Coupe visibility: whaaaaa! whaaaaa!

[ron10]

i have never had an issue with visibility with this car.i have never understood all the people saying they can't see out of it.i don't even have sensors on mine.the only thing you have to be careful of,is pulling up to a curb.to me it is like driving a vette.

[TOMS1SS]

The two biggest problems with visability I've noticed in a year of ownership are judging distance backing straight out and judging where the front of the car is when I park. Bar none my Camaro has been the most visability challenged car I've ever owned, but its not impossible to use. I chalk it up to the reason I bought the car in the first place, it looks awesome. I owned a Mustang previously and the worst thing about owning one is that it doesn't stand out from the crowd. I'm willing to make the sacrafice of parking in the back of the lot and away from people because its a small price to pay for having an awesome car. Now that the Camaro has been retired from daily driving duty I find myself enjoying its attributes even more.

[1Camaro2SS]

Originally Posted by SoTHavok

not complaining at all, but the visibility is a sacrifice of having a dam good looking car

I agree! you want good visibility then get a Honda civic

[Bond]

Other than the massive rearview mirror... I'm good!

[Camaro68]

Originally Posted by SSLarry

What amazes me about the whole visibility thing in the coupe is that any journalist who complains comes across as saying the car is undrivable. All of us on this forum know this is simply not true. After an hour of driving around, any apprehension (if you had any to begin with) starts to wear off. I think the timidness of backing up when you can only rely on mirrors and sensors scares some folks (not me), and that helps create the overall impression of poor outward visibility.

A road course probably presents issues. I know the A pillar is huge and blocks apex judgement, but it's something the majority of us never do, or if we do, are willing to forgive this flaw for the few times we take it to a track. A-pillars are a non-issue for straight line 1/8 and 1/4 stuff.

Is this the best car to review over the course of an hour or two? No way. Is it a great car to actually own, you betcha!

Well said

[Mellish50]

idunno, I've had a few times living in fredricton where there is an awkward merge that will feel like playing russian roulette in any vehicle. In the Camaro its worse. Gotta take a leap of faith and hope nothing bad happens. Also had a couple times where another vehicle would be in the pillars blind spot completely, those are fun times. (probably would be easier if I didn't like to sit close)

Truly though you adjust to the sights and it gets easier

[edog]

I think most of these post are dead on. People need to know how to adjust their mirrors accurately. It makes a big difference when you can see, and you remember to use your mirrors. Trust in your abilities.

http://www.linquist.net/motorsports/tech/mirrors/

[Camaro8810]

Like someone has already said. The first time you step into this beauty you notice it. Then you adjust for it. Plain and simple.

[Sturmer]

People have just used to drive aquariums. Suddenly when they sit in car that has limited vertical sight, they **** their pants. (Driving a car you need very little vertical sight)
Its just feeling that they are loosing visibility, but reality they are not.

[SSSoon]

There are also huge benefits that others don't get. For instance, consider the short highway on-ramp (or, back when I lived in Pittsburgh, the on-ramp to the highway that has a stop sign at the end of it - seriously). In my little four-banger Pontiac, making those merges was sometimes a hair raising experience. Foot to the floor, neck craning, praying you got up to speed fast enough to not cut someone off as you try to get into the flow of traffic. That can be really dangerous if you mis-judge the speed of oncoming traffic. Now, in my SS, I can easily go from slow roll (or even a dead stop) to highway speeds fast enough that I can safely merge into whatever opening I choose. From a safety perspective, the benefits for me far outweigh the (fairly minor) changes in driving habits that are required to drive the Camaro well.

[TOMS1SS]

Actually I forgot to mention some of the benefits of the styling, especially the short windsheild. Given how low the windsheild is you rarely if ever need to use sunglasses. I've also noticed here in the summer that the Camaro is much cooler than cars I've given in the past, I would imagine because it doesn't have a big ass green house incubating the interior of the car.

[Nutbutt]

The backing up was an issue for awhile, mine was delivered in 09 and didn't have the backup sensors. Once I replace the spoiler with the Havoc spoiler NO issue. looking out the back window you know exactly where the end of the car is ! Like everyone else has said it just take a little while to get use too. I bet thats what the guy parking next to me in the camry said the other day as he backed right into the light pole ! Must have been that big A pillar ??

[mhood]

I would for sure rather stop two feet short than one inch long.

[Wicamaro]

I've had my 1LT for a week, and with the low roof line, I have had to tilt my head a bit to see a high-hanging stop light recently. That was just one time, and I've since adjusted the seat to accommodate it. You do have to factor in the fat rear view mirror, which can obscure cars to your right at a 4 way stop, but like anything, you'll adjust and move on.