How to master parking, headlights facing outwards?

[mclaren]

Hi Newbie driver here,

Does anyone have any tips and tricks to master parking. New driver and recently got Mazda 3 trying to master parking without destroying the car. Please share some techniques, it is scary right now as a first time driver.

Mostly trying to master is this, where L represents the car headlight and {Mazda3} <-- is the car. Help a fellow brother out please.

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| {Madza3 L}
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[crystal8484]

practice practice practice.

take yourself to a mall parking lot and if you can find a bunch of open space pick a spot and park the car. front and reverse. when you get comfortable parking it straight without cars around move up to parking beside one car and open space on whatever side. eventually graduate to parking inbetween two cars.

you're going to have to learn fast, we live in a busy city and you're gonna need to "suck it up" as they say and park the car otherwise you're never going to find a parking space. lol

if anything, take some driving lessons if you haven't already.

[cwp_sedan]

So are you asking how to back in to a space? Use your mirrors! Also don't stomp on the gas. lol

[SomeGuy]

Practice...I do nothing but back in because it's sooooo much easier to get in and out without scraping up. It's just a matter of getting used to getting yourself lined up. As said, practice in parking lots with nobody around. It might help to have a point of reference like a traffic cone if one is handy...

[Fuman]

1) Use your mirrors, check them at different angels by moving your head; ensures you aren't going to hit the car beside.
2) When backing-in, and you don't know how much room you have left: Open your car door and stick your head out.
3) To straighten the car when backing-in, sit with your bum off the sit (so that you are elevated), then check your mirror so that you can see the parking space lines. (that is if you can't see the lines already)

Practice tips, if you don't know how long your hood is.
Get as close as you feel safe, get out of the car, and see for yourself <-- Repeat process until you get to as close as you want.

[TheMAN]

or just give up, be lazy and just park in ass out... which is a lot faster :gone

[SSmoked]

practice in a parking lot full of cars. try to find a empty space betwen to cars. use the cars as reference to line ur self parraelle to them. DO NOT HIT THEM lol. i pretty much back into my spaces ALL the time.

[crono06]

When backing in to spaces, I actually find it easier to back in between 2 cars, then to back into empty spaces. With the cars there, I can check my mirrors to see how well I'm doing. When there are no cars around, I can't see the lines, so I end up parking like a nub, running over all the lines lmao.

[PCLoadLetter]

Here's something that everyone might want to take note of.

Mathematically, if you park more on the left side of the spot (not directly on the line) there is less of a chance that somebody will scratch or ding your car by opening their door. Here's what I mean:


| | | | | |
| | /|CAR| | /|MZ3| | /|CAR| | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |


Basically, I would say most people who park their cars go front end first and are by themselves. This means that only the driver's side door of their car will open. It's obviously not 100%, but I would put money down that it's well over 50%. Just be careful when leaving your car, respect others!

[yanky.ng]

when i was taking lessons from the young driver my instructor taught how to park headlights facing outwards.
| | | CAR |
|CAR | YOUR | |
| | SPOT | |
1 2 3 4
at least 4feet distance between parking lot yellow line and your car
(your car) → front of the car


Drive slowly past the parking spot. When the car stops, the corner of the rear bumper should be about even with the parking space marker. The vehicle should be about 4 feet away from the end of the parking space.
#
Step 2

Turn the steering wheel completely in the direction the car needs to go to get into the space. If the space if on the left, turn the wheel all the left, and if it's on the right, turn the wheel all the way right.
#
Step 3

Put the car in reverse.
#
Step 4

Back the car slowly into the space. Check the mirrors and over each shoulder to make sure that the car isn't going to run into vehicles on either side of the parking space. If it seems as though the car might scrape against another vehicle, turn the steering wheel in the other direction and pull forward a couple of feet, then put the car into reverse and crank the wheel back.
#
Step 5

Continue backing into the spot.
#
Step 6

Straighten the steering wheel when the car is squarely between the parking space lines.
#
Step 7

Reverse the rest of the way into the parking space, keeping the wheel straight and not pulling back too far or leaving the front end sticking out too much.

[yanky.ng]

I'm sorry i made the parking spots in my reply but when i submitted the post it screwed the diagram.

[TheMAN]

it helps to turn on the hazards too that way people know you are trying to back into the spot and you're not doing something else... you don't want them to drive around you or too close to you!

[CFX]

it helps to turn on the hazards too that way people know you are trying to back into the spot and you're not doing something else... you don't want them to drive around you or too close to you!

You're suppose to signal, not use your hazards.

[-RJ3-]

Look far back when reversing... wherever you look that is where you turn... remember with a 3, or a high back. if you think you are too close to the car when parking reality you have 5 feet still to go... But I agree practice in a mall parking lot, and practice and experiment.

Hope this helps

[STeeLy]

I guess I kind of do it sort of like Parallel Parking.

I have my spot. When the my front bumper is in line with the first headlight of the car next to the spot you want, or when my wheel is in line with the line of the parking spot, I pull away from my spot until I'm approximately 45 degree angle with front of the car in the spot next to yours

I check my mirrors to see if I have room between the cars and I start backing in, turning my wheels.

Back into the spot, but definitely check how much room you have, if you have no room on one side but lots on the other... pull straight out of the spot a tiny bit and adjust... repeat until satisfied.

If you don't understand that, I try to explain easier.

But much like Crystal said, it's just practice practice practice, then you'll start to figure things out on your own and you'll have your own techniques

[Chester_Lampwick]

YouTube - Learning to Drive : How to Back a Car into a Parking Spot (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn8ldEIVjMo)

Beware, this is a VW Golf? in the video. Not sure this relates to using a real car...

[blankets3]

theres actually something to look for, when backing up

(i pride myself in being able to back into a spot better than i can pull into one)

drive past the spot

stay farther away/in the middle of the lane

stop at the cat beside the spot so u can see it in ur rear window (the smaller one thats at the back)

start backing in and turning ur wheel u should beable to turn into ur spot EASY

[FoXy]

this thread is killer. I love all the opinions on how to park. Some ppl just never get it and can't manage to park without hitting someone else.

[Lummix]

it helps to turn on the hazards too that way people know you are trying to back into the spot and you're not doing something else... you don't want them to drive around you or too close to you!

I'm sorry, if i see someone stopped with there hazards i'm going to assume they are stopped where they are for a reason and will probably drive by them...hell...i may even steal the parking spot they were waiting for. :chuckle

Use your turn signals. They are there for a reason.

[Gizzmo_jr]

Don't park like a certain BMW X5

[Lummix]

This one? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do6pmYfNco0)

[TheMAN]

I'm sorry, if i see someone stopped with there hazards i'm going to assume they are stopped where they are for a reason and will probably drive by them...hell...i may even steal the parking spot they were waiting for. :chuckle

Use your turn signals. They are there for a reason.
that's why you put your car in reverse right away, duh!
more the reason people know you are about to back up when they see reverse lights

[STeeLy]

Parking, don't use hazard, use signals... claim your space with the signal

[JohnyGT]

Just pay the guy waiting at the door to park youe 3 :D


Hi Newbie driver here,

Does anyone have any tips and tricks to master parking. New driver and recently got Mazda 3 trying to master parking without destroying the car. Please share some techniques, it is scary right now as a first time driver.

Mostly trying to master is this, where L represents the car headlight and {Mazda3} <-- is the car. Help a fellow brother out please.

-------------
|
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| {Madza3 L}
--------------
|
--------------

[crystal8484]

this thread is killer. I love all the opinions on how to park. Some ppl just never get it and can't manage to park without hitting someone else.

lol that's what i was originally thinking when I saw this thread. :bang

[WingZero_]

How do you have your license if you can't park?

The only tip I have is, avoid doing this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do6pmYfNco0

[Noisy Crow]

How do you have your license if you can't park?

Well, given that a lot of people get their license without being able to DRIVE............

[mazdabetty]

How do you have your license if you can't park?

Yeah seriously.... maybe your first step is to ask a driving instructor rather than strangers on the internet :loco

And personally, I feel those "measuring" techniques are useless. It's a good way to start, but being able to "master parking" only comes with practice and confidence.

[STeeLy]

I was never tested on backing in... only front in and Parallel.

[Thrizzl3]

I was never tested on backing in... only front in and Parallel.

they never tested you on reverse parking?? i thought that was mandatory..

[crystal8484]

they never tested you on reverse parking?? i thought that was mandatory..

The only parking I did was into the spot when the test was over. WOO!! Such a redonkulously easy test for my G2 and again for G.

[STeeLy]

they never tested you on reverse parking?? i thought that was mandatory..

Well, technically it was just Parallel, the examiner just told me to park it into a space on the side he indicated when the test was done.

Reverse parking was never tested...

[ElegantGremlin]

they never tested you on reverse parking?? i thought that was mandatory..

I had to reverse park to finish off the G2 test. Backed into the spot next to the one she intended... but did it perfectly.

I also didn't have to parallel park or do a 3-point turn or any of that stuff.

[STeeLy]

All the parking I was tested on:

Uphill Parking with curb
Parallel Parking
Front in parking

[Hypothrml]

G1 exit test start off with the car parked head-in (99% of the time), at that point the student will reverse out and proceed with test. During test, the examiner will ask student to perform parallel park. At the end of test when your back at the test centre, the examiner with ask the student to do a pull through if one is available.

[yanky.ng]

[QUOTE=mazdabetty;536996]
And personally, I feel those "measuring" techniques are useless.


i don't think they are useless..i used them it was difficult in the starting but now i have no problem in parking....

[Flagrum_3]

Just curious! Does no one here ever turn around instead of just using their mirrors? How do they teach reversing in Driver's School?
Now don't get me wrong, I'm a proponent of using the mirrors, I drive and park 40' buses and you have no choice but to use just mirrors but you have a rear window in the car, why not use it? I was taught to put one hand on the passenger seat and look directly out the rear window whilst still glancing at your mirrors periodically...

Like i said just curious.


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[WingZero_]

I always turn around. The mirrors only get used to verify there is a gap betwenn me and the cars on the left and right. When I tested 10 or whatever years ago they made me back up park, front park and parallel.

And that is a good point about "new drivers" not actually being able to drive. I laugh every time I see a drivers ed car around here, they use sunfires and yaris. Then you get these kids out there in their parents SUVs wondering why they are bumping ppl.

[slam525i]

Here's a tip:

To see how far back you are (i.e. to avoid backing into the car in the spot behind you), look at the shiny car beside you and use it like a mirror for comparing your brake lights against the car-behind-you's bumper. Works great, as long as the car beside you is shiny and clean.

[crystal8484]

Just curious! Does no one here ever turn around instead of just using their mirrors? How do they teach reversing in Driver's School?
Now don't get me wrong, I'm a proponent of using the mirrors, I drive and park 40' buses and you have no choice but to use just mirrors but you have a rear window in the car, why not use it? I was taught to put one hand on the passenger seat and look directly out the rear window whilst still glancing at your mirrors periodically...

Like i said just curious.


_3

+1 head turn and the ol' arm over the passenger seat trick. lol

[STeeLy]

Yup... that's what they teach when you have to reverse in driving school...

Now though I more or less use mirrors when I decide to back into a spot...

[undftd]

I tend to front-in if the spot is on my left and back-in when the spot is on my right, it's just easier this way, anyone else find this? Backing in to the spot of the left you will probably need to get into the middle of the lane or the other side of the lane to back in without hitting cars to your right.

[mazda_gurl]

When I learned to drive, my instructor had a method to backing in. (Dont they all?) Works like a charm.

As you see your spot, drive past it and line your drivers side mirror with the outside line of the parking spot beside you (see the below Red X). Also, make sure that you are almost in the middle of the lane way, or far side. This doesnt work if you are right beside the spot and cars around it. Reverse, then crank your wheel all the way and slowly back in. Use your mirrors or head (whatever you prefer, I personally just use mirrors) to keep an eye out for your surroundings. When the nose of your car is straight (you will be lined up right behind the car in the spot across from you), straighten your wheel up and back her in as far as she needs to go without hitting the guy behind you.

Good luck



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| PARK HERE|
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[mazdabetty]

Just curious! Does no one here ever turn around instead of just using their mirrors?

I'll keep looking at the mirrors until I'm straight, then I proceed to reverse while looking back to make sure I leave enough space for the car behind.... I'm more concerned with making sure I'm not scraping the cars on either side of me more so than staring back at a big gap before I need to :chuckle

However, with that being said, I rarely park in between people, let alone anywhere near people *shudder* It's safe at the back of every parking lot for me, thank you very much! :)

[Burner]

I just had to drive around in the neighborhood beside the DriveTest center with a stop to park on a hill. I wasn't required to reverse or parallel park at all.

I did it in a manual gearbox car though which totally surprised the tester when he got in. :chuckle

[crystal8484]

I'll keep looking at the mirrors until I'm straight, then I proceed to reverse while looking back to make sure I leave enough space for the car behind.... I'm more concerned with making sure I'm not scraping the cars on either side of me more so than staring back at a big gap before I need to :chuckle

However, with that being said, I rarely park in between people, let alone anywhere near people *shudder* It's safe at the back of every parking lot for me, thank you very much! :)

I bet you sit at the back of the class too you rebel rouser! haahhah

[Flagrum_3]

I bet you sit at the back of the class too you rebel rouser! haahhah

Heck I bet she never even showed for class half the time, too busy partying it up! and when there just heckled from the back :chuckle....j/k


Here is another good reason to turn around and view directly out the rear window;...children. I had an experience one day, scared the crap out of me, reversing into a parking spot "looking" back and here's this mother with a stroller and another youngster, ...as I'm backing in they are directly behind the spot.What do you think happens next? The Kid runs directly into the path of my reversing car!!, mother screams, I clamp on the binders almost wrench my neck! ...but I don't hit the kid TG.....Moral of the story; if I had been just watching my mirrors I'm 100% sure I would not have seen the child and he would have been under my car and I would have been farked up mentally for life, even more then I already am.

So using your mirrors is fine, but use your rear window as your windsheild when reversing...for safety!!

My apologies, if this comes off like I'm preaching.


_3

[Chester_Lampwick]

Here is another good reason to turn around and view directly out the rear window;...children. I had an experience one day, scared the crap out of me, reversing into a parking spot "looking" back and here's this mother with a stroller and another youngster, ...as I'm backing in they are directly behind the spot.What do you think happens next? The Kid runs directly into the path of my reversing car!!, mother screams, I clamp on the binders almost wrench my neck! ...but I don't hit the kid TG.....Moral of the story; if I had been just watching my mirrors I'm 100% sure I would not have seen the child and he would have been under my car and I would have been farked up mentally for life, even more then I already am.

So using your mirrors is fine, but use your rear window as your windsheild when reversing...for safety!!

My apologies, if this comes off like I'm preaching.


_3

Yeah, but this is the reason you back into a spot in the first place. It's easier when you approach a spot to back up (and in). If you pull in forward, then you have to back out, which is more dangerous because people don't notice you as much, being in a spot already. Plus by the time you jump in, start the car, put on your seatbelt, etc. some tricky pedestrian will sneak up on you, or some car will come around the corner too quickly.

[Flagrum_3]

Yeah, but this is the reason you back into a spot in the first place. It's easier when you approach a spot to back up (and in). If you pull in forward, then you have to back out, which is more dangerous because people don't notice you as much, being in a spot already. Plus by the time you jump in, start the car, put on your seatbelt, etc. some tricky pedestrian will sneak up on you, or some car will come around the corner too quickly.

I was not discussing whether to back in verses drive straight in!, I'm talking about the method in which to back in!! :)


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