So I've had my '06 IIP for two months and totally love it. Just one thing is bothering me--the position of the rear view mirror. To me the mirror seems like it's too far down from the top of the windshield. I'm six feet tall, and I feel like the mirror blocks a lot of prime viewing space. I've almost not seen people crossing in crosswalks from my right side because the mirror blocks that part of my view. My question is, does anyone else have this issue? Is it possible to re-mount the mirror a few inches up closer to the headliner? I noticed that there are little raised black dots on the inside of the windshild above the mirror. Could these be scraped off and the mirror mounted there? What do you guys think?

 

i have that same problem but i got used to it

 

My boyfriend had the same problem in my car, which was his main gripe over the whole thing. He's 6 foot in the xA and I'm only 5'2".

We never remounted it as it was my primary vehicle and I was just fine with it.

I wonder if you got the mirror from the dealer with the maplights and compass if it would be just as low or if they would have it placed higher.

 

The xA mirror has some amount of vertical adjustability. Have you tried seeing how far up you can get it? I'm 6'0 also, and adjusted upwards I can get it into an OK position.

My next problem was that the rear window brake light was then blocking my distant view out the rear... so I put on the spoiler, which has LED brakelights so the rear view brake light gets removed. Now I'm much happier about my rear view

 

Grant, you're the man! I got back in my car to check the mirror vertical ajustability, and sure enough, there is a second pivot point that allows the mirror to be moved up and out of the way. Problem solved! For anyone else with this issue, just look closely at the mirror and you'll figure it out. Sorry little Scion. I can't stay mad at you.

 

I heard that it could move up or down a little in a review somewhere and I even took a look at it and couldn't get it to move at all.

Congratulations.

 

it takes some effort. . . it's the pivot that's near the point where the mirror meets the windshield glass. It DOES move. I actually moved it downwards to mount my radar detector above it.

 

It bothers me, too. I have the same problem in almost every car I've ever driven. I'm 6'4" and what is sometimes called "tall in the saddle," meaning I'm long-wasted. When I look at the rear view mirror, it's not blocking my view of overhead traffic signals or signs. It's blocking my view of other cars. That's how low it is for me. Once I was stopped at an intersection, and suddenly an entire city bus pulled out from behind my rear view mirror. That's how much of the road it's blocking.

I've inspected the mirror thoroughly, and the only pivot point is at the top of the mirror frame. The arm then goes up where it bends and is screwed into the ceiling. There is no way to adjust it for height. If anyone else has a more adjustable mirror in their Scion/Toyota/Lexus, please let me know exactly what year and model your car is. It might fit in my xB.

I'd especially like to hear from xB owners. Perhaps different production runs received slightly different parts. I know from living in Michigan that automobile manufacturers often use several suppliers, even for the exact same part. So who knows, there could be several slightly different rear view mirrors out there that will solve my problem.

If I can't find a suitable replacement, I'll have to have some fabricating done to replace the arm. I welcome suggestions. I prefer not to use a mirror that attaches to the glass, as that just leaves me with another problem to solve: covering the old screw holes. Though I kinda like the emblem someone fabricated to cover their old holes, it's not really my style. Also, I'm a city guy in an apartment without a garage or tools, and have no way to create such a replacement piece.

This is my first brand new car and I promised myself I would not suffer as I have with all my other cars. Almost everything else is my xB is so perfect, I can't bear living with this glaring defect. I look forward to hearing about other mirrors you folks recommend. Thanks.

Judge

 

Mine's a 2006 xA. Maybe one thing to do is to head down to a local Scion dealer and take a look at various mirrors installed in all the xA's and xB's on the lot (new & used versions), to see if there's differences.

 

I turned my mirror upside down. It makes it a little bit higher.

 

Don't like the low mirror either, even with it shifted all the way up. I may try inverting it.

I've gotten used to sitting with the seatback a bit more reclined. This makes the dash and other controls harder to reach, so I simply slide the seat forward and sit with knees bent instead. I'm 5-10 and my wife is 5-3, and the only adjustment needed when changing drivers is the outside mirrors and the seatback. Even the inner mirror works for us just by flipping the day/night lever.

Must be my soulmate. (I mean my wife, not just the Scion.)

 

I'm short (5'7") and I've noticed the mirror blocks my view as well. i don't see any reason you can't take that mirror off completely though. as long as you have both side mirrors you're good to go.

 

Soon I will be taking off the rear view mirror and I am going to get the rear view monitor. I have to mount the monitor were the light is. The monitor is only going to be used for the rearview camera. Right now i'm looking for a rearview camera that I can put inside the car where the 3rd brake light is.

 

thats an awesome idea.

 

Ya it will be pretty sweet. I have only seen one other Scion that had a monitor for the rearview camera, and it was in an xB.

I am doing some major installs to the interior.