I think I learned this in a magazine, possibly Consumer Reports, a few years ago...

This is how you should adjust your side mirrors on your car (Vette or other):

For the left side mirror...
.....While sitting in the driver's seat, lean your head against the left window and adjust the left mirror so that you can just about see the side of your car all the way to the right of the mirror.

For the right side mirror...
....While sitting in the driver's seat, lean your head toward the center of the car (about the same distance you leaned over to put your head on the left window) and adjust the right mirror so that you can just about see the side of your car all the way to the left of the mirror.

Now, here is the test to see if you've done it correctly...
....While on a highway (or any road with at least 2 lanes in the direction you are traveling), test the left-side mirror by staying in the right lane... allow someone in the left lane to pass you... when the car is pretty far behind you, you should see that car in your rear-view mirror. As the car gets closer to passing you, you should lose sight of it in the rear-view mirror... just as that is happening, you should be gaining sight of it in the left-side mirror... as it continues to pass you, you should lose sight of it in the left-side mirror... just as that happens, you should be gaining sight of it in your peripheral vision.

The same test should work for the right-side mirror when you allow someone to pass you on the right.

If this isn't what you see, then you can make some fine adjustments of the mirror(s) so that it works the way I've described.

Bascially, at all times you should be able to see a car as it approches and passes you without ever having to turn your head. It should be in your rear-view, side-view or Peripheral vision!

I thinks this reads a lot more complicated than it acutally is.

You may be very used to turning your head, if you have set the mirrors correctly, you won't have to turn your head, but you'll have to train yourself to trust the mirrors.

Give it a try, and you'll never go back to the way you set your mirrors now!

|UPDATED|8/22/2002 11:05:39 AM|/UPDATED|

Hmmm... I'll have to see how close mine are.

I can't do the test in the vette though because nobody passes me. Well, I guess I'll just do it in reverse order. I'll see a car from the front, quickly see it in my side view mirror, then watch it disappear in my rearview.

|UPDATED|8/22/2002 1:09:48 PM|/UPDATED|

I've added "blind-spot" mirrors to the outside mirrors on all of my vehicles for the past 20 years. The first ones were the ol' Fish-eye circular ones, but now I use the smaller rectangular type. With those installed I never lose sight of any vehicle that is near me.

|UPDATED|8/27/2002 11:52:20 PM|/UPDATED|

I have to agree with Dale about being passed. Remember when driving a Vette that " objects in the mirrors are smaller than they appear " !

I wish that I could set my mirrors. Mine keep working loose. I am hoping to tighten them up this winter or replace them. I dont know whether it is the little vibration at high speed or the wind at high speed that keeps moving them from where I set them.

I dunno Rick, maybe you are sooo happy while driving that Vette that your eyes are dancing with delight and the mirrors are rock solid.