[condor27596]

I think Mazda is not related to Ford at this time. That skyactive redesign is great. I get 40 mpg in a 3800 pound car. More than the Mini Cooper I had and even more than my CRX.

[stormtech]

I know that one all too well. It took me a while to find a dealer in the US that carried them. I ordered my nokian tires from tiresbyweb, which is the online portion of a michigan store called Tire Factory. I had a hard time choosing between the hakkapelitta 8's (studless version/winter tire) and the hakkapelitta wr g3's (all season). I went with the wrg3's because I didn't want to have to buy a set of summer tires on top of that. There was no way I was dealing with studded tires (hakkapelitta 8 has a studded option).

Thanks for the website! I see they have a few AT (all terrain) tires in the size I need for my truck.

[Auzzie-Phoenix]

I currently drive a 2010 Ford Fusion SE, kadajawi. no lcd at all, fortunately. when looking at cars prior to buying this one, I looked at these models: fiesta, focus, fusion. None of the focus models I test drove or sat in were as cramped as that '15 focus se hatch with sync. If ford doesn't offer the fusion where you are, think of it as the ford contour's replacement, slightly smaller than a ford taurus. it's a 4100 lb FWD sedan.

[kadajawi]

I currently drive a 2010 Ford Fusion SE, kadajawi. no lcd at all, fortunately. when looking at cars prior to buying this one, I looked at these models: fiesta, focus, fusion. None of the focus models I test drove or sat in were as cramped as that '15 focus se hatch with sync. If ford doesn't offer the fusion where you are, think of it as the ford contour's replacement, slightly smaller than a ford taurus. it's a 4100 lb FWD sedan.

In Europe we only have the Mondeo... your new Fusion. Contour and Taurus aren't sold where I am either, though I think somewhere in the 70s perhaps...? But I have an idea of those cars thanks to Wikipedia and TV shows. Wasn't the 2010 Fusion based on a Mazda, or something like that?

The LCD gives valuable information such as current fuel consumption, sat nav quick info (no need to look at the big screen), etc. When I drive a car that has it I quite like it, though my car does without. That being said, what I really want is a full LCD (well, preferably OLED) display instead of traditional gauges. Much more flexible, nicer graphics, ... just look at what Volvo did with theirs for example. Even the Fiat 500 is available with such a display, though my dream car (Seat Leon) isn't. I'm also worried that I'm too spoilt by the French, that the Seat will be too stiff and uncomfortable. Fortunately my Citroen is still going quite strong.

Ford is quite famous for being a bit cramped. Not sure why, really, those things should have enough space. They are more talking about rear passenger space though I believe.

[Auzzie-Phoenix]

In Europe we only have the Mondeo... your new Fusion. Contour and Taurus aren't sold where I am either, though I think somewhere in the 70s perhaps...? But I have an idea of those cars thanks to Wikipedia and TV shows. Wasn't the 2010 Fusion based on a Mazda, or something like that?

The LCD gives valuable information such as current fuel consumption, sat nav quick info (no need to look at the big screen), etc. When I drive a car that has it I quite like it, though my car does without. That being said, what I really want is a full LCD (well, preferably OLED) display instead of traditional gauges. Much more flexible, nicer graphics, ... just look at what Volvo did with theirs for example. Even the Fiat 500 is available with such a display, though my dream car (Seat Leon) isn't. I'm also worried that I'm too spoilt by the French, that the Seat will be too stiff and uncomfortable. Fortunately my Citroen is still going quite strong.

Ford is quite famous for being a bit cramped. Not sure why, really, those things should have enough space. They are more talking about rear passenger space though I believe.

My ford cars have been anything but cramped.... though I did feel cramped when I test drove the fiesta back in 2013. The ones that really get the bad reputation for being cramped are their subcompact cars (fiesta/escort, etc...). Here in the states we've had a few re-badged fiestas that were considered small and underpowered (festiva, aspire, etc...). The earlier escorts were the smaller models. When 1997 rolled around and ford introduced the new redesigns on many of their vehicles they added a lot of interior space. I had a '97 Escort LX that I thought was rather roomy for a subcompact sedan. The larger sedans have quite a bit of passenger room, even for taller passengers, and with me being short at 5' 5" tall that just gives the rear passenger THAT much more space.

In regards to mazda styling, there have been instances in the past of ford sharing styling with mazda, but I haven't noticed any apparent instances of this in almost a decade. I'm not certain if ford no longer contracts with mazda for engine design, but I do believe they do that in-house now as well ever since '97. The Fusion SE model I have uses a 2.5L Inline 4 engine. Has some nice power to it, but the weak point is in the automatic transmission.... If you try to do quick acceleration, the transmission/torque converter is set up to even it out for smooth shifting and fuel economy so the response is rather soft when you attempt hard acceleration. Small changes in acceleration have more pick up to them (hitting gas after apex of corner for instance). But at this point the subject of cars should be another thread as we're getting de-railed from the main topic of tires. If I didn't have all of my fishing gear taking up my passenger space of my car right now, I'd take a few photos.

[Auzzie-Phoenix]

Wooo.... another NINETY-BLEEPING-EIGHT dollars, noticing that they adjusted my cars mirrors, cranked the A/C to waste my gas, had me waiting for 2.5 hrs for them to work on my vehicle and then low-valueing the 2 tires to give me back of the 4, I have got my new tires on. Told them to give me the 2 better of the 4 tires back as spares... they gave me the 2 worse ones (they're probably going to resell the other 2 and just made off with the $2.50 disposal fee by giving me the worn tires back).

** Plus now I'm going to have to spend the next week and a half getting my mirrors properly adjusted again to compensate for blind spots.

[lightbox]

The first crop of Mazda 3 was the result of collaborative design (Ford Focus, Volvo S40, Mazda 3). By 2010 Ford sold off Volvo and most of its shares of Mazda. The current crop of Mazda 3 (the Skyactiv stuff) is Mazda's own, but they owe a lot to Ford, I think, and there's still an active working relationship with Ford. The 3 was so successful when it launched in 2004 that it ousted the Honda Civic from top spot, a place that it held comfortably for years.

@Auzzie-Phoenix, it's a 10 second job to adjust mirrors. I have to do it all the time since I also drive my wife's car a lot. I've been using this technique for years since I read about it on an insurance company's website. It works very well to eliminate the blind spots.

You Tube

You Tube

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Last edited by lightbox; 07-10-2015 at 08:10 AM.

[ChrisPlatt]

I've been using this technique for years since I read about it on an insurance company's website.
It works very well to eliminate the blind spots.

Ever have someone brush against your mirror when parked?
Happens to me all the time.

The fatal flaw with your method is that most cars have a single driver,
and those drivers will not check and adjust their mirrors every time before driving off.
If you can't see a bit of your own car in the mirror from normal driving position
you may find out the hard way that your mirrors were out of adjustment.

What's wrong with the conventional method - turning your head to check your blind spot?
There's no danger in turning your head for a split second - unless you are speeding or tailgating.
And frankly I'd rather turn my head than crane my neck and bang my head into the window...

Chris

[silver_dragon]

I think Mazda is not related to Ford at this time. That skyactive redesign is great. I get 40 mpg in a 3800 pound car. More than the Mini Cooper I had and even more than my CRX.

If I'm not mistaken in Australia they certainly are. Both the Mazda BT50 and Ford Ranger 'utes' are able to be purchased, mechanically they are close enough to identical cars

[condor27596]

Or you can just get $2 blind spot mirrors for both sides....😋

[lightbox]

@ChrisPlatt I think you misunderstand. You don't need to lean or crane your neck to use the mirrors. You only do that when you're setting them. Please try before you bash this method. It's the only proper way to set mirrors. You don't need to be able to see the side of your car. You DO need to eliminate blindspots, and to be able to see a car that's coming up from behind you all the way until it's beside you and in your perpihery. Turning your head while driving is not correct.

@condor27596 those dome mirrors are just compensating for improper setup. Cars don't have blind spots if set up properly. Very large vehicles, like tractor trailors, do require dome mirrors. That's why they have them and cars don't

Sorry guys, I disagree.

[kadajawi]

@ChrisPlatt I think you misunderstand. You don't need to lean or crane your neck to use the mirrors. You only do that when you're setting them. Please try before you bash this method. It's the only proper way to set mirrors. You don't need to be able to see the side of your car. You DO need to eliminate blindspots, and to be able to see a car that's coming up from behind you all the way until it's beside you and in your perpihery. Turning your head while driving is not correct.

@condor27596 those dome mirrors are just compensating for improper setup. Cars don't have blind spots if set up properly. Very large vehicles, like tractor trailors, do require dome mirrors. That's why they have them and cars don't

Sorry guys, I disagree.

Seeing a part of the car is very helpful though. That's what my driving instructor taught me, and I have been using ever since.

Turning the head is the correct way. It is compulsory in Germany, if you forget it even once during your driving test you have failed. They are very strict on that.

And when it comes to driving, I'm sorry, but Germany >> USA. Germans are very aware of their surroundings when driving. And they turn their head. There's a reason why Germany is a safer country to drive in than the US, despite the higher density of cars on roads and the much higher speeds driven and speed differences found on the highway (some will drive 80 (lorries), some will drive 250-300, and everything else in between with the majority doing roughly 140). If turning the head works there, and has to be done there, then it works and is the correct thing to do.

[condor27596]

I was taught way back to turn the head. I realize it is changed recently. I always set my mirrors to see part of the car unt I discovered those blind spot mirrors. I always also remembered an interview with a formula one driver. At those speeds no way can I see a car. I'm just looking for a color change in the mirror.

You have to start with the end result. I don't want to crash. Turning the head no big deal to me since I don't tailgate. But I get those mirrors it makes driving a lot easier.

[lightbox]

Turning the head is the correct way. It is compulsory in Germany, if you forget it even once during your driving test you have failed. They are very strict on that.

Interesting; what's the reasoning behind that?

And when it comes to driving, I'm sorry, but Germany >> USA. Germans are very aware of their surroundings when driving. And they turn their head. There's a reason why Germany is a safer country to drive in than the US, despite the higher density of cars on roads and the much higher speeds driven and speed differences found on the highway (some will drive 80 (lorries), some will drive 250-300, and everything else in between with the majority doing roughly 140). If turning the head works there, and has to be done there, then it works and is the correct thing to do.

This doesn't need to be a point of national pride. I'm not entertaining your conclusion that Germany >> USA in anything, nor will I be judged by whatever image of the USA you have. Frankly, you don't know me.

I'm interested in techniques for mirror adjustment, and would love to know why turning your head and seeing the side of your own car are prescribed methods. My pride doesn't preclude me from recognizing that there might be something I can learn here if a convincing argument can be made. My experience with the mirror setting method that I recommended is that it works. I know, from using it, that I can see whatever is behind or beside me at all times.

Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recommends it.

How To: Adjust Your Mirrors to Avoid Blind Spots - Feature - Car and Driver

[lightbox]

I was taught way back to turn the head. I realize it is changed recently. I always set my mirrors to see part of the car unt I discovered those blind spot mirrors. I always also remembered an interview with a formula one driver. At those speeds no way can I see a car. I'm just looking for a color change in the mirror.

You have to start with the end result. I don't want to crash. Turning the head no big deal to me since I don't tailgate. But I get those mirrors it makes driving a lot easier.

I can't speak to very high-speed driving. My experiences are limited to public road speeds, so you may have a point. I can't say. Probably for race car drivers it has a lot to do with vibration why objects in the mirror are blurred.

Glad the dome mirrors work for you. (honestly)

Personally, I've had a lot of close calls when I used to turn my head. You might not be tailgating, but you never know when someone in traffic will decide to slam on their brakes or someone in the next lane decides to cut you off that second when you're not looking. To borrow an example from driver's ed, a child could decide to run out in front of you from between two parked cars.