Can't tell where front of car is?

i30DieselAuto2015 · **October 30, 2015, 12:41:54**

Hi
Had the car just under 3 weeks now - liking it
However I cannot for the life of me tell with any accuracy where the front bumper is for tight parking / manoeuvring, especially the front "corners"
Is it just me? Has anyone else had this problem and gotten over it with time? Or got any tips and tricks?
<Awaits insults>
cheers

CraigB · **Reply #1: October 30, 2015, 12:47:23**

I use what I call "guesstimation"

The Gonz · **Reply #2: October 30, 2015, 12:49:03**

asathorny · **Reply #3: October 30, 2015, 13:45:08**

OK, here is the solution to your problem, took me 50 years to figure this out but I don't mind sharing with a club member.

Roll forward, slowly and carefully and when you feel a slight bump yer there

This advice is given 'without prejudice' and is for advice purposes only, we, the management, take no responsibility for any injury material or otherwise when the other car owner jumps out and t&&ts you in the face

Surferdude · **Reply #4: October 30, 2015, 15:11:39**

^ Good one asa.

You have to make allowances for him. He's old.

However, my sister in law who's younger than he is (and me), still reckons that's what bumpers are for - to feel when you've gone as far as you can.
But then, she still thinks they're made of steel - or did until she scratched hers one time and went in to a panel repair shop and asked about getting it repaired, "so it didn't rust".

The proprietor didn't laugh (much).

All jokes aside, you will get used to it over time but meanwhile, The Gonz's suggestion is a good one.

AlanHo · **Reply #5: October 30, 2015, 19:18:04**

The obvious solution is to have front parking sensors fitted. It isn't cheap but far less expensive than damaging your - or a third party's car.

I am speaking from experience by the way.......

eye30 · **Reply #6: October 30, 2015, 19:52:35**

Never tried it but how about using the headlights main beam to reflect the light off the object.

Using the reflection to gauge how close you are.

In daylight, be sure to turn them off or at night, dip once manoeuvre done

Lakes · **Reply #7: October 30, 2015, 21:06:19**

Gonz only one with imagination here!

my late Mother, used a cushion to sit on, but trucks use a mirror angled down so you can see.

Ozknight · **Reply #8: October 30, 2015, 23:14:58**

I always find parking a little closer than comfortable still gives me about 4 inches. Just go around and check every time. You'll work it out.

John B · **Reply #9: October 31, 2015, 03:17:01**

If you have rear sensors reverse it in. What I hate are those curbs in the car parks that are made to just scrape under the front of the car.

Phil №❶ · **Reply #10: October 31, 2015, 09:48:26**

Pick standard sized parking spaces

Hyundai i30 X · **Reply #11: October 31, 2015, 12:16:56**

I have had the same, problem. 1st few weeks of getting my i30.
I am still the feel of the, front end.
It's hard to judge on how, close you are or, how far away you are from where have to stop.
I am still guessing now.

Hyundai i30 X · **Reply #12: October 31, 2015, 12:20:41**

I reversed into my drive and, winced when the underbody scraped the ground JohnB.
Never backed my car in anymore

ibrokeit · **Reply #13: October 31, 2015, 13:06:11**

I always reverse in - because if I drive in, when I reverse out I will scrape the front underside unless really careful. Where as if I drive forwards no scraping anywhere.

Just Rick · **Reply #14: October 31, 2015, 15:36:21**

Quote from: The Gonz on October 30, 2015, 12:49:03

If you need one of these Gonz,well and truly time to give up driving

Just Rick · **Reply #15: October 31, 2015, 15:40:22**

Quote from: asathorny on October 30, 2015, 13:45:08

OK, here is the solution to your problem, took me 50 years to figure this out but I don't mind sharing with a club member.

Roll forward, slowly and carefully and when you feel a slight bump yer there

This advice is given 'without prejudice' and is for advice purposes only, we, the management, take no responsibility for any injury material or otherwise when the other car owner jumps out and t&&ts you in the face

Ah!the Ol Touch Parking method,works in the Semi,only issue is you don't feel anything until you see a smart car come out from underneath the front bumper

VaerO · **Reply #16: November 01, 2015, 04:18:24**

Yes this Is what I do every time I park at home next to the side gate! Just turn on the highs and watch as the "spot" lights move closer (level) to the light source.

rustynutz · **Reply #17: November 01, 2015, 10:53:18**

Quote from: asathorny on October 30, 2015, 13:45:08

Roll forward, slowly and carefully and when you feel a slight bump yer there

I used to park my old Barina like that. The old tin garage I parked it in was only just long enough so it was important to get forward as much as possible.
Quite a few times I hit the wall hard enough to bounce back....it's surprising how much spring there is in plastic bumpers!

Oh, and while recovering from my broken ankle last year and being a bit naughty attempting to drive with a "moon boot" on my right foot I, "allegedly" stuffed up my parking when my boot got tangled with the pedals, my i30 mounted the curb and bumped into a post...

Hit it hard enough to bounce back and ended up back in the parking bay...

Dazzler · **Reply #18: November 01, 2015, 20:08:48**

@ Rusty!

The Gonz · **Reply #19: November 02, 2015, 12:40:11**

You're allegedly a very naughty boy!
"ns"

i30DieselAuto2015 · **Reply #20: November 02, 2015, 12:46:21**

cheers for the replies - not too much abuse! glad its not just me. will persevere with the guesstimation technique, possibly try out the headlight technique, and try to avoid the bump technique!

Asterix · **Reply #21: November 02, 2015, 20:02:48**

If you have the car parked under roof, you could have a tennisball hanging from the roof so it hits the windscreen when the front is 10 cm away from the wall. That way you'll learn how close you can get.

Dazzler · **Reply #22: November 02, 2015, 20:13:33**

Quote from: Asterix on November 02, 2015, 20:02:48

If you have the car parked under roof, you could have a tennisball hanging from the roof so it hits the windscreen when the front is 10 cm away from the wall. That way you'll learn how close you can get.

Great idea Henning. I forgot about that!

Shambles · **Reply #23: November 02, 2015, 21:10:58**

Ace idea

ibrokeit · **Reply #24: November 03, 2015, 00:54:03**

All in all, the due to it's shape, judging exactly where the front of the i30 is not easy for most people.

I think it is basically because (depending on exact seating height/position) for most people the 'horizon' of the bonnet is before where the bonnet ends and front of car begins. Where in many, at least older, cars the 'horizon' was because bonnet ended and the front of car was below it - so most drivers knew pretty well exactly where their bumper was.

Having said that I notice is seems to be a modern car/driver thing and also applies to the rear of the vehicle. I have noticed in drive-thrus that the vehicle ahead is stopped (and has been) I pull up behind it - and anywhere between half a car length to about 1.5m away they start edging forwards (presumably because I am too close and I am going to hit them).

Phil №❶ · **Reply #25: November 03, 2015, 06:49:19**

This might sound a bit weird, but when I changed cars, I used to very gently bring the car up to a wall until it just touched it. Somehow, looking at the wall from the driver's seat allowed me to judge parking positions without incident in all my years.

I haven't done this in the I30 and I can't park it for s**t. I've always got sooo much room to spare.

I've got a nice towbar on the VP, so I just go back until I crunch the other car's bumper, (only joking).

ibrokeit · **Reply #26: November 03, 2015, 08:30:02**

Quote from: ibrokeit on November 03, 2015, 00:54:03

Having said that I notice is seems to be a modern car/driver thing and also applies to the rear of the vehicle. I have noticed in drive-thrus that the vehicle ahead is stopped (and has been) I pull up behind it - and anywhere between half a car length to about 1.5m away they start edging forwards (presumably because I am too close and I am going to hit them).

And again today - I came out of a side street, needed to be in right hand lane, so moved over into but was at bit of an angle with rear into left lane. So straightened up by moving closer to car in front... with still about a metre to spare (by which time I was only in the right lane by cms - still on an angle) the car in front suddenly lurched forward (into admittedly plenty of space - 3m or so) as if I was about to hit him and kept glancing back, seemingly worried, afterwards.

The Gonz · **Reply #27: November 03, 2015, 10:46:05**

You'll love what I'm seeing.

ibrokeit · **Reply #28: November 03, 2015, 23:48:26**

As in people getting close and no body is worried?

Or people not being in their lanes?

Or people not knowing where their car ends and the next one begins?

tla · **Reply #29: November 04, 2015, 00:13:45**

Quote from: ibrokeit on November 03, 2015, 08:30:02

Quote from: ibrokeit on November 03, 2015, 00:54:03
Having said that I notice is seems to be a modern car/driver thing and also applies to the rear of the vehicle. I have noticed in drive-thrus that the vehicle ahead is stopped (and has been) I pull up behind it - and anywhere between half a car length to about 1.5m away they start edging forwards (presumably because I am too close and I am going to hit them).

And again today - I came out of a side street, needed to be in right hand lane, so moved over into but was at bit of an angle with rear into left lane. So straightened up by moving closer to car in front... with still about a metre to spare (by which time I was only in the right lane by cms - still on an angle) the car in front suddenly lurched forward (into admittedly plenty of space - 3m or so) as if I was about to hit him and kept glancing back, seemingly worried, afterwards.

If I was in that situation, I would also move forward. I prefer to keep as large a buffer zone around me as possible, and to assume that all other drivers will do something stupid or make a mistake.