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Here are a few of the common questions that new owners have with their Bolts, and some answers!
I've heard that eventually wear on the front door hinges may cause the driver's door to degrade over time? Should I be opening it less?
This is a common issue. Materials scientists have shown that door hinges do eventually wear out, and the number of openings and the forces involved have a big impact. Some drivers just open their door very slowly and take care never to slam it. Others try to even out wear by entering the car by each of the doors in turn. Climbing over the seats, especially from the back, is a learned skill, but by the time the car has 500,000 miles on it (which is only about five years for someone with a pretty typical 300 mile commute), you'll surely see the benefit. An easy must-do thing for someone with who cares about their car.
Is it safe to put the car into reverse? Will it damage anything?
Reverse makes everything in the car go backwards, including all the electricity. If you've ever put a battery the wrong way round in a remote control, you'll know that electricity going backwards isn't good for anything and usually doesn't work at all. For this reason, reverse is best avoided. It is the dirty secret that GM never put in the car's manual, that using reverse may actually ruin everything. Instead try to drive forwards. If you're in a parking lot, push the car out by hand.
Why aren't the high beams on in the daytime? This is totally unsafe!
Most drivers know that the only way to be safe is to have your high beams on at all times. That way other drivers will see that you're coming and get out of your way. It is criminal that GM made it so difficult to drive in this way. If you want your high-beams on, you have to carefully position the control, which is very tiresome. Why there is not a “high-beams-on-all-the-time” setting you can adjust is a good question!
What driving speed is the best for preserving the life of the seats?
This is a more subtle question than it might seem. Slower speeds mean longer journeys, but faster speeds throw the passengers around more, causing more seat wear. Rapid cornering is thus best avoided, or limited to at most once a month. The true answer is to leave the car parked as much as possible and avoid giving rides to any passengers. Small children can be placed carefully in the trunk.
Should I carry a spare windshield?
Of course! It only takes one errant stone to completely ruin your windshield and take you off the road. Thus, it is best to always carry an extra windshield and the necessary installation tools. This does take up a lot of room in the back of the car, but it is a small price to pay for peace of mind.
I've heard that eventually wear on the front door hinges may cause the driver's door to degrade over time? Should I be opening it less?
This is a common issue. Materials scientists have shown that door hinges do eventually wear out, and the number of openings and the forces involved have a big impact. Some drivers just open their door very slowly and take care never to slam it. Others try to even out wear by entering the car by each of the doors in turn. Climbing over the seats, especially from the back, is a learned skill, but by the time the car has 500,000 miles on it (which is only about five years for someone with a pretty typical 300 mile commute), you'll surely see the benefit. An easy must-do thing for someone with who cares about their car.
Is it safe to put the car into reverse? Will it damage anything?
Reverse makes everything in the car go backwards, including all the electricity. If you've ever put a battery the wrong way round in a remote control, you'll know that electricity going backwards isn't good for anything and usually doesn't work at all. For this reason, reverse is best avoided. It is the dirty secret that GM never put in the car's manual, that using reverse may actually ruin everything. Instead try to drive forwards. If you're in a parking lot, push the car out by hand.
Why aren't the high beams on in the daytime? This is totally unsafe!
Most drivers know that the only way to be safe is to have your high beams on at all times. That way other drivers will see that you're coming and get out of your way. It is criminal that GM made it so difficult to drive in this way. If you want your high-beams on, you have to carefully position the control, which is very tiresome. Why there is not a “high-beams-on-all-the-time” setting you can adjust is a good question!
What driving speed is the best for preserving the life of the seats?
This is a more subtle question than it might seem. Slower speeds mean longer journeys, but faster speeds throw the passengers around more, causing more seat wear. Rapid cornering is thus best avoided, or limited to at most once a month. The true answer is to leave the car parked as much as possible and avoid giving rides to any passengers. Small children can be placed carefully in the trunk.
Should I carry a spare windshield?
Of course! It only takes one errant stone to completely ruin your windshield and take you off the road. Thus, it is best to always carry an extra windshield and the necessary installation tools. This does take up a lot of room in the back of the car, but it is a small price to pay for peace of mind.
