Parking. Anyone else having trouble?

[amyroxs]

I wish my work had section of parking spaces where only "awesome" cars can park. It seems like if you have a newer/nicer car your more careful on how you park and making sure you don't ding up your car or the car next to you. But everyday after work I have to do a once over to make sure no one dinged or hit my car. BTW you and I both got our cars the same day

[fredbo]

dat hood be messin me up too.... i see nothing while im goin over hills

[badkarma]

Even more fun:

My driveway is very steep and at the crest is guess what....my garage. There is also a slight curve right before the door The house was build in the 80's and has a door for each bay, but the doors are pretty narrow.

I have about 2 inches on either side between the mirrors and the door opening. (Wish the mirrors retracted)

In order to pull into the garage, I have to give it enough gas to get the nose in (M6) and quickly hit the brakes before my mirrors get close so I can check clearances.

Not fun coming home, means I stay out more.....wait hmmm

[Lectra]

Originally Posted by badkarma

Even more fun:

My driveway is very steep and at the crest is guess what....my garage. There is also a slight curve right before the door The house was build in the 80's and has a door for each bay, but the doors are pretty narrow.

I have about 2 inches on either side between the mirrors and the door opening. (Wish the mirrors retracted)

In order to pull into the garage, I have to give it enough gas to get the nose in (M6) and quickly hit the brakes before my mirrors get close so I can check clearances.

Not fun coming home, means I stay out more.....wait hmmm

I have that same problem, only I have to park on the steep section of driveway! If I don't get it right the first time I just say the heck with it and leave it...better then needing a new clutch down the road! Someday I'll convince my parents to let me park in the garage

[Jack]

Ok, I have had trouble too, especially backing up into spaces. With the width and limited vis out the back, I nearly backed into a square concrete post (couldn't fit my key between the bumper and the post - man was I lucky). So I did a little research and found a selection of back-up cameras at Crutchfield.com. They integrate into the license plate mount and there's a clip-on monitor screen available for your rear-view mirror. Here's some links:
- http://www.crutchfield.com/p_707VTC4...h=VTC461&tp=83
- http://www.crutchfield.com/p_707VTL2...wAll=N&tp=3288
- http://www.crutchfield.com/p_707VTC4...h=VTC433&tp=83

HOWEVER, I, like others, have found that practice has helped a lot.

Good luck,

Jack

[DDustiNN]

Originally Posted by Jack

Ok, I have had trouble too, especially backing up into spaces. With the width and limited vis out the back, I nearly backed into a square concrete post (couldn't fit my key between the bumper and the post - man was I lucky). So I did a little research and found a selection of back-up cameras at Crutchfield.com. They integrate into the license plate mount and there's a clip-on monitor screen available for your rear-view mirror. Here's some links:
- http://www.crutchfield.com/p_707VTC4...h=VTC461&tp=83
- http://www.crutchfield.com/p_707VTL2...wAll=N&tp=3288
- http://www.crutchfield.com/p_707VTC4...h=VTC433&tp=83

HOWEVER, I, like others, have found that practice has helped a lot.

Good luck,

Jack

These look very interesting... I didn't know they could be so subtle. I wanted the park assist on my car, but I didn't want those ugly dots on the bumper. These look like a great alternative. Thanks!

[Mark A Collier Sr]

I like the ones in the 2nd and 3rd links! IF I get one... I would get one of them.

[jschuler]

I agree that it helps if you've had practice driving a bigger car. If you have a friend or family member with a similar sized car you might practice parking it (obviously you'll have to practice to get used to the space in front and back, but it will help with the swing into the straight spots). I've driven a 1990 Grand Marquies, and 1998 Grand Prix GT, both are large cars, so hopefully I won't have too many problems. I'm just going to assume that the front is longer than I'm used to and the back is shorter I'm gonna have to get used to parallel parking, and i'm not sure how I feel about it since I'm normally excellent at it. I don't trust other people to not ride up on my ass and close me in. When I get my car I also plan on parking closer to the end of the lot (for example: Walmart) so that I don't have to worry about hitting others, less risk of others parking by me, and my ass needs the walk

[LightningSS]

Centering it between the lines just takes practice. On my 98, for the fore/aft location relative to curbs, I compare the line-of-sight of the driver's side rear view mirror relative to the curb. Once I learned the proper relation (mirror just above curb) I pull in far enough every time. All second nature now...

[mlee]

Maybe that's why my wife won't drive it....

[5thGenAnyone?]

Originally Posted by Teleplayer

The backup camera on my new GT will solve that problem.
Sorry guys, couldn't help it

Anybody who wants or needs one of the park assist cameras just embarrases me for them. I mean, come on guys, park assist. Really? Ive always thought the park assist was one of the single most useless extra cost items they have ever put on a car. That is what windows and mirrors are for, arent they? I mean, unless you want to get within like 1in of something behind you. However did people park before the park assist!!! lol Keep that kind of stuff on the high priced luxury cars I say. Sorry just my opinion.

[SGOS252382]

Yes, very difficult car to judge distances. I wouldn't want someone else backing my car out of the garage. Its a car that definately takes a skilled/careful driver when backing up in tight spaces. That's the cost of having such a cool design with limited visibility.

[td2222]

The third link looks cool, but where to mount the monitor? Rear assist is a get option, worked great on my Buick LaCrosse.


Camaro forever!

[VenomZ302]

Originally Posted by 5thGenAnyone?

Anybody who wants or needs one of the park assist cameras just embarrases me for them. I mean, come on guys, park assist. Really? Ive always thought the park assist was one of the single most useless extra cost items they have ever put on a car. That is what windows and mirrors are for, arent they? I mean, unless you want to get within like 1in of something behind you. However did people park before the park assist!!! lol Keep that kind of stuff on the high priced luxury cars I say. Sorry just my opinion.

The only times I've really been glad to use my rear camera is when people (or anything shorter than the tail of my car) show up in the monitor who seemed to come out of nowhere. This can especially be the case with kids.

Actually, it's helpful when I'm at work and one of my co-workers parks her SUV in the not-a-space next to me which completely blocks my view as her doors are 3-5 inches away from me. Say what you will, but mirrors don't help in that situation.