I was very excited about wanting to trade in my 2013 Mini Countryman for the new convertible. So I test drove the convertible last week. Handles beautifully and the technology upgrade is great!

But I felt that with the top down, it cuts off the rear visibility with the way it angles up. I was more concerned with while being on the road. When a regular sedan was coming up behind me, I could barely see the top of it (top 1/3 of the windshield). Even when the driver's seat was at maximum height. I am 5' 8".

While looking at reviews of the car, at least couple of them seem to mention this.

Anyone else try it out yet? Did you observe the same? Or is it something I just need to get used to?

 

100K in a R52, it's something you get used to. I use the side views a lot. Here's a link to a Car Talk article on setting the side views for the best results.
http://www.cartalk.com/content/avoiding-blind-spot-1

BTW, If all you can see of a car behind you is the top half of their wind screen, they are way too close to you at any speed.
Jump on that cabrio. You will find that wind in your hair is better therapy than anything else you can get. Topless motoring is motoring at its best.

 

Yes, visibility in a convertible is generally going to be reduced compared to other body styles. Top-up is likewise reduced in comparison. That's one of the trade-offs you make for the convertible style.

One thing that helps, for some, is to use convex mirror add-ons for the side mirrors. Those give you a little bubble of added visibility. There are several different kinds, choose one that suits your preferences.

I swapped out the regular US glass for some Euro glass that has the outer section designed for that. I'm not sure how much I like it. It introduces an extra moment of distraction gauging what's in the regular view vs that small segment. It's not a big deal though, again one of the compromises...

 

Top up you can get used to it, top down it does improve on the Gen 3 as there is no rollover bar. As I have an R52.

Blind spot mirror i used on the R52 and they are great. On the F57 we have them also. The f56 ones fit the F55 , F54, and F57 ( Gen 3 MINIs. )


https://www.ecstuning.com/News/MINI_F56_Blind_Spot_Mirrors_Genuine_European_F55_C ooper_S_JCW_Electrochromatic_Side_Mirrors_Heated_A spherical_Visibility_2014_2015/

 

Thanks folks !

Fly'n Brick - I have tried the earlier convertible. Its great. But with the newer one, the folded up top angles up even more. Hence my concern.

wkearney99

The mirror add-on is a good idea. I will look into that for sure.

 

Welcome.

 

The wife's Fiat 500e has those blind spot mirrors and we hate them.

It takes an additional second to focus, and then the image is so much smaller it's hard to make use of what it does show.

The roadster's blind spot, top up is almost as bad as the convertible's. Properly adjusted mirrors help, but it does not solve things. The blind spot here is mostly to the rear and only partially to the side. Properly adjusted mirrors still only improve seeing what is to the side.

A change in driving style is required, constant awareness of what's behind you and how they are moving.

 

+1 It's called situational awareness and is as important to safe driving a well maintained vehicle.

 

Originally Posted by dongood
A change in driving style is required, constant awareness of what's behind you and how they are moving.

I thought that constant awareness of what's going on all around you was proper driving technique, at least that's how we were taught back in the 60's.

 

Agreed, it's much harder to make the split-second determination whether it's a cop coming up from behind...


Had I not broken the factory one during removal I'd consider going back and using the add-on kind instead. Trouble is the oval mirrors aren't all that large and don't leave much room to add anything on the glass itself.

Which is good advice in general, and definitely helpful in any kind of vehicle--blindspots or not.

 

I have them and use them on the R52 , it takes some time to get used to them , but the euro ones MINI has are good as its one single piece of glass with a line. Where i think Ford and Fiat has a two piece glass. Which is very distorted.

 

I don't like the Fiat split drivers mirror either. I've never had an issue dealing with the drivers side blind spot on any car, and I find the split mirror annoying. However, when we had a R52 convertible, I had installed an OEM Euro mirror (like ECS linked) only on the passenger side, and it was very helpful.

We also have a 500e! For those who don't know it, the 500e is an all-electric model sold only in California and Oregon. The 500e's size and instant torque are perfect for the traffic, hills, and parking in San Francisco, and we love the car.

 

Unfortunately I see to many drivers checking mirrors only when they decide to change lanes.

Or drivers crossing multiple lanes using only their mirrors.

Either case it's a fail made worse by the convertible's blind spots.