Restricted Wing Mirror View Drivers Side -Heavy Rain

[Hertsman]

Want to highlight this to see if others have experienced it. Takes a distinct set of circumstance to show it self.

On Motorway at motorway limits of 65-70 MPH in heavy rain and literally could not see the outside lane in wing mirror as the water off the windscreen and presume rain heading into, was washing along the drivers side window (reminiscent of a windscreen prior to wipers being activated)

This was not happening on the near side mirror so the rain being washed away by the wipers towards offside was you imagine the excess that created this issue.

When raised eased off this phenomenon dissipated as well and view to wing mirror went back to normal. But in that time, did not feel confident to change lane.

This is not something ever experienced in another car.

On inspection of the outside when stopped, there is a lip that protrudes and by looking at it, you would think forces excess water up and over the roof, but from what describing it obviously does not.

Like said, it takes a certain set of circumstances, so imagine many not experienced it, but thread is to highlight as something to be aware of and then capture any that experience similar.

 

[CosmicBlue]

I have also noticed this, the door mirrors are not the finest bit of design going - I wonder if the Audi Q3 versions are any better, I need a trip to a dealer to look...

 

[Hertsman]

It was not the actual wing mirrors which as you say, have their own quirks, but are livable with, it was the wash of water across the window that obscured the mirror, as if the windscreen wipers were pushing the excess to the right and the airflow then just pushed it across the drivers window to such an extent it obscures the view to the mirror in much same way as cannot see out of windscreen prior to putting on wipers.

It was very heavy rain so the circumstance was exceptional, but been in heavy rain in lots of cars and always been able to see wing mirror.

 

[CosmicBlue]

Sorry to be pedantic but 'wing mirrors' are mounted on the front wings - and they were not terribly useful, this is the age of the door mirror...

 

[SRGTD]

Sorry to be pedantic but 'wing mirrors' are mounted on the front wings - and they were not terriby useful, this is the age of the door mirror...

Thank goodness I’m not the only member of the door mirror club! It’s one of my pet annoyances when door mirrors are referred to as wing mirrors .

I agree, wing mirrors weren’t very useful. I don’t think they were ever fitted to new cars on the factory production line; if they were fitted to a new car, the dealer would do it or you could get a pair from the likes of Halfords and fit them yourself if you were brave enough to drill holes through the front wings of your new car! . The image in the mirror glass was very small and of limited value IMHO, and if they got knocked out of position (seemed to happen quite often - pedestrians walking past when parked up and brushing against them ), adjusting them involved a spanner and usually quite a few trips from the driver’s seat and back to the mirrors before they were in the ‘right’ position again.

 

[Tell]

All very retro though. Flappy indicator that would get stuck out and you'd push it back down for Dad through the rear windows . Mind you I'd stand on the back seat with my head out of the roof.

Hmm you could call them side mirrors. Left and right.

Reckon they probably don't spend enough time testing between developments these days. Just in time designs.

 

[Hertsman]

Sorry to be pedantic but 'wing mirrors' are mounted on the front wings - and they were not terriby useful, this is the age of the door mirror...

Fair cop and its obviously lazy talk as my first car was a 1969 MK 1 Escort and that was door mirrors, next was an RS2000 and that was door mirrors also, so never owned car with wing mirrors ever

 

[CosmicBlue]

If you were very unlucky in a 69 Mk 1 Escort, you'd have an 1100 and drum brakes at the front...scary. I did my apprenticeship in a Ford dealer, the memory of feeling it wasn't going to stop...the memory has never faded!

 

[Momochi]

Sorry guys, are we talking about side mirrors fitted above the front wheels instead of directly to the front doors?

They still have such design in new vehicles nowadays, for example, Toyota Comfort taxi in Japan and Hong Kong.

 

[SRGTD]

Sorry guys, are we talking about side mirrors fitted above the front wheels instead of directly to the front doors?

They still have such design in new vehicles nowadays, for example, Toyota Comfort taxi in Japan and Hong Kong.


View attachment 52944

Yes, they’re the modern day version of what would’ve traditionally seen on many cars in the UK in the 1970’s and earlier. I dare say the wing mirrors on modern Japanese taxis for the Asian market will have the convenience of electrical adjustment and heating.

Back in the 1970’s and earlier, wing mirrors on UK cars were much less ‘substantial’ than the Japanese taxi type - if you do an internet search on some classic car sites or classic car insurance sites, you’ll probably find some pictures; try searching on ‘lancaster insurance 1960's British estate cars’, and there’s some there.

 

[Hertsman]

If you were very unlucky in a 69 Mk 1 Escort, you'd have an 1100 and drum brakes at the front...scary. I did my apprenticeship in a Ford dealer, the memory of feeling it wasn't going to stop...the memory has never faded!

That MK 1 Escort was white, had Rostyle Wheels, Sports Steering Wheel, Sony Stereo (I think as had a few variants in early cars) speakers in rear parcel shelf, and an upgraded center console! Also had CB Rig and magnetic ariel on the boot, which of course made me look really cool as drove around, or in todays money, a right wally

As you state not the best car to drive, but your first is always special.

Progressed straight to a MK 2 RS2000 which think was about 8 years old when i got it, great car, and then went really left field, got offered a mint 1980 MG Midget in yellow with the black bumpers, it was summer at time and jumped straight in, and that was fun for a while but always regretted that change.

Then there was quite a hiatus as got given company Astra Van, so free driving, and only when married and kids came did have own car again, which were quite dutiful (dull) Sierra Saloon, Orion, Bora before got into something with a bit more performance in an Audi S3 which led to VW R and GTI as personals.

If was to pin me to my favourite car owned it would be the RS2000 as even though it was past its best when i had it, it was still what Bodie and Doyle ran around in, and that's good enough for me

 

[SRGTD]

That MK 1 Escort was white, had Rostyle Wheels, Sports Steering Wheel, Sony Stereo (I think as had a few variants in early cars) speakers in rear parcel shelf, and an upgraded center console! Also had CB Rig and magnetic ariel on the boot, which of course made me look really cool as drove around, or in todays money, a right wally

As you state not the best car to drive, but your first is always special.

Progressed straight to a MK 2 RS2000 which think was about 8 years old when i got it, great car, and then went really left field, got offered a mint 1980 MG Midget in yellow with the black bumpers, it was summer at time and jumped straight in, and that was fun for a while but always regretted that change.

Then there was quite a hiatus as got given company Astra Van, so free driving, and only when married and kids came did have own car again, which were quite dutiful (dull) Sierra Saloon, Orion, Bora before got into something with a bit more performance in an Audi S3 which led to VW R and GTI as personals.

If was to pin me to my favourite car owned it would be the RS2000 as even though it was past its best when i had it, it was still what Bodie and Doyle ran around in, and that's good enough for me

I had a work colleague who was a fast Ford fanatic in the 1970’s and beyond, and he owned fast Fords up until he sadly passed away after being diagnosed with a terminal illness in the 1990’s. I always lusted after the mk2 RS2000’s that he owned; 2 in Daytona Yellow and the last one in Diamond White and all were the Custom version which I remember had the open style head restraints with ‘fishnet’ inserts on the Recaro seats. His last car was a Sierra Saphire Cosworth 4x4 saloon which I also really liked. I think it was his association with performance Fords that initially got me interested in hot hatches.

IMHO Ford knew how to build a good fast and great handling car of that era………..

Apologies for continuing to develop the ‘off topic’ theme of this discussion topic ; looking back at the first post, it started out as topic about restricted rearward visibility in the driver’s door mirror in heavy rain .