View Poll Results: How do you position your side-view mirrors?
Adjust mirrors outward so that the viewing angle just overlaps the rearview mirror (Figure 1 & 4)
20
42.55%
Adjust mirrors so that the viewing angle overlaps a portion of the back of the car (Figure 2 & 5)
23
48.94%
Adjust mirrors so that the viewing angle is in between options 1 and 2
4
8.51%
Voters: 47. You may not vote on this poll
How do you position your side-view mirrors?
I position it so I barely see the side of my own car. I find it weird when I look at the side mirror of the car in front of me and I can see the driver. Isn't that what the rearview mirror is for? =\
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From: SF Bay Area - Peninsula
Car Info: 04 psm wrx sedan
ive got one of those huge rearview mirrors, and i can actually see out of my front windows if i lean forward, so ive got my mirrors at 2 and 5, and i can see everything, no blind spots for me
Years ago I started placing the lines in the bottom inside corners of my mirrors. I don't need to see my car, I'm in it. The rear view is for just that, rear view.
My first car was a 1984 Subaru Wagon GL hand me down and it didn't even have a passenger side mirror. I asked my dad why he said it wasn't standard and you had to pay for it. Yeah, my dad was... er.. uhhh... thrifty.
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From: Upper North Bay
Car Info: '15 LE STI, '06 WRX White Wheeled Wagon, '06 B9
My first day on the race track at Infineon, my instructor gave me some advice on my side mirrors that I follow to this day.
For your drivers side mirror, lean left until your head is against the window, and set the mirror so you can just see your rear quarter panel.
For your passenger side mirror, lean right, until your head is even with your rearview mirror (basically on the centerline of the car, then adjust your passenger side mirror until you can just see the quarter panel.
When you sit normally in your seat, your blind spot should be virtually gone. Driving like this took me a few weeks of getting used to on the freeway, but it has helped me avoid several "emergency swerve" incidents.
However, as my instructor warned, this is NOT a replacement for looking over your shoulder to check for cars and motorcycles (especially). So even though my mirrors are akin to 1 and 4 in the diagram, I still check over my shoulder before every lane change.
For your drivers side mirror, lean left until your head is against the window, and set the mirror so you can just see your rear quarter panel.
For your passenger side mirror, lean right, until your head is even with your rearview mirror (basically on the centerline of the car, then adjust your passenger side mirror until you can just see the quarter panel.
When you sit normally in your seat, your blind spot should be virtually gone. Driving like this took me a few weeks of getting used to on the freeway, but it has helped me avoid several "emergency swerve" incidents.
However, as my instructor warned, this is NOT a replacement for looking over your shoulder to check for cars and motorcycles (especially). So even though my mirrors are akin to 1 and 4 in the diagram, I still check over my shoulder before every lane change.
I switched to 1&4 a while back. Took a little while to get used to. I also have convexed side views made by these guys - http://zoom-eng.com so I have zero blind spot. 
http://66.163.168.225/babelfish/tran...t/z_subaru.htm
http://66.163.168.225/babelfish/tran...t/z_subaru.htm
Last edited by ryball; Feb 23, 2010 at 03:58 PM.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,347
From: 925+415
Car Info: 05 CGM STi to be converted to RS
my first day on the race track at infineon, my instructor gave me some advice on my side mirrors that i follow to this day.
For your drivers side mirror, lean left until your head is against the window, and set the mirror so you can just see your rear quarter panel.
For your passenger side mirror, lean right, until your head is even with your rearview mirror (basically on the centerline of the car, then adjust your passenger side mirror until you can just see the quarter panel.
When you sit normally in your seat, your blind spot should be virtually gone. Driving like this took me a few weeks of getting used to on the freeway, but it has helped me avoid several "emergency swerve" incidents.
However, as my instructor warned, this is not a replacement for looking over your shoulder to check for cars and motorcycles (especially). So even though my mirrors are akin to 1 and 4 in the diagram, i still check over my shoulder before every lane change.
For your drivers side mirror, lean left until your head is against the window, and set the mirror so you can just see your rear quarter panel.
For your passenger side mirror, lean right, until your head is even with your rearview mirror (basically on the centerline of the car, then adjust your passenger side mirror until you can just see the quarter panel.
When you sit normally in your seat, your blind spot should be virtually gone. Driving like this took me a few weeks of getting used to on the freeway, but it has helped me avoid several "emergency swerve" incidents.
However, as my instructor warned, this is not a replacement for looking over your shoulder to check for cars and motorcycles (especially). So even though my mirrors are akin to 1 and 4 in the diagram, i still check over my shoulder before every lane change.
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iTrader: (3)
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,316
From: Berkeley, CA
Car Info: 05' WRX (Dirty Black)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KiC03_wVjc
Yah who needs rearview mirrors when there's no back window and this woman is smoking a lot of cars on the Nurburgring lol
Yah who needs rearview mirrors when there's no back window and this woman is smoking a lot of cars on the Nurburgring lol
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iTrader: (10)
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,641
From: Daly City
Car Info: 2001 Impreza 2.2L
My first day on the race track at Infineon, my instructor gave me some advice on my side mirrors that I follow to this day.
For your drivers side mirror, lean left until your head is against the window, and set the mirror so you can just see your rear quarter panel.
For your passenger side mirror, lean right, until your head is even with your rearview mirror (basically on the centerline of the car, then adjust your passenger side mirror until you can just see the quarter panel.
When you sit normally in your seat, your blind spot should be virtually gone. Driving like this took me a few weeks of getting used to on the freeway, but it has helped me avoid several "emergency swerve" incidents.
However, as my instructor warned, this is NOT a replacement for looking over your shoulder to check for cars and motorcycles (especially). So even though my mirrors are akin to 1 and 4 in the diagram, I still check over my shoulder before every lane change.
For your drivers side mirror, lean left until your head is against the window, and set the mirror so you can just see your rear quarter panel.
For your passenger side mirror, lean right, until your head is even with your rearview mirror (basically on the centerline of the car, then adjust your passenger side mirror until you can just see the quarter panel.
When you sit normally in your seat, your blind spot should be virtually gone. Driving like this took me a few weeks of getting used to on the freeway, but it has helped me avoid several "emergency swerve" incidents.
However, as my instructor warned, this is NOT a replacement for looking over your shoulder to check for cars and motorcycles (especially). So even though my mirrors are akin to 1 and 4 in the diagram, I still check over my shoulder before every lane change.
I have a Broadway Convex Rear View mirror as well. This creates almost no blindspots (I still look behind to make sure).
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iTrader: (15)
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 612
From: San Leandro, CA
Car Info: 2002 WRX Sedan, 2004 Acura TL
1 + 4 for a few years now. I don't ever have to check blind spots and never have to take second guesses. The neat thing about it is that once the car starts leaving your side view mirrors, you'll see them with your peripheral vision so I know at all times where cars around me are without having to turn my head to check blind spots.