Re: The Heep Morphed in to a CX-5
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2018 4:17 am
Heated side mirrors are an option hence automakers package them in different ways. For example, Suzuki packaged heated side mirrors with AWD. Therefore, if you have AWD on your Kizashi regardless of trim, you have heated side mirrors. Thus, my FWD manual doesn't have heated mirrors. This makes a lot of sense and it's no wonder Suzuki did this given they are one of the better brands for all-weather vehicles. Mazda, not so much. They only recently got into AWD systems and I believe package heated side mirrors to upper level trims rather than drivetrain pairing like Suzuki did. So if this disappoints you, complain to Mazda, not the US government.
As for rear view cameras, Triggerhappy did have the correct answer. They were mandated because people were literally running over their own kids in their own driveways. These people then testified to Congress that had they had rear view cameras on their SUVs, they could have prevented running over little Sally.
Personally, I don't think they are necessary but they are helpful. The main reason being that cars are bigger than ever, even with smaller sedans. The "belt line" of cars have gone up and up making it harder to see out, especially out the rear. My '95 Impreza had a massive rear window that was mounted low. With a low trunk and large cabin design, visibility was great, even backwards. The Kizashi with a high mounted trunk has a much more restricted view out the back in comparison. Even with oversized side mirrors, it's harder to see the lower portions of the sides than my Impreza. However, crash safety was the biggest reason why cars got higher belt lines. It's ironic that we traded off visibility for side impact survivability.
Lastly, considering that people just about never correctly back-up (turn your head backwards while moving backwards), cameras just help reduce accidents. Next time you go into a large parking lot of a supermarket, mall, office, etc. just watch people back out. Very few look backwards as they do it and often rely on just the rear view or side view mirror. This is something the DMV driving manual tells you not to do. In comparison, a camera offers a wider range of view and shows parts lower than the mirrors and window can. This, without a doubt, has helped prevent accidents. While it's still better to look around by turning your head, the camera is better than just the mirrors.
As I constantly advocate, between government mandates and regulations vs. being subject to the dangers of ignorant, incompetent, and negligent people, I prefer the former. The former isn't going to get me killed or ruin my vehicle from a preventable accident vs. an idiot barely competent to drive yet behind the wheel of a 4000 lb vehicle. If he can be warned of dangerously low tire pressure or can see better backwards thanks to a camera, we are all arguably safer, including his own kids in his driveway.
As for rear view cameras, Triggerhappy did have the correct answer. They were mandated because people were literally running over their own kids in their own driveways. These people then testified to Congress that had they had rear view cameras on their SUVs, they could have prevented running over little Sally.
Personally, I don't think they are necessary but they are helpful. The main reason being that cars are bigger than ever, even with smaller sedans. The "belt line" of cars have gone up and up making it harder to see out, especially out the rear. My '95 Impreza had a massive rear window that was mounted low. With a low trunk and large cabin design, visibility was great, even backwards. The Kizashi with a high mounted trunk has a much more restricted view out the back in comparison. Even with oversized side mirrors, it's harder to see the lower portions of the sides than my Impreza. However, crash safety was the biggest reason why cars got higher belt lines. It's ironic that we traded off visibility for side impact survivability.
Lastly, considering that people just about never correctly back-up (turn your head backwards while moving backwards), cameras just help reduce accidents. Next time you go into a large parking lot of a supermarket, mall, office, etc. just watch people back out. Very few look backwards as they do it and often rely on just the rear view or side view mirror. This is something the DMV driving manual tells you not to do. In comparison, a camera offers a wider range of view and shows parts lower than the mirrors and window can. This, without a doubt, has helped prevent accidents. While it's still better to look around by turning your head, the camera is better than just the mirrors.
As I constantly advocate, between government mandates and regulations vs. being subject to the dangers of ignorant, incompetent, and negligent people, I prefer the former. The former isn't going to get me killed or ruin my vehicle from a preventable accident vs. an idiot barely competent to drive yet behind the wheel of a 4000 lb vehicle. If he can be warned of dangerously low tire pressure or can see better backwards thanks to a camera, we are all arguably safer, including his own kids in his driveway.