Blind spot check on BRZ.
 

All the cars/SUV's I owned before have two windows on each side. So when I have to change lanes, I can turn around and look through the window on the 2nd row and obtain a good visual check. In the BRZ, however, there is no 2nd window and when I turn around to check blind spot, I have to stop at the corner of the 1st row's windows.

To be honest, I feel a little unsafe. The distance that I can cover this way is kind of short. I am wondering whether some of you would like to share with me how you deal with this kind of situation?

1. My way.
2. Adjust the side mirror.
3. Install a small mirror and stick it to the side mirror.
4. Any other methods?

TIA.

Convex mirrors help some.

Felt the same way when I got my frs. I adjusted my mirrors outward such that I can barely see the rear end of the car when I stick my head as close to window as I can (comfortably, not face against glass haha.) this allows you to effectively catch your blind spot in the mirror. If it's not in the mirror it's already beside you and you should be able to see in periphery.

To be honest, should be set like this for all cars, it's much safer. Only problem is that it makes it more difficult to back into spots with mirrors as it's harder to track your rear corners.

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Buy the RexSpeed convex polarized mirrors, totally worth it, make sure to turn your head to check nonetheless.

What bind spots? I guess I got use to my old van that HAD blind spots so this is a breeze ;)

Remain aware of obstacles both behind and ahead at all times while driving. Always know who is behind you. Make, model, color. These are things you need to be have rolling through your head at all times. After that you can use your mirrors and look through the porthole window to check the situation.

It really is no different than any other vehicle if you're an attentive driver.

YES! Next on my list, seems worth every penny!

I don't know if I'm the only one, but I feel like this is one of those cars that doesn't have a blind spot. Maybe it's just the way I have my mirrors set up or something, but being such a small car, if a car isn't in my side view mirrors, then it is either already visible on either side of the car, or there is no car there at all to begin with. Even driving next to smaller cars, by the time they leave my side view mirror, they're already well into my peripheral vision. :iono:

I can't use my rear 1/4 windows especially drivers side. That's the main blind spot for me.

sorry... if you have "blind spots" in this car, you have your side mirrors set wrong.

Your mirrors should never be able to see your lane or any part of your car. They should always overlap a tiny bit with your rear view mirror, no more.

Google it yourself: https://www.google.com/search?q=side...+no+blind+spot

-alex

Convex mirrors are great. So is my rear view cam when I'm in reverse.

Adjusting the side mirrors eliminates the blind spots & when set correctly, you no longer need to look over your shoulder.

This car has no mirror blind spots, & is awesome like that. Even with correctly set mirrors, I always had a sliver of blind spot that a car coming in from two lanes over could slip into & is never know it in my Imprezas. This car had none.

Add to that that I really don't need a backup camera b/c of the large, wide rear window as well. The STI & WRX had horrific rear sightlines for backing up & I needed backup cameras for them. The brz? It'd be nice for precision, but not a necessity like in my Imprezas.

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You honestly should rarely need to turn your head. Most people don't keep a watchful eye on their mirrors like they should. Doing so will allow you to always know what's going on around you. I like to always be aware of what's around my car by doing this. That said, 98% of the time I do a quick headcheck.

Here's a useful infographic:
http://www.loveinfographics.com/wp-c...cs-576x600.jpg

wink mirror? i have one in my car and i love it. i dont regret it

Give it some time to get used to and adjust your mirrors per above and you will find this car does not have blind spots. Also follow above posters suggestion to always know your surroundings and what color/kind of car is around you. Check your mirrors often and you will be golden. I initially thought the car had blind spot problems because it was so much lower than my previous car. Once I got used to it and adjusted my mirrors correctly, I don't have any problems with blind spots.

Move your side view mirrors further out. As you're being passed on either side your mirror should be set up so that the car will be in your side view mirror BEFORE he leaves your rear view mirror and he should be in your peripheral vision BEFORE he leaves your side view mirror. Do this and you won't have any blind spots.

I'm going to echo the "side mirrors wide out" comments. It takes a week or two to get used to but it's so much better, and doesn't require any modifications. FWIW, I went from a Legacy GT sedan with big windows and a 17" convex clip-on mirror to the BRZ with the OEM mirrors and I didn't make any compromises with functionality - kicking the side mirrors wide to the sides like shown in the infographic is now a necessity for me. Give it a shot for like two weeks before you waste money on replacement mirrors.

As others have said, move your mirrors further outward. It is a little awkward at first, but you will get use to it. Because of this, I did not have to buy those small blind spot mirrors that some people do and mount them to my mirrors.

It is funny when I take my car in to get service and the guy driving my car to the back has to readjust my side mirrors before he moves the car :lol:

Very useful info, I'm gonna have to adjust my side views further out like everyone is saying.

Also, can you put on those rexspeed mirrors if you have the heated sideview mirrors option on your car or would you have to unhook them?

THIS. I learned a while ago that you need to ALWAYS set your mirrors to a 90 degree angle (as far out straight until it clicks back). Makes your corners 100% better. Just feel the distance when changing lanes, but always look over your shoulder to double check.

Exact adjustment depends on your height and seat position.

The method described in car & driver article here is correct:

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...id-blind-spots

Your rearview mirror sees everything behind you, adjust your side mirrors to barely overlap your rearview and you should have effectively no blind spot (turn your head anyway, there could be a motorcycle in that tiny sliver of a blindspot).

Best Explanations. I found 2 ways of adjusting the Side mirrors. The Conditions are follows.

1/ City drive, busy street. You turn them a bit closer to your car. Busy street, and cities usually have narrow lanes, which will make the other cars closer to you, hence the blind spot is much closer. If you were to do a two lanes cross on street, you have to do one, after another, always. With this adjustments, you will always be able to tell which car is next to you, motorcycle, or pavement for park, and parallel park

2/ Mostly Highway Drive. You turn them further away from your car, because they tend to have Larger Lanes, Faster approaching vehicles, you will be able to tell the vehicles that are approaching from a few car lengths away, including Polices. You will be able to tell the vehicle in the blind spot in the next lane and at the outer lane border. You do need to turn your head for a quick second, right after the correct safety judgement call that it is safe to do so, and is the time to change lanes. This will avoid you of any car too close to your lane, small, dark color, and or a motor-cycle.

3/ Finally, under any mirrors adjustments, you have to do these following:

-Always turn your head when it safe to see, before changing lanes

-Always check around you for any Approaching vehicles when it is safe to do so. You may have to Swerve Out of an Accident in front, a deer, emergency brake....etc. Should those happens, you will be able to tell to whether to keep your lane or swerve. Most of the time...don't swerve. But if your calls are correct, avoiding an accident is the most.

-Do always, and I mean Always make sure to Visibly see On-Coming vehicles, under any Circumstances. Mirrors, and Eyes will often Deceive you under different Circumstances. For Example, If an SUV, a Truck is blocking your View. Take it slowly, leave enough space for the bigger Vehicles to see your car, and Double-triple checks before switching lanes.

I have seen enough where a guy cut into the front of a Truck, and did not leave enough room for the Truck to see his car, accident happen, the truck driver took couple minutes to realize "WTF did I hit"

I have seen enough where a guy Cut into the Front of an SUV, failed to see the approaching vehicles on the right lanes, and switch right into it, accident happens "This took a couple minutes for both to realize WTF!!"

Drive safe !! Always double checks, and tripe checks. A few seconds will not kill you, miss an exit will not kill you. But Reckless to take an exit, or to rush somewhere for a few minutes faster will KILL YOU, and KILL the FAMILY in the Other Vehicles as well

Probably the safest thing would be to drive faster than everyone else, that way no one can sneak up behind you.

the only blind spot for me is on the drivers side like 3/4th to the rear of the car. i got scared the first time because i was on the freeway and was going to change lanes, and luckily i always take my time to change (put on blinker, wait a few seconds, and then slowly change) because there was actually an entire damn crossover next to me that i completely did not see...

i always turn my head as well, but i can't see out the drivers back small window at all so it's not really useful to me. i am thinking of getting those wide view side mirrors as well.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnNMPZdVAV8"]Blind Spot - Fruit and Vegetable Animation - Back to the Future - YouTube[/ame]

Exactly this, you should always be aware of your surroundings and know the cars around you at all times, enough to make blind lane changes because you know exactly where all the cars are at.

Even if you don't do that you shouldn't have any blind spots if you have your mirrors set up correctly. I find it once a car leaves my side mirror the car will be by my side already and visible. So if a car is in the normal blind spot the car should be seen either in the mirror or through the window.

i use the little round blind spot mirrors. why? because i used to have a convertible.. it had a larger blind spot if i turned around and looked than if i used the mirror :lol:

another blind spot that Ive noticed is when ur trying to turn left out of of a parking lot, the left side pillar of the windshield perfectly blocks oncoming traffic when ur trying to turn left, I almost got hit once, and another time i caught it just in time, and now I know so I always double check,I since then also raised my seat all the way up that seemed to have helped idk if anyone has had this problem as well or if its just me

This applies to all current cars due to the extremely strong roof pillars required to pass the rollover tests.

In my Jaguar XF I can't even see the apex as the A pillar and door mirror obscure my view exactly when I need to see it.

At least the BRZ lets you see the apex which is more important than mere traffic.

That's fine in they entered the blind spot from behind. But the real problem is when they come into the blind spot from several lanes over such that they never were in your mirrors to begin with (had this happen to me multiple times in the past).

And since your hands tend to follow your head when driving, you do not want to have to do any exaggerated head turning to check lanes as you're likely to start steering the car out of the lane when you do that.

Thus mirror placement is just as important as situational awareness (condition yellow). Most folks go all day (even driving) in condition white, oblivious to their surroundings. Don't do that! Condition yellow (cautious state of alertness/awareness) all day, especially while driving.

Cf, Cooper's color codes (normally applied to armed self-defense, the first 3 levels have remarkable parallel to normal driving): http://www.policeone.com/police-trai...nal-awareness/

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I basically drive my car as if I'm riding a motorcycle. Hyper-aware and always expecting the worst out of my fellow drivers.

Yes, riding motorcycles will quickly teach a person what defensive driving is.

On the other hand, anyone using this method of blind spot elimination must be aware that it works for vehicles like cars but not for motorcycles or bicycles. It also doesn't work if you are merging into another lane on a slight concave curve.

As for shoulder checking it is key to have situational awareness. You need to constantly monitor your mirrors and identify and remember what you see and its trajectory. Updating this information is key to safe elimination of 95% of shoulder checking. There is not yet any method which is 100 % effective and you need to be aware of when a shoulder check is necessary.

Unusually, the shoulder check you need to do most often is to the drivers side and you need to be looking only for vehicles right next to you not revealed in the mirrors.

Vehicle drivers should always be alert for our friends on motorcycles and bicycles. We have protection from mistakes that they do not have. Defensive driving skills include looking out for the other guy as much as it is looking for the other guy. In fact, if we all drive defensively the accident rate will be minimal.

I'm always aware of all motorists/cyclists/pedestrians. That was the "hyper-aware" portion of my statement. I'm in the car to drive the car, not to scratch my balls and eat a donut.

I have always installed a Wink mirror in all my cars, makes it easier for me to see more

Not sure why people freak out so much about the "blind spots". First of all, adjust your seat properly. Unless you are like 6 foot 6, you should be close enough to the steering wheel that your seat does not block the second window and you should keep the passenger seat forward enough so that you can clearly see out that one as well.

Even if you CAN'T do that. There is no blind spot in this car. If you have a blind spot you fail at adjusting your side mirrors. If you can't see the car in your side mirror you should easily be able to see it if you turn your head slightly and use your peripheral vision to look out the front windows towards the back of your car.

Simple seat and mirror adjustments make blind spots disappear. Always glance over your shoulder before changing lanes. I know I'm a broken record here, but the blind spots can be worked around.

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Suberman really said it best. Blindspot or not, if you're always paying attention you're going to know what's going on around you. If you are aware you'll know when someone is a blindspot.

I've always set my side view mirrors like this. I don't know why others don't.