Fat pillars grind my gears

DemonPig

DemonPig

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What is up with all these new car designs? Everything is about safety according to the manufacturers and yet vehicles nowadays have more blinds spots than Ray Charles.

I remember first noticing it when Murano came out. Right and left rear are pretty much all covered up and you can't see anything at all in those directions due to the the triangular design of the pillars.

Same with the size of the windows, they're getting smaller and smaller. Sitting in a Chrysler 300 feels like being in a submarine.

Visibility is a huge part of safety - what happened exactly?

Seems like manufactures are more preoccupied with fitting 20" rims on minivans than anything else as of late.
 
Uhm, have you noticed that cars pretty much drive themselves now.
They can park themselves too.
Cars are becoming personal buses.
 
This might be why (from Car & Driver 9/2012):

c&d.jpg
 
How typical, we fix the car but not the problem which are pedestrians not paying attention.
Might as well bubble wrap the car. This is pointless, what about tucks and SUVS.
Btw I think Volvo is working on an external hood airbag for pedestrians.
 
It really is true. I get in my Camaro and it`s like I`m sitting in an isolated box with little slits. I sit in my Cavalier and it feels like I am driving a car made of glass, I can see everything on the road.

Furthermore, cars that auto parallel park you now and so fourth are so ****ing horrible. Honestly, if you cannot parallel park how the hell did you get your license ? They also now have light indicators that tell you when someone is in your blindspot. Well ****, just pay attention to the road, if you actually check your mirrors the correct number of times, no one should just sneak up on you. Losing hope in humanity.
 
It would be really nice if people learned how to properly set up their mirrors.
I don't know why so many people feel the need to use their side mirrors to know where the back of their car is.
 
Dr.Manhattan said:
It really is true. I get in my Camaro and it`s like I`m sitting in an isolated box with little slits. I sit in my Cavalier and it feels like I am driving a car made of glass, I can see everything on the road.
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You're comparing a Camaro to a Cavalier? Really? Sell the Camaro if you hate it that much. You're comparing a sports car to a compact. My Dad used to have one... don't know why you think it's so impossible to drive.

Just like with motorcycles.... the problem usually exists with the operator and not the machine :P
 
My Edge has thick A-pillars. Newer cars have bigger pillars due to airbags.

The thick pillars and an inconvenient mirror height causes blind spots on both sides, but the left side is worse. A few times I have been startled by pedestrians but Im used to it now and look around the mirror.

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk 2
 
I've driven a lot of rentals and most of them have terrible views. I noticed ESPECIALLY with the Ford cars. I didn't notice it with the corolla or the yaris. Versa I don't think I had that problem but it was just a bad car imo. The Malibu was ok. Focus and Fusion were tiny. Altima was pretty good.

I think it's just the manufacturer and of course, type of car. My impreza hatchback has ultimate visibility :D
 
I was actually shocked when the Elantra Touring I bought with all those windows (wagon) has a massive pillar at the exact spot where you turn your head to check the blind spot. I can see it being required for protection of the vehicle passengers but I Think it can be moved a bit or narrowed some to allow for better visibility.

Also regarding the mirrors...when I first started driving I was also told to have the mirrors so I see the back of my car. Then a guy at work showed me to see the back of the car, move the mirrors out a few inches, and voila...almost zero blind spot around the car!
 
You want zero blind spots? These are the best. You won't need to shoulder check anymore with these bad boys.

images


Also to add to that photo of "the safer automobile" , manufacturers have also been required to raise the front grille to lessen injuries to pedestrians. Making cars more brick-like with their higher, flatter front ends.
 
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Sorry, I mean my side mirrors are at an inconvenient height and obstruct my view of what is in front of me approaching from the right/left. Like pedestrians on a cross walk.

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk 2
 
caboose483 said:
Sorry, I mean my side mirrors are at an inconvenient height and obstruct my view of what is in front of me approaching from the right/left. Like pedestrians on a cross walk.

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...

The other issue I find with this same scenario is that you can't see if the vehicle in the next lane has their signal on to come into your lane because their tail lights are blocked by the pillar and mirror. Sometimes I'll be driving along and get a pissedoff driver glaring at me for not being courteous. O well:rolleyes:
 
Dr.Manhattan said:
It really is true. I get in my Camaro and it`s like I`m sitting in an isolated box with little slits.
Click to expand...

That's one of the first things I noticed about the Camaro.....TERRIBLE visibility! The hood is so high it feels like you're trying to look over a fence to see the road. Honestly would not buy that car for that single reason.
 
Unfortunately most newer cars have this problem - giant pillars and tiny windows. Look at the 'american muscle' cars - Camaro, Mustang, and Charger+Challenger. They might look like they just got off the slot-race track and look amazing, but you get inside, and you cannot see anything on the outside. Giant engine does not help too, because it's so tall blocking the front view. I remember whe took my 300m Special for a drive to the dealership to check out new cars, and they offered a test drive on 300c. I can see everything around me in 300m, but 300c was a different story - it pulled like a crazy truck, but I had zero visibility behind tall hood, no visibility on the sides or in the blind spots because of tiny windows. Picking up a new car next year, and there aren't many cars with decent sized windows - Audi and Volvo are the only ones on our short list of a family sedan or wagon.
 
What are these fat pillars that the OP is talking about?

I dont understand.


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:laughing3:
 
Theres some amazing tech to combat blind spots, and these aren't just found on high end vehicles either.

Many cars are coming with a "blind spot" detection feature. We have this on our vehicle, and I can confirm that it works real well. Even with pedestrians and motorcycles. When an object appears in your blind spot, an amber warning lights up so alert you.

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Also, introduced on the 2013 Honda Accord..... LaneWatch feature......

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mimico_polak said:
I was actually shocked when the Elantra Touring I bought with all those windows (wagon) has a massive pillar at the exact spot where you turn your head to check the blind spot. I can see it being required for protection of the vehicle passengers but I Think it can be moved a bit or narrowed some to allow for better visibility.

Also regarding the mirrors...when I first started driving I was also told to have the mirrors so I see the back of my car. Then a guy at work showed me to see the back of the car, move the mirrors out a few inches, and voila...almost zero blind spot around the car!
Click to expand...

I had the similar experience with my Elantra sedan, but if u adjust your seat properly, that shouldn't be a problem. I don't even have that problem now. However, there are blind spots on the front pillar and the rear. The passenger windows are so small and the trunk is so high. I smacked my bumper on a pole already and I haven't had the car for a year
 
Watch out for Grand Cherokees as well... thats my cage and the A Pillars are like the blinders I've seen put on horses!
 
Mr.Azim said:
You're comparing a Camaro to a Cavalier? Really? Sell the Camaro if you hate it that much. You're comparing a sports car to a compact. My Dad used to have one... don't know why you think it's so impossible to drive.

Just like with motorcycles.... the problem usually exists with the operator and not the machine :P
Click to expand...

Sport car? Not even close, and sport cars SHOULD have good visibility.
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