New Passion Cabriolet question

[yankinusa]

Howwwwwdy. I just recently received my HOT new SMART Cabriolet. It seems like it has quite a blind spot on the drivers side exterior rear view mirror.
Anyone else experiencing this? Suggestions welcome. Thanks all.
I want to drive it around like 24/7...

[Sylvan]

My hubby just positions the mirror out further. Drives me crazy. I tend to turn my head around all the way as well as looking at the mirrors, so I get a pretty good idea. There's also those little convex stick-on blind spot mirrors, that's what they're for, I'm sure you can find those like anywhere...

[geosynch]

Yes, buy some stick on convex mirrors. The blind spot is my biggest gripe about the smart.

[Susie 1382]

Somewhere there's a great thread about blind spots, but dipped if I could find it right off.

What works best for me, is a new perspective on positioning my mirrors.

Basically, The instant the car behind me is no longer visible, it's front bumper should emerge in my sideview mirror, in my periferal vision, looking ahead.

Seeing down the side of my short smart is of no use, although it does take getting used to until you trust.

I'm ordering a wide-angle addition to my rear-view mirror, which should, as it did in my Subie, help inhance my periferal vision.

Remember, we're only 8 feet long, and from the mirrors to the rear? I'm going to go measure.

.....................................girl y measuring tape

Ok. 70 inches. That's 5.83 feet, call it 6.

So, could two somebodys measure the distance from when your helper dummy 'car' last appears in your rear-view mirror, and appears in your side view mirror? My thinking is, that if we know, physically and precisely, how far a thing is behind us, and see it in relationship to our mirrors, in a dry setting, then we can better learn the tools of rear-view mirrors to use their best advantage.

Grandpa's taking a nap. We can do it tomorrow. <big grin>

[mike-in-sa]

If you travel much to europe, stop by a smart dealer over there and buy the left side mirror for about $40. It is convex like the rt. side mirror. U.S. is only country w/ flat mirror.

[SmartCard]

With a properly positioned side view mirror there is no side view blind spot - this is just a case of simple optics seeing from point A (your eyes) through point B (the mirror) to point C (the car). The is nothing to obscure this optical line of sight since half of it lies between your eyes and the mirror, and the second half is outside your car! Too often people adjust their side view mirrors too tight - that is, if you see the side of your car, you will indeed miss the upcoming car in the left lane "blind spot"!

If there is a question of a blind spot in the Cabrio, it would certainly be through the rear view mirror, that this line of sight is not wide enough, with the cloth top blocking the approaching car. Technically you should be able to see the car in the rear view mirror long enough to be seen into your properly adjusted side view mirror, then finally into you peripheral vision. The smaller window in the cab will likely interfere here.

As a disclaimer, I have not driven the smart enough (my wife keeps driving it!) to see how the mirrors setup performs.

[IcePlanet]

I have a Cabrio and have sat in a coupe. The viewing amount in the rear view mirror is about the same. The major obstacle blocking the full view out the back is the seats. The tall seats just get in the way. If they weren't there then the coupe would have a much larger view out the back compared to the Cabrio. It's funny that my 4Runner has fewer blind spots than the tiny Smart car.

[rawlus®]

i think most don't set up their mirrors correctly.
what follows is but one version of the popular step-by-step to adjusting your mirrors without need of convex adapters.

It may surprise you to learn that there is a better way to set the rearview mirrors on your car. The quick test: if you look in your side mirrors and you see the side of the car, then you've got it wrong! This is the method recommended at most driving schools, including the BMW Performance Center in South Carolina. Essentially, most people have a huge overlap between the side and center rearview mirrors, which is unnecessary. By spreading your side mirrors you lose no information about what's behind you, but gain valuable insight into what's beside you.
Steps

1. Lean your head over until it almost touches the driver's window, and then position the side mirror on the car's left side so you can just see the rear quarterpanel (the rear of the car) in the mirror. Note this will have it positioned farther out than you probably had it before.
2. Lean your head to be just between the two front seats, at your normal height, and position the right side mirror so you can just see the rear quarterpanel of the passenger side in the mirror.
3. Adjust the center rearview mirror to place it facing the center of the rear window.
4. While driving note that a car passing you begins in the center of your rearview mirror. As it approaches you, it moves to the side of your center rear view mirror, and at the same time appears in your side mirror. This shows you that there is no rear blind spot, because there is an overlap between the mirrors.
5. Also note that your side mirrors now capture a tremendous additional amount of information about what is in the lanes immediately next to your car. Previously you would have to turn your head to ensure nothing was in the lanes beside your car before changing lanes. Now, your side mirrors do a much better job of covering this blind spot on the side.

[Smart Enuf]

Originally Posted by rawlus®

i think most don't set up their mirrors correctly.
what follows is but one version of the popular step-by-step to adjusting your mirrors without need of convex adapters.

I agree completely. With my side mirrors set up properly, I have no blind spots at the sides of my cabrio. But I also agree that the rear view mirror needs more area to be viewing! I suggest the following to smart:

1) Go back to 450-style seats but leave out the headrest inserts so that the driver can see through the headrests (this may require a slight reduction in the headrest size);

2) Offer an all-in-one stereo upgrade like the ones others have installed on this forum, except add a rearview camera with video screen, as an upgrade-Plus to the Radio 10; or

3) Replace that "wind deflector" on top of the windshield on the cabrio with a compact periscope and connect that to the rearview mirror for a lower tech solution!

[SmartCard]

Originally Posted by IcePlanet

I have a Cabrio and have sat in a coupe. The viewing amount in the rear view mirror is about the same. The major obstacle blocking the full view out the back is the seats. The tall seats just get in the way. If they weren't there then the coupe would have a much larger view out the back compared to the Cabrio. It's funny that my 4Runner has fewer blind spots than the tiny Smart car.

yep, you're right! Was in the car last night and indeed the seat backs block the view. But indeed, NO blind spots if the mirrors are adjusted properly! Can see an approaching car through the rear first, then simultaneously in rear and side mirror, then finally up the side until in peripheral vision.