Good evening! Like most everyone else, I'm "on the list" for a new C8. I had the pleasure of getting a ride in one around the NCM track this past summer, but never really got to sit in the driver seat (even in the garage.
While tailing one today, I noticed it has what appears to be a fairly small window, and coming along side there seems to be quite a blind spot to the passenger side.

Do any of you lucky ones who actually own and daily drive one have a real-life opinion on the available rear view and/or blind spots?

Thanks in advance for replies.

 

^^^^
You'll get different opinions BUT if you have a 2LT, 3LT of Vert you're in luck. The rear vision with the TV Camera s the best thing since sliced bread!

I'll explain. Even if you have you mirrors set the way it was outlined in the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) 1995 tech paper on defensive driving to give good visibility of blind sports behind your fenders you need more. As they spend a page+ defining, need to follow cars coming up from behind who will soon be in your "blind spot."

In my 1988, 1993 and 2008 C6 Vette coupes had good visibility in the center mirror to see cars coming up fast as they moved to the side mirrors. When I got my 2014 C7 Z51 it was fair at best. Then got my 2017 grand Sport with Stage 2 Aero option that included rear spoiler side extensions. Visibility was as bad as a rag top Vette Vert! I added small oval convex blind sport mirrors to help.

On the C8, the rear view though that back window is fair at best. I tried a few times BUT now ONLY use the TV rear view mirror. I also have it set for a wide view. Just like the convex passenger side mirror as it says, "Objects in the Mirror are Closer Than They Appear." In fact I have mine set so it's close to being what you see in the passenger side mirror. I can see cars coming up in the rear on the lanes on either side until they are on my rear bumpers. Super safe rear view.

 

I have a 2lt coupe and will reach my 500 mile breakin any day now. I find that with the rear view camera mirror set to wide and my two side mirrors aimed so that I can just barely see the rear fenders, the blind spots are not really an issue. In fact the rear visibility is much better than my previous C6's and my 2017 Camaro.

 

3LT HTC here, with top up camera is outstanding. With top down, a little blind behind nacelles, but with mirrors and situational awareness not an issue. Car is awesome!

 

One more poster reporting that with the rear camera mirror, AND the blind-spot monitoring (in the 2LT), HTC situational awareness is great. Only thing you need to get used to is "re-focusing" with the mirror camera. It's not like a mirror where the focal point is the object you see in the mirror -- you are really focusing on that "mirror" roughly 18" from your eyes! I've learned to "sweep" from road, to side mirror, to dash and to mirror camera and now have no problems at all.

 

If I had a 1LT, I'd be getting a lawyer....or I would be getting some stick on panoramic mirrors which is what I have seen some people do.
With the TV rear-view camera it's fine, and actually there is a trick you can do lets you keep the rear parking camera on which is much wider FOV than the rear view camera.
You just hit the camera button while sitting still, select rear view, start rolling forward slowly and it will flip the view to the front, QUICKLY press the rear view on the infotainment screen and then it should stay stuck on.
Of course, you can't use the infotainment screen for anything and as soon as you flip away you can't get back.

 

2021 1LT, 14000+ miles. You may have to adjust the mirrors a little bit wider than you used to, but you will not be troubled by blind spots.

 

I am on my second 1LT, with 5700 miles, adjust mirrors = no blind spots for me.
I have no reason for a 2LT or 3LT.
I would like to have memory seats.

 

I have a 2lt and I do not use the review camera because it is an unnatural look about it that throws me off. I use the review mirror looking through both sets of glass and use the side mirrors and do just fine, no issues. The camera I like is the one for noes in parking and of course the one for backing up. But if you are fine with the review mirror camera, it shows a big picture of what's behind you and I'm sure it has many fans. Who knows it may grow on me if I work with it but for now I have no intentions of using it. I tried it for about 500 miles from the museum and felt much more comfortable not using it, it's kind of creepy.

 

2LT here. I find the visibility is decent enough. I'm trying to get used to the rear view mirror camera, but as others have noted, it takes some refocusing each time you look at it. What you will find, though, is that if you're at an intersection where you're at a 45 degree angle to the cross street, it's almost impossible to see oncoming traffic because it's right in your (HUGE) blind spot. I now dread intersections like that.

 

Yes, once you get used to the rear view camera and Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA), you would be almost fine. However, there is still a big problem for me that I still cannot find a good/elegant solution. That is y shaped intersections, or when merging to main streets from side in sharp angles. I have no visibility of cars coming from right rear side. Like the following picture situations. The angle in the picture might be OK, but I cannot see any from behind when angle is sharper. All I can do in these situations is to drive super slow and wish my luck. I still hope that SBZA will help even in these situations, but I cannot rely on that until I do dangerous experiments. It's really scary.

 

Its all relative ie what are you used to and what are your expectations. For reference I have had MGs, Austin Healeys, Fiat Spyder, Corvette C4, SLK350. I tried a BMW Z3 convertible once and it was bad. Now we have an MB S500 and a Honda CR-V and the Honda has an unobstructed view and cameras everywhere. My C4 had a large rear window glass hatchback and great visibility.

The C8's blind spots are bad. Chev try to compensate by having lights on the side mirrors to tell you there is something there. That rear window is tiny. The rearview mirror can be used via camera but it takes a few seconds to become adjusted to the projection. The worst case is: First day I pulled into a PPF installers but could only pull in part way so the car was at a 45 degree angle to the busy street. I pulled in like this because in any other of my cars I could look out the passenger side ie right and back and see traffic. Not a chance. I had to get the detailer to stop traffic so I could back up. No idea how 1LT manage with no camera.

 

I agree 100%. I have a 3LT HTC and merging left into roads with dividers is very hard. However, when you encounter Y shape intersection it's down right impossible to see anything. Below is an intersection in Parlin, NJ when you take an exit off rt 9. When I took it with my top down I was very nervous, but was able to lift myself up to take a look over the nacelles. The second encounter was at dark and it was raining. There was no way to see anything to my right. There was a lot of traffic coming from the left (late rush hour) so I had to time my entry and pray that if someone is coming from the right they will slow down. Honestly, this was a really frightening experience - I swore I would never use this exit again!

 

First, been using only the "TV Mirror" set for a wide view the 15 months I have had my Coupe, Initially had some vision issues but found IF I adjust it as the best way to view a movie on your Cell phone, look perpendicular to the screen it's fine! If you have it set as a real mirror you're looking at an angle. So start by turning the TV Mirror as if it is a real mirror and you're looking at yourself!

I initially thought is was my progressive glasses I have worn for ~35 years as the reading and computer screen distances are mainly what I use. However my brain has adjusted to whatever and I find the view perfect. I do scan all mirrors all the time, have been since ~17 looking for whoever might be coming up fast behind! Then is was a possible cop now at 79 a distracted driver looking at their phone!

Angled Intersections are a problem. I leave a stop sign at the end of the rural road I live on and make a left into a divided 4 lane highway with traffic going about 70 mph. With my two C7's could stop at a very carful 30 degree angle in the narrow center divider when traffic is clear in the two lanes in front. Could see out that small side window. For example in the wife's SUV I stop at a 45 degree angle as the divider is not very wide. BUT with the C8, no window behind the passenger window so even 30 degrees doesn't work. My choice is pulling out perpendicular and hoping someone doesn't hit my rear or front as they overhang somewhat OR waiting for all 4 lanes to be clear, my usual MO. BUT in much of the year now lots of traffic going to and coming from Myrtle Beach to I95 South on that highway. Many times the gaps in traffic are few between. Requires WOT acceleration to go through a traffic gap in the first, closest pair of lanes and merge with traffic in the far two lanes. Actually fun!

 

I totally agree with you. In general, I find the combination of the outside mirrors and the digital rear view camera mirror to provide decent fields of view. However, in the situation you illustrated, there is no way to see the traffic approaching from the rear on the passenger side. I take your approach in edging out slowly. I can't think of a good solution.

 

^^^
Funny I take a different approach. I have a few places with that angled intersection. My MO is not to crawl out slowly, too many folks looking at their cell phones! If there is no traffic coming from the left, it the case of the pic, I accelerate in that lane when I think it will be clear in the one i want to go in, look in my mirror and see if it's safe to pull over! They way the C8 accelerates, even if someone is close you can cut it! BUT that does require a traffic free lane you're crossing!

 

I use the C8 as a daily driver. I take it everywhere. Grocery shopping, picking up laundry, going through a drive thru, and a couple of long trips. It works great in all situations as long as you travel light.

I have found that the C8 HTC is no worse and in fact is better dealing with blind spots than many mid engine cars and the C7 convertible (which believe it or not was the worst I've had including the Alfa 4c).

And I like the electronic blind spot warning on the mirror and especially the Side scan when backing up warning. I've had that save my bacon many times in parking lots. It even sees pedestrians walking toward your car behind you that you could not see otherwise. Very impressive and re-assuring.

Also the rear view mirror "camera" helps a lot if you can get used to it. It bothers my eyes but I can focus on it if I try. IMO it takes some getting used to. This completely eliminates rear blind spots with the HTC top up. Top down I don't have a problem with rear vision in the HTC. The rear camera also gives you a better look out the rear in the rain than a normal mirror, especially at night.

There is one weird blind spot though. Its actually looking out the front right side by the A pillar next to the rear view mirror. The A pillar is really thick and the mirror is pretty big and stuck out. If you are at a stop sign looking for a car on your right side you have to be really careful. You might miss it. You have to move your head around to really see if there is a car there or not. Its easy to miss it.

Overall, for a mid engine car its really good as a daily driver. And I really like the front camera that makes it easy to park.

 

My experience with my 1LT coupe, 7500 miles, six months, is that the rear blind spots can be eliminated by using the side mirrors properly, as with any vehicle, such as a truck, that has no direct rear view vision at all.
The regular rear view mirror is often useless, because the rear glass gets dirty or rained on or night falls. But that can be dealt with with the side mirrors.
The real vision problems arise in merging into traffic at oblique angles, as mentioned already--and in lack of a front view camera. It's impossible to see the front of the car without a front camera and I have often had to ask my passenger to get out and spot for me.
Nevertheless, I couldn't justify the extra $7K or so for a 2LT just for that camera. A truly wireless front camera with monitor can be had for under $200 and can be mounted over the front license plate, or by fiddling with the aero plate if you don't have a front license plate. It's not unobtrusive, but you can't see it while having fun in the driver's seat.
Less-obtrusive cameras can be bought for under $20. These broadcast to a mobile phone but require a 12V supply. I couldn't figure out how to run a switchable 12V to that camera without drilling any holes, so I went with the wireless version.

 

Check out Paragon replacement mirrors. easy to install and they really make a difference.

 

I’m just glad that it’s an automatic. This way I can hold the wheel with one hand and cross my fingers on the other while making any lane change.
I have a 2LT HTC, so I have the rear view mirror camera. Even so, I still feel like I’m sitting in the bottom of a garbage can. If I didn’t have the lane warning on the mirrors, I would not enjoy driving it.

Saladbar - My C7 convertible was much easier to drive.