Parking bufoonery.

[Meldrew2]

Who is forcing everyone to buy the cars that are too big for the available spaces?

Cars are getting wider - in part because of the need to protect from side impact. Cars are getting longer - in part to provide enhanced crumple zones. A pillars are getting thicker - in part to provide better roll-over protection.

So - three questions -

Would you rather be in a pile up in a modern ("too big") car or in a Hillman Imp?

Would you prefer to park in a space that was an appropriate size for a modern car - and would you be more likely to patronise the shops that provide such spaces?

Why are car parks still being laid out in the 21st century for car sizes from the middle of the 20th?

 

[poormansporsche]

On a slight tangent, does anyone remember when the metal used on cars wasn't tissue paper thin, mirrors were sturdy metal devices and bumpers were fit for purpose?

I'm the guy who will take up two spaces, park partly on kerbs etc etc just to keep as much space between my pride and joy and the f***tards who would damage it given the opportunity. Some will argue that to do so is selfish but I say parking shouldn't be a gamble, not when I'm the one who pays for the repairs.

I will start parking perfectly within a single parking place when showing respect for property that isn't theirs is once again the norm rather than the exception that has to be gambled on.

Completely selfish or protective of an expensive pride and joy? You decide.

On another tangent a few years back i was driving round in a old early 80's Carina - built like a tank it was - I reversed into a parking space between 2 poles and didnt think anything on it, a couple of minutes after pulling off I got pulled by the rozzers. "Scuse me sir you appear to have a problem with you car" out i jumped to find id caught the solid metal bumper and it was pointing outwards at a 90 degree angle like a 3 foot lance !! oh how me and the copper laughed as we kicked it back in !!

 

[Dryce]

Who is forcing everyone to buy the cars that are too big for the available spaces? People coped with much smaller cars in the 60s so why can't they now?

People could only afford smaller cars in the 60s. They can afford larger ones now.

The reality check here is that car parking is usually for customers - the obligation is on those providing the spaces to ensure that they meet the needs of the market.

 

[Dryce]

On another tangent a few years back i was driving round in a old early 80's Carina - built like a tank it was

Early 80s car? Built like a tank?

Unlikely. It probably weighs under 1000Kg and if it rolled the roof would get crushed. A modern hatch weighs maybe 1250Kg and can be crashed full of teenagers, flip over a couple of times, and chances are they will be able to open the doors and walk (crawl/stagger) away as long as they were wearing their seat belts.

 

[John]

I'd heard that not so long ago (from a reliable source), parking spaces were based on an XJ Jaguar in this country.

Not sure if that is true or which age of Jaguar XJ they used though.

 

[Ted]

Pity it wasn't the 420 G.
IIRC the widest car made in the UK (well it was when I was a kid), and IMHO the best looking Jag saloon.

 

[Lennox]

Pity it wasn't the 420 G.
IIRC the widest car made in the UK (well it was when I was a kid), and IMHO the best looking Jag saloon.

My grandad had one if those awesome car. Had a front custom build for larger dual headlights of the same size. Would love to find it again but I think it was scrapped.

I grew up from the 70s with range rovers so our cars have always been big. That and our 6 horse 6 bearth horse boxes. They didn't fit in any car park!!!! Lol

 

[Meldrew2]

I'd heard that not so long ago (from a reliable source), parking spaces were based on an XJ Jaguar in this country.

I'm looking forward to the days when the parking spaces are based on an XJ Jaguar AND based on being able to open its doors...

 

[John]

I'm looking forward to the days when the parking spaces are based on an XJ Jaguar AND based on being able to open its doors...

It apparently was the size of an XJ but did not include opening doors...

God knows what they intended XJ drivers to do - or perhaps back then, whenever it was, the butler went to the shops and one did not need to park one's steed with the peasants.

 

[Scott_F]

Pity it wasn't the 420 G.
IIRC the widest car made in the UK (well it was when I was a kid), and IMHO the best looking Jag saloon.

Sir William Lyons didn't particularly like the design of the Mark 10 / 420G models and yet it wasn't until the X351 of 2009 that Jaguar finally stopped buildings cars that tried to look like one.

 

[219]

Correct, the minimum size for a parking bay was decided in the 1960's when cars like Hillman Imps etc were popular. Go to a supermarket in the US & a large motor home can park next to you causing no-one any problems. Car park design in the UK is a joke.

Russ

Hmm , my recollection of the sixties is that larger cars were more the norm : Ford Consuls , Zodiacs , Zephyrs ; Vauxhall Crestas , Austin Westminsters , Humbers , Jaguars .... my dad's Fintail was the same size as a W126 ( as I found when I had both models together on my drive ) . Yes , there were smaller cars like Minis or Beetles , but most drove larger cars .

There are more smaller cars on the roads nowadays than there used to be with the majority being tiny hatchbacks or so called ' city cars '

 

[leef44]

Who is forcing everyone to buy the cars that are too big for the available spaces? People coped with much smaller cars in the 60s so why can't they now? Is it because so many people are grossly overweight, just like the Americans, so now need a big car to be able to fit inside? I say that if you can't get your car in the space you should do one or more of the following: learn to park, park somewhere else, get a smaller car that you can manage.

Complaining about the small parking spaces is like so many people around here who park their cars in the road rather than in their garages. They say that their garages are too small. Did their garages shrink after they moved into their houses? No. Their garages aren't too small, it's simply that their cars are too big for their parking abilities.

This would be the typical intro to the launch of a new version of a current model. Replace X with applicable wording/number:

Here in the Geneva motor show/ EVO magazine / etc... we see the latest version for 2016 of the new X. It is xmm wider to allow more stability and grip to go round the Nuburgring x seconds quicker. It has x mm more length to allow more legroom for the passengers and has a bigger boot which can now carry x litres more luggage ...this is evolution

 

[ianrandom]

Hmm , my recollection of the sixties is that larger cars were more the norm : Ford Consuls , Zodiacs , Zephyrs ; Vauxhall Crestas , Austin Westminsters , Humbers , Jaguars .... my dad's Fintail was the same size as a W126 ( as I found when I had both models together on my drive ) . Yes , there were smaller cars like Minis or Beetles , but most drove larger cars .

There are more smaller cars on the roads nowadays than there used to be with the majority being tiny hatchbacks or so called ' city cars '

True, but small cars are much bigger now. My W126 looks and feels huge, but it's not far off a normal car like a Mundano now. Even a Golf looks bizarrely big. The Mini is now hench..

 

[John]

True, but small cars are much bigger now. My W126 looks and feels huge, but it's not far off a normal car like a Mundano now. Even a Golf looks bizarrely big. The Mini is now hench..

Current Mundano, the replacement for the (one down from Granada) Sierra once upon a time, dwarfs said Granada.

 

[Lennox]

What are you all moaning about I can get my F11 into pretty much any space!! You just need to maximise it?!

 

[renault12ts]

The new standard for parking spaces is 5m x 2.5 m, up from 4.8 x 2.4.

The Mondeo, for instance is longer than 4.8m.

Many car parks are still the old size.

 

[ShaunB]

How about this fellow

 

[ernie]

Many years ago I had parked my Daimler Century in an Elgin side street along side the pavement and was sitting in the car when a Morris Minor drew along side and lined up to park in front. Unfortunately he misjudged and his n/s rear door clipped my front bumper also damaging his rear wing.

When he realised what he'd done, he reversed off, parked his car and then had a look at the damage...My bumper had cut a 6 inch horizontal tear into the door and caved the wing in till it fouled the tyre. His face was a study, but to be fair he apologised and checked my car for damage. Needless to say, there was none.

With these bumpers you didn't need tow bars to protect them.

Ernie

 

[coalville126]

Many years ago I had parked my Daimler Century in an Elgin side street along side the pavement and was sitting in the car when a Morris Minor drew along side and lined up to park in front. Unfortunately he misjudged and his n/s rear door clipped my front bumper also damaging his rear wing.

When he realised what he'd done, he reversed off, parked his car and then had a look at the damage...My bumper had cut a 6 inch horizontal tear into the door and caved the wing in till it fouled the tyre. His face was a study, but to be fair he apologised and checked my car for damage. Needless to say, there was none.

With these bumpers you didn't need tow bars to protect them.

Ernie

I witnessed a similar situation as a youngster, but the cars involved were a Rover P6 parked up and a Datsun 120Y . The Datsun suffered a long deep dent down the side while I couldn't see any damage on the chrome bumper of the P6. I went on to own a 3500 a few years later. Don't think many young drivers these days could affordably insure a V8.

 

[Lennox]

Best "parked car" I ever saw was a car I had had prepared the night before for a client in my car sales days. It was a fully loaded Frontera 5dr. Someone we believe hid in the prep area over night. At 4am they drove it through the roller shutter doors (scratching the soft bulbar, preceded to drive down a dead end. Spun the car round so fast that it mounted a Volvo 760 estate. Parking the frontera perfectly on top.

The Frontera was removed from the Volvo (now a lot lower) was painted and still went out to its new owner that afternoon!!! [emoji1303]

The Volvo driver got a very heavily discounted Mondeo estate. [emoji847]

Win win!!