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Rear visibility without the camera, good or bad?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by BoosPrius, Apr 16, 2006.

  1. BoosPrius

    BoosPrius New Member

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    I bot my 2006 Super White Prius on March 28. Did a lot of research first, including reading user comments on sites like Edmunds.com and Carpoint.com. I hesitated a bit and thot about waiting for the 2007 model because soooo many people said rear visibility was terrible. I've now had my Prius 2 1/2 weeks. I don't have any problem with the rear visibility. It's a lot better than what I had on my SUV that I traded in. I have parallel parked 3 times so far, and found it pretty easy. I also find I have much less of a problem with a blind spot on my right.

    So, for those who didn't buy one of the packages that includes the rear camera, what is you take on rear visibility? Do you find it to be better, worse, or the same as you encountered with your previous vehicle(s)? Thanx.

    Gary
    2006 Prius
    Package 1
     
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    No different from my dad's 2002 Camry other than the split window. But then again, I tend to adapt easily to visibility problems.
     
  3. ltu1542hvy

    ltu1542hvy New Member

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    I find the visibility around the "A-pillar" and the rear visibility to be some of the weak points of the current Prius. It is definitely worse than my previous cars ('95 Integra, '87 Integra, '81 Olds 88 and '77 Cutlass). but there are cars and trucks out there with far worse visibility than the Prius and as others have mentioned you do get used to it and learn to adapt to it to the point where it's not really a problem any more.
     
  4. bernzx

    bernzx New Member

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    Gary,
    I added a 8"x10" wide angle lens to the lower rear window and I can now back up looking in my rear view mirror. Cost was about $16.00 at a RV equipment store. Check out "cheap alternative to rear view camera" by Bob Allen. For color pics see "photos of wide angle rearview lens" by Bob Allen.
    Bernie
     
  5. Stringer

    Stringer New Member

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  6. jamarimutt

    jamarimutt New Member

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    Rear visibility is certainly not one of the Prius' strong points. It's certainly worst than in our Scion xB and Caravan. I removed the rear head rests in order to improve visibility a little bit, since the rear seats are never used.
     
  7. marjflowers

    marjflowers New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jamarimutt @ Apr 16 2006, 05:36 AM) [snapback]240456[/snapback]</div>
    My dad did this on his Camry.

    Peace --
     
  8. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    I drive a 2004. No backup camera back then. Rear visibility with the Prius is MUCH worse than it was on my '89 Civic station wagon. Not only rear, but all the way around, the Civic had much better visbility. But I once rented some kind of Chevy, I think it was (not sure), and its visibility (rear and side-rear) was much worse than the Prius.

    It took me a while, but I've learned to park the Prius okay. I've developed an adequate sense of where the vehicle limits are.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Stringer @ Apr 16 2006, 01:20 AM) [snapback]240448[/snapback]</div>
    From their ad:
    There is no such thing as "ultrasonic radio waves." Does it use radio (radar) or sound?
     
  9. marjflowers

    marjflowers New Member

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    I just assumed that the back-up camera was to compensatefor the poor visibility.

    Peace --
     
  10. Thomas Brock

    Thomas Brock New Member

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    I have no problems with rear visibility...Heck, with the split window, I've got better visibility than with my '96 Sentra!
     
  11. Stringer

    Stringer New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Apr 16 2006, 04:43 PM) [snapback]240471[/snapback]</div>
    Ultrasonic sound, but who cares. It works even when dirty.
     
  12. Begreen

    Begreen Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ltu1542hvy @ Apr 15 2006, 10:03 PM) [snapback]240421[/snapback]</div>
    The Prius has many virtues, but rear visibility is not one of them. The rear camera helps backing up, but that is not where the bad visibility is a serious issue for us. The very thick rear A pillars totally block rear-diagonal vision. If you are lucky enough to have to merge at an angle with a road on the right-side, one's vision is totally blocked. Unfortunately for us, our driveway and two other commonly used roads do this. This blind-spot is out of the range of the mirrors. There is no remedy other than extreme caution or trying another route.
     
  13. nerfer

    nerfer A young senior member

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    I think the rear visibility is great for backing up. You can definitely see small objects closer behind the car than on most vehicles. But the split window is a little annoying at first when driving. (I don't have the rear-view camera).

    The only visibility issue I have is the front side pillars, they block my view, particularly when I'm turning right or left and want to make sure there aren't pedestrians crossing the street.

    I always back into parking spaces (figure it's safer to back into a fixed spot than back out into moving traffic when I'm ready to leave), so I use the side mirrors or turn my head to look directly back, and I think the Prius has one of the best rear visibility out there, partly because the back end tapers slightly. Haven't seen a need to remove rear headrests, besides I often have passengers in the back.

    Previous cars: Subaru Outback, Nissan Sentras, VW bug ('65)

    nerfer
     
  14. Roger3125

    Roger3125 New Member

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    I'm sorry guys but I have to disagree with you regarding the rear visibility. I can't tell you the near misses I've had with both the limited front view and the rear. I've been driving my white beauty since Jan. '06 and I have yet to feel comfortable changng lanes to the right.

    Frankly I thought with the many complaints Toyota receives about visibility the 2010 would have improved it but my guess we will see it in the next model change.

    I love my Prius but truly find the lack of rear view dangerous.
     
  15. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    Are you using the Car Guy's method of adjusting the rear view mirrors? It helps significantly.
     
  16. subarutoo

    subarutoo New Member

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    The camera view has a great "wow" factor for first time passengers. That's about it. I back into my garage and sometimes check it. As to everyday normal use, I hardly ever look at it. I don't have any problem with rear visibility, now if I could ever figure where the front bumper ends, that would be even better. :)
     
  17. Qlara

    Qlara New Member

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    Same here, I got no visibility issue and Prius is definitely not worst than any other cars (from Sedan to Coupe to Hatch).

    Indeed, the first thing I look at during backup is the rear windows, not the MFD screen with the camera view. It's good (Cool) to have a camera, but I just can't 100% trust it....or can you?
     
  18. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    Using a wide, slightly overlapping mirror adjustment on both left and right mirrors all but eliminates any blind spots you can't "see" w/ just peripheral vision. Practically eliminates every need to look over your shoulder in either direction.
     
  19. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Vision out of the Prius is better than my work Holden Commodore
     
  20. Bill1

    Bill1 New Member

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    I do think the visibility is limited. I have no problem with the side or rear vision while driving - mirrors are adjusted so I can see cars approaching in the blind spots. My problem is backing up and parallel parking - the Prius replaced a minivan and I had no problem doing these things with it. I am not used to using the mirrors for this and can not really see the curb on the sides of the Prius. I was taught to look over my right shoulder when I am backing up or parallel parking and I have done this for many years - old habits die hard. The back up camera is very good to tell how close the back of the car is to an object, but not usable for the rear quarters.