Golf R Observations and Questions

[Fab_R]

Well you never know when a spare set might come in handy!

Hahaha yes...

[DreamensioN]

Those of you with RVC's in the R (or GTi) - how does it go working at night? Does it go into a nightvision mode? Or are the reversing lights enough to light things up?

[AdamD]

Those of you with RVC's in the R (or GTi) - how does it go working at night? Does it go into a nightvision mode? Or are the reversing lights enough to light things up?

It's very sensitive in low light - much better than the naked eye. You can still see an image even with virtually no illumination from the car, in the dark. See this post from Maverick on my-gti.com for screenshots.

[weewilly]

Those of you with RVC's in the R (or GTi) - how does it go working at night? Does it go into a nightvision mode? Or are the reversing lights enough to light things up?

the R has a very dim reversing light on the left side that wouldn't light up its' own bumper.

[Corey_R]

But as has been stated... the RVC is much better than the human eye. Even IF the Golf had two reversing lights, the RVC is still better at night than a human would be.

As for the Golf only having a single light - it's not like it's the only car out there in this situation. There have been hundreds of models over the years with a single reversing light, including from Japanese manufacturers.

[weewilly]

But as has been stated... the RVC is much better than the human eye. Even IF the Golf had two reversing lights, the RVC is still better at night than a human would be.

As for the Golf only having a single light - it's not like it's the only car out there in this situation. There have been hundreds of models over the years with a single reversing light, including from Japanese manufacturers.

be that as it may... its still ****e. and as i've stated in the past, if you need a camera to reverse a 7 foot long car, with the rear bumper only 4 feet away, you shouldn't be behind the wheel.

[Corey_R]

It sounds as though you shouldn't be driving a car unless you have an RVC weewilly, because you have obvious spacial issues and have hugely underestimated the size of the car you're driving as 7 foot instead of 13.75ft

Also, it doesn't matter how good at parking you are, you can park better and safer with an RVC. Every magazine and motoring organisation who has done evalations of cars with RVC's compared to without have shown the benefits of this. If you can find an article which says you're better off without an RVC, please post the source!

As for my parking skills. As I said, I'm competent enough that friends sometimes ask me to reverse park their car because the spot is so tight they're not comfortable. I have also scared rear seat passengers on occassion due to reverse parking too quickly and they've yelled out "stop" because they thought I was going to hit a car or gutter etc, yet I haven't. I've never so much as even guttered a rear left alloy.

I too agree with all the articles and studies supporting RVCs. Because regardless of how skilled you are, the RVC allows you to see items which are simply not possible to see without one.

So how about you keep your uninformed comments of RVC usage to yourself

[dave_r]

be that as it may... its still ****e. and as i've stated in the past, if you need a camera to reverse a 7 foot long car, with the rear bumper only 4 feet away, you shouldn't be behind the wheel.

Despite Corey's rant, I like yours better and agree hehe. The only thing the aussie cars do right is bright reverse lights. If they're not overly bright how are others going to see that you are reversing in the dark. Just cause you have RVC doesn't help them see YOU!

[shakespeare]

Despite Corey's rant, I like yours better and agree hehe. The only thing the aussie cars do right is bright reverse lights. If they're not overly bright how are others going to see that you are reversing in the dark. Just cause you have RVC doesn't help them see YOU!

I found the reversing camera too distracting therefore I didn't option it! I do like the LH mirror dipping when you select reverse though and the beeping sensors are enough to warn if you're going to hit something, however a word of warning I almost touched a high curb with the exhaust tip recently, and the beeps didn't alert me to this something to watch for! Also from a safety point of view, I have children and pets and I always check that they are safely away from the car before reversing, which sometimes is a better measure than relying on the camera, I also take the reverse out/in of driveways carparks etc cautiously as you never know what will jump out!

Dave, we could have a truck style reversing beep, or maybe a recording being played "Warning, warning red hot exhaust tips approaching, move now or be branded!"

[Corey_R]

however a word of warning I almost touched a high curb with the exhaust tip recently, and the beeps didn't alert me to this something to watch for!

Correct... perfect example of why the RVC is a perfect additional reference.

[weewilly]

Correct... perfect example of why the RVC is a perfect additional reference.

dude, you gotta b on VW's books, there is no other explanation.

[Corey_R]

weewilly, do you have x-ray vision?

Like seriously, I personally do not understand where you are coming from.
It doesn't matter HOW big or small a car is. Humans cannot see through metal - full stop.

As I've said before, this is why every study has shown the benefit of RVC's. When you look out the back of a Golf, you have large C Pillars, you have a high window line, and you've also got 2 rather large headrests plus the centre headrests. Unless you are superman, the RVC has a benefit to everyone.

It's got nothing to do with whether you can park or not. You claiming that there is no benefit is just plain silly...

[AdamD]

dude, you gotta b on VW's books, there is no other explanation.

You can add just about everyone else who has an RVC to that list! It'd be the first option I'd pony up for if I was ordering again.

[shakespeare]

I found the reversing camera too distracting therefore I didn't option it! I do like the LH mirror dipping when you select reverse though and the beeping sensors are enough to warn if you're going to hit something, however a word of warning I almost touched a high curb with the exhaust tip recently, and the beeps didn't alert me to this something to watch for! Also from a safety point of view, I have children and pets and I always check that they are safely away from the car before reversing, which sometimes is a better measure than relying on the camera, I also take the reverse out/in of driveways carparks etc cautiously as you never know what will jump out!

Dave, we could have a truck style reversing beep, or maybe a recording being played "Warning, warning red hot exhaust tips approaching, move now or be branded!"

Correct... perfect example of why the RVC is a perfect additional reference.

You can add just about everyone else who has an RVC to that list! It'd be the first option I'd pony up for if I was ordering again.

Requoting my own post, but I'd probably option it next time too, just went out to Belmont Forum to get lunch and reverse parked into a bay with more high curbs, stopped with about 15mm between exhaust tip and curb! Maybe a retro fit at some point!

[Corey_R]

Requoting my own post, but I'd probably option it next time too, just went out to Belmont Forum to get lunch and reverse parked into a bay with more high curbs, stopped with about 15mm between exhaust tip and curb! Maybe a retro fit at some point!

Eeek!

Yeah - the car spot at work I've been parking in for 10 years has a concrete column about 20cm in from the "left side wall" and about 15cm IN FRONT of the "concrete wheel stop", lol. But worse still, the concrete wheel stop is so tall that the Golf R's exhausts don't clear it. Thus, the RVC comes in very handy for me as I can confidently park within a few cm's of that concrete column and wheel stop daily.

Prior to the RVC, I could always avoid the column using the left mirror (though the RVC makes it easier to due the "parking guide lines"), and I could only "guestimate" how far I was from the wheel stop using my spacial skills.