Anybody else having this problem?

What "little arrows", please?

 

Initially I had a problem judging space in front. I usually left too much space. I'm used to that now. I actually find it easier to park next to a curb (compared to my Cadillac DeVille).

 

I'm glad to learn that this problem is not unique to me. I've been wondering whatever happened to my ability to park.

 

Throughout my entire driving life I have always backed into parking spots because I like to see what is coming at me when I am pulling out. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred I'll back in and park without needing to make any adjustments.........until my new Prius.
It has taken quite a while to back in accurately and not have to "readjust" my position because of being at an angle. Things have improved with time, but I still mess up much more frequently than prior to the Prius.

 

I had trouble like SomeToast's and others too. I'm also too abstemious to put down bucks for a cheezy little USB camera. We're REAL men! and women! aren't we? We don't need no stinkin', wussy techo-glitz like that!

My solution is a fresnel lens bought at an auto-supply which shows a very wide-angle view of objects behind. It sticks (using water: no marks left) to the bottom window of the hatchback (trim carefully) and will show how close you are to what's behind.



Blue car you see is about four feet behind me. Note how much ground shows in front of the rear car and mine--nearly right up to my back bumper.

It's made by AutoMan (and lots of others,probably) and labeled "Wide-Angle Rear Window Lens" $10

The driver's mirror has a little convex mirror attached to the low left lets me see what's in my left lane in the blind spot. I've used this through many years and cars. Invaluable at $3:

 

Question:
Why did you not place the lense in the MIDDLE of the small hatch window? Seems as if it would be easier to view from the rearview camera.

 

Car is urban and is often backed into a tight space for parallel parking. I experimented with placement and preferred it for the left side which is nearest the corner of the car in the rear. I can watch my backing-in space right in the rearview mirror without having to turn. The center side worked well but I preferred this. And think it looks better.

I've already expressed my feelings on bu cameras--these are cars, for Pete's sake, not LEMs, although my Prius' name is "HAL." I'll omit ranting about conspiracy theories intent on making us unthinking, soft and lazy.... or maybe it already worked. I admit the cool factor of the bu camera, LKA (for those party-hearty nights coming home) and auto-parking which Buckminster Fuller demonstrated in the 1950s in his Dymaxion car. But I doubt the pioneers treking across the Plains needed them.

 

Sorry - typed wrong word, meant to say rearview mirror. Re your rant, understand. But this is not the 1800s. Lots more obstacles out there today.

 

I voted I am an excellent parker but in reality I am no better than anyone else. I just reverse park how I was taught 32 years ago. For some reason it still works. I have NO reverse camera or parking aids.

I use my passenger side mirror to see if I'm straight, if I'm looking down the curb when I look in the mirror I'm straight.

 

hahahahahaha! I went form a DeVille to the Prius, too. Parking is a breeze now.

 

Ah. In that case, backing up while looking at the RV mirror works just fine.

 

Yes - I thought I was just getting stupid...

 

The windows and mirrors should be made like this at the factory!!

 

I'm quite a good parker and I'll admit, I park crooked far too often in the Prius. Also the nose dips so low it's hard to see where to stop.

 

How difficult are these to install?

After three months with the car, I still find myself opening the door to see if the car is straight (but my "hit rate" is much higher now). The sides of the windows are very high off the ground and I can't see the lines from inside without opening the door/window.

No one mentioned this yet, but the backup camera is VERY useful in seeing how much space you have behind you. I back in most of the time and I was glad Toyota Canada included the backup camera in the non-nav Prius.