Reversing in an Exige s technique

[PiB]

I'm starting to give the exige s, s 240 and s 260 serious consideration. I've gotten pretty good at setting up my mirrors on my current car to expose my blind spots and also with movement of my head see directly behind me. However, for more close quarter backing up, parking, etc. I was wondering if it's possible or, even done by some of you, to do the reversing a la countach clarkson style sitting on the door sill with the door open?

[Pesky]

Ask a dealer to let you have a try!

[21TonyK]

Reverse sensors are a pretty common addon or go all the way with a rear view camera. Cheaper still are multivex mirrors which a lot of people go for.

[F.C.]

I've just fitted Multivex mirrors to mine despite having a rear view camera.
I can't bring myslf to experiment with mounting the camera through one of the reversing light lenses
One thing with the Multivex mirrors is they fit Where they touch and are supplied with hideously thick 3M mounting tabs that would make them stick out too much.
I cut the mounting tabs off and siliconed them into place, I've still to go around the entire periphery of the mirror with black silicone and finish it off properly otherwise it will look ste.
The mirrors do give a much better rear view though.
F.C.

[PiB]

I've researched the camera route and it just didn't seem totally helpful - particularly at night. From what i can tell the convex mirrors are the way to go but I'm still curious about reversing with the door open sitting on the sill when even a camera wouldn't help.

How exactly does one adjust the mirrors? Do you just move them with your hand - the mirror itself or the whole wing/mirror?

I don't think any dealer will let me reverse a car. I could ask them about the idea.

[noodleman]

You may struggle to reach the clutch sat on the sill.

[21TonyK]

I think strugle is an understantement. I'd say impossible unless you have 6' legs with double jointed hips, knees and ankles. All of which is unlikely.

[vxc]

where do you feed the cable of the camera to the screen at the front?

[F.C.]

vxc said:

where do you feed the cable of the camera to the screen at the front?

I fed cable for oil pressure, oil temperature and the camera through the centre consul and out of the hole that the gear link age cables go through the camera cable had a little further to go and involves removing the exhaust and heat shielding (I was changing the exhaust anyway)and through a grommet hole in the boot.
F.C.

[F.C.]

PiB said:

I've researched the camera route and it just didn't seem totally helpful - particularly at night. From what i can tell the convex mirrors are the way to go but I'm still curious about reversing with the door open sitting on the sill when even a camera wouldn't help.

How exactly does one adjust the mirrors? Do you just move them with your hand - the mirror itself or the whole wing/mirror?

I don't think any dealer will let me reverse a car. I could ask them about the idea.

The camera is perfectly adequate in the dark for close objects as it has an IR array and photocell which changes the pic to b&w but on screen looks quite bright with good contrast, certainly good enough to reverse blind into a tight space.
F.C.

[bjc388]

21TonyK said:

I think strugle is an understantement. I'd say impossible unless you have 6' legs with double jointed hips, knees and ankles. All of which is unlikely.

+ 1 Unlike a normal car, the seat will be several inches below the side sill of the tub and the door aperture isn't exactly cavernous.

The mirrors sounds like a useful addition. The dealer fitted reversing sensors help to a degree and also might be worth considering.

Edited by bjc388 on Sunday 1st March 13:13

[mrdemon]

I had an exige 2 years and drove it forward seemed to work for me.

[Benmac]

Well I just keep a good eye on proceedings via the mirrors and take care. One extra thing is to wind down the window and stick your head out occasionally during the manoeuvre.

As it happens I just tried the sitting on the sill technique as I needed to put the car away and had just read this. I'm 5'11" and its simply impossible, not even maybe at a push, quite simply no way that you could do it and balance the pedals. Notwithstanding that there is also a key flaw to the plan that doesn't apply to Countachs. The doors!

[ACP]

You don't need cameras or sensors once you're used to using the side mirrors. It takes a bit of time and confidence, but you'll be surprised how much you can actually see just using the side mirrors.

[Silent1]

It's easy, i've reversed road trains in australia using just the side mirrors.

That's 1 A section and 2 B sections totalling 120' in length, 12 axles and 3 articulation points.

[LD1Racing]

Why do people worry so much about this? I removed the (defunct) rear view before I'd even left the showroom in mine, never once had a problem reversing or parking. People in vans/lorries do it everyday. I'm sure you'll get used to in in a matter of hours.

[Pesky]

LD1Racing said:

Why do people worry so much about this? I removed the (defunct) rear view before I'd even left the showroom in mine, never once had a problem reversing or parking. People in vans/lorries do it everyday. I'm sure you'll get used to in in a matter of hours.

Totally agree.

[LRdriver II]

Yea,
and you only need 2 of 3 mirrors to pass MOT, so thats not an excuse to not remove it

[TonyHetherington]

The first thign I did in my S was remove the rear view mirror - all I saw was my passenger and the intercooler!

Never had any problems reversing in 15 months of ownership - sometimes I'd get out to double check what was behind me, but with good preparation to reversing I think it was ok. Certainly not easy, but ok!

[TVRinBFG]

I got an Exige S this weekend, mirror already removed. No problems reversing it around the garage etc.