Parking The Prius

[Dancing Badger]

Is it just me? I've always been good at parking and reversing. Parallel parking on a busy street or backing into a space in a crowded multi-storey have never held any fears for me, I can confidently adopt the correct starting position and reverse straight in without any shuffling back and forth. I've driven heavy goods vehicles and used to be a driving instructor, and even though I'm no longer a professional driver being able to reverse competently still feels like a matter of professional pride to me.

But the Prius is a nightmare to park! It's not the size - my previous car was a small one but before that I had a Rover 820 and before that a Rover P6 - both sizeable motors, and the P6 had no power steering and no nearside mirror. I never had a problem with either of them. She Who Must Be Obeyed has a Citroen Berlingo van, I have no problem with that.

It's not the visibility - I don't have a problem with the rear visibility on the Prius - the rear pillars are thick and the over-the-shoulder view is restricted, but the split window doesn't bother me at all, and the door mirrors are good - also I have parking sensors, something I've never had before. In any event, it has much better rear visibility than SWMBO's van.

No, it's the turning circle. It just seems to be huge. I have lived in the same house now since 1985. I always back into the drive the same way - drive down the hill in the middle of the road until the rear of the car is around 6 feet past the drive, and reverse on full, or nearly full, lock, and it goes straight in - it has always worked. It worked on the two Rovers I mentioned, it works on SWMBO's van, it works on my 1961 Hillman Minx, it worked on a Citroen Xantia, a Peugeot 405, a Fiat Tipo, an Escort, a Montego, a Cortina, I've done it a few times in a rented Transit not to mention assorted little efforts like Fiestas and Metros - you get the picture, it works.

It doesn't work on my Prius. If I approach the manoeuvre as I have for nearly 30 years I find myself heading for the far gate post, and have to shuffle forward. I have the same problem in car parks - I know instinctively the correct position that has always worked to reverse pretty much any car straight in and the Prius just won't turn enough, it just seems to have a much larger turning circle than any car or light goods vehicle I've driven - and I've driven a LOT of different vehicles in nearly 40 years of driving, and never had problems parking before.

I've had the Prius 4 months now, and in every other department I love it, it's the cat's meow. But I'm still not adapting to reversing it, which is infuriating. Even though I'm aware of the issue and consciously allow for a bigger turn, I still seem to under-estimate it. I've never been that guy who has to shuffle forward because he hasn't lined up correctly to reverse straight into a parking space in one go - and now I am. I have become (for those of you who are British, and of a certain age, the rest of you will have to Google) Reginald Molehusband.

I'm not expecting any helpful hints on this, the car is what it is, and no doubt I'll get my personal radar readjusted eventually but I can't find any mention of it in the forum, please tell me I'm not imagining it. Is it just me?

[PeteB]

Hi Mick

I think the turing circle is not good - my previous Gen 1 (2002) Prius had an amazing turning circle of about 30 feet that allows U turns where only a London Taxi would do better. If you have a T4 or T-Spirit with 17" rims that probably makes it worse - I haven't seen a figure for the Prius, but the Yaris Hybrids with larger wheels get no less than 6 feet added to their turing circle!

One of the few things I liked about some BMWs I've been lent was that on selecting reverse, the door mirrors tilted downwards, then reverted to their previous position afterwards. I generally drop my near-side mirror when reversing into my drive as it helps me line up.

Regards, Pete

[FROSTYBALLS]

According to www.parkers.co.uk the turning circle of the T3 is 11 metres - 36 feet. Have also seen an American article which states that the wider tyres of high spec models reduce the movement of the front wheels and increases the turning circle by another 1m - making the turning circle 39 feet.

[r04drunner1]

First off, congratulations on an amusing and well worded post.

Secondly, I had exactly the same problem. As a highly experienced driver myself, I found I had to deliberately drive forward a greater distance before stopping and doing a reversing turn. Even after compensating for the poor turning circle, I would often find I had undercompensated and would still have to do the shuffle.

I agree one's personal radar does adjust, but even then I found it did not stick. I would get it right about 75% of the time, but too many times I would do the shuffle.

Of course, the answer is obvious. Buy a top of the range model and get it to automatically park itself. :-)

[Chris Dance]

I am pleased to see other competant drivers have the same parking issues that I have with the Prius. My wife told me it is because you are getting older!!! Parallell parking always gives me a problem. A big Volvo estate I had in the 90s could be easily parked anywhere. I like the Prius very much but I shall have to do the odd "shuffle" parking until I change the car. I am not confident enough to use the self park. and it takes me a while to even set it up.

[r04drunner1]

The early Volvos had a brilliant turning circle, not so much now in the noughties.

No, it's not my age. It's the car. Honest dear!

[Dancing Badger]

Phew - thanks to all for reassuring me I'm not just losing it. It's normal to have to make slight adjustments from one car to another, it just seems that the Prius is a sufficiently out of the normal range that the subconscious can't quite cope. I'll just have to keep working at it - at least when I do have to shuffle the light steering and ease of shifting from reverse to drive and back make manoeuvring quick and easy.

[Cyker]

If it makes you feel any better, I found my Mk1 Yais has a worse turning circle than an Audi A3 and a Ford Transit Van

Need to steal the steering rack from a Black Cab, those things have amazing turning circles!

[FROSTYBALLS]

"Need to steal the steering rack from a Black Cab, those things have amazing turning circles!"

... or a Triumph Herald

[kithmo]

I have the same problem with the Prius+ coming from the Gen 3 T-spirit with park assist.

Although I still have a back up camera, it doesn't have the guide lines that the Gen 3 T-spirit had, that move with the steering, showing you where you will end up. All the bare back up camera does is serves to show you how close you can go to the car behind, something that could be achieved by the standard reversing aid buzzers.

The intelligent park assist was ok, but you still had to put the car in the correct position, prompted by beeps and messages on the screen, then adjust the end target position on the screen, to get it to work. All this took time (and sometimes frustrated other drivers behind you) and it was quicker to just use the guide lines and do it manually.

[PeteB]

"Need to steal the steering rack from a Black Cab, those things have amazing turning circles!"

... or a Triumph Herald

it's easier to put a tight turning circle on a rear-wheel drive car - remember the ripping sound from the tyres on a Herald when turning on full lock?

My dad bought a new Herald in 1960 - for the three months it was off the road waiting nor new radiators, wiring looms, axles and lots of other things that broke, the turning circle was the last thing on his mind! (no courtesy cars or even lifts to the station in those days).

[Opifex]

Glad to hear that others are having trouble reversing - I thought I must be just losing it.

I have to do precision reverse parking in my garage which involves approaching at an angle and getting as close as possible to the door post on the nearside, I used to be able to do this pretty consistently in my old car which was bigger than the Prius. The usual problem seems to be that I misjudge the position of the rear wheels and turn too early.

Unfortunately the problem isn't limited to reversing. I also seem to hit the kerb at pinch-points and car park paystations more often than I used to. I can only think this is due to me not adjusting to the drivers seat being further forward in relation to the wheels than in my previous cars which all had a "real" bonnet, and the window glass isn't as low so I lose sight of the kerb sooner. Anyone else have trouble?

[Duffryn]

Well, I must be in a minority here as I don't have a problem with reverse parking the thing - in fact I find it a darn sight easier than my previous Avensis. And - oddly it would seem - I thought the turning circle to be pretty good for a FWD car.

The two 'problems' I have relate to the reverse beeper being too quiet - have to turn the radio off and (politely) shut up any passengers yapping - to hear the beeps. I also find it difficult to judge where the bonnet ends, always seem to leave too big a gap when drawing up to the white line in the supermarket car park.

[kithmo]

+1 clipping the kerb and +1 leaving too big a gap at the front, I thought it was me getting old.

[johalareewi]

Kerb clipping for me too but it isn't as bad now. :(

Gap at the front isn't too bad but, I do have to watch out for kerbs so I don't ground the front spoiler.

[barrycoll]

a great post Dancing Badger, interesting AND well written

when using my wife's Toy IQ, the problem (??) is the length, or lack of it.....pulling into a petrol station to fill up, and I find that I am miles passed the filler cap, as my brain is adjusted for 4 meter length and not sub 3 meter length....

its all about muscle memory isn't it, and how great it is when it works to our advantage, (riding a bike), and how upsetting it is when we are caught out by habit....eg, a stair that is either deeper or shallower than 'normal'

the saving grace is the knowledge that our brains are 'plastic' enough to eventually accomodate

[AEB-UK]

You should try it my Husband's XC90 - it has the turning circle of a narrow boat!

He also had an old Volvo, and a Triumph Herald previously, so he knows exactly where the other posters are coming from.

[PeteB]

Well, I must be in a minority here as I don't have a problem with reverse parking the thing ....

The two 'problems' I have relate to the reverse beeper being too quiet - have to turn the radio off and (politely) shut up any passengers yapping - to hear the beeps. I also find it difficult to judge where the bonnet ends, always seem to leave too big a gap when drawing up to the white line in the supermarket car park.

I can't say I have a problem with mine either but I have driven over 75k in Gen 2/3 Prius, AND I have sensors at both ends; I can hear them just fine too; hardly ever have the radio on anyway - in the Prius virtually no noise to drown out except:

a. on coubik chipped road surfaces (WHY do we still have those?

b. when accelerating very hard (but squeezing rather than stabbing the pedal down reduces the revs and noise)

c. noisy passengers, but 90% of my driving is on my own

I'm mighty glad it's now possible to switch off the beeping that just says you've selected reverse!

However, I can't say I think the turning circle is wonderful: in places I used to do U turns in my Gen 1 Prius (which was excellent - better than a Volvo I once owned and they were renowned for good turing circles) I now have to do three point as it seems it would need another six feet or so of road width - a T4/Spirit with 17" rims would presumably be even worse!

[Joseph D]

a. on coubik chipped road surfaces (WHY do we still have those?

Primarily because it is significantly cheaper per mile to lay.

b. when accelerating very hard (but squeezing rather than stabbing the pedal down reduces the revs and noise)

Agreed. But if you are too aggressive, and the motor starts to race away, you just lift off a bit and gently press down again. It keeps the engine noise to a minimum.