Customer Reviews

CIPA 34000 11.75" Panoramic Rearview Clip-On"

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

I have been using a wide angle/panoramic rearview mirror in my car for about 10 years. The CIPA is my most recent, and I've had it for about 6 years. Let me say this flat out, there IS a learning curve in getting used to this type of mirror.

It is true that the objects appear differently, perhaps smaller. It is true that it is not exactly like the image in a standard rearview mirror. The image in the CIPA is clearer, brighter, vivid colors, finer detail, and less glare. The difference is drastic enough to be surprising at first. Like everything else, you get used to it.

What did people do before rearview mirrors? Early cars had ONE mirror - the left one. People turned around and looked behind them. When reversing in neighborhood streets, they got out of the car, checked behind the car, looked around, got back in, and continued backing up. That is THE most accurate way to know what is behind the car, PERIOD.

However, that takes considerably more time. To save time, a flat rearview mirror that doesn't AT ALL cover the entire rear view is used. It's great for saving time and "real time" viewing. Still, there are major blind spots, and it doesn't have anywhere near a quality as looking with your own eyes - not even close. One does get used to using the mirror, eventually. There is a a learning curve in using these new fangled mirror devices.

After getting out and looking for yourself, the next best solution to rear viewing is probably a video screen with a camera in the back that shows a larger more accurate view. Ideally, it would be right where the rearview mirror is, and it now can show the entire rear view. Those with vehicles that don't have this, this panoramic mirror is the third best option. Standard rearviews are fourth - followed by last place "not looking at all."

I can now do everything and more than I could with my standard mirror. This mirror has saved me twice for sure with onramps and idiots that love to drive in my blindspot as their lane ends. It goes with me in rental cars. I own three of them because I won't drive without one - it's just not as safe.

The product quality is decent. It's getting heated up and cooled down constantly. I chose to reglue two of the rubber holders back in place after a couple of years simply because the heat was causing the glue to become tacky and the rubber holders to VERY slowly slide off. I don't have a single scratch in the glass part, and I clean the mirror regularly with eyeglass wipes.

This is an excellent rearview mirror attachment. It broadens your spectrum of vision, it allows you to see out of the side windows in the back seat, well the third seat anyway. It helps for highway driving and general visibility. As an unexpected bonus, when a truck or van glares its lights into your rearview on the highway this actually seems to prevent the glare a little. I think it has to do with the fact that this mirror is convex so the light doesn't get directed completely into your eyes.
There are several problems with this item, none of which were deal-breakers for me. First, it's not the item depicted in the Amazon.com images (as many other reviewers have stated). The item you get doesn't have clean gray lines, rather it is black on the edges and has more rounded corners, though it isn't oval. Second, you cannot back up as well using this device. As I mentioned above this mirror is convex and it tends to distort slightly. This is good for reducing glare, but it makes it a bit difficult to follow a straight curb in your mirror. Technically you should be looking over your shoulder anyway. Other than those two issues, I think it's totally worthwhile and I plan on buying another one.

Updated: 06/22/2010

It's been a while since I checked in on this product but I believe they have an accurate picture up now. Still a good product.

Thanks.

This mirror provides the extra visibility I was looking for but it makes everything look a little smaller than in the OEM rear-view. That's not a big deal, but it also gives me a headache to look at it. It's like looking through prescription glasses that don't belong to you.

This mirror does increase the area of rear view and helps people who have limited mobility of the neck. It is very easy to clip on regular rear view mirror.

But it does not fit the rear view mirror if you have a GM car with Onstar controls on the rear view mirror. Other disadvantage is glare at night, so much that you cannot use it at night.

Fits the 10.5" existing mirror in a 2010 Prius, probably also earlier models -- a hatchback sedan with rear visibility restrictions. The 11.75" clip on is short enough not to interfere with the swinging visors. The convexity allows seeing out the back side windows not previously possible, and sees somewhat farther out to the side than the outside mirrors do (though this cannot eliminate the blind spot close to the car completely, a factor in station wagons, hatchbacks etc. from the bulky rear pillar). The convexity and maybe some shading on it makes headlights in the rear not as disturbing to forward vision as the flat mirror, so the dimming or flipping aspect is no longer needed it seems. Night vision behind is better without the dimming and this mirror allows that without too much glare from headlights behind -- a surprising result. Convenience in itself not having to flip the daytime/night-time mirror position.
Clips are very tight on this car's mirror, fully extended, so install carefully not stressing the glue plate stuck to the windshield. You might even remove the mirror from it's mounting plate, if that is possible (not so practical on electrically fitted mirrors with cables etc., complicated mount).
[on mirrors with control switches on them, some have observed it helps to rotate those to move the switches to the top -- but not good with map lights mounted in the mirror]

I ordered this mirror in 2008 and it was great until it broke. We liked it enough to replace it with the same mirror. Unfortunately they "just don't make them like they used to". Within one day of installing this mirror the glue holding the mirror melted. The mirror fell out of the housing and glue dripped on my car seat and console. I'm not sure if this glue is ever going to come off.

Pay attention to recent reviews that represent the opinions of the currently manufactured mirror. Ignore older reviews since they are for a mirror that was of different construction. To put it bluntly, this mirror is a cheap pos.

Hopefully Amazon removes this item soon as this seems to be a common complaint.

You have been warned.

makes me feel cross-eyed when looking into it. so much so that were it not so cheap i'd return it. you might consider one of the more expensive ones instead. maybe they have better optics.

I owned this for two weeks. In the second week in Houston heat I noticed some glue squeezing out the bottom, I wasn't worried and didn't mind it because it still what it was supposed to do. I mostly park in a garage, but for 5 hours that one day I had parked it outside. The glass fell out of the holder, and glue melted all over my car. Made a huge mess, and the glass fell right out. I want to return it, but I'm having trouble with that as well.

I've purchased this mirror for my 2010 Prius for a coast to coast road trip we are about to take. I was initially very happy with the mirror. It provides almost a 180 degree view of the rear. This is accomplished by using a convex mirror which as others have stated takes a while to get used to because of the distortion of the view. The mirror fits over my existing one perfectly, and you can simply slide (clip) it on and off as needed.

However, the reason for my 3 star review has nothing to do with the functionality of the mirror. My gripe is with the glue they have used to attached the glass(plastic?) part of the mirror to the its housing. The glue simply melted off the mirror onto the center console a week or so after the installation. Luckily, the same quality that makes the glue come off real easy from the back off the mirror, also made it very easy to remove it off the console. I was able to simply scrape it off using my finger nail without any residue.

I will also post some photos for you to see the mirror (and the glue) in action!

READ THE REVIEWS BEFORE YOU BUY THIS THING! Just like others have said, I bought two of these and within 4 days of using it in my cars, the glue melted in the sun under 85 degrees weather! I would return these mirrors but i threw away the boxes already so too bad, lesson learned.