Blind spots - Toyota Yaris Forums

jess · 04-09-2009, 12:04 AM

An Australian report released Wednesday rates Yaris in the lowest 20 percent of cars for visibility blind spots.

Whatcha think?

My side mirrors are angled to see what is in those blind spots caused by the rear pillars so I think it's a non-issue.

Much ado about nothing or death on four wheels?

Of course some drivers feel looking at what's behind you is a waste of time while others are only looking in the rear view mirrors for light bars or black and white paint jobs.

supmet · 04-09-2009, 12:07 AM

People keep saying this, but I can't for the life of me figure it out. I don't have trouble seeing anywhere.

I drove my step-mom's sienna and that was terrible. I couldn't see anything..

*tomato* · 04-09-2009, 12:13 AM

The rear pillars make it difficult to see when you parallel park on the right side of the street (side mirror isn't enough) and there are other blind spots but I think I've developped ways to compensate by now, relying on the side mirrors much more and estimating distances instead of seeing them while parking.

Ed_ · 04-09-2009, 12:24 AM

Not a problem. I back into a two car garage that has 3 cars in it and it works fine. That's why they put mirrors on cars.

whoguy · 04-09-2009, 02:45 AM

I must say that the Thick A Pillars do block visibility. I've had close calls where I didn't see a car at a T junction because his trajectory and speed kept him behind the A pillar as I approached the intersection.

The rear visibility is poor for the sedan as the boot is high ( pretty much the norm on all cars now).... Rear parking sensors really help and to me is a must have.

Side rear visibility is pretty much on par with any other car. There is always a blind spot if a car is next to you just behind the passenger door. Mirror adjustment helps, but depends on what you're use to.

dybbuk · 04-09-2009, 07:12 AM

Really? Good god, when I first got this car I thought I was driving a convertible. My old 02 Grand Am had serious blind spot issues if you wanna talk about a thick A pillar. I used to have close calls pretty much everytime I was in a parking lot, haven't had one since I've got the Yaris(over a year now). My only gripe is the mirrors are a bit too small for me(I drive an E250 at work with the double mirror regular/convex setup), but, that goes for pretty much every car.

ddongbap · 04-09-2009, 07:32 AM

I almost hit a ped, cause the passenger A-Pillar decided to take up the size of her body.

Yaris Hilton · 04-09-2009, 10:39 AM

All cars have "blind spots." The Yaris is better than some, worse than others. Pay attention to what's around you.

wiirenet · 04-09-2009, 11:25 AM

I feel like I have a lot of blind spots... I'm weird and feel like mirrors aren't enough and I don't trust them, I always have the need to turn around and head check, and always find my vision partly blocked when I do that.

Its not horrible, I don't regret the car, but I'm still not used to it after 3 weeks.

33OH · 04-09-2009, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yaris Hilton

All cars have "blind spots." The Yaris is better than some, worse than others. Pay attention to what's around you.

*tomato* · 04-09-2009, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiirenet

I feel like I have a lot of blind spots... I'm weird and feel like mirrors aren't enough and I don't trust them, I always have the need to turn around and head check, and always find my vision partly blocked when I do that.

Its not horrible, I don't regret the car, but I'm still not used to it after 3 weeks.

I think it takes longer than 3 weeks to fully get used to it. You come from driving an old car with better visibility (me too), so for us it's not intuitive, we have to adapt. The poster who said "some cars are worse" is right! Coupes come to mind.

MadMax · 04-09-2009, 12:59 PM

Hell, I jump from an open Jeep into the Yaris and don't think there are any more blind spots; so I gotta also agree with Yaris Hilton's comments that it is "better than some, worse than others" and that you need to "pay attention to what's around you."

Sound advice indeed!

Cheers! M2

Rain · 04-09-2009, 01:16 PM

I find that I have less blind spots when I have a wider rear view mirror on...

Ferret_san · 04-10-2009, 07:44 AM

Is this the article you are referring to ?
http://www.countrycars.com.au/Editor...rticleId=62121

Seems they specifically mention the sedan.

Other one-star performers include the Toyota Yaris sedan, Audi Q7 soft-roader and BMW 1 Series.

The hatch while only scoring 2 out of 5 stars , is still in the same weighting as
Citroen C3 Pluriel (2 Door Convertible)
Holden Barina (3 Door Hatch)
Honda Jazz (5 Door Hatch)
Hyundai Accent (3 Door Hatch)
Hyundai Getz (3 Door Hatch)
Kia Rio (5 Door Hatch)
Mazda Mazda2 - (5 Door Hatch)
Nissan Micra (5 Door Hatch)
Peugeot 207 (5 Door Hatch)
Suzuki Swift (5 Door Hatch)
Toyota Yaris (5 Door Hatch)
Volkswagen Polo (3 Door Hatch)
Volkswagen Polo Gti (3 Door Hatch)

Here's a table with the results:
http://www.sgio.com.au/keeping-safe-...n-tables.shtml

Dave · 04-10-2009, 11:51 AM

Speaking of blind spots and mirrors, does anyone else think that things appear closer than they actually are in the rear view mirror?

Maybe the Yaris is a magnet for tailgaters but it always feels like vehicles follow very closely, particularly at night when the headlights seem blinding. I mention the rear view mirror specifically because the side view mirrors seem to better reflect (pun! ha!) where objects actually are.

yaris-me · 04-10-2009, 11:51 AM

I can see what they're talking about. The B and C pillars are thick, but I think they offer more rigidity and safety. I've never had any problem with visibility, because I drive forward and not sideways.

Yaris Hilton · 04-10-2009, 02:28 PM

They also contain air bags now. Can't have all that and skinny pillars, too.

wiirenet · 04-10-2009, 02:33 PM

This prob sounds dumb, but the head rests bothers me a lot too. I don't know if its just taller or wider than my old car, but I feel like that is my biggest vision issue, not the pillar area in the back between windows. I can't crank my head around it I guess, I don't know.

04-09-2009, 12:04 AM	#1
jess Drives: 09 hatchback Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: ca Posts: 24	Blind spots An Australian report released Wednesday rates Yaris in the lowest 20 percent of cars for visibility blind spots. Whatcha think? My side mirrors are angled to see what is in those blind spots caused by the rear pillars so I think it's a non-issue. Much ado about nothing or death on four wheels? Of course some drivers feel looking at what's behind you is a waste of time while others are only looking in the rear view mirrors for light bars or black and white paint jobs.

04-10-2009, 07:44 AM	#14
Ferret_san Hack.... What hack ?? View User's Garage Drives: 07 YR Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Australia - BrisVegas Posts: 285	Is this the article you are referring to ? http://www.countrycars.com.au/Editor...rticleId=62121 Seems they specifically mention the sedan. Other one-star performers include the Toyota Yaris sedan, Audi Q7 soft-roader and BMW 1 Series. The hatch while only scoring 2 out of 5 stars , is still in the same weighting as Citroen C3 Pluriel (2 Door Convertible) Holden Barina (3 Door Hatch) Honda Jazz (5 Door Hatch) Hyundai Accent (3 Door Hatch) Hyundai Getz (3 Door Hatch) Kia Rio (5 Door Hatch) Mazda Mazda2 - (5 Door Hatch) Nissan Micra (5 Door Hatch) Peugeot 207 (5 Door Hatch) Suzuki Swift (5 Door Hatch) Toyota Yaris (5 Door Hatch) Volkswagen Polo (3 Door Hatch) Volkswagen Polo Gti (3 Door Hatch) Here's a table with the results: http://www.sgio.com.au/keeping-safe-...n-tables.shtml Last edited by Ferret_san; 04-10-2009 at 07:57 AM. Reason: Added "stuff"... OK....Happy now....

04-10-2009, 11:51 AM	#16
yaris-me Learn to Relax Drives: 2007, Meteorite, LB Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 2,070	I can see what they're talking about. The B and C pillars are thick, but I think they offer more rigidity and safety. I've never had any problem with visibility, because I drive forward and not sideways. Last edited by yaris-me; 04-10-2009 at 10:43 PM.

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04-09-2009, 12:07 AM	#2
supmet Banned View User's Garage Drives: 2007 4 Door Yaris Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,357	People keep saying this, but I can't for the life of me figure it out. I don't have trouble seeing anywhere. I drove my step-mom's sienna and that was terrible. I couldn't see anything..

04-09-2009, 12:13 AM	#3
tomato Super Moderator View User's Garage Drives: Yaris 2DR LB 07, MT, Abs. Red Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 5,155	The rear pillars make it difficult to see when you parallel park on the right side of the street (side mirror isn't enough) and there are other blind spots but I think I've developped ways to compensate by now, relying on the side mirrors much more and estimating distances instead of seeing them while parking.

04-09-2009, 12:24 AM	#4
Ed_ Drives: 09 2 dr, 5M, Yellow Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Posts: 18	Not a problem. I back into a two car garage that has 3 cars in it and it works fine. That's why they put mirrors on cars.

04-09-2009, 02:45 AM	#5
whoguy View User's Garage Drives: Yaris YRS Sedan Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 65	I must say that the Thick A Pillars do block visibility. I've had close calls where I didn't see a car at a T junction because his trajectory and speed kept him behind the A pillar as I approached the intersection. The rear visibility is poor for the sedan as the boot is high ( pretty much the norm on all cars now).... Rear parking sensors really help and to me is a must have. Side rear visibility is pretty much on par with any other car. There is always a blind spot if a car is next to you just behind the passenger door. Mirror adjustment helps, but depends on what you're use to.

04-09-2009, 07:12 AM	#6
dybbuk Drives: 2008 Yaris HB Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Fredericton Posts: 50	Really? Good god, when I first got this car I thought I was driving a convertible. My old 02 Grand Am had serious blind spot issues if you wanna talk about a thick A pillar. I used to have close calls pretty much everytime I was in a parking lot, haven't had one since I've got the Yaris(over a year now). My only gripe is the mirrors are a bit too small for me(I drive an E250 at work with the double mirror regular/convex setup), but, that goes for pretty much every car.

04-09-2009, 07:32 AM	#7
ddongbap Banned Drives: yw calls me douche and racist. Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: hay Posts: 2,183	I almost hit a ped, cause the passenger A-Pillar decided to take up the size of her body.

04-09-2009, 10:39 AM	#8
Yaris Hilton Half a Bubble Off Plumb Drives: 2009 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA Posts: 1,593	All cars have "blind spots." The Yaris is better than some, worse than others. Pay attention to what's around you.

04-09-2009, 11:25 AM	#9
wiirenet View User's Garage Drives: Black '09 2dr HB Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: near Chicago, IL Posts: 286	I feel like I have a lot of blind spots... I'm weird and feel like mirrors aren't enough and I don't trust them, I always have the need to turn around and head check, and always find my vision partly blocked when I do that. Its not horrible, I don't regret the car, but I'm still not used to it after 3 weeks.

04-09-2009, 12:59 PM	#12
MadMax Drives: 2008 Yaris Liftback (Sprocket) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Antonio, Texas! Posts: 2,799	Hell, I jump from an open Jeep into the Yaris and don't think there are any more blind spots; so I gotta also agree with Yaris Hilton's comments that it is "better than some, worse than others" and that you need to "pay attention to what's around you." Sound advice indeed! Cheers! M2

04-09-2009, 01:16 PM	#13
Rain help! my Yaris shrunk! Drives: 12 Hot Lava iQ/07 Jade Vios Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,748	I find that I have less blind spots when I have a wider rear view mirror on...

04-10-2009, 11:51 AM	#15
Dave Drives: 2007 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 100	Speaking of blind spots and mirrors, does anyone else think that things appear closer than they actually are in the rear view mirror? Maybe the Yaris is a magnet for tailgaters but it always feels like vehicles follow very closely, particularly at night when the headlights seem blinding. I mention the rear view mirror specifically because the side view mirrors seem to better reflect (pun! ha!) where objects actually are.

04-10-2009, 02:28 PM	#17
Yaris Hilton Half a Bubble Off Plumb Drives: 2009 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA Posts: 1,593	They also contain air bags now. Can't have all that and skinny pillars, too.

04-10-2009, 02:33 PM	#18
wiirenet View User's Garage Drives: Black '09 2dr HB Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: near Chicago, IL Posts: 286	This prob sounds dumb, but the head rests bothers me a lot too. I don't know if its just taller or wider than my old car, but I feel like that is my biggest vision issue, not the pillar area in the back between windows. I can't crank my head around it I guess, I don't know.