Curb View Mirrors - A Mostly Useless Option?

[TexAv]

Tried out the curb-view mirrors today for the first time on my '03
and it seemed to me to be a waste of a good option. With the limited
visability out the back I use the sides to assist in backing and the
curb-view makes that useless. It does give a nice view of the curb or
parking line, but IMHO you lose too much visability to make it worth
that. Plus it takes a little while to move into place and by then I'm already
parked. I tried only doing driver or passenger side but same comments apply.

What am I missing here?

Happy Trails

 

[txyank1]

Does it work any differently than using the standard mirror for the same thing? I sometimes use mine when I'm trying to get particularly close to a curb.

 

[BlkFrog]

I don't think you are missing anything and I am in total agreement with you TexAv. ?Great view of the curb and nice concept but loosing the view of what is to the side and behind the Avy isn't worth it to me. ?Maybe a rear view video system (like those talked about on this forum) would help.

 

[dmacker]

When I test drove the 03 I thought the same thing. When I went to back up against a chain link fence the mirrors tilted and I had a fine view of the curb but could not see the fence or tell how close I was to it.

 

[TexAv]

Does it work any differently than using the standard mirror for the same thing? I sometimes use mine when I'm trying to get particularly close to a curb.

It's exactly like doing the same thing manually. It just tilts the mirrows down when you shift in reverse. It would help to get really close to a curb as it does offer a nice view of the curb.

 

[Pendlum]

I've thought about that too. Is it an option that you can turn off and on quickly or is it more involved? I know sometimes when I back up I need the side mirrors. The only time I tilt mine down is when I'm trying to get as far away as possible from the car next to me (Anti-ding method, well practiced here i'm sure)

 

[Green_Machine]

I had this option in a previous vehicle (2001 Acura 3.2 CLS) , and is was pretty useful, as the rims protruded from the edge of the tire, and you could scratch them up pretty bad if you weren't careful. ?For the Av, I don't worry about that as much anymore with the big tires ?

With the Acura, I was able to disable that feature though, by moving the right/left selector switch for the power mirrors from the center position (to either right or left). Might work that way for the Av as well, but I wouldn't know since I have a 2002.

 

[ygmn]

What the heck is this curb view thingy?

Any linky thingy for it so I can see?

In my 02 when I wanna see the rear tire I just power the mirror down and see how close I am to a curb.....When done I power them back to normal position...

 

[endeavorc]

The "Curb View" for the side mirrors basically tilts the mirrors down so you are able to see the curb or parking line when you put the vehicle into reverse and go back to normal position when shifted out of reverse. The setting is changed through the DIC(Driver Information Center). The 02 Envoy has the same feature. I found it to be rather annoying for most of my reverse driving. It talks about a minute to turn on or off because you have to cycle through the options of the DIC to get to it.

 

[Green_Machine]

The "curb view thingy" TM auto-magically tilts the passenger-side rear-view-mirror so that it shows you the ground, rather than the normal view when the vehicle is in reverse. Once it goes out of reverse, the mirror tilts back to its original position

 

[ygmn]

SO it does this automatically not when you want it...

So when you hit REVERSE it tilts down....That stinks....It would be better if there was a switch to hit to make it do this.....

JASON get modding on this...LOL

 

[TexAv]

The "curb view thingy" TM auto-magically tilts the passenger-side rear-view-mirror so that it shows you the ground, rather than the normal view when the vehicle is in reverse. Once it goes out of reverse, the mirror tilts back to its original position

You can set it to tilt either driver or passenger or both mirrors.

 

[Chief]

I would use it to make sure I didn't damage my chrome wheels or tires when backing up close to a curb.

 

[jkkooiker]

I have this option on mine and it's quite easy to turn on and off with the driver info center steering wheel controls. I usually have it off but then switch it on if I need to parallel park.

 

[Supermobile]

The first thing I did was turn the curb view off on both driver and passenger side.

May be a rare instance that I cant think of now when it might come in handy, but I think just tilting the mirror down with the regular adjustment is faster and will accomplish the same thing.

Not the most important feature. The power folding feature is nice though for the occasional tight situation.

Now XM radio, that IS AN IMPORTANT OPTION!

Love that thing!

 

[NJAV]

My wife has this feature on her VW Passat, she used it for about a month when she first purchased the car..now she doesn't even bother with them...my opinion...one of those things you would like to have but probably never use to often....

 

[TexAv]

I almost didn't order the XM radio...but after a couple of
days now I'm hooked. It is very cool and I love the variety of stations so its worth the $10 a month...of course its going to be $20 plus buying another for the wife's car because she has to have one now

 

[Gabe]

Tried out the curb-view mirrors today for the first time on my '03
and it seemed to me to be a waste of a good option. With the limited
visability out the back I use the sides to assist in backing and the
curb-view makes that useless. It does give a nice view of the curb or
parking line, but IMHO you lose too much visability to make it worth
that. Plus it takes a little while to move into place and by then I'm already
parked. I tried only doing driver or passenger side but same comments apply.

What am I missing here?

Happy Trails

I use these and I like them. You can adjust them so as they only move down slightly. At first them move down way to much, but once you adjust them IMHO they are nice especially if you park on curbs alot like I do.

Gabe

 

[TexAv]

I use these and I like them. You can adjust them so as they only move down slightly. At first them move down way to much, but once you adjust them IMHO they are nice especially if you park on curbs alot like I do.

Gabe

Gabe, that's interesting info. That might well make them more useful and more like I was expecting. I don't remember reading how you make this adjustment. Can you enlighten me?

 

[ygmn]

I think this option would be cool as I do it now but manually....

Dayum another reason to want an '03...this is not what I need right now

 

[Gabe]

Gabe, that's interesting info. That might well make them more useful and more like I was expecting. I don't remember reading how you make this adjustment. Can you enlighten me?

When you are in the mode, adjust how you want the mirrors. The next time you use them they go to that point.
Gabe

 

[Bear]

When I picked up my 03, I found this option to be worthless. The mirrors too far down. I turned the feature off and then I read this thread and... shhhhh... the owners manual!

Now that I have adjusted the mirror setting to my liking, I leave the option on and it works great. (I usually back into all parking spots, it's an old Bell System Safety thing)

Thanks Gabe! and evryone else too.

Bear

 

[02-Z66]

i'm glad you guy's brought this subject up. i was very interested in getting this option for my '02 AV. but, if so many of you agree that it takes away visibility on the sides i will not get them. you sure can't use the rear view to see much.

 

[Skidd-au]

I usually back into all parking spots, it's an old Bell System Safety thing

Bear can you tell me what an old bell safety thing is?

 

[Wiki]

?(I usually back into all parking spots, it's an old Bell System Safety thing)



Bear

I usually back in to all spots too. I thought it was a UPS thing.