Outside Rear View Mirrors

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RegulusBlack

Member
Joined
Apr 26, 2013
Messages
15
Hi,

I just got a 2013 Leaf S and I am very happy with it. I also have a 2011 Prius Hatchback and I have made several comparisons between the two cars. In most of the feature comparisons I prefer the Leaf design. There is one feature where I think the Prius is better designed. It is the outside rear view mirrors. I could describe all of the ways that they differ but the easiest thing to do is compare them yourself. I think the most important way the Prius mirrors are better is that you can see better with them. But all in all I have to congratulate Nissan on making a wonderful car.

Thank You! :)
 
RegulusBlack said:
Hi,

I just got a 2013 Leaf S and I am very happy with it. I also have a 2011 Prius Hatchback and I have made several comparisons between the two cars. In most of the feature comparisons I prefer the Leaf design. There is one feature where I think the Prius is better designed. It is the outside rear view mirrors. I could describe all of the ways that they differ but the easiest thing to do is compare them yourself. I think the most important way the Prius mirrors are better is that you can see better with them. But all in all I have to congratulate Nissan on making a wonderful car.
Thank You! :)

When you adjust the two outside mirrors outward to avoid any blind spots, these mirrors are more than adequate.
 
+1

Most people are clueless as to the proper way to adjust side-view mirrors... Unfortunately, my wife is one of them and refuses to change...

LEAFfan said:
When you adjust the two outside mirrors outward to avoid any blind spots, these mirrors are more than adequate.
 
TomT said:
+1

Most people are clueless as to the proper way to adjust side-view mirrors...
Yeah. I have insufficient seat time in the Leaf to judge the mirrors when adjusted properly but everyone should be running like http://www.cartalk.com/content/avoiding-blind-spot-5" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. I HAD to do this when I had my 350Z due to the huge blind spots in the rear corners if I didn't do this.

It takes awhile to get used to be now, I never ever run my mirrors on any car so that the sides are visible in normal driving. It makes no sense to.
 
RegulusBlack said:
I agree. The side mirrors work. They just are not nearly as good as the ones on the Prius.

If anything, they can be a bit smaller. I haven't driven a vehicle with mirrors this gigantic since I sold my Nissan Hardbody pickup.
 
Interesting. I have never found one mirror to be better than another - all modern mirrors seem to have good reflective qualities. Now, if better means larger, no question. Big mirrors are great, and our recently sold Buick Rendezvous had really great huge mirrors. Of course, it is a compromise; large mirrors are draggy, and every little drag reduction helps when you are trying to minimize fuel use.

Gee, remember when side view mirrors were an option or were only available as an after market item? Roll down the window and adjust those suckers.
 
I'm guessing that someone smarter than me has thought of this before, but rather than have the sideview mirrors on the exterior of the car can Nissan, (or someone aftermarket) design sideview mirrors that can go on the inside of the car?
I've had the idea for years now, but have not made the time to prototype this.
I imagine that these mirrors be in roughly the same location, just rather than popping outside of the body they would pop into the interior.
You'd still get the same viewable range.
For the OEM, manufacturing would cost would be roughly neutral. (No need for cameras, wires and screens; in addition users don't see additional power drain from electronics.)
But you'd benefit by reducing drag, improving range at high speeds, and remove the need to create headlights that split flow around the sideviews.

Consumer acceptance might be an issue but, with a customer that's already forward thinking I would see this as a nice little bullet point rather than as a detractor.
I suppose if Nissan doesn't do it, someone else will and claim the first mover title.

Thoughts?
 
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