Sorry, Stupid Q...Blind Spot in 2020

[Thai]

And there is actual data to support BSM being on cars:

Modern Safety Tech in Cars is Actually Preventing Accidents and Saving Lives, Studies Say - The Drive

Blind Spot Detection & Warning Cameras/Sensors Could Save Lives | auto connected car news

 

[wcjeep]

Had bsm on a previous vehicle. It was nice. Not a deal breaker for us. Stick on convex mirrors solved the problem. 4runner has good sight lines. It's also very reliable with great resale value.

 

[gSwift]

I think some insurances do give discounts for safety techs on cars.

I just came from a 2018 Yukon Denali with every single safety option available, yet my insurance premiums went up $20 a month on my 2020 TRDP

Not sure what makes the premiums higher on a 50k truck vs an 80k one. And this is Statefarm which also includes my home owners insurance and a multi car discount.

 

[Thai]

I just came from a 2018 Yukon Denali with every single safety option available, yet my insurance premiums went up $20 a month on my 2020 TRDP

Not sure what makes the premiums higher on a 50k truck vs an 80k one. And this is Statefarm which also includes my home owners insurance and a multi car discount.

Maybe because Denali parts & labor are cheaper since it is made here. 4runner parts are more expensive to get. Just my guess.

I went from Lexus GX ($65k) to LC ($85k)...and my insurance went down! I think that it is due to Lexus parts & labor being more expensive.

 

[repo]

And there is actual data to support BSM being on cars:

Modern Safety Tech in Cars is Actually Preventing Accidents and Saving Lives, Studies Say - The Drive

Blind Spot Detection & Warning Cameras/Sensors Could Save Lives | auto connected car news

"You could argue that passive safety tech doesn’t make drivers worse, but rather, makes drivers who are already bad at driving less dangerous to themselves and the people they’re sharing the road with—something we can all agree with."

It's kind of like those guns where the trigger wont work without a magazine inserted, I'm sure those save lives but so doesfollowing the 4 rules of gun safety.

Just be aware of your surroundings at all times, think ahead, expect the worst and dont allow yourself to be in a position where you dont have time/space to react. That's all there is to it. I know some cities where it's impossible you know bumper to bumper at 80 mph and if you do give yourself space someone just moves in to it, but doubt BSM is going to help with that. But IMO its a marketing gimmick crutch for bad drivers.

 

[Thai]

"You could argue that passive safety tech doesn’t make drivers worse, but rather, makes drivers who are already bad at driving less dangerous to themselves and the people they’re sharing the road with—something we can all agree with."

It's kind of like those guns where the trigger wont work without a magazine inserted, I'm sure those save lives but so doesfollowing the 4 rules of gun safety.

Just be aware of your surroundings at all times, think ahead, expect the worst and dont allow yourself to be in a position where you dont have time/space to react. That's all there is to it. I know some cities where it's impossible you know bumper to bumper at 80 mph and if you do give yourself space someone just moves in to it, but doubt BSM is going to help with that. But IMO its a marketing gimmick crutch for bad drivers.

But, remember, you can have cake AND eat it too. Ordering BSM does NOT mean that you have to ignore your old ways.

But yeah, BSM saves other lives too, not just driver's own.

Do you disconnect ABS fuse ?? Because that takes away from old ways of pumping the brakes by yourself. Do you disconnect VSC fuse too in daily driving because that may hinder in that rare situation where you need throttle around a corner?

BSM has no harm. Only good. Does not take anything away from you. Does NOT prevent you from adjusting your mirror appropriately.

 

[repo]

my other car is a volvo, and the cross traffic thing is really helpful backing out of a parking spot, and the other safety features are great, but i just can't see the appeal of the blind spot monitoring system. i can check a mirror just as quickly as checking for the little light (which i end up still checking the mirrors because i don't trust it).

i'm not anti safety features or anti-technology by any means, but specifically for blind spot monitoring i've never seen the appeal despite having had them on multiple cars i've owned. i mean the light is right on the mirror, you have to look at the mirror to see the light so just check your mirror. i just don't trust a little light to replace situational awareness, i don't get it.

Man I dont even trust the mirror I look over my shoulder all the time even on turns in case some biker is lane splitting or something like that. I got taught in the UK who are the biggest anal retentive safety freaks ever, I failed the test the first time. They drill that stuff in your head because there is so many cyclists and pedestrians over there. They make you do the test in a manual too.

 

[Thai]

Man I dont even trust the mirror I look over my shoulder all the time even on left turns in case some biker is lane splitting or something like that. I got taught in the UK who are the biggest anal retentive safety freaks ever, I failed the test the first time. They drill that stuff in your head because there is so many cyclists and congestion over there. They make you do the test in a manual too.

BTW, BSM detects bikes/cycles too.

 

[repo]

I just came from a 2018 Yukon Denali with every single safety option available, yet my insurance premiums went up $20 a month on my 2020 TRDP

Not sure what makes the premiums higher on a 50k truck vs an 80k one. And this is Statefarm which also includes my home owners insurance and a multi car discount.

Maybe it's the demographics of who drives them or the implied intent of owning one? I guess the TRDP is a "performance" off road truck. Kind of like the rates you get on a WRX vs an Impreza. I wonder if a Limited is cheaper to insure?

 

[Ripper238]

Thanks guys for the responses. Quite disappointed that 2020 4runner has everything EXCEPT that one thing.

But for us, BSM is a must. In my older vehicles, i would get those 2-3" convex mirrors and did well enough. But once you go BSM, going back to the convex mirrors or adjusting your mirrors out is just not as effective.

BSM allows for quick glance, esp in emergency lane change. BSM works when raining when rain would just make side mirrors hard to see. BSM works in fog. BSM works at sunrise/sunset when the sun shines directly into the side mirrors blinding you of side traffic. BSM works when there is a jackass in a lifted truck (who has not properly adjusted his aftermarket HIDs) behind you blinding you.

I specifically bought a 2019 because it didn't have those nanny systems like BSM. I thought the 2020 was going to come with BSM?

Mirrors work for a quick glance, and i can tell whats next to me and how fast its approaching or not. BSM wont do that, and in my last car i found BSM more distracting than anything else so i just ignored it.

I wont change lanes unless i can SEE whats next to me (mirror/window), BSM or no BSM. I have had too many BSM people cut me off. But it is an additional layer of awareness so i totally get why people want it.

 

[thennen]

You knew you were going to start something here

My question is this: has your wife driven cars without BSM, or only with it? If she’s never been without it, I can more easily understand her insistence on it. If, like most of us, she’s driven a bunch of vehicles without it, and has only had it in recent years, then I scratch my head a little when that’s the deal-breaker on a whole vehicle decision. Maybe that’s just me, cuz I have yet to own a vehicle with BSM. As others have said, I would view it as a supplement only, and never as something to substitute for visually identifying hazards. Just my thoughts.

 

[Thai]

You knew you were going to start something here

My question is this: has your wife driven cars without BSM, or only with it? If she’s never been without it, I can more easily understand her insistence on it. If, like most of us, she’s driven a bunch of vehicles without it, and has only had it in recent years, then I scratch my head a little when that’s the deal-breaker on a whole vehicle decision. Maybe that’s just me, cuz I have yet to own a vehicle with BSM. As others have said, I would view it as a supplement only, and never as something to substitute for visually identifying hazards. Just my thoughts.

Both of us have driven older cars without it. But since owning one with BSM, we think that it is far more useful than other electronic nannies. It is great to use in daily.

 

[thennen]

Yeah, I understand that it and a lot of other 'new tech' can be very useful. Maybe she waits a year to see if it's on the 2021s.

 

[drabon74]

Reviving old thread! Anyone actually install an aftermarket bsm system? I’m going to try one. Our Hyundai Palisade had this feature, very nice to have as a backup to properly positioned mirrors.

 

[Glenn Goodlett]

BMS would be a nice addition.

 

[pveezy]

I see blind spot monitor come up as a deal breaker relatively often in online comments about the 4Runner... can anyone explain to me why its a must have?

I just got my first car that actually has it a few months ago... I don't find it all that useful. Doesn't replace a shoulder check, I'd never rely on it, and even if I did, sometimes it comes on when there isn't even a car there... seems to pick up interference from somewhere, there are a few spots near my house where it always comes on for no reason, usually near a hospital or research lab in the area... in those cases it is more annoying than anything, since I do a shoulder check, see no car, start to change lanes and then notice the light is on and swerve, even though there isn't actually a car there.

 

[Thai]

I see blind spot monitor come up as a deal breaker relatively often in online comments about the 4Runner... can anyone explain to me why its a must have?

I just got my first car that actually has it a few months ago... I don't find it all that useful. Doesn't replace a shoulder check, I'd never rely on it, and even if I did, sometimes it comes on when there isn't even a car there (seems to pick up interference from somewhere, there are a few spots near my mouse where it always comes on for no reason, usually near a hospital or research lab in the area).

BSM allows for quick glance, esp in emergency lane change. BSM works during rain when rain would just make side mirrors hard to see. BSM works in fog. BSM works at sunrise/sunset when the sun shines directly into the side mirrors blinding you of side traffic. BSM works when there is a jackass in a lifted truck (who has not properly adjusted his aftermarket HIDs) behind you blinding you.

While shoulder check is good, it also takes a your attention away from traffic in front. BSM allows a quick glance and your attention is back to the front.

BSM may give false positive in rare spots/situations. But it will never give a false negative, which is what you fear.

Most BSM now includes cross-traffic warning which is very useful backing out of a parking spot and you have big cars blocking your sight of oncoming traffic. Yes, your rear view camera helps with that but most rear view sucks at extreme angles and won’t give you a clear picture of oncoming traffic (esp in rain).

And, of course, BSM has been shown to save lives. So there’s that.

 

[Ironhide]

I don't get all the rage about blind spot monitoring. I slap on bubble mirrors and get rid of the blind spots all together.