busdriver here, ive always used convex mirrors on my cars. If you see the car in your convex, its probably to close to change lane. Thats youre no 1 gripe with the car, its a fine car.

 

You might need to try adjusting more. I have zero car sized blind spot between the three mirror (you could hide a bicycle maybe right next to the car by the driver side rear door, but nothing else.

Of course it could be I'm taller and have the seat farther back so maybe that give the same effect you seek.
If adjusting does not work, you might want to get a small convex mirror for the driver side if you still have the problem.

I must say that was maybe the only feature of the ford i recently rented that I liked better than the volt, the embedded convex chunk on the driver side mirror. Worked well (especially for a rental where I don't have experience). I think that idea should become standard in all car mirrors.

 

Yes, GM please put wide angle mirror on Volt.

I must say that was maybe the only feature of the ford i recently rented that I liked better than the volt, the embedded convex chunk on the driver side mirror. Worked well (especially for a rental where I don't have experience). I think that idea should become standard in all car mirrors.

Thank you, tboult, VERY good comment. Actually the nice cut-in convex mirror was in some Chevy Vehicles last year too. I very much liked this feature on the 2011 Chevy Traverse. This isn't the greatest pic of it, but look across the car in this photo and you can see the cut-in wide view mirror in this 2011 Traverse.

here's another view of the 2011 Traverse's wide angle mirror.

I was disappointed to see Chevy has replaced the cut-in wide angle mirror on the Traverse with a round button-style wide-view mirror on the 2012 Traverse.

I personally preferred the squarish cut-in wide angle mirror -- less distortion, more context sense, to me anyway.

GM, please take note... we would like the option of a wide-angle mirror on the Volt. Very good suggestion by tboult.

 

I haven't had any problems since extending the mirrors outward according to one of the previous how-to posts.

 

I haven't had this problem, although I do keep my mirrors adjusted out to where I actually have to turn my head to see the side of the Volt.

We have a 2006 Silverado with Chevrolet accessory mirrors similar to those shown by tboult. They really are handy. Maybe something for Chevy to think about for the Volt?

 

As far as trying to adjust it more outward, it just didn't work for me. Funny, while I was researching the car, checking the reviews on YouTube, during one reviewers test ride, he almost side-swiped a car in his blind spot. I wish I had saved that link. I thought it odd that he wasn't aware of a car next to him, until the same thing happened to me.

Anyway, after trying two different types of round convex mirrors, and a rectangular one with rounded corner, I bought this one. I was happy to see this Bell mirror had great optical quality. It even appears to be made of glass. Of course I had to adapt it for use on the car, cutting off the back connector and using Scotch mounting tape. Doesn't look great, but there's not much you can do to make the Volt look any less cool! http://www.bellautomotive.com/Wide-Angle-Universal-Baby-Mirror-p/22-1-00500-8.htm

 

Anyway, after trying two different types of round convex mirrors, and a rectangular one with rounded corner, I bought this one. I was happy to see this Bell mirror had great optical quality. It even appears to be made of glass. Of course I had to adapt it for use on the car, cutting off the back connector and using Scotch mounting tape. Doesn't look great, but there's not much you can do to make the Volt look any less cool! http://www.bellautomotive.com/Wide-Angle-Universal-Baby-Mirror-p/22-1-00500-8.htm

That's really doing it the hard way!! I put one of these on the driver's side:

http://www.amazon.com/CIPA-49404-Co...9404-Corner-Wedge-Stick-/dp/B00029WVII/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1325715052&sr=8-4

and the larger one on the passenger's side:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00029WVI8/ref=oh_o03_s00_i01_details

because the 2x2 wasn't large enough to judge how close cars were at first glance.

Actually mirrors/blind spots were one of the things that stopped me from buying the car when I first drove it.

My favorites are the mirrors I had on my last two VWs - an importer pairs up an english left mirror with a european right mirror. These mirrors are flat for the inboard two-thirds, then the outermost part of the mirror rolls away from it - in effect the whole mirror turns convex is one dimension only. This completely eliminated the blindspots while keeping everything in easily viewed perspective. Wish I could get those mirrors for other cars...

 

My Stratus has good visibility, but I still tend to look over my shoulder and out the rear passenger windows anyway - I don't want to take any chances!

 

My Stratus has good visibility all around, but I still tend to look over my shoulder and out the rear passenger windows anyway - I don't want to take any chances!

 

Various discussions and links in this whole thread.

Volt-is-a-VERY-dangerous-car-to-drive-..almost-wrecked-2-times-today
http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread...-VERY-dangerous-car-to-drive-..almost-wrecked-2-times-today-(&p=61812#post61812

 

After doing some research I found that some suggested adjusting the mirrors more outward. I tried this and still felt there were blind spots.

I haven't had this problem, although I do keep my mirrors adjusted out to where I actually have to turn my head to see the side of the Volt.

My driving instructors (plus Car Talk) taught this method to us, and apparently this is some sort of a "new" thing they're teaching everyone. I remember it being a *LOT* more outward than I would have guessed - and also much further than what my mom does every time we switch places - so I'd guess that it might be very difficult for an experienced driver used to the "old" way to convince themselves to adjust the mirror all the way out there.

(Slightly better-illustrated version of that Car Talk guide, from scottf200's linked thread: http://www.wikihow.com/Set-Rearview-Mirrors-to-Eliminate-Blind-Spots )

 

The mirrors are positioned to reduce drag or provide no added drag on the VOLT. Placing them more forward, or even rearward, would likely increase the drag. So that is how many mirrors are positioned to optimize energy. Cars that are wind tunneled tested will have a lot of time spent on the mirror design/location since they have a doubling effect (being two per car). This is even discussed in the book on the VOLT that the 2011 owners received.

 

The first car I drove did not have a passenger rear view mirror, I had to turn my head to check the passenger side and I also got onto the habit of not trusting the mirror on the driver side and always turn my head to verify that I am not missing anything that may not show in my mirror. Maybe people are too dependent on mirrors now a days and either weren't taught to turn their head to verify, or maybe they are just to lazy to turn their head

 

Maybe people are too dependent on mirrors now a days and either weren't taught to turn their head to verify, or maybe they are just to lazy to turn their head

In the situations where it matters, turning your head is a risk, too.

When you're trying to merge into city-crowded traffic on a freeway or change lanes near a backed up split, you are not only trying to find a hole in a frequently tightly packed row of cars, you're also dealing with the guys in front of you trying to do the same thing - some of whom randomly slam on their brakes to make an opportunity or because they failed to. Taking your eyes off of the guy in front of you for 4-5 seconds to turn your head is at least as risky as not turning your head.

That's why I depend on convex mirrors - a broad enough perspective to show if there's a gap and cover my blindspots, but close enough to my line of travel that I can flick my eyes between them, and that the line of travel is still in my peripheral vision.

 

I drove my car today with this post in mind, I can't figure out a better place to put the mirror. It has already been said there are aerodynamic reason for it's location, but even if you ignored the aerodynamic considerations placing the mirror further forward would make it less useful. The view from the mirror would be the equivalent of looking at a 5 inch by 7 inch photo at less than arms length distance then moving it 3 to 4 feet away and try to see the came details.

 

Check just about every car on the road. The mirrors are mounted more forward as compared to the Volt. Think about what happens as you move the mirror rearward, the field of view lessens. Of course there is a "sweet spot", and I don't think GM nailed it with the Volt.

I am happy to report I am very happy with my convex addition. The round blind-spot mirror didn't work as well as the rectangular I wound up using. Do I really need to see tree tops, and the ground below the vehicle, which is what the round shape gives you.

If you are happy with the mirror as is... more power to you. Just didn't work for me.

 

I have not found the volt mirrors to function any less well than any other one of the 11 cars I have owned. And moving the mirror closer to the driver actually increases the field of view. Not less FOV. By the way... You are still supposed to turn your head and look anyway. (It's actually a law in some states.)