Hi

I quite like the manouvreability of the Roomster, but since it arrived, I was puzzled by my apparent inability to judge distance to obstacles at rear when looking at side mirrors, I'd stop way before parking sensors even made noise. This was strange to me as I normally drive a Superb, a car that's about 400mm longer at rear than the Roomster, yet I had more trouble driving into my own garage in a Roomster.

The mystery explained itself yesterday, when I received custom ordered passenger side aspheric wide angle mirror glass (need this for travel outside the UK, ordered same on Octavia and Superb years earlier), upon which I realized that BOTH external mirrors on my Roomster are convex from factory. And the best (or worst) part is that the car is apparently specified in that way, as the configuration printout from online configurator on Skoda's UK site does say left and right side convex mirrors .

Now convex mirror might be liked by some people as you can see more immediately next to the car, but it does distort perception of distance quite a bit, and as such should never be used for driver side mirror. If two identical mirors are used, they should be both aspheric wide angle, or both flat, never both convex. We are talking road safety here, the topic is on par with seabelts, airbags and brakes.

Anyway, I have now ordered also driver side aspheric wide angle mirror glass. I need both mirrors to be "driver's mirrors" as the car is to be driven in the UK and in mainland Europe, and both wide angle mirros make life much easier on motorways abroad (joining motorway, changing lanes, overtaking). But I feel that I am being squeezed out of 20+ quid for something that long used to be a standard feature (driver side aspheric wide angle mirror glass).

I checked a Scout Roomster at the dealership and it also had both convex mirrors. Is this a new trend? Or just a way to get rid of surplus convex mirrors ? In any case, even Skoda's own ETKA lists aspheric wide angle mirror glass for driver side (right in the UK, left in mainland Europe).

So check your mirrors, easy way to tell them apart is that wide angle one has a dotted line a third of width from the outer edge, this is where angle changes. Convex ones do not have that line.

Edited 18 May, 201214 yr by dieselV6

I think they all are now across the Skoda range, certainly my Superb MK2 had a convex mirror on both sides. I prefer it on both sides as it helps no end when overtaking / changing lane on the motorway.

How on earth does it help on motorway when you cannot judge the distance correctly? Especially when pulling out into fast lane in busy traffic?

I agree that having two of the same mirrors helps a lot compared to having a different mirror on each side, but these should be two wide angle mirrors, not convex. Skoda took a big step backwards when it comes to safety.

Edit: remember "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear" warning on passenger side mirrors that used to be printed on many cars?

Edited 18 May, 201214 yr by dieselV6

Replaced both convex mirrors now with wide angle ones, and surprise surprise, no more trouble getting into garage. Perhaps that's just me, but it seems that the twin convex mirror business does make a lot of (negative) difference when judging distance. I'll stick to aspheric wide-angle mirrors on my cars.

Mirror glass replacement (heated, electrically adjustable mirrors) is really simple, though you have to be gentle, unclip the black front cover, thin plastic wedge tool helps, then unclip top mirror cap, then unclip the mirror glass. The last bit best done with a couple of small screwdrivers, lifting catches one by one, otherwise you may overstrain the adjustment mechanism. Remember to reattach the heater wires. If you are checking if mirror heats up, you need engine working for heater to come on, it does not come on with key turned to ignition only.

Just checked mine, Drivers is wide angle, Passenger is convex. Assume from new (2010) 2010 used 1.6.

Joining the peage in the last couple of weeks the wife looked over her shoulder, except when she was driving, then I closed my eyes.

Edited 22 May, 201214 yr by bryanb

My driver's side has the line but I've never seen any benefit. I have a similar angle of vision both sides. All my previous cars have had convex on both sides except for a Fiat Punto that had a flat mirror on the driver's side and I soon replacedit with a convex one.

Convex mirrors distort perception of distance. While manufacturers undeniably will tend to force drivers into one kind of mirrors as it cuts their costs, it is not safe to use convex mirrors for judging distance. In town use it usually is no problem, in fact convex mirrors offer better view when parking, but on motorways when pulling out, changing lanes in busy traffic convex mirrors can cause a problem, and judging by the increasing number of people cutting into the fast lane, the dual convex mirrors may be a contributing factor.

Aspheric wide angle mirrors do not have the problem of distance perception, while still offering improved view. Too bad they must cost 5 pence more to make because of irregular shape...no self respecting beancounter will ever allow it, even at expense of safety of the muppets (ie us, the customers).

Convex mirrors distort perception of distance. While manufacturers undeniably will tend to force drivers into one kind of mirrors as it cuts their costs, it is not safe to use convex mirrors for judging distance. In town use it usually is no problem, in fact convex mirrors offer better view when parking, but on motorways when pulling out, changing lanes in busy traffic convex mirrors can cause a problem, and judging by the increasing number of people cutting into the fast lane, the dual convex mirrors may be a contributing factor.

Aspheric wide angle mirrors do not have the problem of distance perception, while still offering improved view. Too bad they must cost 5 pence more to make because of irregular shape...no self respecting beancounter will ever allow it, even at expense of safety of the muppets (ie us, the customers).

I still don't see the advantage, I have a very similar angle of vision on the left when in France as I do on the right in the UK using what I assume to be the aspheric wide angle mirror. as for judging distance, I use the flat centre mirror for that.

You must have a very wide centre mirror then, especially in 3 plus lane motorway full of traffic...I won't even comment on using interior mirror when the rear window is covered with coats etc.

Edited 29 May, 201214 yr by dieselV6