Elephantman_nosefacehead

I was going to parallel park my car the other day but then chickened out because I feared scratching my rims. Is there any trick to PP that will help avoid an expensive rim job or do most of you not PP?

sauceman

Lower down your RHS mirror, and you will be able to see when you get to close to the curb.

dom

I think the last time I had to parallel park was in my driver's test 12 years ago.

Howard911s

practice...............................practice... ..................practice.......................m y friend

rtlltj

good pp parkers will never hit the curb. best is to practice and dont go in too shallow or too steep.

GIBSON6594

I'd rather be a couple inches from the curb than scratch my rim

NightShredder

As someone who learned to drive in N.Y., I agree 100%. Just be careful and take your time and your rims will be fine. Also the closer you are to the car in front of you when you begin the less steep you have to make you initial turn. And the less likely you are to hit your rims on the curb.

II is I I



Once your front wheels meet the back wheels of the car in front of you cut back as hard as you can. Remember to take your time, the slower you go you will give yourself more room to turn into the spot.

Master47

This is the way I was taught:

Pull even with the car that you are parking behind with your right side mirror about 10-12inches from the car's mirror next to you (directly even). This method assumes you are parking behind a car that is similar in length to your own. When you are even with the car ahead, cut your wheel all the way to the right and start backing slowly, until the left corner of the bumper of the car ahead is aligned directly in the center of your passenger window (as you see it from a normal driving position). Start cutting the wheel rapidly back to the left as you continue backing slowly. It may look like your front bumper will the hit the rear of the car in front of you, but it won't. As your car gets parallel with the curb, cut it back straight, and pull slightly forward. You should be about 8-10" from the curb.

I have not tried this method with the TSX, but I would assume it will get you close. Practice on a place without a curb first until you master the technique.

thS777

This is a dilemma... you don't want to be that far off from the curb either especially on a busy street where a lot of cars passing by might "brush" against of your car.

kurt_bradley

These might help...

thS777

This reminds me of how much I miss that standard feature on my old Jetta where the passenger side mirror automatically tilts down when backing up...

Elephantman_nosefacehead

how do those actually work?

jlukja

OMG, this brings back memories. My dad had "curb feelers" on his 74' Oldsmobile. I hate the way they look and would never put them on my TSX. But, if its between that and curb rash then you have to make your choices. I'd opt for practice...practice...practice... and then....more practice.

JLavino

LOL Curb feelers, are HILARIOUS!!!! They look good on the 64 Impala with Daytons!

phirenze

wtf are curb feelers?

jlukja

They attach to the wheel well and point out. When you get close to the curb they make contact first, make a scaping sound so that you know that you are close.

Canyonball

LMAO!!!!!! @ Curb feelers!!!
Please don't degrade the TSX with these...
California has an 18" rule, personally I think 18" away from the curb is waaaay too much and on a narrow and/or busy street someone's more likely to get your drivers side.
Like Howard911s stated... practice.
I try not to, but I've P.parked quite a few times with no problems.
I scuffed my stock rim on a very narrow drive-through at KFC because it was so narrow and had a 90degree bend, I was worried about my front end...

NightShredder

18"

NYC was 4" last time I checked. I learned to park 4" from the curb and sometimes that is to far away. If someone can't get within 18" they probably shouldn't be driving.

Winterwaves

This is a sort of peculiar phobia of mine. I'm a good, normal driver otherwise, but I hate parallel parking. Even after driving for years, I still hate it and stress out when I have to do it. I (and whoever is with me) usually end up walking a longer way because of that. I only parallel park when I absolutely have to. I kind of envy people that just do it in one smooth swoop, no sweat. I just never learned how to do that well.

jcg878

I can usually pull it off fine, but it's only out of repeated necessity. The TSX isn't a great paralell parker, but it gets the job done. My wife's Passat is much better.

Canyonball

LOL, I know right!
Compared to Chicago drivers... in general, So-Cal has the worst drivers ever...

jcg878

Try the southeast - it seems to be considered acceptable to drive the same speed in the left lane as the right lane

mg7726

living in nyc, you HAVE to know how to parallel park!!

or you can pay up the wahzoo in lot fees.

Canyonball

LOL, we have those over here too!

Even if the #2 lane is openn...
Going like 5mph over the limit or just riding the same speed next to the guy next to them...
I just don't get what's goin through their heads...
I feel ya though...

TypeRS

i was taught this way:

pull up right next to the car in front of your open parking space so that you are about a foot next to the car. then back up straight until your car is about half the length of the car ur next to. Immediately turn your steering wheel to the right and reverse until your car is going in at a 45 degree angle running along the curb. then steer back in the opposite direction...takes some time to get used to but it worked for me...on my old car tat is...

CarKnack

This is no big secret, folks. It's those Oregon drivers that are the absolute worst. Bar none. End of story.

jpswanberg

1. have wife get out
2. roll down passenger window
3. have her guide you in
4. hope like hell she isn't pissed off at you

Arcticcl9

In LA, I try not to parallel park since people like to play "bumper cars." I got some bumper scrapes due to people parallel parking too close to me

gabedabomb

I live in LA too. I hate it when ppl "take up" two spots, meaning they aren't considerate and make inefficient use of curb space so I can't park.

jcg878

I don't see that too much around here, but I do think it justifies the death penalty

Canyonball

LOL, nope... SoCal has the worst bar none! lol j/k... poll anyone?!?!

Winterwaves

Just slap one of these on their car.
http://www.prankplace.com/parking.htm

JPL530i

to have those on a car is to show that you can't pp. practice will make you better and less frightened

NDLunchbox

I have to pp backing up a hill with a curve... sucks. Have come VERY close to rolling into this jerk in an old 4Runner who always parks in the middle of 2 spaces.

Frainky

I can parallel park like ace ventura but I still sometimes tried to get too close and barely scrape.....I have had two cars sideswiped while parked on the street. Hit and run basically so I have a tendency to try to get to close to the curb. I mean like 2 or 3 inches away.

SPARKIE

Elephantman - Let me ask..... You're 59 years old and you have to ask us for for tips on how to parallel park???????. My advise --- You should take the car back to the dealer, use your monthly payment for taxi rides to the Liquor Store .....and back !