Holy Blind spot!

[Plastics]

Well, I have had my Coupe 3.5SE Premium for about 2 weeks now.

What I notice is the real blind spot to on the driver side. You really have to crane your neck around to make sure no other car is in the blind spot before you change lane. (And gray cars tends to disappear into the blind spot).

I am thinking of putting some small convex mirrors glue them on the outside side mirrors.. Does any one have any experience with that. I think they look dorky but may be necessary.

Any remarks would be welcome

Plastics08 3.5SE Premum Black

[mikemart]

Won't be getting my coupe for at least 6 months. However, I have been doing tons of research on them. Blind spots are one of the more popular complaints about the car itself. The other popular complaint is the option package setups.

I don't think it would hurt the aesthetics of the car much if you put little rounded mirrors on the larger side views. Do you have your side views positioned for optimum blind spot reduction. For example, State Farm recommends having your side views at a certain angle, but then you can't really see anything else out of them. Personally, I like my side views directed more behind me, but I have minimal blind spots in my Acura. When I get my coupe, I may have to get used to the side views being angled differently.

In short, I would do it if you think it'll help. Its better than denting your sweet new ride!

[Buzzman]

I have been putting these little convex mirrors on my cars for years. The 2" diameter sized ones. I wouldn't drive without them.I'm so anal about it now that when I travel and rent a car, I go straight to the nearest Wal-Mart and buy a set, or I buy them at home and bring them with me to put on the rental. My wife thinks I'm a little nuts, but I feel a lot safer with these things. I've got my kids hooked on them now as well.Don't hesitate.

[hangtime23]

I actually had the exact same problem with the blind spot on the driver's side...it's crazy cuz the pillar's pretty thick, combined with the fact that the rear passenger window (if you can even call it a window) is so small that you can't really see anything through it, plus I've also tinted my windows, makes it damn near impossible for me to see anything over my left shoulder.

So the first day I got the car, I immediately bought those small convex blindspot mirrors. $2.99 for 2, dirt cheap, and I don't think they look dorky at all. I love having them now, I find I use them all the time, and they also make me feel a lot more confident about switching lanes in tight spots. I don't think I've got any pics of them up, but I'd highly recommend them for the coupe...

[guitarmn07]

I've actually been looking for the rectangular convex blindspot mirrors... I can't seem to find any. I think it would look better... but hey... purpose over aesthetics, right? I better put that round convex blindspot mirror on there quick before I dent my ride!

[altima coupe]

The mirrors supplied can be set up themselves properly to cover the blind spot. The driver headrest gets in the way as well so it's useless to do a shoulder check. The mirrors have to be set up right or else. Many coupes are similar, but the driver's side blind spot is huge in the Altima.

[hattrix]

I just lean forward and look in my mirror. Doing that, I can see the entire blind spot. Never have had a problem. I have had WAAAAYYY more trouble with the passenger side blind spot. You can't lean forward enough for that to make a difference.

[dragon17]

I always use convex mirrors. I was going to use the small 2" ones but decided to go with 3" for enhanced safety.

[sandman350]

I traded in my 350z after 4 years to get my coupe and my blind spots have gotten much smaller now. It will just take some getting used to and you'll be fine. Adding the mirrors wouldn't be a bad idea though if it makes you feel safer.

[Rob.Vegan]

I remember this thread... weird.

Ok time to stop resurrecting old threads. goodnight

[marlin29311]

Well since it's back....

THERE IS NO BLIND SPOT. People make blind spots by improperly setting up their mirrors. There should be no overlap in your mirrors when you set them up - the rear view mirror should see things directly behind you, and the side view mirrors should be setup so that once something approaches you and leaves the rear view mirror, they should enter the side view mirror. Objects leave the side view mirrors when you can physically see them without having to turn your head.

For the coupe, this pretty much means turning your mirrors all the way out. It's 1000 times safer to drive this way - you never have to shift your body to look back, meaning you always keep your eyes ahead of you!

[Strik3r69]

i use the convex mirrors on all of my cars for years..it's very useful. I dont think they look dorky at all. Buy it and you wont have to turn your neck around everytime you turn. It's worth it.

[SHIFT_confucius]

I don't know, but for me I do feel that there is a bind area – even with mirrors adjusted ‘correctly’ wide. Driving in ‘normal’ lane patterns as cars move forward and backward isn’t the issue to me, it’s the long ramp merging and mid-lane change maneuvers that are blotted out as other cars move diagonally into my zone. Example, I’m driving in the far right lane of a 3 or more lane highway, and can never see the guy who moves in from the far left lane next to me. Also as I merge in on more lengthy ramps, I cannot see what’s in my ‘cut-over zone’ without looking carefully, crossing my fingers and hitting the gas a liI bit more. Mostly due to the fact that the cars didn't move up into that side zone from behind.

Now I’m 6’ 1” so I sit further back, and a bit more slouchy than some…which may add to it.

And as an experience reference I’ve owned everything from motorcycles to pickups, and piloted many coupes over my last 25 years of driving. Not saying that this coupe is has the worst setup, but for me it’s a constant attention distracter when driving with gusto!

[ESP]

I agree with Marlin for the most part. I've found that most people don't know how to set up their side mirrors properly. As he mentioned, there should be no overlap between what your rear-view mirror sees and what your sides do. Now, I've also got one of those ricey lookin' RAZO convex mirrors but having that wide-angle makes all the difference for me.

All this being said, you're still an idiot if you don't shoulder-check when changing lanes. Coupes are by their very nature prone to shoulder-checking blind spots, but the AC definitely isn't the worst on my list. The 2000+ Celica is.

[mcheddadi]

pics of the razo mirror please

[brianna71404]

I agree that visabiltiy isn't always great, but I always shoulder check before I switch lanes. I've noticed that other 2 door cars aren't wonderful in this category tho, maybe it has something to do with the slant of the back windshield or something.

However, a few times I've had a different problem with visabiltiy & the driver side mirror, that has bothered me more. I'm only 5'3 & the my side mirrors sit directly at my line of vision. As I've been in the middle of turning left at a light, I've been startled by the glimpse of a car in my peripheral vision that I thought I was about to turn right into. But it was actually a car coming up behind me in my side mirror. This has happened a few times to me. I guess it could have to do with how my mirrors are set up but I think its more to do with my height & were the mirror sits in regards to my line of vision.
Modified by brianna71404 at 10:13 AM 3/13/2009