1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

2010 Prius Rearview Mirror Obstructs My View Even When Pushed All the Way Up

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by cycledrum, Mar 6, 2010.

?

Does rearview mirror obstruct forward view no matter how mirror and seat is adjusted?

  1. Yes, and I'm over 6ft tall

    13 vote(s)
    17.1%

  2. No, and I'm over 6ft

    13 vote(s)
    17.1%

  3. Yes, and I'm under 6ft

    19 vote(s)
    25.0%

  4. No, and I'm under 6ft

    31 vote(s)
    40.8%
Page 1 of 2
  1. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2008
    8,245
    1,202
    0
    Location:
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    First off, I'm tall, 6'2". I'm not posting to bash the Prius, but to get opinions and make suggestions for improvement for the next generation Prius.

    The 2010 Prius rearview mirror double joint cannot be pushed up high enough so as to not block some of my forward view, regardless of how the seat is adjusted. The regular mirror is borderline for me, the Homelink mirror obstructs view badly. The double joint stem, IMO, is short and the mirror seems mounted too low.

    *************************
    Photos taken in 2010 Prius IV and 2009 with mods listed bottom of post. Serious blind spot with the 2010 mirror, not so with the 2009, yet I can see the cars behind 2009 also. (note - I'll need to get another photo in a 2010 with cars in front on same level to be really fair -cars in front are up about 10" higher).

    050705 125.jpg 050705 131.jpg

    The camera is showing what I see looking forward towards the mirrors due to the view out the rear windows.

    2010 Conditions - seat slid fully back, height adjuster 3 cranks up from all the way down, seatback on the 4th notch from fully forward, rearview mirror pushed up as far as possible and adjusted to show above and a little below rear spoiler.

    Take a look at the view of that Rav4 behind the mirror. I might be able to see the top of side door if it was at the same level as car I'm in. Can't see the driver.

    All I could see is the top of the rear tire, so the camera is showing what I see in this IV.
    *******************************************
    *******************************************

    I have a 'pet peeve' about rearview mirrors - I hate it when they obstruct my forward view. I like to see a whole car or person in any part of the windshield, not blocked from the shoulders up or driver's window up.

    Also, when turning right around a corner, I'm looking right where the rearview mirror is. If a person stepping into a crosswalk is blocked from the shoulders up, it's annoying. I don't like ducking down to see. In long sweeping right turns, I look right where the rearview mirror is. Nice to be able to see under it, where I am going, not have vision blocked.

    The 2010 Prius windshield is very steeply raked back for aerodynamics which results a low vertical viewing height and a tendency for the mirror to partially obstruct forward view for taller individuals.

    I noticed in the Prius III, the rearview mirror placement seems chosen such that the sunglasses holder will not block the mirror when opened. If so, that doesn't seem a good reason.

    In the Prius IV, I see the sunroof and opener which brings the ceiling height down a little which will limit how high one can put up mirror.

    Anyone else think the 3rd Gen Prius rearview mirror ought to be mounted higher or have a longer stem to push it up higher?
     

    Attached Files:

    #1 cycledrum, Mar 6, 2010
  2. energyandair

    energyandair Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2009
    905
    339
    0
    Location:
    Victoria BC Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Is your seat height set right down?
     
    #2 energyandair, Mar 6, 2010
  3. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2008
    8,245
    1,202
    0
    Location:
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Even with the seat height fully down, the mirror obstructs my forward view.
     
    #3 cycledrum, Mar 6, 2010
  4. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2009
    5,683
    952
    124
    Location:
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    dp
     
    #4 32kcolors, Mar 6, 2010
  5. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2008
    8,245
    1,202
    0
    Location:
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    2010 Prius Rearview Mirror Blocks My Forward View When Pushed Fully Up

    dupe post
     
    #5 cycledrum, Mar 6, 2010
  6. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2009
    5,683
    952
    124
    Location:
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Re: 2010 Prius Rearview Mirror Blocks My Forward View When Pushed Fully Up

    I'm over 6 ft and voted no, because one half a car or person is still enough information for me to know where I'm going. Really no different from the A pillars.

    The low hanging rear view mirror was one of the first things I noticed when I took a test drive, but I got quite used to it quickly and don't notice it at all anymore.
     
    #6 32kcolors, Mar 6, 2010
  7. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2008
    8,245
    1,202
    0
    Location:
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Re: 2010 Prius Rearview Mirror Blocks My Forward View When Pushed Fully Up

    energyandair posted -

    "Is your seat height set right down?"


    Yes it is.
     
    #7 cycledrum, Mar 6, 2010
  8. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2003
    5,339
    917
    251
    Location:
    Surprise, AZ (Phoenix)
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    ** Dupe threads merged and pruned **
     
    #8 HTMLSpinnr, Mar 6, 2010
    1 person likes this.
  9. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2008
    8,245
    1,202
    0
    Location:
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Re: 2010 Prius Rearview Mirror Blocks My Forward View When Pushed Fully Up

    I'll play devils advocate ...

    How about if you're on a long sweeping right turn, on a backroad, and right where youre looking through the turn is blocked?

    Or that person that just stepped into the crosswalk, you only see their legs.

    Or, you see a car on the right waiting to pull across the road. As you drive by, you only see the lower half of the car, their head is blocked by the mirror and you don't know if they are still looking at you.

    The view is good in my 2009, but nothing lasts forever. I'd like to think the 3rd or 4th Gen Prius would be an option if needed.
     
    #9 cycledrum, Mar 6, 2010
  10. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2009
    5,683
    952
    124
    Location:
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Re: 2010 Prius Rearview Mirror Blocks My Forward View When Pushed Fully Up

    If I see their legs on the crosswalk, I'll stop (especially if they're sleek and sexy). I sure am not going to run them over.

    Not sure what you mean. If they stop first, they have the right of way and go first. Or if you both stop at the same time, the car on the right goes first anyway. Otherwise, just keep going. From my experience, if they don't see you, they'll take off immediately and that's my gauge as to whether they'll cross.

    If I really need to see their head for some reason, I move my own head.
     
    #10 32kcolors, Mar 6, 2010
  11. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2008
    8,245
    1,202
    0
    Location:
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Re: 2010 Prius Rearview Mirror Blocks My Forward View When Pushed Fully Up

    LOL, same here.

    While driving, if a car is stopped at a sign on the right, ahead, I like to see and keep seeing their 'mug' all the time while I'm driving by. To see if they see me.

    If right when the mirror starts to obstruct the view, they look away, I can't see that, and they pull out in front of me .... bad.

    Not being able to tell where a pedestrian or another driver is looking, even if for a half second or more ... not so good.
     
    #11 cycledrum, Mar 6, 2010
  12. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    7,543
    1,558
    0
    Location:
    Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Yes, I am under 6' and it obstructs my view especially in a right hand turn. I have been thinking about remounting it up but don't know if it is simply glued on or not. I will try rotating it and see if that makes a difference.
     
    #12 spiderman, Mar 6, 2010
    imgdoc and cycledrum like this.
  13. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,118
    10,045
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    While I voted yes (height just over 6') my answer needs to be qualified. This Prius mirror (Model II, so the mirror may be smaller than your V) allows better visibility than my two fixed-mirror-stalk cars that preceded it, but not as good as the two double-jointed-stalk cars before that.

    The situation that most catches me is the descending highway onramp, typically from a cross road over the highway. On the fixed-stalk mirrors, whole semi trucks have hidden behind the my mirror until the ramp came down to near grade level.
     
    #13 fuzzy1, Mar 6, 2010
    1 person likes this.
  14. tiztim

    tiztim Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2009
    49
    7
    0
    Location:
    Chicago
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I'm 6'3". the seat's pumped as low as it will go. There are times when the ENTIRE car approaching from the right is hidden by the mirror. I'd rather have Toyota address this than the ABS brakes which I understand and do not alarm me. Driving with the mirror involves a lot of head-bobbing and extra care.
     
    #14 tiztim, Mar 7, 2010
    3 people like this.
  15. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2008
    8,245
    1,202
    0
    Location:
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I'm going to add a photo in the first post, taken in a model IV from the backseat looking forward.
     
    #15 cycledrum, Mar 7, 2010
  16. dan2l

    dan2l 2014 Prius v wagon

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2009
    654
    263
    5
    Location:
    Vancouver Wasington
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    I am exactly 6ft. I have always had this problem even in American cars but I have to admit that the Prius is much worse.

    I think that the root cause of the problem is some how linked to the fact that when I walk around Tokyo I am looking over the heads of every one else. That is, the Prius is designed for shorter people.

    I have a Prius IV
    I adjust mirror all the way up. I pump the seat all the way down. I adjust the steering wheel all the way down. I tilt the back of the seat back a little more than I normally would. This all works to give me a good view.

    Try tilting the seat back a little more.

    Thanks,
    Dan
     
    #16 dan2l, Mar 7, 2010
  17. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2008
    8,245
    1,202
    0
    Location:
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I hear ya, but then get the situation like ' I want the mondo legroom of seat slid all the way back, but if seat reclined too much, then can't reach the steering wheel very well'.
     
    #17 cycledrum, Mar 7, 2010
  18. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2008
    8,245
    1,202
    0
    Location:
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    That would be sad because the seat is now designed to accomodate those well over 6ft tall.

    I think Toyota could design the mirror and roofliner such that it can be adjusted up and out of the way.
     
    #18 cycledrum, Mar 7, 2010
  19. ibnird

    ibnird New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2010
    61
    9
    0
    Location:
    SF Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Why not get an auto glass place to remove the mirror from its present location and reattach it higher on the windshield? That's what they'd do if you replaced your windshield, right?
     
    #19 ibnird, Mar 8, 2010
  20. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,837
    16,073
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Not really. The only thing it'll obstruct is a hanging traffic light and usually there's a floor-mounted light to accompany it.

    The mirror cannot be turned upside down in the Gen 3. There's no clearance for that. I've tried.
     
    #20 Tideland Prius, Mar 8, 2010
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 2