# Rear Visibility **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [January 7, 2009, 10:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-visibility/24557 "2009-01-07T22:45:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Elise\_Brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dc4da7/32.png) [@Elise\_Brown](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Elise_Brown)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 10:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-visibility/24557/1 "2009-01-07T22:45:26Z")
I am trying to replace my Toyota Camry because of its poor rear visibility. I am finding that almost all the sedans and crossovers have a wide C Pillar, a high back, rising belt lines resulting in a high back window, and high headrests. I have tested 5 cars and sat in 4 others without finding a car with good visibility. The PT Cruiser seems like the best, but most are terrible. The Subaru Forester is too big. Any suggestions? The Subaru Forester is too big. ---
**Author:** ![timmytoast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@timmytoast](https://community.cartalk.com/u/timmytoast)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 11:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-visibility/24557/2 "2009-01-07T23:03:02Z")
I find I rely more on my side view mirrors for backing and changing lanes. Other than that I only care what’s in the mirror for anticipation of traffic conditions behind me. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 11:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-visibility/24557/3 "2009-01-07T23:39:38Z")
I agree with your statement, but it’s the new style…what can one do? I have adjustable-angle convex mirrors on both flag mirrors and find them invaluable. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 11:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-visibility/24557/4 "2009-01-07T23:49:09Z")
Is it just out the back window or do you have problems seeing along the sides of the car? I found that setting the mirrors properly can give me such good visibility that as a car moves out of the rear view mirror, I can see it in either flag mirror. And I can see it in the flag mirror until it is in my peripheral vision. I essentially have one mirror viewing everything behind me and next to me. If this sounds like your problem, let me know and I’ll explain how I set the mirrors. ---
**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 11:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-visibility/24557/5 "2009-01-07T23:53:46Z")
Agree…most people have their mirrors set incorrectly. If you can see the side of your car, they are not out far enough. It takes some getting use to. [http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~gdguo/driving/BlindSpot.htm](http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~gdguo/driving/BlindSpot.htm) ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-visibility/24557/6 "2009-01-07T23:55:34Z")
See if you can find the previous model Forester. We just got one, and the visibility is great. It’s also smaller than the current one. Also, if no one is in the back seat you can remove the rear headrests, if that would help. I agree, this is a major problem, though. ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 1:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-visibility/24557/7 "2009-01-08T01:26:35Z")
You could install fish eye mirrors on your side view mirrors. That would eliminate your blind spots to the sides. You could also look into getting a back-up camera system. They have some with small cameras that mount on the top of the license plate. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 2:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-visibility/24557/8 "2009-01-08T02:42:08Z")
The problem is that the higher trunk design is more aerodynamic and allows for more cargo space and so that’s what most car makers use. Hatchbacks with flat rears like the Scion xB or the VW Rabbit or Honda Fit typically have bigger rear windows and better rear visibility. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 3:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-visibility/24557/9 "2009-01-08T03:02:27Z")
True, but even the xB is much worse now, with a huge C-pillar. Same with the CR-V, and don’t even look at a Nissan CUV! ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-visibility/24557/10 "2009-01-08T16:43:12Z")
If the Forester is too big, try the Outback station wagon. My Subaru wagon has great visibility all around. ---
**Author:** ![Elise\_Brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dc4da7/32.png) [@Elise\_Brown](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Elise_Brown)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 2:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-visibility/24557/11 "2009-01-09T02:50:42Z")
Thanks for the advice. I will definitely try adjusting the mirrors. ---
**Author:** ![Elise\_Brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dc4da7/32.png) [@Elise\_Brown](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Elise_Brown)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 2:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-visibility/24557/12 "2009-01-09T02:55:35Z")
Thanks. I may try subaru again. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 3:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-visibility/24557/13 "2009-01-09T03:03:29Z")
But…the Forester is smaller than the Outback…??? ---
**Author:** ![Elise\_Brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dc4da7/32.png) [@Elise\_Brown](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Elise_Brown)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 11:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-visibility/24557/14 "2009-01-09T23:15:38Z")
The Forester is about 10 inches shorter than the Outback, but higher- I originally decided both were too big for my needs. I have to continue the research. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2009, 5:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-visibility/24557/15 "2009-01-10T17:14:57Z")
How did resetting the mirrors work out? ---
**Author:** ![Elise\_Brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dc4da7/32.png) [@Elise\_Brown](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Elise_Brown)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 12:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-visibility/24557/16 "2009-01-11T00:08:20Z")
Thanks for asking. I’ve only done a little local driving, but it definitely seems better for the side view–I’m working on backing up and parking, which I can’t do as well with mirrors.