Parallel Parking

RED PASSION

Parallel parking

since it is not necessary to parallel park for your driving test, how can i learn to parallel park in general and also (without a driving test instructor lesson if possible) into tight spaces in city centres especially, i have no parking sensors on my car and it is quite hard to guage how close i am to the parked car behind me as the back window is quite small.

im invisible

Practice, practice, practice

RED PASSION

i suppose i didn't want to hit some fella's car and damage it or mine. i am not bad but still a lot of room for improvement i find myself looking for spaces in town big enough to land a small plane so as to avoid parallel parking

MadsL

RED PASSION wrote: »

i suppose i didn't want to hit some fella's car and damage it or mine. i am not bad but still a lot of room for improvement i find myself looking for spaces in town big enough to land a small plane so as to avoid parallel parking

Go to empty car park, practice with some of those sports cones/markers - or take some plastic cups and a bag of sand. Fill the cups and lay them out in the pattern you want to practice. Easy to spot when you fail.

vicwatson

RED PASSION wrote: »

i suppose i didn't want to hit some fella's car and damage it or mine. i am not bad but still a lot of room for improvement i find myself looking for spaces in town big enough to land a small plane so as to avoid parallel parking

Key for me is to look over my left shoulder to the back left of the car and once it's lined up the front left of the the car behind me then I can reverse, remember not to hit the car behind of course, but if you've left enough space in the first place then you should be ok.

Happy reversing

EDIT - OH PS - don't NOT practice on other peoples cars, they might get aggressive if they see you hitting their car !!!

RED PASSION

vicwatson wrote: »

Key for me is to look over my left shoulder to the back left of the car and once it's lined up the front left of the the car behind me then I can reverse, remember not to hit the car behind of course, but if you've left enough space in the first place then you should be ok.

Happy reversing

EDIT - OH PS - don't NOT practice on other peoples cars, they might get aggressive if they see you hitting their car !!!

I will do this, up til now i was solely relying on my wing mirrors and rear view mirror and not over the shoulder. thx

geneyuss

its easier than pissin in the bed,,,,only not as wet !!
its a technique,, align your back wheels with the parked car, reverse with full lock and just slide her in,,, simple
practice makes perfect, as a poster has said , find an empty carpark and if ya can get a couple of traffic cones all the better, most people my age have a couple stashed away in the bedroom from a night out :cool:

RED PASSION

geneyuss wrote: »

its easier than pissin in the bed,,,,only not as wet !!
its a technique,, align your back wheels with the parked car, reverse with full lock and just slide her in,,, simple
practice makes perfect, as a poster has said , find an empty carpark and if ya can get a couple of traffic cones all the better, most people my age have a couple stashed away in the bedroom from a night out :cool:

when i pull up to the parked car to align my back wheels with that car, how far away from the car should i be roughly, 1/2 feet ??, before i ever enter the space.

geneyuss

RED PASSION wrote: »

when i pull up to the parked car to align my back wheels with that car, how far away from the car should i be roughly, 1/2 feet ??, before i ever enter the space.

well,,, that depends,,,the closer you are to the parked car i reckon you should subtract the distance you align your wheels to, but 6 inches is abit close,,,18 inches , align back wheels and swing it in,,, 6 inchs i wouldnt align wheels as i was sayin,, then id stay 6 inches behind the parked car and use your mirrors,, dont mind them sensor yolks, those were designed for people that cant drive, abit like sideshifts on forklifts

RED PASSION

geneyuss wrote: »

well,,, that depends,,,the closer you are to the parked car i reckon you should subtract the distance you align your wheels to, but 6 inches is abit close,,,18 inches , align back wheels and swing it in,,, 6 inchs i wouldnt align wheels as i was sayin,, then id stay 6 inches behind the parked car and use your mirrors,, dont mind them sensor yolks, those were designed for people that cant drive, abit like sideshifts on forklifts

sorry you have confused me.

geneyuss

RED PASSION wrote: »

sorry you have confused me.

if your to close, dont align your wheels with the parked car,,,keep back a bit
any help?

geneyuss

RED PASSION wrote: »

sorry you have confused me.

http://www.esquire.com/features/parallel-parking-tips-0509

something along these lines im trying to explain, but its getting lost in translation as im not eligible to drive tonight

RED PASSION

geneyuss wrote: »

if your to close, dont align your wheels with the parked car,,,keep back a bit
any help?

yup, if i was to align wheels and be very close i would leave myself with a sharper angle to get the car into the space whereas with a lot of room and align wheels the angle is less sharp and easier to maneuver the car.;)

geneyuss

RED PASSION wrote: »

yup, if i was to align wheels and be very close i would leave myself with a sharper angle to get the car into the space whereas with a lot of room and align wheels the angle is less sharp and easier to maneuver the car.;)

thats what i said

RED PASSION

geneyuss wrote: »

thats what i said

i was just confirming it, thx

geneyuss

main thing is confidence ,,, cars have "bumpers" for a reason, its not as if your gunna be reverse parking at 50 kph,,,take it slow,,,,do it once,,do it right :cool:

vicwatson

geneyuss wrote: »

main thing is confidence ,,, cars have "bumpers" for a reason, its not as if your gunna be reverse parking at 50 kph,,,take it slow,,,,do it once,,do it right :cool:

Would NOT advise hitting MY or anyone elses bumpers, its part of the car and it's the same as hitting their door - it's about respect. Bumpers are expensive to repair and replace, drive properly and you might not have an issue. Bad advice that Bumpers are there for a reason. hmmm

geneyuss

vicwatson wrote: »

Would NOT advise hitting MY or anyone elses bumpers, its part of the car and it's the same as hitting their door - it's about respect. Bumpers are expensive to repair and replace, drive properly and you might not have an issue. Bad advice that Bumpers are there for a reason. hmmm

that was said in jest,,, jeez, take a pill,

vicwatson

geneyuss wrote: »

that was said in jest,,, jeez, take a pill,

What like a chill one perhaps Point stands

geneyuss

vicwatson wrote: »

What like a chill one perhaps Point stands

But "bumpers" are there for a reason, they're not just decoration, so your point is invalid :P

alias no.9

Top tip for parallel parking in town, if you're outside a building with glass low to the kerb, don't be afraid to use the reflection in the window to see just how close you are to the cars front and rear . This will also be of benefit for other times as you validate your judgement from the drivers seat with the reflection.

mickdw

geneyuss wrote: »

vicwatson wrote: »

What like a chill one perhaps Point stands

But "bumpers" are there for a reason, they're not just decoration, so your point is invalid :P

So you are happy to pay for the damage you will cause or are you the type who will drive away happy in the knowledge that you wont be caught. Sure they are designed to absorb impact up to 5 or 6 km. That doesn't mean you won't do paint damage or crack a reg plate surround. knowing people with an attitude such as yours, you probably have a tow bar and think nothing of knocking into a car with that and then give out to anyone who will listen about the driver would wanted to claim off you after you only tipped him.

Tallon

Dord

geneyuss wrote: »

http://www.esquire.com/features/parallel-parking-tips-0509

something along these lines im trying to explain, but its getting lost in translation as im not eligible to drive tonight

Thanks for that link. Looks like a great guide!

goz83

@REDPASSION. Because every car is a different size, the advice is hard to give accurately and so you must simply practice, which is the best advice anyone can give you.

Second to that: I drive a sports coupe and a people carrier. I find the following method works for any car (also worked with my transit and 318 saloon). This is all assuming you will be reverse parking into a spot, which is at least 12 inches longer than your vehicle and the spot is on the same side of your road you are on.

1- As you drive to the vacant spot, indicate left and slow down, coming to a stop beside the vehicle to the front of the spot. Your distance should be 6-12 inches from the vehicle beside you.

2- Your rear wheels will effectively be the wheels directing you into the spot (even though your front wheels are the ones turning left to right). Keeping this in mind, it is best to have your rear wheels lined up at the very rear of the car beside you. If convenient, angle your side mirror down, so you can easily see how close to the kerb/boundary you will be.

3- Engage the reverse gear and just as you begin to slowly move back, lock the steering wheel anti-clockwise (if parking to left). As your rear wheel nears the kerb (approx 12 inches), begin to turn the steering wheel clockwise until your vehicle is parallel with the kerb/boundary.

Note: As you reverse and begin to turn your nose in, be sure to watch that you don't collide with the front vehicle. The length of your vehicles nose is a big factor here. Hope this helps.

geneyuss

mickdw wrote: »

So you are happy to pay for the damage you will cause or are you the type who will drive away happy in the knowledge that you wont be caught. Sure they are designed to absorb impact up to 5 or 6 km. That doesn't mean you won't do paint damage or crack a reg plate surround. knowing people with an attitude such as yours, you probably have a tow bar and think nothing of knocking into a car with that and then give out to anyone who will listen about the driver would wanted to claim off you after you only tipped him.

i hope you get out of the right side of the bed tomorrow :eek:

whippet

it really is all about practice and when I was practicing I actually used a gateway with pillars and just tried to park between the pillars. Eventually you will get it right and it will become second nature.

My missus used to live just outside london and could spend up to 45 minutes every evening coming home from work to find an on street parking spot as she wouldn't even attempt to parallel park. She still will not do it.

These days I just pull up beside the space, press a button and let the car work it all out ... much like writing in a few years I'll be incapable of doing it myself

wonski

RED PASSION wrote: »

Parallel parking

since it is not necessary to parallel park for your driving test, how can i learn to parallel park in general and also (without a driving test instructor lesson if possible) into tight spaces in city centres especially, i have no parking sensors on my car and it is quite hard to guage how close i am to the parked car behind me as the back window is quite small.