tC shape and visibility

2305 Views 23 Replies 15 Participants Last post by dmarcoot, Aug 15, 2004

phammerz

Discussion Starter · Aug 13, 2004

Okay, I've got driving stick down pretty well, but what I've come to realize is that I can't tell where the front or the sides of my car are, for example like when parking I realyl cant tell where my side is, the lil pillars around the windshield are huge and I cant see anything, then when looking back *where you search over ur shoulder for blindspots* that huge pillar blocks a lot, it sort of scares me. So my question is, have you guys and gals gotten used to not being able to see where anything is? Like when i pull up to the curb its hard to tell where my car actually is? Is there any trick to know how far I am from say a line or not *when no cars are beside me* or how far im from the curb, and what about the blind spots?

1 - 20 of 24 Posts

SilverX

· #2 · Aug 13, 2004

All I know is the tC has some pretty bad blindspots. Or so I hear.

Zygote55

· #3 · Aug 13, 2004

You hear correctly...the blindspots are bad. I'm still having trouble with it after two weeks.

imasaf

· #4 · Aug 13, 2004

Lol... I'm still getting used to parking the car close to a curb... I use the side mirrors to make sure I'm not scratching my rims....

About the front and end... I'm used to driving a car with a low and almost invisible front end... I used to have a spoiler so I used the spoiler as a good estimate of where my car ended. For the tC... I don't really know how to judge the end... I use the side & rear view mirrors to see how far my tC is from whatever I'm backing into. It takes a little time but you'll eventually get used to where your tC begins and where it ends.

And for the blindspot... I don't really notice it... (maybe thats why its a blind spot..) ?? I don't know... I'm used to using the mirrors and looking over my shoulder so maybe thats why it doesn't bother me. What bothers me more is when my fiance is sitting in the passenger seat... he blocks more of the view than that pillar thing... but then again anyone who sits in the passenger seat would block a lot of the view.

spydirweb

· #5 · Aug 13, 2004

coming out of a sedan with surprisingly great view from all angles the tC comes up short. I have to say I've gotten used to it pretty quick though. The sideview mirrors are huge for such a tiny car which really helps.

phammerz

Discussion Starter · #6 · Aug 13, 2004

I'm glad I'm not the only one, like for some reason with the tC i cant even approach the curb , like im either 2 inches too far or like right next to the curb..., its depressing, it makes me feel soo much less of a man not being able to park next to a curb, any other guys can't park? hahahaaha

imasaf

· #7 · Aug 13, 2004

Well at least I can say I'm a girl... and not feel so bad about it. I guess I miss my old car cause after 6 years of driving it around... i got really used to its parameters...

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andfx8

· #8 · Aug 13, 2004

I always end up parking too far away from the curb, and I've already scratched my mom's Jaguar's rims (which she still doesn't know about) when I tried to park at a normal distance from the curb.

P.S.- Thankfully, the scratches on my mom's rims are pretty unconspicious.

imasaf

· #9 · Aug 13, 2004

Originally posted by Andfx8@Aug 12 2004, 11:23 PM
I always end up parking too far away from the curb, and I've already scratched my mom's Jaguar's rims (which she still doesn't know about) when I tried to park at a normal distance from the curb.

P.S.- Thankfully, the scratches on my mom's rims are pretty unconspicious.

Hmm... go real slow and definitely use the side mirrors when you are trying to park close to the curb without scratching it. Aim the mirrors down so you can see the curb. Thats what I do now... at least until I get used to the car...

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andfx8

· #10 · Aug 13, 2004

I'll try my hardest, ma'am. Thanks for the tips.

LoopyLady_1

· #11 · Aug 13, 2004

Originally posted by imasaf@Aug 13 2004, 02:16 AM
Well at least I can say I'm a girl... and not feel so bad about it. I guess I miss my old car cause after 6 years of driving it around... i got really used to its parameters...

Yeah, parking my old car was a no-brainer after 7 years of driving....I probably even could have parallel parked with a blindfold on (well, with cones as the test subjects, of course). Hehe.

And after two weeks I'm still adjusting to the blind spots a bit too....particularly b/c the rear right pillar is RIGHT where my back seat window was on my old Mazda...so that's the first place I look when I do a head check. I like the mirrors though, and am starting to get a bit more use to them.

The left side FRONT pillar is a bit annoying too....I noticed that when I was driving on the Parkway last weekend (very curvy, mountainous roads). It's not bad under "normal" driving conditions, but when I was taking hard left turns I couldn't see where I was turning b/c the thing blocked my view. I sorta' had to tilt my neck a bit to see a bit in front of me.

It's nothing REALLY terrible....will just take a bit longer to adjust to I guess...

basilisk4

· #12 · Aug 13, 2004

Originally posted by phammerz@Aug 12 2004, 10:11 PM
I'm glad I'm not the only one, like for some reason with the tC i cant even approach the curb , like im either 2 inches too far or like right next to the curb..., its depressing, it makes me feel soo much less of a man not being able to park next to a curb, any other guys can't park? hahahaaha

You laugh, but I have the hardest time parking this car if I try to back in...My girlfriend and I both have 2-door coupes, and I park on the left side, so I have to back in or else (1) I don't have enough room to get out, and (2) the cars are really close together in the middle.

One thing I've noticed is that the curvature of the sides of the tC make it really hard to tell where the side of the car is. I haven't really internalized yet where the car sticks out the farthest on the sides, so I'm always uneasy when I'm backing up.

Having driven Corollas for eight years, which have an almost entirely straight up-and-down side, the way the tC flares out on the side makes things difficult for me.

Oh, and the tC does have enormous blindspots. That's not unusual for a coupe, though; actually, based on my somewhat limited experience, the tC's blindspots are definitely smaller than many other coupes. My girlfriend's 2003 Acura RSX has enormous blindspots along the sides.

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QSJ Ed

· #13 · Aug 13, 2004

I don't have too many visibility problems with the tC, but when I'm backing into "my" spot at work, I usually look around to make sure no one's watching... then I pop my door open and lean out to make sure I don't back into the curb. Oh well.

PwCTax

· #14 · Aug 13, 2004

I agree with everything that has been said here. I'm getting the hang of things after two weeks of driving my car. I use my mirrors a lot so the blindspot isn't a big issue for me anymore.

As for parallel parking, I aim my side mirrors down so as to not scratch up my rims on the curb. Sometimes, even then, I'm farther from the curb then I like. backing up hasn't been a huge problem since i figure it's about a little over a foot from where the back of the mirror ends. But I'm having a little trouble with the front end. Just when I think I've pulled up into the parking space far enough, I still have like two feet to go.

phammerz

Discussion Starter · #15 · Aug 13, 2004

lol, I'm NOT ALONE! haha, yah its quite depressing i coudlnt even get the right distance from the curb on level ground, at school, its like that but a steep hill, all parallel parking -___-, i vow never to parallel park there since i have a stick -___-

imasaf

· #16 · Aug 13, 2004

Originally posted by LoopyLady_1@Aug 13 2004, 06:18 AM
The left side FRONT pillar is a bit annoying too....I noticed that when I was driving on the Parkway last weekend (very curvy, mountainous roads). It's not bad under "normal" driving conditions, but when I was taking hard left turns I couldn't see where I was turning b/c the thing blocked my view. I sorta' had to tilt my neck a bit to see a bit in front of me.

It's nothing REALLY terrible....will just take a bit longer to adjust to I guess...

I agree about the front pillars... both of them block my view to some extent. The left one blocks my view of the turn signal at the intersection... I usually have to duck or move my head to the side to see the light. The right one blocks my view of the go and stop signal at the on ramp to the freeway...

But I'm not complaining... cause I love my tC with all its flaws!! lol

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dmarcoot

· #17 · Aug 13, 2004

Yes, the blind spots are bad, i didn't notice to after i bought car. i did test with my dad, a grown adult can standing behind you and you cant see them. you HAVE to use mirrors and practice watching cars pass you to see where they are in relation to you and the blind spot. even then i have am surprised by how often car passes me which i never saw coming. this is bothersome to me because my last boxy sedan had great visibility and i could feel confident i could change lanes in an instant and not worry.

i find when at parking lots im am looking for spots i can park and not have to back out when i leave. it would be just to easy to miss a pedestrian while backing out.

front pillars aren't as bad, but they can obstruct view.

i also haven't gotten a feel for dimension of car while parallel parking, but i seem to be doing ok as i do manage to park next to curb, the tight cornering helps a lot. i figure in time this will be easier.

whosthatrussian

· #18 · Aug 13, 2004

I currently drive a 2000 jeep cherokee, which as most of you know is a big box, but the visibility on that thing is like no other. Since there is a lot of 90 degree angles, and very little curves, I know the EXACT parameters of the car, where the front ends, and the back ends exactly where the rear window is, so it's so easy to park and drive in that thing. The mpg sucks, but hey. When i took a test drive with the tC, and was backing into the dealer spot, the sales guy had to say like "ok, a little further now...cut the wheel to the left a little....a little more......good, perfect!". I felt like a friggin 16 year old in driver's ed. I think i'll get used to it once i have the car for a few weeks. But until then I'm gonna enjoy driving my box.

LoopyLady_1

· #19 · Aug 13, 2004

2

Originally posted by whosthatrussian@Aug 13 2004, 01:38 PM
When i took a test drive with the tC, and was backing into the dealer spot, the sales guy had to say like "ok, a little further now...cut the wheel to the left a little....a little more......good, perfect!". I felt like a friggin 16 year old in driver's ed.

ROFL!!!! OK, sorry had to laugh....

I just think it's funny b/c it sounds like we're all going through something similar to that.

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whosthatrussian

· #20 · Aug 13, 2004

hehe, yeah, my orientation was TOTALLY off. When i was backing up, I had no idea how close I was to the other cars at the dealership, and it would definitely bad if I made a "mistake".

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