Rear visibility without the camera, good or bad?

I find the visibility around the "A-pillar" and the rear visibility to be some of the weak points of the current Prius. It is definitely worse than my previous cars ('95 Integra, '87 Integra, '81 Olds 88 and '77 Cutlass). but there are cars and trucks out there with far worse visibility than the Prius and as others have mentioned you do get used to it and learn to adapt to it to the point where it's not really a problem any more.

 

Gary,
I added a 8"x10" wide angle lens to the lower rear window and I can now back up looking in my rear view mirror. Cost was about $16.00 at a RV equipment store. Check out "cheap alternative to rear view camera" by Bob Allen. For color pics see "photos of wide angle rearview lens" by Bob Allen.
Bernie

 

Get one of these and sleep well: Parking sensors

 

Rear visibility is certainly not one of the Prius' strong points. It's certainly worst than in our Scion xB and Caravan. I removed the rear head rests in order to improve visibility a little bit, since the rear seats are never used.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jamarimutt @ Apr 16 2006, 05:36 AM) [snapback]240456[/snapback]</div>

My dad did this on his Camry.

Peace --

 

I drive a 2004. No backup camera back then. Rear visibility with the Prius is MUCH worse than it was on my '89 Civic station wagon. Not only rear, but all the way around, the Civic had much better visbility. But I once rented some kind of Chevy, I think it was (not sure), and its visibility (rear and side-rear) was much worse than the Prius.

It took me a while, but I've learned to park the Prius okay. I've developed an adequate sense of where the vehicle limits are.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Stringer @ Apr 16 2006, 01:20 AM) [snapback]240448[/snapback]</div>

From their ad:

There is no such thing as "ultrasonic radio waves." Does it use radio (radar) or sound?

 

I just assumed that the back-up camera was to compensatefor the poor visibility.

Peace --

 

I have no problems with rear visibility...Heck, with the split window, I've got better visibility than with my '96 Sentra!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Apr 16 2006, 04:43 PM) [snapback]240471[/snapback]</div>

Ultrasonic sound, but who cares. It works even when dirty.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ltu1542hvy @ Apr 15 2006, 10:03 PM) [snapback]240421[/snapback]</div>

The Prius has many virtues, but rear visibility is not one of them. The rear camera helps backing up, but that is not where the bad visibility is a serious issue for us. The very thick rear A pillars totally block rear-diagonal vision. If you are lucky enough to have to merge at an angle with a road on the right-side, one's vision is totally blocked. Unfortunately for us, our driveway and two other commonly used roads do this. This blind-spot is out of the range of the mirrors. There is no remedy other than extreme caution or trying another route.

 

I think the rear visibility is great for backing up. You can definitely see small objects closer behind the car than on most vehicles. But the split window is a little annoying at first when driving. (I don't have the rear-view camera).

The only visibility issue I have is the front side pillars, they block my view, particularly when I'm turning right or left and want to make sure there aren't pedestrians crossing the street.

I always back into parking spaces (figure it's safer to back into a fixed spot than back out into moving traffic when I'm ready to leave), so I use the side mirrors or turn my head to look directly back, and I think the Prius has one of the best rear visibility out there, partly because the back end tapers slightly. Haven't seen a need to remove rear headrests, besides I often have passengers in the back.

Previous cars: Subaru Outback, Nissan Sentras, VW bug ('65)

nerfer

 

I'm sorry guys but I have to disagree with you regarding the rear visibility. I can't tell you the near misses I've had with both the limited front view and the rear. I've been driving my white beauty since Jan. '06 and I have yet to feel comfortable changng lanes to the right.

Frankly I thought with the many complaints Toyota receives about visibility the 2010 would have improved it but my guess we will see it in the next model change.

I love my Prius but truly find the lack of rear view dangerous.

 

Are you using the Car Guy's method of adjusting the rear view mirrors? It helps significantly.

 

The camera view has a great "wow" factor for first time passengers. That's about it. I back into my garage and sometimes check it. As to everyday normal use, I hardly ever look at it. I don't have any problem with rear visibility, now if I could ever figure where the front bumper ends, that would be even better.

 

Same here, I got no visibility issue and Prius is definitely not worst than any other cars (from Sedan to Coupe to Hatch).

Indeed, the first thing I look at during backup is the rear windows, not the MFD screen with the camera view. It's good (Cool) to have a camera, but I just can't 100% trust it....or can you?

 

Vision out of the Prius is better than my work Holden Commodore

 

I do think the visibility is limited. I have no problem with the side or rear vision while driving - mirrors are adjusted so I can see cars approaching in the blind spots. My problem is backing up and parallel parking - the Prius replaced a minivan and I had no problem doing these things with it. I am not used to using the mirrors for this and can not really see the curb on the sides of the Prius. I was taught to look over my right shoulder when I am backing up or parallel parking and I have done this for many years - old habits die hard. The back up camera is very good to tell how close the back of the car is to an object, but not usable for the rear quarters.