Side mirrors

[JanGeo]

Both my mirrors fold against the door side glass and since they are probably in a air pocket coming off the windshield they probably don't affect the mpg much - I also think a hood mirror just in front of the windshield where the bubble of air dams up against the windshield would work for a rear view mirror and you would be looking out the windshield to see it which means it would be clear in the rain and the snow. Better yet a tiny camera on a small aero boom where the mirror would normally go connected to a TV screen inside the door or on the dash would be cool too.

You would think that a clear boat tail on the mirrors would work maybe on the outside edges and be able to see through them as well. Or a long thin mirror right against the window of the door but only a couple of inches wide would work as a wind deflector and mirror at the same time.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by ZugyNA

Pointed front...wider body...narrowing down to a blunt mirror surface (partial boat tail).

Modern cars' side mirrors are generally highly optimized for aerodynamics.

A roughly hemispherical shape on the forward facing side is most efficient, rather than pointed.

Widening the body would permit some tapering/boat tailing, but the increase in frontal area cancels out the gain from streamlining.

[cfg83]

Hello -

I think you could make yourself very safe with a 17" Snap-On Panoramic Mirror for about $20 :

http://www.ioportracing.com/Merchant...egory_Code=MCI

On my car, I already use the big fisheye mirrors for trucks on the outer part of my mirror (about 3" in diameter). Currently I use the fisheye mirror to see what's in my blind spot, and then I use what's left of the flat part to figure out how close it is. I think that with the 17" panoramic, I could get away with a fisheye on the interior of the car.

Here is a website that has *very* expensive racing mirrors :

http://www.rdent.com/pages/mirror.html

Maybe 20 years ago I bought the Sebring Mirror style. It was a cheapo from JCWhitney, but it has the flush aerodynamic shape that I wanted (I am going to look for it!!!!). I'll bet that a mirror like this could help you comply with the legal requirement, reduce your drag, *and* look cool at the same time! Here is an example mounting (that's not me) :



Question : How about the "ultimate" fisheye? I mirrored ball on a stalk? What are the aerodynamics of a sphere?

CarloSW2

[ZugyNA]

Rear camera:

http://www.heartlandamerica.com/brow...E&BC=S&DL=SEH1

[MetroMPG]

re: Wikipedia's drag entry:

Originally Posted by theclencher

although I did find an error on it; VW Bug is listed having Cd .38 when it is really .48. Simple typo or are there more inaccuracies?

There are more.

I corrected the Audi A2's Cd last week. It was listed at .24. Audi's own corporate site claims .25

[MetroMPG]

Neat camera link, Zugy. Possibly necessary if I ever install a full boat tail

[JanGeo]

Stuck my hand out the window the other day at about 35 mph and there is some really fast moving air going past the mirror area. One of the nice things about outside remote mirrors is the ability to rotate them down and inwards to see the rear tire while driving - may prove helpful in rain to see what the air flow is doing back there. Note that the law states there has to be a mirror not that it has to be outside. Whatever happend to the roof rear view mirror systems using that dead air space right above the windshield?

[cfg83]

Originally Posted by ZugyNA

Rear camera:

http://www.heartlandamerica.com/brow...E&BC=S&DL=SEH1

Would it cover the blind spot? Here's another one that is 7" wide versus 2.5" wide (it costs more too, but a geeks is selling it to me, sooooo) :

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?inv...EW-LCD&cpc=SCH

And here's another (no screen, though)!!!!

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?inv...257-WB&cat=CON

I am not ready to pay the extra price for a camera and I question their reliability.

Also, having at least one driver's side view mirror reduces the cop-hastle factor in California.

CarloSW2

[ZugyNA]

The Geek one has power cables and would be more reliable I'm sure.

[JV-Tuga]

Originally Posted by ZugyNA

Rear camera:

http://www.heartlandamerica.com/brow...E&BC=S&DL=SEH1

That is a backup/reverse camera. This is the best setup I've ever seen for replacing all mirrors: http://www.carterrv.com/crv/crviis.d...rt=SCL-TRIVIEW

The side view cameras look like they're tiny but I bet you can even mount the whole setup inside for less drag.