How to parallel park against a curb

[MerlintheMad]

Hi, all.

It's come up again. It doesn't take much to set me off on my favorite hate subject: parking near concrete curbs.

Eventually you will fall prey to approaching at an angle, backing in, watching the camera view. This is when the angle can wound your rims:

Just last week, I backed into a parallel parking situation, easing with the rearview camera keeping the red lines at the top edge of the curb. And when I stopped and got out, the damned thing was just brushing my Nitto Motivo (which lacks the Michelin ridge); the rim was on the point of touching the concrete. WTH!!?? How am I possible? If I had eased back even one more inch (I do not exaggerate, I was down on my knees with my nose inches away from the contact point) I would have been touching the curb with my rim. Gingerly, I got back in, pulled well forward, straightened a tad and came back again, this time with the red line IN the gutter, a virtual inch or two away from the base of the curb instead of on top of the edge. Voila! Half a foot of clearance. The secret ambush is when you are backing in at even a slight angle: the red line shows on top of the curb, but you are actually a lot closer to the base of the curb than it appears in the rearview camera. Driver, BEWARE!

 

[MisterMac]

That's a hard lesson to learn. Glad you are unscathed! I always parallel park closer to a foot away from the curb. I simply do not trust getting closer because of the chance of rashing my wheels and it seems the curbs in El Paso are stupid high. This distance gives me enough room to open the door for my wife and not scrape the door bottom. She thinks I am being chivalrous, so I hope she never reads this post....

 

[Callum]

I just pull forward, and back in. Mirrors dip for me and I can see everything.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I just pull forward, and back in. Mirrors dip for me and I can see everything.

I use the side mirrors as well. But I've met my nemesis with this car body: it messes with me. Between the rearview camera and tilting side mirrors, you would think, "no problem". No way. Last week proved the point: I am still in the danger zone of getting "acclimated" to this wide, low car.

(edit: besides, I forgot to mention that it was getting dark. The side mirrors are virtually useless seeing down to the side in the dark.)

 

[Mach_Tuck]

Agreed, i have tried to "test" this theory with regard to location of the camera lines and actual wheel position. I agree that the lines seem to be a bit optimistic in some cases and angles. So, like you, i try to error on the safe side in all accounts. Unless i know the spot next to me is going to be tight in which case i have no issues getting out, checking remaining clearance and squeezing up a bit more if needed.

I do have the michelins with the ridge so that helps a little bit.

 

[Callum]

I use the camera to back in, but never to parallel park.

This is my trying to park the Stinger.

 

[Kamauxx]

I curbed the shnat out of one of my wheels in my Optima WHILE USING 360 CAMERA, so I don't even bother dealing with it in the Stinger. I just get a different spot, if available.

 

[DiabloStinger]

i'm really good at parking... yet this car scares me going forward. backwards isn't terrible with the tilted mirrors, but it feels like i'm driving with mittens on when i try to pull in forwards toward a curb

 

[Callum]

i'm really good at parking... yet this car scares me going forward. backwards isn't terrible with the tilted mirrors, but it feels like i'm driving with mittens on when i try to pull in forwards toward a curb

I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels this way. I'm not old, I've never curbed a wheel, but honestly this car just feels like it wants me to curb a wheel. I've never driven a car that feels so large in a parking lot, but so small at high speed.

 

[MerlintheMad]

My word, this is turning into a group hug! I wasn't expecting so much "solidarity" about how the Stinger feels when in a parking lot or otherwise parking situation.

Keep it coming. This makes me feel better about myself.

 

[eflyguy]

I learned a hard lesson in another vehicle to only use the cameras as a secondary check, and still use my mirrors and looking around as primary. The cameras are invaluable at showing potential danger, but that should only be used to either verify some other way, or take the conservative approach and swing wide, or pull back, or whatever.