How bad new car visibility has gotten: E30 vs F30 edition

[2mAn]

One would have to be out of their Melon to want an F30.

This flew over most peoples heads... but not me sir... not me.


Bravo!

[DEV0 E30]

I miss driving an E30. The last one I drove I was selling a few years ago, transitioning from a Land Cruiser to an E30, back to a Land Cruiser is a strange feeling for sure. I've grown to like my luxobarge quite a bit.

Most new cars have horrible visibility, with the forever need to make cars more aggressive (and bigger) it makes the bathtub higher. Add in pedestrian safety and a host of other safety things it changes the greenhouse. Aerodynamics plays a huge part too, the E30 is a brick in comparison to new cars.

This. Especially sedans 2 or 4 door or anything in the last 10 years really.

Strong pillars and excellent visibility are not mutually exclusive.

Signed, former Volvo 240 owner.

This. I still remember the Top Gear episode when they dropped a Volvo body at the same height as another car. Obviously the pillars didn't completely flatten like the other car.

[varg]

Strong pillars and excellent visibility are not mutually exclusive.

Signed, former Volvo 240 owner.

[Aleman]

People who drive 2002's might say the same things about E30's. They had toothpick A & B pillars and taller side glass.

[Codym42]

I got so used to driving my e30 and being able so see everything. Every time I get in a newer vehicle, it amazes me that I can't see shit. It took me a while to get used to my e46 when I bought it. My 2002 Toyota 4Runner on the other hand has great visibility. There's so much glass so see out of.

It seems like every year the windows get smaller on newer cars. The 2010 and up Camaros have always been bad. And the newer crossovers/SUVs like the Toyota C-HR have increasingly smaller back windows. I'm not sure why that's necessary on a vehicle that sits higher up to begin with.

Will the government and car manufacturers ever realize that part of safety is being able to see your surroundings without having to hear a beep or see an LED light up on your side mirrors?

[roguetoaster]

One would have to be out of their Melon to want an F30.

[Davisjaime]

I also have a 1994 E30, I find the vision is good, no problem with it when driving

[nando]

1) spammers are annoying
2) man, the F30 is so ugly. It's like 90's GM or something (Buick Century?).
3) The visibility in my E90 is OK, but honestly, I get a little weirded out when I drive my E30 now - it's like driving in a glass bubble.

[IceWhite]

Now let’s compare rollover protection....was that even a test when the E30 was designed? Lol

Glad it wasn't, otherwise we would not be driving the E30s we have now.

[DÌEGØ]

Now let’s compare rollover protection....was that even a test when the E30 was designed? Lol

[Staszek]

Most new cars have horrible visibility, with the forever need to make cars more aggressive (and bigger) it makes the bathtub higher. Add in pedestrian safety and a host of other safety things it changes the greenhouse. Aerodynamics plays a huge part too, the E30 is a brick in comparison to new cars.

The F30 isn't too bad, jump into a new Camaro or Challenger, those are awful!

[Sh3rpak!ng]

Lol I was literally just complaining about this to my wife (who rolled her eyes). I've had a hyundai rental for a few days while doing some repairs on the daily. First drive onto the highway I nearly sideswiped someone because the blind spot/side visibility is so bad!!! I also now realized why all these new cars have the backup camera and lights/alarms when someone's in your blind spot - because without that stuff you can't see shit! It's unbelieveable. That and the crap throttle response - now I understand why when one of these cars merges in front of you it takes ages for them to accelerate - because the damn car takes 15s to think about what to do!

I mean I get it, some of this loss in visibility is due to thicker A-pillar etc which improves vehicle safety. But still. I find that to be no excuse for shitty mirror coverage and general rear visibility.

[Slybeanx]

I have an e92 as well as my e30, and the visibility is good. Sure - it doesn't have the super thin A-pillars of the e30, but it's not bad.

Generally though, the visibility out of modern cars is terrible. My wife's Hyundai is bad, and try driving a new Mazda 3 hatch! BMW still do a good job of balancing safety and visibility.

I agree with rogue toaster though - I nearly get mowed down all the time in either my e30 or e92 by giant SUVs where my roof is lower than the side window sill - especially if they have a lift kit.

First time driving my e30 after lowering and manual swap I almost got run off the road by a rape van who couldn't space themselves correctly in traffic.

[packratbimmer]

May as well, I'm already not ever going to be interest in buying one so it's not like having a god-awful interior with the worst interface known to mankind is going to ruin it for me.

Seriously, touch screens a control interface in cars is the worst idea to hit the car world since putting low profile tires on trucks.

I think we will be eventually just plugging a cord into the back of our heads - or will our brains be hooked up wirelessly?

[roguetoaster]

Thats a 3-series next to the E30??? I thought that was a 7-series... damn porkers

That's no 3-series, it's a space station..