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I'm not sure he said anything about the feature being bad. There is, however, no need for the feature. What's wrong with it being optional for those who don't want it or need it?
It is optional in most cars, or it's simply built into the standard price of the car. If it comes standard with the feature and you don't like it, ignore it.
It is optional in most cars, or it's simply built into the standard price of the car. If it comes standard with the feature and you don't like it, ignore it.
I can turn off both my blind spot monitoring and my lane departure warning. Most cars are set up that way.
Not only was there the regular blind spot detector.
But I was going down the street and it started *flashing*.
To tell me that while there was no one in my blind spot, it had judged the car in the next lane FAR behind me as going too fast for me to change lanes bc of his approach speed. Indeed...the other car (Porsche) that had been way, way back FLEW by me.
I have it and specifically bought the package with it when we got our new 16 Prius.
What I specifically find useful is the blind spot mirror also detects pedestrians and bicyclists. Since I live in a very urban area, this feature is particularly amazing. And yes, I still turn my head.
And it also senses cars approaching in the next lane so if I have my blinker on, it will flash so I know not to change lanes as the vehicle approaching in the next lane makes it unsafe.
Thanks. I wondered about all of those things. I also wondered how it would handle things like two turning lanes.
The BSM in my 2012 Mazda CX-9 (which was actually introduced in the 2008 model and relatively unchanged) rarely has an issue with the two turning lanes situation. The last two times that it has happened (out of maybe four times in almost four years), I've noticed that the car beside me was closer to the right edge of the lane and not in the center. Perhaps it triggered my BSM alarm because their vehicles were too close to mine? But considering that it has only sounded the alarm erroneously about once per year, it's really not a bother.
Newer cars, even the 2013 version of my car, have the most recent technology and filter out almost all of the 'false' warnings. And if you do get a false warning while waiting to turn, you have the option of turning the BSM off temporarily or just not using your turn signal...we don't need no stinkin' turn signals!
Actually, it amazes me how many people change lanes without signaling. I always use my signals (except when I visit my cousin in Los Angeles, when I have to allow my evil alter ego to have control in order to survive).
Are other features included with the BSM in the vehicle you're considering?
My wife's 2013 Mazda has this feature and the alarm goes off constantly. It's not malfunctioning but anything in your blind spot will set it off. By anything I mean curbs, signs, bushes, trees or anything that may be alongside a turn lane. If you are changing lanes and there happens to be a car in the next lane over it will detect it and scare the crap out of you for no reason. Maybe they have improved this feature over the last few years but it's something I certainly wouldn't pay for. A slight glance over your shoulder or better side mirrors will tell you all you need to know about your blind spot and your drawers will stay dry.
During my talks with dealers, one offered me a package that had, among other things, blind spot radar. Apparently when you turn a blinker on, if there is something in the blind spot, the mirror flashes and there is an audible alarm.
Any opinions on this? Is this really worthwhile? Just trying to understand the selling point.
wife has it on her cx-9. it is really nice. there is a little orange light indicator on the side mirror and if you turn your signal on and there is a vehicle in the blind spot, the car will beep.
My wife's 2013 Mazda has this feature and the alarm goes off constantly. It's not malfunctioning but anything in your blind spot will set it off. By anything I mean curbs, signs, bushes, trees or anything that may be alongside a turn lane. If you are changing lanes and there happens to be a car in the next lane over it will detect it and scare the crap out of you for no reason. Maybe they have improved this feature over the last few years but it's something I certainly wouldn't pay for. A slight glance over your shoulder or better side mirrors will tell you all you need to know about your blind spot and your drawers will stay dry.
I have a 2015 Hyundai Sonata and I never get false positives. And there is no audible signal unless you activate the turn signal and there is a vehicle within the zone of detection. I don't consider it a replacement for visually checking for traffic, but rather one more layer of safety.
For the most part, I ignore it. There are 3 cars in my driveway, and 2 do not have it. I don't want to find myself relying on it and then switch over to the other cars that don't have it and forgot to check my blind spot.
For the most part, if I change lanes, I physically look. I don't even depend on the mirrors.
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More annoyance than help
