checker also, no excuse not to flick your head and make sure if things are that tight. The Prius has very good visibility all round imo. Backing up especially since you know the bumper is just past that flat back glass.

My only issue, and I've only had the car a week, is knowing where the nose is. I can't see it and consistently am leaving 3 feet between the front plate and what I'm parking up to.

The Prius's super tight turning circle and short overall length really does make parking it a breeze imo.

 

The Prius turning radius is not actually that good, at least on my V. My 2001 Audi A4 can do a 180 in a smaller space.

 

It's still good for a front wheel drive even if your Audi is better.

 

Compared to my last 3 cars it's a revelation!

 

In the UK, the legal requirement is to have at least two rear view mirrors. i.e. one centre and one side. Most have three and all drivers drive with them out. The side mirrors cover blind spots but you are also taught to look as even side mirrors have blind spots.
I can't seem to remember driving any cars in the USA without at least two mirrors. I can't see the point in driving with the side mirrors turned in either.

 

Mr. Friar sir, I'm not sure if you correctly interpreted the post. It's a discussion on how far to the outside the mirror should be angled - eg whether you should see the sides of the car in the side mirrors or not - not whether the mirrors themselves should be folded in. Many people drive with them angled so you can just barely see the side of the car, as this provides a better view straight back - so to shift left a lane, you look in the left mirror and your blind spot. With the mirrors angled further out, you look in the center mirror and the left mirror, and your blind spot too.

 

I was one of the people who was taught to see the side of my own car in the mirrors and I never even thought to question it until I saw the discussion on this forum. I also always do a visual glance, just in case, but it always confirms what my mirror already showed me.

 

Me too. They work great!

 

Doh as Homer would say.

In that case, I adjust mine so that I can just see the sides of the car and that helps me reverse (Or as you would say-back up)

I turn my head and look when I change lanes.

My mirrors also have a little offset in them which give a slightly better wide angle view.