How do you like the Backup Cam/Parking Assist? Is it worth it?

[Cari]

So to those of you that have taken delivery of your Volt, how do you like the Backup Camera/Parking assist? Are you glad you got it (or wish you had if you did not get it?) Do you find you really use that? Is it worth the extra money in your opinion. I have similar systems on other cars we looked at, but I have never seen the Volt system in action. I wish they didn't split the back window. I understand the aerodynamics and the hatchback, but I think the trunk (Back base of the car could be a little longer and have the window (top part) come down lower and not have two windows in your rearview. I would like that anyway. To me it interferes with your visibility. As a somewhat visually impaired person, I need all the help I can get.

I would love to see some feedback on ease of use and usefulness of the system. I thought this might help those that have not ordered just yet.

Thanks.

Cari

[Rusty]

So to those of you that have taken delivery of your Volt, how do you like the Backup Camera/Parking assist? Are you glad you got it (or wish you had if you did not get it?) Do you find you really use that? Is it worth the extra money in your opinion.

I'm still getting used to it, but I'm glad I got it. IMHO it's worth the extra money. I probably don't use it as well as I could, 'cause as I say I'm still getting used to it.

I think I wish they'd used two back-up lights instead of the one BIG one directly lined up with the cam. The field of view off to the sides is a bit restricted. I really like the back-up track associated with the degree of steering wheel turn. Makes it easier to predict what's likely an issue.

The parking assist? The jury's still out. I wish it'd ignore the front bumper better when I first switch into reverse, because the high pitched BEEPING is annoying if I'm parked near a wall or something. I also haven't found how to adjust the volume, as it's a tad LOUD (and I have a significant hearing loss, and I *still* think it's LOUD). But there's been a couple times in even just the last few days where it's drawn my attention to something that ought have drawn my attention.

Given that it's not terribly expensive (as options go), I think it's well worth it. Visibility out the tail can be impaired. I haven't tried backing with a boat load of stuff in the cargo bay, but I think we're taking a full load with us on the drive to Texas Sunday, rear seats down. With cargo, I expect the backup cam to be golden compared to not having it!

[scottf200]

..I wish it'd ignore the front bumper better when I first switch into reverse, because the high pitched BEEPING is annoying if I'm parked near a wall or something....

It is within easy reach to just turn it off right. On roof above rear view mirror?

[Rusty]

It is within easy reach to just turn it off right. On roof above rear view mirror?

I haven't had a chance to finish reading the manual (Betelgeuse!) so I haven't found that section. Can you give me a page pointer? Likewise I haven't found the magic cookie to turn off the rear view mirror dimming, which I generally find annoying.

[TinManNFO]

The section on Ultrasonic Parking Assist starts on page 9-43. Basically, the big black rectangular switchlight on the overhead center panel, with an icon comprising a "P" with some stylized sound waves going towards a cone, arms and disarms the system, as indicated by a yellow/orange LED embedded in the button. Though I haven't seen it in action myself (only in the videos), you should be able to turn it off most of the time and only arm it when you feel you need the assistance if the beeping is irritating to you.

I did get to use the backup camera on the Volt Unplugged drive, and I definitely plan on selecting the camera/parking assist option when I am able to order my own Volt. One thing similar to the ultrasonic parking assist is that the camera view can be turned off via a menu option in the center stack preference pages, so the people in another thread who said they were worried about it being too bright at night could leave it off until they thought they needed it. Check out the instructional videos on the MyVolt site, and the video that Kris Trexler posted on the Dec 6th entry "Former EV1 Driver Loves his Volt" shows it briefly.

I end up parallel parking fairly often, and both the systems would take out much of the often less-than-accurate (if fortunately usually over-conservative) guesswork I end up doing in many parking situations.

[scottf200]

TinManNFO, thanks for the more detailed post.

The section on Ultrasonic Parking Assist starts on page 9-43. Basically, the big black rectangular switchlight on the overhead center panel, with an icon comprising a "P" with some stylized sound waves going towards a cone, arms and disarms the system, as indicated by a yellow/orange LED embedded in the button. Though I haven't seen it in action myself (only in the videos), you should be able to turn it off most of the time and only arm it when you feel you need the assistance if the beeping is irritating to you.
<snip>
I end up parallel parking fairly often, and both the systems would take out much of the often less-than-accurate (if fortunately usually over-conservative) guesswork I end up doing in many parking situations.

That's what I said right? "On roof above rear view mirror?" Sorry for the subtly... I thought you'd just look up there after that and find/play with the buttons there.

I only really knew about it because when I took a test drive and came back there was a big delivery truck in the parking lot so I pulled directly behind another volt. That cause the front sensors to kick in and then I discussed it with the engineer who pointed out they could be turned off (left off ie. pulling into garage) and that it was mainly for parking situations where you did not know your distances. Vs having your string on a ball hanging from the garage ceiling, etc.

[diverdon]

I really like the park assist. the backup camera lets me back into parking space and stop exactly where I want. It also lets me back out and see if i'm clearing the cars behind me. I use the park assist when pulling into a parking space to see how close to pull up on the front. When it beeps continuously you are withing a few inches of the barrier. the front air dam on the volt is so low to the ground. It drags on the car wash rails.

[Farmedb]

Speaking of backup camera. The car that I test drove showed guide lines on the screen indicating where the car would go. On mine, I only have a little triangle with an ! inside of it overlaid on the image that the camera sees. I do have the option turned on to show symbols. I did not get the GPS which the demo that I drove had. Is there something that I can do to turn on the guide lines?

TIA

[dwl]

The triangle with the (!) sounds like an error to me. I'd get that checked out. Like the park assist system isn't hooking in to the rest of vehicle properly. So it can't sync up with the wheel alignment.


And I love the park assist package. I wouldn't have gotten a Volt without it, personally. I've driven a full sized cargo van all of my life as my primary vehicle. So I'm awful at parallel parking. In the van, I usually just wussed out and found an easy spot a few blocks away. And with the vastly different perspective and slightly impared vision in certain spots, I couldn't live without it.

[MTN Ranger]

Speaking of backup camera. The car that I test drove showed guide lines on the screen indicating where the car would go. On mine, I only have a little triangle with an ! inside of it overlaid on the image that the camera sees. I do have the option turned on to show symbols. I did not get the GPS which the demo that I drove had. Is there something that I can do to turn on the guide lines?

TIA

Unfortunately, if you don't get the GPS/Hard drive option, you don't get the backup guide lines.