Why Different Sun Visors?

[saronian]

Anyone know why the US spec fortwo has different sun visors than the Euro spec? Is it because they are required to be padded?

Whatever the reason, the US visors look so bland and with little functionality. I checked out the vanity mirror and it was miniature, why even bother. It would have ben better if there was a slide-out extension for blocking low sun from the side.

Oh well, just another gripe while I wait for the ship to dock.

I swear mine won't end up on eBay, at least not before the US Brabus arrives.

[jediknight36]

u think it will?

[rrrucke]

Sarion, I think by the time I pick up my smartie (next week Tuesday) I will probably have some concerns too. For one, I can't understand why smart didn't provide a driver side vanity mirror in the visor (especially for those women - like the warrior princess that I am - who like to check out their face to make sure it's on correctly!! I know...I know there were safety concerns but damn, I don't check myself while driving. I do that before I start out so I don't cause accidents. Bottom line, I love my smartie and I know she loves me. Any changes I make to her will just make her better. As far as small visors, that's just another stupid design flaw I like to blame on engineers of the male persuasion. Please don't take offensive...unless you are a smart engineer. :-) Be patience and they will send it to you. Regina

[young-nyc]

well at least smart has a passenger vanity mirror,
when i first picked up my scion during it's launch, it only came with a driver side vanity..weird.

Simple solution. i went to a local mirror/glass shop and had them cut out a nice big 5x7 piece of mirror and velcroed it to the visor..works great =)
i will be doing this to the smart as well..

[saronian]

That's right, the 2004 Scion xA only had a driver's visor mirror, whereas my 2005 xA has a mirror on both visors. I would gladly give up the mirror for a more functional visor.

[young-nyc]

yeah isn't that weird?
i think that scion just got lazy and didn't change the visor sides,
since in japan the left side is the passenger =)

[LorbeerTLC]

Originally Posted by saronian

Anyone know why the US spec fortwo has different sun visors than the Euro spec? Is it because they are required to be padded?

I know in my Honda del Sol, the visors are different than in Japan. They're thicker in the States because of safety laws concerning air bags. It's also in case your head should be thrown forward and upward during a collision it would help reduce the chance of severe head injury... This was told to me by a guy in a del Sol club who's very knowledgeable in his cars.

-Tom L.

[SmartCard]

didn't notice any design difference in the US spec (padded instead of hard plastic I guess?), but functionality wise I'm sure there is little difference. Passenger side mirror only in Europe as well I believe (although will that be driver side in the UK?? ). As far as the visors being small.....well think about it!

[4two4me]

My '08 Miata has hard plastic visors.

[saronian]

Here's a bad photo of the US visors to compare with a photo I took of the Road Show visors. Maybe someone has a better photo of the US model that shows more, but I like the sculpted look of the visors in the top photo.