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Question for those in the motor trade
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Raptor Mike
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I would say my van mirrors are a similar width to my car but are twice the hight so that you can see object that sick out higher up when reversing but also if you had car mirrors you may be able to see what's behind you but reversing into a parking space would be a nightmare. Basically you're higher up in a van so need bigger mirrors.
One other thing. On transporters, I have a t4, the offside mirror is smaller the the nearside which looks rubbish but is also really tight of vw
One other thing. On transporters, I have a t4, the offside mirror is smaller the the nearside which looks rubbish but is also really tight of vw
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OP
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My van (vauxhall combo) mirrors are the same size as car mirrors, well my car has rectangular mirrors which probably
do stick out further then the van.
I agree it does mean I can see the side of the van better, but it would help to be able to see the bottom edge of the
car too when parking sometimes
do stick out further then the van.
I agree it does mean I can see the side of the van better, but it would help to be able to see the bottom edge of the
car too when parking sometimes
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I have been in the motor trade for 26 years and you know what, never even thought about it! 
I would guess at a couple of things and its more why cars have theirs horizontal, than the other way round. Vans by their very nature are designed to carry stuff from A to B and a vertical mirror is the most practical for manoeuvres. Their design is not led by aerodynamics and fuel consumption, but the ability to lug loads, with the other two a distant second. A car, on the other hand, especially if you think about designs of the last 30 years, is designed with not only passenger comfort in mind, but fuel efficiency, and ergo aero design [easier to make those mirrors more aerodymanic & pretty when horizontal] and appealing looks also come into play. Also, you can see out of a car during reversing, etc, so a wider view for driving/over taking etc is probably more important. It is also possible that viewing angle played a role [as in, the height the driver is sat relative to the mirror], though that is less pertinent in the modern smaller car derived vans I guess, but could have been a feature in the bigger panel vans upwards.
of course, that could all be absolutely utter aberdeen angus faeces, it really is just a wild guess
I would guess at a couple of things and its more why cars have theirs horizontal, than the other way round. Vans by their very nature are designed to carry stuff from A to B and a vertical mirror is the most practical for manoeuvres. Their design is not led by aerodynamics and fuel consumption, but the ability to lug loads, with the other two a distant second. A car, on the other hand, especially if you think about designs of the last 30 years, is designed with not only passenger comfort in mind, but fuel efficiency, and ergo aero design [easier to make those mirrors more aerodymanic & pretty when horizontal] and appealing looks also come into play. Also, you can see out of a car during reversing, etc, so a wider view for driving/over taking etc is probably more important. It is also possible that viewing angle played a role [as in, the height the driver is sat relative to the mirror], though that is less pertinent in the modern smaller car derived vans I guess, but could have been a feature in the bigger panel vans upwards.
of course, that could all be absolutely utter aberdeen angus faeces, it really is just a wild guess
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That's because you don't use your mirrors ...................
Ehem...remember who has their hands by the ban hammer
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As above think estate car without windows size, not much taller really
