Different thoughts on new car ownership

[Out of Steam]

Funny, just yesterday I got a letter in the mail from some outfit informing me that that the "warranty on your 2024 [car] is about to expire!!!" and I'd be financially liable for any repairs. I'd better sign up, yes?

Despite having over 150K miles on it, I kept receiving similar letters about my last Subaru.

 

[JoeWras]

Do people not move their heads to check anymore? A large pillar may be a bit of a hindrance but it's a not issue if you move your head a few inches when required.

The same thing goes for people needing blind spot monitors. If you can't adjust the mirrors properly and/or shoulder check, then maybe you shouldn't be driving.

No, we don't move our heads. Our heads are all locked in halo braces. /sarc

Of course we move our heads. But damn, some of these blind spots are huge. At intersections that are not perfect 90 degrees, other stuff can also get in the way (fences, buildings, etc.) My little drawing shows one rural intersection I have to navigate every week. There's a double blind spot because of the curve of the road, and the bad building location. When it was a farm road 60 years ago, none of this mattered.

The point is, of course you have to move your head. But I have to move it A LOT, and even then, pull the vehicle forward and check a second time. There's just too much obscured.

As for the pedestrian problem, I think the other issue is people are sitting up in these huge SUVs and look over the peds.

 

[Sunset]

I've noticed my Sienna has a really wide pillar, they put a tiny window in the bottom of it, but that isn't much use at all.
A lot of wiggling the head to see if I'm going to run over some pedestrian itching to cross the street.

 

[Koolau]

Zoomy is a factor. And sometime after '99, they increased the rollover requirements. At the same time, side airbags were becoming a thing. 3 things changing designs at the same time.

Enter the thick A-pillar.

I think the A-pillar blindspot problem is under-appreciated. It can be a contributing factor to T-bone accidents. It is definitely a huge problem with vehicle vs. pedestrian accidents and has the regulators' attention as these kinds of accidents have increased significantly, more than just blaming everything on cell phones.

When you buy a new car, carefully consider your forward visibility

I struggle with A-pillar blindspot in both my cars. I've learned to crane my neck around the blindspot during turns and especially near pedestrian crossings. A bubble canopy on cars would be nice.

 

[Koolau]

No, we don't move our heads. Our heads are all locked in halo braces. /sarc

Of course we move our heads. But damn, some of these blind spots are huge. At intersections that are not perfect 90 degrees, other stuff can also get in the way (fences, buildings, etc.) My little drawing shows one rural intersection I have to navigate every week. There's a double blind spot because of the curve of the road, and the bad building location. When it was a farm road 60 years ago, none of this mattered.

The point is, of course you have to move your head. But I have to move it A LOT, and even then, pull the vehicle forward and check a second time. There's just too much obscured.

As for the pedestrian problem, I think the other issue is people are sitting up in these huge SUVs and look over the peds.
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I think this is where James Dean died.