Curbanoia
 

I've always been paranoid about curbs and have never rashed a rim.

My personal rides have ranged in size from an '85 CRX, to an '05 Ram, and my work vehicles have typically included full size vans and large straight trucks.

Here's my problem, and I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this:

I cannot get close to a curb with my 86.

It goes beyond the paranoia of damaging a rim - I've always had nice wheels and could judge the whereabouts of the curb to my satisfaction, but in the 86, one of the smallest vehicles I've owned, I constantly find that I've parked at least a foot away from any curb I pull up to.

Your counsel is appreciated, and I confess in advance that I did not search this subject.

Well, I hear that fer sure.........:sigh:

I can't seem to judge either side all that well. I have difficulty judging the drivers side when pulling up to a bank ATM or a drive through fast food places, by being too conservative.

As far as the passenger side, I'm also way usually way too conservative.

Where I miss the mark sometimes is turning into drives. For example, we were driving in an unfamiliar town a couple weeks ago looking for a restaurant, when my wife said "turn here", so I did. Where I turned was NOT a driveway ...... BAM ... I lucked out, no busted tires or rims ..... :bonk:

NO, @Ultramaroon, it was not at night, it was not raining and I was not drunk .........:cry:


humfrz

My doors sit about 7 inches off the ground. Many curbs are 10 inches high. If I want to open the doors I have to be at least 18 inches away. Since I never know when I may want to open the doors I always park at least 18 inches away from a curb.
My front is about 4 inches off the ground. Needless to say I don't get even close to curbs or stop logs.

Ouch!

I have no problem getting close. My issue is with backing straight into a parking spot. I can't seem to get it right.

Apparently, at least middle-aged dogs can learn new tricks. This is my first car with electric mirrors. I've discovered it's easy to see the curb in the passenger side mirror by adjusting it accordingly; temporarily, of course.

Yuh, curbanoia is a issue with me as well. I was at the drive thru ATM last month and the insert card was so F'n high I had to reverse and move a lil closer. Plus I'm short asian & I have a shoulder issue at the moment so F'meh! Holding my car door and reaching to use ATM was a nightmare. LOL! Whoever viewed that bank video had a ROTFLMFAO moment if you get my drift.

I had a parking curb moment so I'm sure I got scrapes under front end. Lil curb rash on one rear tire cause I was in a rush. So yuh you're not alone in curbanoia, it's alive and well in most of us with a 86! ;)

Well, Ultramaroon ...... you can't go straight in ..... ya gotta cut the wheels ...... :rolleyes:


humfrz

That's what she said....

I usually just sit up straighter when parking and don't seem to have any problems. The front fender hump tells you where your front wheel is, and I use the passenger side mirror to judge the back.

I don't know if dodging cones at AutoX helps one better learn the dimensions of the car too. Taking turns too wide hurts your time, so I always work to keep it tight.

^

Oh, I can parallel park with my eyes closed but I can't back into a straight one. You know, like parking at a union shop.

http://www.audiofkingston.com/wp-con...rkingspace.jpg

Same boat as you...ive never curbed a wheel before (knock on wood).

I always reverse into the spot and use my side mirrors as guides...the problem is that the fenders are wide but wheels are flushed into it so it kind of throws off the perspective that it's close. The front is also wide and the wheels are flushed in too.

Funny you mention that, I can back my work truck (Silverado with the extra big cab and regular box) straight as an arrow. The FRS? Always off kilter. I think it's the paranoia of backing into the curb. The one time I pulled into a spot (that isn't the garage) was the day after I installed my splitter, I got out of the car, and there was maybe half an inch between the curb and my splitter. What a lucky day that was.

Yep this car is hard to judge by looking. Pull up to a gas pump, you're further away than you thought. The worse is backing up (no back up camera) I don't even try to back this car up in between two cars. It has a lot of blind spots

After you catch the front lip or one of the wheels once (or twice) you give up worrying about it :) Parallel parking this car is a piece of cake, one of the easiest I've ever owned but a backup camera would make it the best. Backing into a parking spot, even a super tight one, is extraordinarily easy with this car. If it has a parking log/stop I just keep going until my tow hitch hits it so I know I'm all the way in :bonk: The thing hangs so low it hits everything anyway...

I want to install cameras front and rear though because I think the really would make life easier but I'm cheap.

I thought you had handicap parking carnet

You could get some of these... ;)
http://juiceboxforyou.com/wp-content...6/xposed15.jpg

And they're JDM!!

I had never curbed a rim either until recently. I bought a beautiful set of RPF1s in SBC (Special Bullshit Coating) that I had waiting in my house for a year while I burned the rubber off the stock tires. I finally put tires on them and installed them on my vehicle a few months ago, and six days later I curbed the rear passenger rim on a bank lane where the curb on the right extended several feet further out than the one on the left. Fuck.

Because it's Special Bullshit Coating, I apparently can't get it repaired. They originally came from FT86 Speed Factory, but since I bought them used, they have refused to sell me a replacement. They say they're willing to replace them for the original buyer, but not for second hand buyers. That pissed me off enough that I'll never buy another fucking thing from FT86 Speed Factory as long as I live.

I usually know when I want to open the doors. Usually it's when I park and intend to get out of the car. It's unusual for me to park and then become unsure whether I want to exit.

When I first got my SUV back in 2000, there were a lot of ATMs that were too low. Over time they all got higher. It hadn't sunk in that this had happened until I got the BRZ and couldn't reach an ATM anywhere.

It's easier if you get rid of the fire shooting out of the corners of your car. That's a huge distraction.

Ahhhh but I usually do not park with the driver's side against a curb. I was referring to the passenger door really. Never know when I may end up taking somebody someplace.

lol

everyone buy some blind spot mirrors for your car if you haven't done so already

and this is important! => put them in the bottom outside corners of the side mirrors and now you will how close you are to the curbs and parking lines when backing up into a spot...trust me it's the best investment for your car especially if you don't have a backup camera

http://i1336.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4fa6fe9e.jpg

I use my mirrors, point them at my wheels when I need to parallel park.

I've bumped a few corners, first time it happened I was checking out some college girls instead of watching the corner, I just glazed the wheel against the curb as I made it around, cringeworthy sound.


But also I've practically banged my back end off a curb once, bounced me right off it, more damage to my ego than to the wheel.

Or you will be totally disoriented and confused by the curved lines you are trying to follow.

i just pull forward until my tires touch the curb

:lol: ....... I suspect @Ultramaroon 's disability is not physical ..... :D


humfrz

What does SEX have to do with the subject ........ :D


humfrz

@humfrz don't mix your blood pressure medication with your boner pills

might make a person go blind actually

Use energy drinks with boner pill and talk about sex machine

No problem ...... I don't take the boner pills anymore ....... they quit working for me ..... :cry:


humfrz

Heck, I can't hardly see the way it is.

Plus, I need all the blood I have just to run my brain ..... and that is barely enough ..... :rolleyes:


humfrz

what wheels do you have OP?

I'm not sure why, but this car feels MUCH wider than it really is when maneuvering around curbs and parking spaces.

My 2004 Audi A6 had a feature where the passenger mirror would tilt down as soon as the car was put in reverse. It was awesome for parking and you could see exactly how far you were from the curb or painted line. You could even adjust how far down you wanted it to tilt and each key fob memorized different driver preferences (as well as seating position etc). You really miss this kind of stuff when you ditch luxury brands, and you start to see why its worth the $$.


[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYl5wQB-OHM"]Audi A6 | Reverse Mirror Tilt. - YouTube[/ame]

Maybe because our butts are only a few inches off the ground ......??


humfrz

For passenger side parking nearest curb just point the side mirror down until you get a feel of the distance. Drivers side your sideview while reversing should be fine without moving down. In no time you will have it down without worrying. Practice Practice Practice.

Ruff Racing R364.

I have a backup camera which makes reversing near anything easier. My main problem ironically is pulling over to curbs on the passenger side, which should be the easiest manoeuvre.

I'm starting to think it might be the very low driver position - I've got the seat 3 cranks up from the lowest point. I guess though I'd still rather be positive 12" away than negative 1".

Here ya go, geezerbrzeezr ........ remember those ........ :D


humfrz

I had this same issue - I wonder if it was my side mirror setup (I had them angled out wide to cover the blind spots, which also made them useless for checking if I had backed in straight).
That's the only reason I'd want a rear-view camera (especially with exhaust and/or rear diffuser)

How does this work? Does it make a sound when it scrapes the curb? Does it hang out at all times?

Asking for a friend (yes, that should stick....)