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Best blind spot mirrors on the market? Suggestions. Thanx.
First, set the mirrors per the SAE old tech paper, which many folks quote. However if you'll read the text on the right of what is often presented, it relies on the center mirror having a wide view of the rear so you can see a car going from the center to pass you on the left. Never used a small blind spot mirror on my other 3 Vette coups but the C7 has a narrower rear view. If you have a Vert, worse! This is what I installed and I like it IN ADDITION TO SETTING MY MIRRORS CORRECTLY!
Got mine from Amazon, they have many so search for oval and glass, avoid plastic. Have had mine for 2 years, no discoloring. TO EACH HIS OWN.
The C7 rear view is narrow and does not allow you to fully see what the 1995 SAE paper defined as a way to avoid blind spots! Vert is worse!
Picture sitting in C7. Side mirror adjusted so you don't see your car when you're head is leaned on the window. Blind spot mirror lets you see your car and the rear of the one near your rear bumper as noted here.
Properly adjusted side mirrors (no blind spot in the C7 when mirrors are properly adjusted):
Yep you don't want your car in the side mirror at all.
Rear view is rear view and side mirror's are side mirror's people get it wrong. No issues with blind spots. But all good driver's still look over the shoulder. Good neck exercise too!
Picture sitting in C7. Side mirror adjusted so you don't see your car when you're head is leaned on the window. Blind spot mirror lets you see your car and the rear of the one near your rear bumper as noted here.
You don't need to see the rear of your car, the other car (34 ford)is not in any blind spot, it is right next to you. ???
There is actaully an SAE spec for mirror adjustment
Yep. And if you read the paper it says, just like the posted pics that have been shown in this thread, you need a wide view of the rear to follow cars as they move to pass! In a Vert the rear view is very small. In the C7 coupe it's definetly more limited than in my C6, '93 and '88 Vettes where I found no need for a small blind spot mirror. Even setting the mirrors per that 1995 SAE paper, which I have done for many years, I find the small oval blind spot mirror useful. TO EACH HIS OWN!
With the outside mirrors adjusted so a car in the rearview appears in the side just before it disappears from the rear, combined with turning my head and looking before changing lanes, I'm fine. Even in the 'vert.
With the outside mirrors adjusted so a car in the rearview appears in the side just before it disappears from the rear, combined with turning my head and looking before changing lanes, I'm fine. Even in the 'vert.
Agree, it's best to turn your head and i do that when there is time. However when evading the many rubber truck tire treads on I95 I find I have little if any time! Must admit keeping up with one more mirror takes more things to store in short term memory but I do it by habit. Nice to know that the last scan indiacted I can safely steer around them.
With a Vert you've lived with poor right side viability but compared to my C6 the C7 is not nearly as good. Biggest problem I have is when pulling out in the narrow center median in the 4 lane divided highway when leaving the street near my home. With the C6 or the wife's SUV I can pull out at a 40 to 45 degree angle and see the oncoming traffic. With the C7 coupe the angle is very limited to about 30 degrees to see out the tiny window. Not an issue for the blind spot mirrors can help but supports those who had C6 coupes and find the C7 visibility an issue.
This topic keeps coming up and every single time its the same arguments with at least half claiming there are no blind spots if your mirrors are adjusted properly. I just don't find that to be true...for me anyway. I've repeatedly been through the suggested procedure pictured above and for me there are definitely blind spots.
I'm not complaining, mind you, just stating what I'm seeing. I have to wonder if it has anything to do with being a bit on the under tall side and with short legs? I.e. I have the seat moved much further forward than you taller guys and I'm wondering if that matters.
Finally it doesn't take much of a blind spot to be a problem. The mini-van drivers seem to seek them out and once there, they set their cruise controls to make sure they stay there.
Agree, it's best to turn your head. However when evading the many rubber truck tire treads on I95 I find I have little if any time! Must admit keeping up with one more mirror takes more things to store in short term memory but I do it by habit. Nice to know that the last time I scanned I can safely steer around them.
Turning your head is not correct, moving your eyes is the most correct answer, when you glance at your side mirror, you should be able to pick up the car in your peripheral vision, in conjunction with a properly adjusted side view mirror, that is sufficient... i have have had the guy in front of me slam on his brakes at the exact moment i glanced to "check my blind spot" and BINGO, i rear ended him. Since then i've learned this mirrow adjustment and been doing it for 20 years, it does take a bit of getting used to, but it's better by far.
HOWEVER ! while at last years auto show, i noticed a fine line in the side mirrors of the Acura's. It was a perfect solution, it canted the outboard part of the side mirror to get an extra few degrees of field of view. This is the most simple and elegant fix out there. The silly goddam electronics that the high end manufactures have added, is beyond absurd... it costs hundreds of bucks ( just try to get that fixed!)
Ford comes close with some of their side mirrors, but the Acura fix is the best one out there. SIMPLE and not complicated is always the best solution.
This topic keeps coming up and every single time its the same arguments with at least half claiming there are no blind spots if your mirrors are adjusted properly. I just don't find that to be true...for me anyway. I've repeatedly been through the suggested procedure pictured above and for me there are definitely blind spots.
I'm not complaining, mind you, just stating what I'm seeing. I have to wonder if it has anything to do with being a bit on the under tall side and with short legs? I.e. I have the seat moved much further forward than you taller guys and I'm wondering if that matters.
Finally it doesn't take much of a blind spot to be a problem. The mini-van drivers seem to seek them out and once there, they set their cruise controls to make sure they stay there.
I think it depends. The fact that there are no "car-sized" blind spots I think is true. I've never had a problem with properly adjusted mirrors seeing cars to the rear or side of me.
The ONE exception to that is cars that are more than one lane over from me. Even properly adjusted, if a guy two lanes to your right starts merging left as you're merging right, you might not see him right away.
That's just been my experience. But yes, there are definitely some blind spots that maybe a child or something can fit in.
I put on some blind spot mirrors and find that I don't use them as much as I thought I would, especially on the passenger side (image too small to do much good). Correct adjustment of the main mirrors is the best idea...
And why is that? So you can double check what your mirrors have already told? So you can drift to whatever side you are looking while you have taken your eyes of the road in front of you?
The most you should do is just tilt your head either toward the window on the drivers side to see more down the side of the car or the right to see more the car down the right side of your car. You don't have to turn (rotate) your head. In fact, that's dangerous.
Last edited by Walt White Coupe; Sep 28, 2015 at 03:46 PM.
there certainly are blind spots. if there weren't we would not have so many posts. pick up a pair of round magnified or squared inserts and use them. My new Lincoln has warning lights, not my new Vette! just to be safe for $3.99 your covered. Just do it. No depreciation on resale value
This topic keeps coming up and every single time its the same arguments with at least half claiming there are no blind spots if your mirrors are adjusted properly. I just don't find that to be true...for me anyway. I've repeatedly been through the suggested procedure pictured above and for me there are definitely blind spots.
It's obviously up to how you want to drive and whatever is best for you. I'm not bragging (just knocked on my wood desk) but I have been driving now for 56 years and never had an accident with another vehicle! Had a few off the road excursions, as I refer to them, including my 260Z and CJ5 but no one was hurt and I was doing something I knew could be an issue. Guess I have learned to scan my mirrors continually and know what is around me (and yes looking for the law is one reason and today someone on their cell phone more of an issue!) I saw no need for a blind spot mirror in my ' 08, '93 or '88 Vettes. The C7 coupe does not have as good visibility and I find it useful! To each his own!
