Think Mini will do something about the visibility problem in the next refresh?

Also, those of you who have the mirrors adjusted "just right" , have you had any close calls anyway?

 

I've had about 10 or so... Mostly my fault for not looking over my shoulder and relying on the mirrors. As for a change... Too much work to redesign that.

 

As a point of reference, the R52 1st gen convertible has an even worse visibility problem and MINI didn't make any changes through its entire run of 4 years.

2013 isn't even a "refresh" year for MINI (like 2011 and 2005). The JCW engine will be updated, but otherwise 2013 will have only the usual minor yearly tweaks like new colors, options, and packages.

 

I am aware that it is not time for a refresh. Just seems to me every coupe review comments on the extreme poor visibility. Thought maybe Mini would take notice and do something to improve it. Maybe more folks would buy the Coupe then....

 

I HATE merging to the right. I can handle the limited view behind me, but not being able to see very clearly on my right.. UGH

 

hi,i just finished a track day with my new coupe,the view could be better but i did fine with 40 other cars at sebring race track.

 

Ha! who likes merging to the right? have you tried aiming the mirrors out , far away from the car so you can't see your car at all? On the chance you haven't...a truck driver showed me this when I when I got my driver's license (1969!) --you can aim both side views so that you see people who are totally in your usual blind spot, even seeing some of the car at the same time the front of their car just starts to get into your peripheral. Yes of course, ya still feel compelled to turn head .... but in fact, properly angled... there is no blind spot.

The tell is to arrange it so someone is passing you slowly on the right. You should start to lose them in your rearview as they come into sideview mirror, shared between the two. And you shouldn't lose the car in your sideview before starting to see him peripherally.

 

+1 on the above,this works!even at the race track.

 

Currently, drive the 2006 R52 and Agree, if you want to talk about blind spots, I think it wins the gold medal.
However I did add the small round stick on mirrors to my passenger side rear view mirrors and feel 100% comfortable with anything happening on that side of the car.

 

cravates is right... I have always setup my mirrors this way.

 

Just set the mirrors up the CORRECT way and you won't have an issue. People who don't will have issues with blind spots because they are using them incorrectly..

 

+1 to cravates. It's the only way I can have my mirrors set ever since I learned that little tidbit. No more blind spots, and no worries merging with traffic at all.

Actually, now that I'm accustomed to the rear end of the Coupe, I find no difficulty seeing behind me or reversing into any spots. It's the best car I've ever owned!

 

and yet another "what Cravates said"! He's exactly right. Learned this years ago via The Navigator column in the BMWCCA magazine.

 

What cravates said.
I had no visibility problem in either my R56 or R58. Just set them up right and you will have no problem. Takes a few weeks to get used to it but it's very "accurate" for seeing the blind spots and it's quick. All my cars are adjusted like this. My wife has never made the transition.

I thought I had heard it was an english thing but I could be wrong. It works as advertised.

 

I put the passenger seat forward a notch, and leaned it up a notch so I can see the tiny window. It helps, but it's still difficult to see over there. I try to drive with proactive lane changes that direction, as in overtake-and-change.
I really like seeing the side of the car in the mirror for context, so I
think I will lean more toward the round convex mirror than the out-turned mirror. To each his own....

Bruce in Santa Monica

PS. Haven't seen another coupe since I got mine two weeks ago. We are scarce....
<exclusive club>

 

My only problem is that when looking out the rear-view mirror, the top of the roof cuts off the top of the cars behind me so I cannot tell if there is a cop back there or not.

 

Then they are way too close to you and it might be a good idea to let them pass you, or you should turn off that road.

 

just for point of reference, from my experience:
Audi TT and Nissan 370Z both have horrible view to the sides.
I think its just matter of getting used to.
Technically, you are recommended to look to right and left before you merge anyway.

 

you're not alone... I have yet to interest a lady in swinging out the mirrors.
C'est la vie

 

nice lookin' ryde,, are ya enjoying that new coupe? RED and white is a great combo on nearly any mini I see.

 

No matter how you set your mirrors, there always will be a blind spot. The only solution is to be aware of every car around you at all times. And that means looking back a couple of times every minute.

 

I think I learned from a Miata site, not exactly a car with limited visibility. I seem to remember something like "lean your head to the left and adjust your left mirror, lean your head to the right and adjust you right mirror, and in the enter, when you're driving it will be correctly adjusted."

I do have the little round mirror , but it's adjusted down for parking. I do find the MINI hard to park, more so than the Miata, which is a massive car, almost a foot longer than the MINI.

 

With the mirrors adjusted correctly there's "virtually" no blindspot. You should be able to look out the rear, then the side, then the front and then the other side and the rear again and see everything around you. It works! Fact is most small sport Coupe's are a big change for folks, even when coming from the more upright hatchback. My last vehicle was a Jeep Liberty so it took me a bit to get used to driving a 'real' sports car again.

 

Where does it say sport car = poor visibility? For instance the 'helmet roof' is a design feature, not a necessary function of a sports car. Or for that matter, why couldn't they design the other spoiler be see-though?

 

I guess I just don't find the visibility that poor, especially with the side views set up well. I think looking out the rear of the Coupe gives a claustrophibic sense to folks and it's something that takes getting used to.