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New 2015 Prius Owner-Need help with parking, can't see front of car!

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by Kevininsc, Dec 24, 2014.

  1. Kevininsc

    Kevininsc New Member

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    Greetings Everyone- New Prius owner here!-- Having traded in a mini-van for a new prius (and not having a new car for 10 years), I am having trouble knowing how far to go when pulling into a parking space when there is something in front of me. I can't see the front of the car and really don't want to scratch up my new baby!

    Question: has anyone else had this problem and found a solution? Is there some sort of after-market sensing device or such that might help, or, is it something I will just get used to after hitting a few things? (front camera would be great!).
    The only thing I could think of is somehow attaching a short thin pole or the like to the front of the car that stands high enough for me to see.

    Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

    Regards,
    Kevin
    2015 Prius 3 (waiting on my new Clazzio leather seat covers)
     
    #1 Kevininsc, Dec 24, 2014
  2. Eclipse1701d

    Eclipse1701d Prius Enthusiast

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    I would tend to think that after driving the car for a couple of weeks, where the front of the vehicle is will be second nature. Just give yourself some time to get used to it...
     
    #2 Eclipse1701d, Dec 24, 2014
  3. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    As Eclipse said, we just get used to it. It's been a long time since I saw my hood from the driver's seat. It was either my 1983 or 1989 Delta 88.

    Kevin, hitting a few things is not a good way to learn how to judge distance. Take a spotter to a parking lot & practice or just pull in to a spot, get & look.

    Affixing a lance to the front of the car is not a good idea. You'll need more space & cause more damage if you do hit something.
     
    #3 JimN, Dec 24, 2014
  4. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    #4 jdenenberg, Dec 24, 2014
    Last edited: Dec 24, 2014
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Back in 2004, yes cause it had one of the shortest hoods of any car I've driven thus far. Use an empty lot with 4 painted parking spots available in a 2x2 layout (like a shopping mall so that you can practice without hitting anything.

    With your left foot on the footrest, practice learning where the front wheels are (it'll be just a bit forward of where your foot is. Having someone outside to spot you helps you position the car. Practice positioning the driver's front wheel at the intersection of the 4 parking spots.

    After that, you can practice figuring out where the front of the car is by having someone guide you to the back of the parking spot and trying to visualize where that is in relation to your front wheels.

    Alternatively, someone here (I think @usbseawolf2000) shared a trick using the driver's side mirror. Have someone spot you properly into the parking spot. Take a note of where the painted lines are in relation to the bottom of the driver's side mirror. I read that you can safely drive forward at least until the painted line or the concrete barrier or curb is visible below the driver's side mirror.
     
    #5 Tideland Prius, Dec 24, 2014
    WilDavis likes this.
  6. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    Congrats on your new wheels! I had a similar problem when I first started driving the ChuggyPig (2009 Gen II Prius) and it took a bit of getting used to having seemingly much less visibility to the front than I had on my previous vehicle (Toyota Corolla Wagon), but it's just a matter of getting used to it. One tip which you might find useful is that when you're sitting in the driver's seat, look at the steering wheel and imagine the steering column extending down through the front of the car, continuing at the same angle and imagine the point at which it meets the ground is just in front of where the front of the car is above it. So, for instance when I park "nose-in", I glance out the driver's window (still having the steering column in my field of view) go forwards until that point lines up with the kerb, and find that the front of the car is around 6" from the kerb. This works for me, perhaps it will work for you! It's just a matter of getting used to the space the car is occupying around you! hope this helps - Wil
     
    #6 WilDavis, Dec 25, 2014
  7. rcubed3r

    rcubed3r Junior Member

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    With the Prius I feel like if I can't reach out and touch it with my toes, then the front end won't touch it either!
     
    #7 rcubed3r, Dec 25, 2014
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    after 10 years, i still don't know where the nose is. i hung a ball in my garage, and can be a foot short if i try to stop without hitting it. you can probably add a front camera or sensor.
     
    #8 bisco, Dec 25, 2014
  9. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    I've marked the garage walls where the "B" pillars line up so that I may judge the distances, but I also successfully tried the hanging ball solution!
     
    #9 WilDavis, Dec 25, 2014
  10. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    You park the 777 the same way... put the ball on the windscreen.
     
    #10 Air_Boss, Dec 25, 2014
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    ya, you lose your wings if you dent the nose of one of those babies.:p
     
    #11 bisco, Dec 25, 2014
  12. dulcimoo

    dulcimoo Junior Member

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    I totally agree. My XB (original style) was so easy to figure out. I think the car is about a foot short in front and about 3 feet short in the rear. The rear camera on the 2 is almost useless because there is no scale to let you know how far things are … but it's better than nothing, the nose is another thing.
     
    #12 dulcimoo, Dec 27, 2014
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