How Do YOU Adjust Your Sideview???

73JPS · 10-30-2002, 12:55 AM

OK, I would like to know which method you use to adjust your sideview mirrors: as you may or may not know, there are two schools of thought on this.

The common method is to adjust the sideview so that when you look in it, you can just see the left side of your car in the innermost (closest to the side of your car) field of view of the mirror.

The other way is to adjust the sideview so that you just start to see an object in the innermost (closest to the side of your car)part of the sideview just as it moves outside of the left most (closest to your head) field of view of your interior rearview.

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Tragedy · 10-30-2002, 06:56 AM

Method #1, just because I like to look at Wendy's hips.
(Wendy's hips = the WRX's mild rear fender flares)

Sputnik · 10-30-2002, 08:03 AM

If I follow you correctly, I set them to method #2, which extremely minimizes (but does not eliminate) blind spots.

---jps

kwolfman · 10-30-2002, 08:41 AM

I suppose my vote is closest to number 2.

About 10 years ago, I came across a suggested way to adjust your sideview mirrors. It took a bit of getting used to, but I find it works great for me. The idea is you want the side view mirrors field of view to slightly overlap the field of view for the center rear view mirror. This means you want a very wide overall view. Heres how:

1) Roll up your driver's window.
2) With your head resting on the window adjust the driver's side view mirror so that you just can see the rear corner of your car.
3) Now, lean way over to the right with your head roughly in the centered (left-right) in the car.
4) Adjust the right hand mirror to just see the right rear corner of the car.

The rear view mirror sees part of what is in both side view mirrors. The overall effect is a very wide field of view to the back and sides. I don't know how many times the mirrors in this configuration have saved me from accidentally changing lanes into someone. The 1st gen RX7 I had, had a bad blind spot on the right side (very wide A pillar...like the RX8). I could easily see cars in the right hand mirror that were in my blind spot.

Try it you'll like it.

zoom44 · 10-30-2002, 11:40 AM

yep, thats the best way to do it. ifound it also about ten years ago in a car mag i think. have been using that method ever since and converting others. i have finally convinced my wife and now she uses that method also. it doesn't completly eliminate the blindspots in all cars but it drastically reduces them. everyone should give it a try.

bwayout · 10-30-2002, 01:16 PM

but I'll have to try kwolfman suggestion

Thanks :D

pelucidor · 10-30-2002, 03:46 PM

Shows how little I know about driving that I've never even heard of 2 or kwolfman's suggestion. Sounds obvious, so I must be dim too. I'll try what kwolfman said tonight.

Lensman · 05-01-2003, 03:22 PM

Always look over your shoulder into the blindspot before turning and you can compensate for deficient mirrors anyway. I've had whole cars hiding in my blindspot on motorways and a lane change would have been fatal. The ideas above are good though and I'll try kwolfman's to see if it works for me.

Wing · 05-01-2003, 03:31 PM

I do method 2 but if I'm driving a car I'm not use to, I use method #1 so that I can backup the car etc as it's easier to see the edges to see how close you are to the object your backing beside.

RotorGeek · 05-01-2003, 03:37 PM

I will try #2. I am used to looking back becuase i often ride my bike (ZX6R) to work.

MrWigggles · 05-01-2003, 03:42 PM

I actually do #1.

I like being able to see a little bit of my car in the rear view mirror to give me a reference point.

I don't aways sit in the same position when I drive so if no part of my own car is visible then I am not positive what I am looking at when I glance over to the side view mirror.

I guess if my head and seat were always in the same position and no other driver monkeyed with my mirrors (I am not the only driver of some of the vehicles I drive) I would do #2.

But I feel more confident with #1 and I have never merged into someone else's lane before. (I always look in mirror, quickly glance at blind spot, and then merge while looking in mirror.)

I can see why both ways are good for different people. It is more of what you are comfortable with.

-Mr. Wigggles

DTECH-RX · 05-01-2003, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lensman
Always look over your shoulder into the blindspot before turning and you can compensate for deficient mirrors anyway. I've had whole cars hiding in my blindspot on motorways and a lane change would have been fatal. The ideas above are good though and I'll try kwolfman's to see if it works for me.

I agree with Lensman....when in doubt TURN YOUR HEAD! NO car has a blind spot if you just turn your head and look (unless you're driving a semi LOL). Yes, I know sometimes you need to change lanes quickly and properly adjusted mirrors can help you there, but people need to just turn their heads, plain and simple. I personally use a combination of 1 and 2, but I'm not quite as scientific as the steps described above.

justinm2 · 05-01-2003, 04:42 PM

Method #2. I already know where the back of the car is. Only problem is it's a little harder to back into a parking space.

RotaryStalker · 05-01-2003, 04:56 PM

Thanks for the good tips, will try them tonight.

RotaryStalker

DreamWarrior · 05-02-2003, 03:42 PM

WAIT, I thought you were supposed to adjust them to see the road lines to make sure you were centered in your lane

.

</sarcasm>

I have power mirrors so I typically fidget with them all the time. I don't really use a method, I set them up so I can just see the rear quarter panel of the car and then tweek them from there while I'm driving. Or if my g/f gets out and I want to move them to see her butt better...or...oh...wait.

LOL

And about the blindspots, you shouldn't have to turn and look if you're always aware of people around you. I am pretty well aware when driving and if anything looks different behind me, or a merge comes up, I maintain a constant picture of what is around me and if something changes I know the person either got off the road or is next to me. The only time I really need to make sure is when I haven't been paying attention to the road well enough otherwise my mirrors give me enough information without worry of blind spots....

Ehh...I'll shut-up now lol.

Lensman · 05-03-2003, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DreamWarrior
you shouldn't have to turn and look if you're always aware of people around you.

Dangerous. No system is perfect and the time your mental map is incorrect because of some distraction will be the time you wished you'd got into the habit of looking backwards. Let's hope that never happens though.

macdaddy · 05-08-2003, 01:11 PM

use method 2 correctly, and you will almost (depending on how good your mirrors are) completely elimanate blind spots. this is assuming you aren't wearing glasses that cut into your peripheral vision.

what bugs me is many newer cars with power mirrors don't adjust out far enough to be set correctly using method 2

zoom44 · 05-08-2003, 01:17 PM

welcome aboard macdaddy and kudos to lensman for reviving an old discussion. so for those that tried kwolfman's adjustment techniques, how did it turn out?

aussie77 · 08-27-2003, 08:34 PM

One of the beautiful things on my '92 240sx... my side view mirrors have little insets in corner closest to the car that perfectly illuminates the blind spot. I can honesty and truly drive around and never have to turn around to check - a quick glance at my 'magic mirror' and I can see just right. The great thing too is they are set so that no matter who drives the car, when you adjust the side view mirrors to method #1 described (ie just seeing the side of your own car), then the inset mirror automatically looks right at the blind spot.

Astral · 08-28-2003, 12:16 PM

I tried these wideview adjustment guidelines and I love it. I can see a lot more to the sides, and if, say I'm parking or backing up or need to see the side of the car for some reason, I simply shift my head all the way to the left or to the right (without any uncomfortable overextension).

What I realize now is this: you can adjust your sideview mirrors to see the edges of your car while your head is in the center, but using the method above, I get a wider view while still having #1.

OverLOAD · 08-28-2003, 05:14 PM

I kind of use method #1, but point them out just a little bit farther still so that I get the maximum view to the sides behind me.

Your blind spots are typpically further away from the car than the side view mirrors can cover:

\ Blind
\
\
____\__
Visible | \ <- Car
|______/
/
/
/
/ Blind

The wider apart your mirrors, the better your coverage of the blind spots.. This supposedly from driving schools.

wahoo · 10-06-2003, 10:33 PM

I'm #2 here.

I don't have a RX-8 (yet). Driving a Sebring Convertible, which has bad blind spots with the top up. I liked the point of reference with #1 setting, but when you get used to it #2 is so much better.

The optimum setting for me is when I can watch the passing car "drive" from my rearview mirror into my sideview mirror.

portero23 · 01-12-2004, 06:52 PM

Get used to always turning your head. Nobody should only rely on their mirrors. Bikes and motorcycles can easily be missed even with method #2.

Rick · 01-12-2004, 11:52 PM

I use method #2 My mirrors are set so that I can see a passing car go from the rear view mirror into the side view mirror then into my peripheral vision.

emailists · 02-15-2004, 06:33 AM

I use a lanechanger add on rearview mirror- it fully eliminates blindspots and I dont have to check multiple mirrors.