Looking for rear view mirror suggestions

[Hoof Hearted]

I want to replace my stock review mirror... ...what is your preference and why: Wink-type panel mirrors or the large convex mirror?

TIA,

[jimbbski]

I have a Wink 4 panel and I like it fine. I just had to remake one of the mounting brackets to allow more adjustment then the stock ones. Since each car is different as to driver postion, roll bar placement, etc. the stock mounts may work for you, or not.
I put mine all the way on the pass. side to keep it out of my direct line of sight which required more offset to the panel then the stock mounts allowed.

[spawpoet]

I want to replace my stock review mirror... ...what is your preference and why: Wink-type panel mirrors or the large convex mirror?

TIA,


My brother and I went with the convex mirror. I always found the wink to be too busy for my tastes. The convex seems to cover at least the same viewing area, and isn't quite as confusing on a quick glance.

[Dave Zaslow]

I've used this for a long time. It is curved but not convex, so much less distortion.

http://pitstopusa.com/i-5938221-five-star-wide-angle-racing-mirror-curved.html

DZ

[Matt93SE]

I've got a Longacre 17" mirror and I hate it. My rear window still has some ancient purple tint on it, and combined with the really convex mirror, I can't tell how close anything is behind me. I can see there's a blob back there, but I can't tell how far back it is.
http://pitstopusa.com/i-5059997-longacre-17-mirror-kit-2-5-1-2-brackets-for-1-3-4-roll-bar.html


In our LeMons car, we have one of these clipped over the factory mirror, and I like it a LOT better:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Razo-RG22-Flat-Wide-Angle-Rear-View-Mirror-300mm-11-8-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem53e5716f4aQQitemZ36033 1702090QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccesso ries

and it's cheap! :)

[boywonder]

+1 for the wink mirror. Love mine.

[mossaidis]

just bought the ebay version THX!

[seckerich]

Makes a big difference how far forward it is mounted. Most aftermarket mirrors are too close to the driver and cut down on field of view.

[Knestis]

I have something like that 5-star thing linked-to above, plus a small curved formula-style mirror on the driver's door. I can see LITERALLY 180* behind me, including everything that's not already within in my peripheral vision.

K

EDIT - you can see both in this shot...

http://www.it2.evaluand.com/gti/images/mk3.2/donefront.jpg

[Matt93SE]

Was that formula style mirror expensive?
I want to get a different one than the "Dumbo ears" that are on my 240SX right now, but all of the ones I see are in the $250+ range. that's way too much for a stinking mirror!!

My big problem is visibility to my left. my longacre mirror covers from driver's head all the way to outside the pass side door. fine and dandy. but I can't tell where anything is on my left side. with HANS device, I can't turn my head far enough to the side to know exactly where a guy is in the blind spot. he could be a lane over and 30' behind me, or could be a really quiet car at my rear wheel. don't know until I feel the crunch. no thanks.

I used a stick-on convex spot mirror on the driver side mirror, but that thing sucks. now I just have a tiny moving dot somehere on the mirror and still can't tell where the car is.
I was hoping to find a curved (not convex) mirror like the Razo linked above that I could either fit into the stock housing, or find a smaller mirror with a curved lens on it.

any ideas?

[Ed Funk]

We use the wink inside. Replace the stock factory outside mirrors (Honda mirrors are really heavy) with 6" truck convex mirrors that are mounted to the A pillar down tubes...excellent coverage, out of the wind, stable, cheap at the NAPA store.

[RedMisted]

I use a 4-panel wink. Tried the convex and HATED it. Everything was screwy and depth perception was compromised. No way in hell was I gonna race, or even track with it. People who prefer convex mirrors must have astigmatism that gets corrected from use of such.

[Greg Amy]

People who prefer convex mirrors must have astigmatism that gets corrected from use of such.
:happy204:

I like the convex, hated the Wink. I use the mirrors not for spatial placement but for situational awareness; I already have a pretty good idea where everybody is, I just use the mirror to verify it.

Sounds like this is one of those "try 'em both on, see what you like" kinda deals.

GA

[Knestis]

Was that formula style mirror expensive? ...

App. $64 from Pegasus

http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/group.asp?GroupID=MIRRORSPAF1

And they weigh next to nothing.

K

EDIT - No, I did NOT spend the $300+ to get the carbon one

[RacerBill]

I started out with a Wink panel style mirror, but did not get much chance to use it, as the mirrors kept falling out (it came with the car and was VERY old). My crew chief got me a 17" Longacre curved, (don't think it was convex), and I have been very happy with it. I am thinking about adding the NASCAR style buttons that clamp onto the roll cage in order to get some additional coverage.

My suggestion would be to go to the at-the-track shop and borrow one of each so you can hold them up and get an idea of what feels good to you.

[JLawton]

Hate the Wink, use the Longacre curved. Only problem is that my big fat head blocks the cars that are a little bit back on a straight and have to use the side mirrors for that. But that's due to positioning and cage design.

[CRallo]

Hate the Wink, use the Longacre curved. Only problem is that my big fat head blocks the cars that are a little bit back on a straight and have to use the side mirrors for that. But that's due to positioning and cage design.

And the aforementioned big fat head... :p

We inherited a wink which I initially hated, but my brain quickly learned how to decipher what I was seeing and I stopped getting crossed eyed every time I looked at it! lol it is "busy" but it is totally undistorted and if you mount it properly you can turn your side mirrors out so far your blind spots go away!

Matt, to accomplish this it may help to take your wink and move the right end of it rear ward...

[Tristan Smith]

I use a combination of both. The WINK for rear window viewing and the convex as side mirrors. I like the WINK for rear viewing because it doesn't mess with depth perception, and the convex to get a wide angle of any car that may be on either side of me. Also, looking through the rear window is like looking through a gun slit. So any kind of convex rearview mirror would mostly just show you the interior.

http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/6866/img1699a.jpg

[DavidM]

The wink mirrors give me a headache whenever I look at them in people's cars. I use one of the bigger Longacre "standard" mirrors and the stock side mirrors. I adjust the side mirrors way out to minimize/eliminate blind spots. This is how I adjust my street car mirrors as well. You can get pretty much 180 degree visibility.

David

[Hoof Hearted]

I just bought some used Spa formula mirrors w/ flat glass ($80) to replace the "air-brake" stock door-side mirrors and I have one trucker round convex mirror attached to the passenger-side rollbar upright. It looks like people either hate or love both the wink or longacre windshield. I have a pretty good traffic awareness during qualifying & races but would like a better than stock option for those Friday test days when we run with GT-1 Corvettes (WHOA! Where did he come from dive-bomb moments). I think I'll try the cheaper wink first and "see" how it goes...

[Steven McWilliams Jr]

I put a Longacre in mine. I think I'll put my stock mirror back on and buy the clip on mirror from Western Auto for $10. I have the two mirrors from my FV I'm planning to replace the stock flags with. I have trucker convex mirrors stuck to my flags at this point, I don't like them. A car close by my rear fender looks like it's clearly behind me, but since I know where he is it isn't a big deal. But it's just one more thing to think about. I don't really use the rear view mirror too much, I got by fine in FV with only side mirrors, but it is nice to actually see who and how many cars are drafting you.
Steven

[Matt93SE]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I picked up one of those Spa mirrors for driver side since I had to buy a new helmet anyway.
I'll see how it goes after I get this one mounted and run with it and the Longacre. a Wink mirror is cheap and I'll try it next if I don't like the current combination.

[shwah]

I use a wide curved mirror from the local auto parts shop, and love it. I can see out the passenger side rear window, and all the way across the back. I use a spherical driver side to pick up anything on my side. Works great for me.

[Gregg]

I've been using the AllView for a few years in the CRX and am very pleased.
http://store.cdoc.com/images/products/display/allview.jpg
http://store.cdoc.com/allviewmirrorkit.aspx

It has the same field of view as the Longacre but is not convex and does not have all of the associated distorion. In addition, because the mounting brackets are adjustable and can be flush with the outside edge (as opposed to a few inches inboard of the edge on the Longacre)it's much easier to mount the mirror forward of the cage and closer to the windshield.

Attached is the my view to the rear. Due to the camcorder's wide angle lens you it appears distorted/convex, but the mirror is indeed flat.

[Hoof Hearted]

Thanks Greg... ...this is what I was looking for. Does it vibrate much?

[Gregg]

Not at all. You can look at some of the videos...

http://vimeo.com/racergregg

Skip the video from the Runoffs and the STU vids from the Glen (which were in another car), but any of the 2008-2010 ITA races will show you how steady it is.

[Knestis]

All View - THAT'S the one I use. It's super stable.

K

[Hoof Hearted]

Nice dirt work!
http://vimeo.com/2210713

Somtimes the dirt is more palatable then a fender bender...
http://www.improvedtouring.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28423

Gregg, I've ordered the one you posted... ...Chris Schaafsma will be happy knowing that I'll see him when he's about to lap me.

Thanks for the link!