Is your mirror up-side-down?

brasche · 03-13-2006, 09:38 PM

Recently posted on a Yahoo group was a suggestion that tall drivers to turn the mirror up-side-down. At 6-foot-2, I think this is one of the best tips I've read!

Not only does the morror coverage more closely match the rear window shape, it also improves visibility through the front and better positions the auto-dim sensor above the rear window cross bar!

YMMV

V8Cobrakid · 03-13-2006, 10:08 PM

I've heard this tip many times in the last two years. I did it once ( i'm 5'11) and it didn't work for me. I have a greater chance of light hitting the mirror right side up right now. When i turned it upside down, it did help.. but not as often. only if they put a "one way mirror" sensor right in the middle.. where it matters.

**Tideland Prius** · 03-14-2006, 02:06 AM

no. mine's just raised to the highest position (incl. arm).

Marlin · 03-14-2006, 08:14 AM

Yep, I flipped mine upside down a couple of months ago. I did it to get the auto-dimming sensor above the bar. I also put a piece of blue masking tape over the front auto-dimming sensor (on the back of the mirror) to increase the sensitivity of the mirror. At times it still doesn't dim as much as I'd like, but it's better, although I get a bit of a green tint sometimes during the day, particularly on rainy days or at dusk.

MarinJohn · 03-14-2006, 10:35 AM

I did this when I first got my Prius because I can see better out of the front

darelldd · 03-14-2006, 01:02 PM

Just tried it, but I only drive once a month of so...

nerfer · 03-15-2006, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by brasche@Mar 13 2006, 09:38 PM
Recently posted on a Yahoo group was a suggestion that tall drivers to turn the mirror up-side-down. At 6-foot-2, I think this is one of the best tips I've read!

Not only does the morror coverage more closely match the rear window shape, it also improves visibility through the front and better positions the auto-dim sensor above the rear window cross bar!

YMMV

[snapback]224491[/snapback]

This is a good idea, one I hadn't seen before. I don't have an auto-dim feature, so that part might be confusing to other drivers (my wife), but otherwise this is really helpful, and I'm not even that tall (5'10" or so, 178cm). But the mirror was definitely blocking my forward vision, at the point where cars entering from the right at an intersection were sometimes hard to see. I had already lifted the arm as far as it would go, which helped, but didn't realize that simply rotating the mirror around would help like that. After reading this suggestion yesterday at lunch I immediately went out and flipped my mirror upside down. Then on the drive home, I didn't even remember I had done that until half-way home when I realized (at an intersection) that I was seeing the road easier.

Now if we could do something about the thick front posts. But I guess the side airbags are in there. I do like the visibility when backing up, definitely safer than an SUV.

nerfer

BellBoy · 03-15-2006, 11:13 AM

My mirror is upside down now...thanks for the tip! Makes a big difference to me.

Bob Allen · 03-16-2006, 07:16 PM

I tried inverting my mirror and didn't like the effect. For one thing, the anti-glare lever is too hard to reach when it's on top of the mirror. The inverting trick might work better with auto dimming mirrors and no need to flip a lever. Also, the mirror filled in the gap between the visors and made the whole windshield upper edge appear lower.

The improvement in forward visibility was only marginal. I'm over 6ft and use a shallow pillow under my butt for thigh support, so in effect, I'm about 6ft 3in.

Bob

priusham · 03-16-2006, 07:22 PM

"Recently posted?!?!" It should be in the Priuschat FAQ - we talked about that trick a year and a half ago.

It's a real good tip for those with the auto-dimming mirror regardless of how tall you are since it gets the light sensor out of the shadow of the rear spoiler.

03-16-2006, 07:16 PM	#9
Bob Allen Captainbaba Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,272 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 4 Posts Friends: 0	I tried inverting my mirror and didn't like the effect. For one thing, the anti-glare lever is too hard to reach when it's on top of the mirror. The inverting trick might work better with auto dimming mirrors and no need to flip a lever. Also, the mirror filled in the gap between the visors and made the whole windshield upper edge appear lower. The improvement in forward visibility was only marginal. I'm over 6ft and use a shallow pillow under my butt for thigh support, so in effect, I'm about 6ft 3in. Bob __________________ :P Angel Flight Pilot

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03-13-2006, 09:38 PM	#1
brasche Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 156 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: N/A Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Recently posted on a Yahoo group was a suggestion that tall drivers to turn the mirror up-side-down. At 6-foot-2, I think this is one of the best tips I've read! Not only does the morror coverage more closely match the rear window shape, it also improves visibility through the front and better positions the auto-dim sensor above the rear window cross bar! YMMV

03-13-2006, 10:08 PM	#2
V8Cobrakid Green Handyman Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Park View, Los Angeles, CA. U.S.A Posts: 3,701 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #9 Thanks: 36 Thanked 109 Times in 102 Posts Friends: 6	I've heard this tip many times in the last two years. I did it once ( i'm 5'11) and it didn't work for me. I have a greater chance of light hitting the mirror right side up right now. When i turned it upside down, it did help.. but not as often. only if they put a "one way mirror" sensor right in the middle.. where it matters.

03-14-2006, 02:06 AM	#3
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 26,978 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 1,043 Thanked 1,177 Times in 850 Posts Friends: 31	no. mine's just raised to the highest position (incl. arm).

03-14-2006, 08:14 AM	#4
Marlin Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 1,409 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Friends: 0	Yep, I flipped mine upside down a couple of months ago. I did it to get the auto-dimming sensor above the bar. I also put a piece of blue masking tape over the front auto-dimming sensor (on the back of the mirror) to increase the sensitivity of the mirror. At times it still doesn't dim as much as I'd like, but it's better, although I get a bit of a green tint sometimes during the day, particularly on rainy days or at dusk.

03-14-2006, 10:35 AM	#5
MarinJohn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 3,947 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 970 Thanked 300 Times in 196 Posts Friends: 9	I did this when I first got my Prius because I can see better out of the front

03-14-2006, 01:02 PM	#6
darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern CA Posts: 6,034 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 115 Thanked 345 Times in 215 Posts Friends: 15	Just tried it, but I only drive once a month of so...

03-15-2006, 11:13 AM	#8
BellBoy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 201 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #8 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	My mirror is upside down now...thanks for the tip! Makes a big difference to me.

03-16-2006, 07:22 PM	#10
priusham Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Michigan - land of everlasting snowflake icon! Posts: 525 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	"Recently posted?!?!" It should be in the Priuschat FAQ - we talked about that trick a year and a half ago. It's a real good tip for those with the auto-dimming mirror regardless of how tall you are since it gets the light sensor out of the shadow of the rear spoiler.