lefty63

Not your own car, but you will never loose site of the approching or passing vehicle just as Guisslapp stated. You adjust the mirrors to best suit youself to remove the blind spot then leave them alone.

Raptor2k

Stolen from a neat post by Astral:

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Adjust your side view mirrors like this ("wideview") . This adjustment significantly reduces the harmful blind spots. It shifts the actual vision and the blind spots to places where a car won't fit anyway. So there's a lot less true dead spots.

I actually find that the RX-8's mirrors don't extend as far out as some other cars, so my mirrors are adjusted full tilt left and full tilt right.

I can trace a car in the left lane or right lane completely from rear view mirror to side mirror to the side vision on the left or right w/o losing it anywhere in the process. Almost every car (save for motorcycles) has its rear end sticking out 1-2 feet or so in the side mirror as it starts to enter the side vision.

The traditional mirror adjustment has you sitting in the middle and adjusting your sides to just barely show the sides of your car. My dad did this and I forgot to readjust to the wideview. Getting on the highway, I was surprised by someone coming out of the blind spot.

I find that the traditional arrangement has a lot of redundancy between the side view mirrors and the rear view mirrors. With the wideview, there's less overlap. It's more disconcerning at first, since you're used to seeing so much "rear view" through the sides, but as you merge onto the highway and change lanes you'll appreciate being able to see nearby cars better.

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Also, I think the rx8's visibility is just fine. Test drive an S2000 and you'll agree.

Astral

the pillars are a little thick.

lane-changing, left side feels as good as any other car ONLY when properly adjusted wide. adjusted narrow, like most people have it (so you can see sides of the car with your head in the middle), it sucks because the mirrors are small. the rear visibility is fine, actually. the bad one is the rear-left and rear-right visibility. say if you are angled 45 degrees trying to make a left onto a road, and you are looking to your right, often the thick B/C pillars will get in the way.

overall, visibility is good except for the rear right side and when parallel parking, you have to stretch your head out more because the side view mirror is smaller.

Krankor

For my part, I tried that wide mirror adjustment thing, having read that other thread. I hated it and went back to the old way. In particular, I was unhappy with how it worked as far as backing out. But that could just be me.

NgoRX8

iTrader: (1)

I agree that the blind spots on this car are huge because of our big C pillars. That about the only problem for me, because I'm use to turning my head to look. But I got use to it real fast, because I love the car. It just takes a bit more effort and time to make sure it is safe to switch.

Ike

It bugged me a little during the testdrive but it was better than the 350Z. I think as far as blindspots go the WRX is the best car I've ever driven but blindspots in a coupe style sportscar are just about unvoidable.

1.3L

I noticed the visibilty restrictions the first time I drove my RX-8. I've had to learn to carefully adjust my side-view mirrors and use them a lot. Also, the high door line where it meets the side window restricts my ability to see curbs, etc., while turning to the right, so I've had to learn to be VERY careful when maneuvering in tight areas such as parking lots. With time, I've learned to adjust and now my RX-8 and I get along just fine.

1.3L

equ

A big +1 for the lefty.

Absolutely, positively true. I read this on a forum somewhere and have done it over the last year in my 3-series (which has pretty good visibility). It is so much better I believe it is the only correct way to adjust your mirrors.

1. Move your head left, close to but not touching the window glass. Adjust left mirror so you can barely see edge of car.

2. Move your head right, over the centerline/gearshit area. Adjust right mirror so you can barely see the car.

3. Sit back. Now you have the wide-view. There is no way anything can fit between your car and where your vision starts. But you're seeing the next lane completely and some of the lane one over. When parking you can always lean to get it right :thumbup:

Astral

Use the rear view mirror more . Actually, I am not sure which aspects you didn't like when backing up. I can only assume that the problem was the reduced direct rear view from the side view mirrors (since they are showing wider). The solution is to move your head to the left or the right -- since you can get the same exact view that you used to have if you move your head to the left or to the right. So yeah, backing out now involves more head movement. I am convinced (no scientific evidence, of course) that wideview is significantly safer in highway lane change and merging situations, and I am willing to put up with the extra head movement action while backing up and such.

RotaryJeff

Never had blind spots in any car I've driven.

It's just not possible, unless you've got your mirrors misadjusted so that your looking at part of your OWN car.

If you can see any significant part of the side(s) of your own car in the mirrors, that is a wasted portion of your view - move them out!

StewC625

I can see my yellow one just fine!

Scrapula

Dammit, you beat me to it!

therm8

I use the mirror trick, works great. In conjunction, I pay attention to the drivers behind me. Check the rearview often, keep tabs on approaching drivers, and no one gets into the blind spots without you knowing about it. Quite simple really. But then I've had cars with big blindspots for the last 7 or 8 years. I've adapted.

Raptor2k

Hellbreed

Like a few others here my mirrors are adjusted out until I can't see my car anymore, don't need to see it I already know what my car looks like. The passenger mirror could go out futher but it's at it's max. I fully use my mirrors when I drive so I don't have blind spot issues, I only look back when I reverse and that took some getting used to at first with the high *** the car has, all is good now.

Barry Gross

In the AARP driver safety courses conducted by law enforcement personnel, they recommend adjusting the mirrors outward just beyond the view where you would see down the side of the car. I have been trying that, but it is taking some getting used to. And, when speaking of blind spots, don't forget we all have them. Where the optic nerve is connected to the retina, there is a small area insensitive to light...and sight. That's a good reason to move your head a little when scanning for traffic, etc.

Astral

That's not wide enough. You should adjust wider, such that it's "just beyond where you would see down the side of the car" when you lean your head all the way left or all the way right.

Barry Gross

That's what I was trying to say; however I left out the "leaning your head" part. Thanks!

BunnyGirl

I could see okay when I drove one. I kept hearing how it "looked" like it would be hard to see out of. I was surprised it wasn't that bad. Actually, I thought it was easier to see out of than the Toyota Corolla I took my driving lessons in.

BunnyGirl

P.S. I am about 5'6"-5'7" if that matters any.

quack_p

You should try it. The method he's describing eliminates the two main blind spots, although it does make it a little harder to parallel park. It takes a while to get used to because you rely a lot more on your center mirror. It's actually safer because you can see your blind spot without having to turn your head.

thatpreludeguy

Do any aftermarket companies make convex mirrors for the 8? I know the ones on my Prelude were a HUGE improvement with reducing blind spots, took some getting used to for sure but once I did I cant think of ever going back.