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how do you block sun glares on driver side?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by hanshinji, Jun 12, 2014.

  1. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    Seems like a stupid oversight in the design.

    Gotta call it as I see it.
     
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  2. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    Few ideas for mine: That slippery plastic that report covers are made of, and those elastic-fabric cords that they sell at sewing shops, seems like a good combination for this application.
     
  3. qdllc

    qdllc Senior Member

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    Good lord...north-south travel.

    There are several aftermarket ideas that can help.

    They make a nylon mesh thing that holds to the inside of the window via suction cups. These work well, and you can see through them. Perfectly legal, but they do interfere with raising and lowering the window.

    You can buy dark window tint that adheres via static cling and put it in the most offending area of the window. Check to see if state laws allow this. Since it's not permanent, you likely would not be cited, and if you don't tint the WHOLE window (just the part that affects your vision), it may not be an issue to law enforcement.

    Get something or make something to extend the coverage your sun visor can offer when moved into position.
     
  4. qdllc

    qdllc Senior Member

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    [duplicate post]
     
  5. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    how do you block sun glares on driver side?
    Easy.
    I drive my truck. :)
    (&^$%#!) Toyota.

    The Prius is my work car, and I get to dither my routes to avoid this problem.
    They make kid-shades with suction cups, which work OK if you never have to roll down the window.

    Mainly?
    I just suck it up.
    Like all of the other "features" of this car:
    ...Yaris seats
    ...bifurcated rear window
    ...$#@! reverse Beeeeeeeep
    ....Camaro inspired visability
    ....10-gallon gas tank that holds 11.8 gallons.
    ...felt thin carpet
    .....rattles, creaks and squeaks.

    These are a pain in the $#@!, and it's nearly criminal for a $24,000 car to have this many ergonomic issues in the fifth year of it's third generation.


    THEN?

    I pull into a gas station, and somehow these "features" seem a little less obvious. :)
     
  6. qdllc

    qdllc Senior Member

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    Just like jobs, all cars suck if you look for what they got wrong. It's really a problem if there are no redeeming qualities at all. :D
     
  7. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    I think they are counting on us "sucking it up." In these times, with so much competition in the auto market, we should be using our leverage to demand better features, better engineering and better cars.

    Toyota didn't get to the top tier of automakers by squandering their lead every time they had a successful run, by cutting their production and R&D costs, and ignoring customer feedback, all in the interest of short-term profit-taking. The Japanese companies are renown for thinking long-term, and American companies have been known for scooping short-term gains at the expense of long-term sustainability. It should be clear to everyone by now that long-term sustainability is what really counts.

    The road is littered with companies who lost their heads with a little success, and lost their focus on producing the good products that earned them that success.
     
  8. DrPepperholik

    DrPepperholik Active Member

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    I had my windows tinted for $170, but I'm clear across the country from your location. I can't imagine it costs that much to tint windows. If that's still a viable option for you I'd check with other places and get several quotes. The place that did mine does mostly commercial and residential window tinting with a small portion of their revenue coming from autos. Perhaps somewhere like that is cheaper, I don't know.

    The DIY side extension on the visor as well as a good pair of sunglasses that have wide sides should get you covered. I always hated driving during the winter because the sun is in the worst spot possible on my commute (west to work and east home).
     
  9. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    This works great for me. The black retainers are (large) girl's hair bands.

    20140623_064846.jpg 20140623_064908.jpg 20140623_064922.jpg

    And it doesn't interfere with the vanity mirror either.
     

    Attached Files:

    #49 GregP507, Jun 23, 2014
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2014
  10. Skuits

    Skuits Junior Member

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    I like this idea. I did this same mod w/ a choice piece of cardboard on my Honda Insight.

    I am wondering if there is another Toyota or Lexus model that actually came w/ the expandable visors...?

    I know the Lexus CT200h seems to have a lot of similarities to the Prius.

    Anyone know if there are any such models out there where we could install the visors from another model to achieve this sunblock w/ a more factory look?

    Thanks,
    Mark
     
  11. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    One further "mod" I made was to dog-ear the inside corners, so that they don't slip out from under the elastic bands quite so easily.
     
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  12. Skuits

    Skuits Junior Member

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    I like it. I also thought of getting some thin tinted plexiglass cut to fit to do the mod.

    I see that the visor mates sold on Amazon are a similar design. I also found that some people have used a visor from the Yaris that has the visor extension built in. I doubt the vanity light would have the same function though.

    Maybe I should find a Lexus CT200 for sale and see if it has visor extensions.

    I wonder what it would be like to cut a slot in the fabric of the factory visor and insert a piece of plastic that could extend out? Maybe get a visor from a junk yard and experiment. Would likely take an upholster to really make it look nice...

    Mark
     
  13. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    What I like about mine: it's easy to modify and replace parts, and I can place the shade anywhere I want to block the sun
     
  14. kenoarto

    kenoarto Senior Member

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    One further "mod" I made was to dog-ear the inside corners, so that they don't slip out from under the elastic bands quite so easily.[/QUOTE]

    Great idea to add something to prevent slip outs. Thinking plastic nut and bolt.
     
  15. rogerv

    rogerv Senior Member

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    2014-07-11 16.11.43.jpg

    Pics of "Visormates" from Amazon mentioned previously. Yes, I spent a few bucks, but like the clean look better than anything I could have rigged on my own out of cardboard, plastic, etc. Two sets in the package, so I put one on the passenger side as well.
     

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    #55 rogerv, Jul 11, 2014
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2014
  16. B. Roberts

    B. Roberts Hypah Milah! Ayuh.

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    Limit your driving to nighttime only. But then there's that glare from the oncoming traffic. Stay home, don't drive.

    A good pair of sunglasses and clean window glass is all I've used. Tint does help, but obviously not through the lower part of the windshield. Tint does ease the work load when you need A/C.

    It is dangerous to drive toward a rising or setting sun with dirty or scratched windshield (windscreen) glass. I've had to do that several times, and it is scary, especially with a pitted or scratched windshield. Like someone else mentioned, wait a bit or drive in/out earlier to avoid that situation if possible.

    I have light sensitive eyes, always have had, so I don't go out into sunny conditions without sunglasses, Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall when driving, bicycling, snow skiing, sailing, kayaking, walking, jogging, etc. I keep a pair of sunglasses in the car all the time.
     
  17. rogerv

    rogerv Senior Member

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    You make good points with regard to driving directly toward the sun; clean windshield glass, sunglasses, etc. but this thread, as begun by the OP, is about the sun coming in the driver's side window. The visors lack the sliding feature some cars have, hence the discussion of possible remedies.
     
  18. Okinawa

    Okinawa Senior Member

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    I wear eyeglasses so I always wear prescription polarized sunglasses. They are great in summer and the winter where I live. They really cut the snow glare.
     
  19. DoubleDAZ

    DoubleDAZ Senior Member

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    And depending on how low one sits, an extension on the visor might not even be enough and it might take a combination of the extension and one of those press-on shades like the EZ-Cling from Britax.
     
  20. DoubleDAZ

    DoubleDAZ Senior Member

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    I wonder if they cut down on the eye fatigue I sometimes get too? There are times, usually around 9:30 or so, that my eyes start going cross-eyed and I need to rest them for 30 minutes or so, then I'll be good for several days.