The Psychology of Parking...

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 4:39 am

Is it just me, or is the Vibe really hard to park straight? For the longest time after I got my car, mom and I decided it must be just me...I was used to driving a truck that didn't have the world's tightest turning radius, so I had to swing out. As a result, I was overshooting the spot in the Vibe and ending up crooked in the OPPOSITE of the way I had turned into the spot. Like...if you came in from the right side into this spot | | you might expect to end up like ||. Instead, I'd end up like |/|.So we blamed it on the tight turning radius and my being accustomed to the truck...UNTIL my mom drove my car over spring break. She had the exact same problem, and she used to not be able to park that truck because it didn't turn tight. So by all accounts she should have been great at parking the Vibe...not so. She overshot it too, just like I did.Now I have finally learned, in the course of the last year, to park the car straight. But in order to be straight, I have to FEEL like it's crooked. Then I get out and it's straight. Mom notices the exact same thing when she's driving.Is the seat crooked? Is there some visual marker that is messing with my head?

NovaResource · Post by **NovaResource** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 5:01 am

I always back into parking spots. No problems keeping it straight.

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 5:06 am

We can't do that on campus. It's illegal. Yet another way for Public Safety to gather revenue on tickets.

NovaResource · Post by **NovaResource** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 5:14 am

Illegal?!How and why is backing into a parking spot illegal?

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 5:18 am

It's illegal according to our campus parking rules and regulations, because you must have the front end of your vehicle pointing toward the closed end of the spot.They don't willingly tell people about it, though. That would take away some revenue. So they just let everybody find out the hard way.

ShotInTheDark · Post by **ShotInTheDark** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 5:33 am

allright fine, I'll open the can of worms.....maybe its a woman thing?

NovaResource · Post by **NovaResource** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 5:35 am

That's stupid. It's safer to back into a spot where there is no traffic than it is to back out of a spot into traffic.

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 5:39 am

*shrug* I didn't make up the rules...

johnsoax · Post by **johnsoax** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 6:39 am

It may be stupid, but we have the same rule at work and when I was in school we had the same rules in the parking lots and garages. (most of those are slanted parking spots though).

Devlop · Post by **Devlop** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 7:18 am

It probably has something to do with having the license plate visible when your parked.

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 7:25 am

quote:It probably has something to do with having the license plate visible when your parked.Not a problem if you're from Jersey...they require front and rear plates, which, of course, ruins the nose of the Vibe.

meathead333 · Post by **meathead333** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 10:09 am

it was that way at my college too.

redlava · Post by **redlava** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 11:32 am

I sometimes do that as well especially if nobody is parked next to me. I think it is because you cant see the hood so you have no reference point on the car to lineup with the parking stall. I owned a truck as well before I bought my vibe and I always parked my truck straight.

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 12:01 pm

Good. Nice to know it's not just me. I think the seats must be at a slight angle as well, which makes you feel like your body is straight even when the car is crooked.

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 11:25 pm

Are you making fun of me? LOL

NovaResource · Post by **NovaResource** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 11:29 pm

I think she just having a little fun. Maybe her leather cat suit is a little too tight (private joke).Backing in . . . hmmm, that could be fun.

drunkenmaxx · Post by **drunkenmaxx** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 11:36 pm

i often find it hard to tie my shoes when i'm in my vibe

NovaResource · Post by **NovaResource** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 11:40 pm

quote:sometimes i have trouble getting my pants back on too...Schwing!

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 11:43 pm

la la la...I believe I'll just stay out of this now... LOL

NovaResource · Post by **NovaResource** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 11:45 pm

Uh oh AtWork, I think we're corrupting the mind of a minor.

drunkenmaxx · Post by **drunkenmaxx** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 11:47 pm

time for a tag team in the vibe 'o love!

NovaResource · Post by **NovaResource** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 11:47 pm

That's ok, you're not my type.

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 11:53 pm

Nope, not a minor...just not a dirty-minded person.

NovaResource · Post by **NovaResource** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 11:58 pm

Maybe he just spilled the margarine.

drunkenmaxx · Post by **drunkenmaxx** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 12:00 am

i didn't spill the margarine, however it did end up all over the place. hey, that goat was of age and consented!

drunkenmaxx · Post by **drunkenmaxx** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 12:07 am

quote:That's ok, you're not my type.> what's the matter big boy?

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 12:57 am

I can park it now...I was just wondering if I was the only one who thought it felt like it was crooked when it was actually straight.

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 1:05 am

Hey now - I was never THAT bad...(removed). At least I can get it between the lines with room to spare. Some people around here can't even do that much.

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Tue Jun 08, 2004 1:44 pm

Quote, originally posted by Kari Â»I can park it now...I was just wondering if I was the only one who thought it felt like it was crooked when it was actually straight. I've noticed a couple of times lately I would have sworn I was parked straight and get out to find a bit of an angle.

futseal04 · Post by **futseal04** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 12:08 am

No problems here.......

Mr. Poopypants · Post by **Mr. Poopypants** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 12:11 am

Quote, originally posted by drunkenvibe Â»i often find it hard to tie my shoes when i'm in my vibeSpeaking of, have you ever tried to change clothes in the driver's seat, that is TOUGH!!OK, I'm done hijacking.

drummerdude · Post by **drummerdude** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 2:19 am

Quote, originally posted by Mr. Poopypants Â»Speaking of, have you ever tried to change clothes in the driver's seat, that is TOUGH!!Not clothes perhaps... but shoes! yes! very difficult

Mr. Poopypants · Post by **Mr. Poopypants** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 3:51 am

I have to change clothes on Thursdays because I go straight from work to golf and I don't have time to change at work. I could change in the clubhouse but that would just be a pain.

Mavrik · Post by **Mavrik** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 4:19 am

Juliana cracks me up lol, reading some of the older stuff in here.Me I part straight or just don't worry about it. No probs yet anyway.

Keely · Post by **Keely** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 4:38 am

I'm with Kari on this one. I do a lot of backing in - hold up now! - when I'm parking the Vibe, and I find the angle of the rear windows make it really tough.At first, I thought I just had to get used to it so I forced myself (now an ingrained habit) to reverse into my garage all the time. Of course, reversing UP the slanted driveway makes the angle all the more pronounced and the whole process more challenging!Hmmm... maybe it's a height thing. I'm 5'4", maybe Kari and others "parking-angle-challenged" are too?

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 5:14 am

yes, i have to maneuver a bit to get it parked straight in.... cause i'm kinda small and sometimes it's harder to see what you're doing. LOL

drunkenmaxx · Post by **drunkenmaxx** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 5:27 am

the vibe is definitely a little difficult to judge when backing up. partly because the back window is farther/smaller than that of a car.

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 5:40 am

being short, i gotta crane my neck up. and usually, i have to roll down the window and stick my head out so i can see. LOL

VibeChick · Post by **VibeChick** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 5:45 am

Quote, originally posted by trdvibe Â»being short, i gotta crane my neck up. and usually, i have to roll down the window and stick my head out so i can see. LOLhahaha! That's funny. I think the Vibe is really easy to park, it's short and turns so tightly. It did take some getting used to though - when you look out the back window, it looks longer than it really is.I'm not as short as some of you, so maybe that helps. *shrugs*

drunkenmaxx · Post by **drunkenmaxx** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 5:52 am

Quote, originally posted by trdvibe Â»being short, i gotta crane my neck up. and usually, i have to roll down the window and stick my head out so i can see. LOLi stick my head out the window all the time, it's not weird.im about 6'1 and still have probs, maybe im just an idiot. >

VibeChick · Post by **VibeChick** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 5:56 am

Quote, originally posted by drunkenvibe Â»i stick my head out the window all the time, it's not weird.im about 6'1 and still have probs, maybe im just an idiot. >Adjust your mirrors

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 5:57 am

Quote, originally posted by VibeChick Â»Adjust your mirrors (removed)! well all my mirror are adjusted. but sometimes if i'm backing up into the parking spot and there are other cars, it's hard to see where they begin and where i end. that's why i gotta stick my head out the window.

Mavrik · Post by **Mavrik** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 7:27 am

I use my mirrors, but don't need to stick my head out the window.Thanks Carrie and Hope for letting me know your backing up difficulties... cause now we'll see if I'll let you drive my Vibe

VibeChick · Post by **VibeChick** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 7:29 am

Hey, I said for the first little while I had trouble....

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 8:04 am

LOL whatever! you rode w/ me for 5 days! just don't let me parallel park that's all!and you got to see all my "back up" skills in action...

Mavrik · Post by **Mavrik** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 8:10 am

Quote, originally posted by trdvibe Â»LOL whatever! you rode w/ me for 5 days! just don't let me parallel park that's all!and you got to see all my "back up" skills in action... True but I haven't seen Carrie's

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 8:13 am

Quote, originally posted by Mavrik Â»True but I haven't seen Carrie's yes, but i doubt that carrie's gonna show you. besides, she wants to drive mike's spiffy bling bling trix.

VibeChick · Post by **VibeChick** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 8:58 am

Quote, originally posted by trdvibe Â»yes, but i doubt that carrie's gonna show you. besides, she wants to drive mike's spiffy bling bling trix. haha! leave you guys alone for an hour...sheesh Ok, Hope can back up, and I can parallel park. We should have it covered

Psychobroker · Post by **Psychobroker** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 9:05 am

With all these problems, I'll just walk to Michigan Oh, and my !@#$ passport has been found...with a 12-year old pic of me

VibeChick · Post by **VibeChick** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 9:21 am

Quote, originally posted by Psychobroker Â»With all these problems, I'll just walk to Michigan Oh, and my !@#$ passport has been found...with a 12-year old pic of me yay, you found it! good for you!