topic Re: Car, Garage Fear in Community Chat

Car, Garage Fear

Lali1 — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 22:20:10 GMT

So we recently got a new car and my husband insists it needs to parked in the garage. The problem is I'm terrified to pull it in and out. I've only driven the car 2 times and that was before my husband cleaned the garage out. I know it's silly but I stress over the thought of it so I drive me truck instead. Many years ago I actually did hit the mirror of a car on the middle section of the garage. My garage now doesn't have that but obviously I'm still stuck on this silliness. Anyone else dread this? Any tips?

Re: Car, Garage Fear

gidgetgh — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 23:14:04 GMT

@Lali1- it's just something you're going to have to get through if you ever intend to drive the car.

I bought a new car last fall and it's 4 inches wider than my old car and I swear it took me forever to get used to pulling it in the garage. It was ridiculous. We have to turn sharply to get into our garage and it's a tight turn. Precision thread the needle kind of thing to get it in there.

Anyway, now I can do it with my eyes closed. Ok, I'm joking about that, but I'm used to it now. Took me about three weeks.

Practice, practice, practice.

Re: Car, Garage Fear

AuntG — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 22:31:41 GMT

There generally is plenty of room. Maybe if you measured the width of you car and compared it to the width of the opening, you'd see it is unlikely you will scrape the side.

Re: Car, Garage Fear

fortune — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 22:41:33 GMT

@Lali1 wrote:
So we recently got a new car and my husband insists it needs to parked in the garage. The problem is I'm terrified to pull it in and out. I've only driven the car 2 times and that was before my husband cleaned the garage out. I know it's silly but I stress over the thought of it so I drive me truck instead. Many years ago I actually did hit the mirror of a car on the middle section of the garage. My garage now doesn't have that but obviously I'm still stuck on this silliness. Anyone else dread this? Any tips?

@Lali1

You could just park it in the driveway and let him put it in the garage!

Re: Car, Garage Fear

Lapdog — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 22:41:51 GMT

@Lali1 I sure do feel for you! I recently moved from a CRV to a Minivan, which is much wider/longer.

The good Lord did not see fit to give me backing up capability! It is something I have fought with all my driving life.

My carport was built for the CRV and every time I drive the van I have to be so careful not to hit the posts.

I am sure you will get much better than me real soon.

Re: Car, Garage Fear

de1rdre — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 22:42:24 GMT

I had the exact issue when bought a new car that was wider than my previous car. I have an older home with a narrow single car garage. To make matters worse, the garage is at basement level with a retaining wall on each side of the driveway. Think Batcave. The night I brought my car home from the dealership, I headed down the driveway into the garage, started in, and got as far as the mirrors, when I became convinced that my car was too big for my garage! So I backed out of the driveway and parked the brand new car on the street.

How did I resolve my problem? My sister convinced me the car would indeed fit. She told me to check the car manual for the width of the car mirror to mirror. Then she had me measure the width of my garage opening. Sure enough, I had about a six inch clearance. The next morning, in daylight, armed with this data and new confidence, I successfully negotiated the garage opening. Today I pull in and back out of the garage on auto-pilot.

So, I recommend using this measurement technique and calmly give it another try. Practice makes perfect. Good luck!

Re: Car, Garage Fear

ValuSkr — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 22:43:50 GMT

Hang something like a tennis ball from the garage ceiling at exactly the point where the front center of the car's hood should be when properly parked. That will at least give you something to aim for. When backing out, go straight - don't move the steering wheel and you won't hit the sides of the garage.

Re: Car, Garage Fear

sidsmom — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 22:48:25 GMT

Can you rig up a side attachment which would be a buffer

before the actual wall? I've seen a pool noodle attached

to the garage wall...which was 3-4 inches away from the actual wall.

You might hit the noodle as a warning, but at least you

wouldn't hit the wall. HTH. |>🚘<|

Re: Car, Garage Fear

Lali1 — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 22:50:20 GMT

Thank you all for the tips. It's so much nicer than my big truck but it's jut easier to drive the truck dirt and all. I think my husband is leaving the truck dirty to encourage me to drive the car.

Re: Car, Garage Fear

Lali1 — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 22:51:46 GMT

This is a brilliant idea ❤️

Re: Car, Garage Fear

lucymo — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 22:54:40 GMT

@ValuSkr wrote:
Hang something like a tennis ball from the garage ceiling at exactly the point where the front center of the car's hood should be when properly parked. That will at least give you something to aim for. When backing out, go straight - don't move the steering wheel and you won't hit the sides of the garage.

@ValuSkr My sister used this method to judge when to stop as there were entrance steps to the house that couldn't be seen when close to them. It would also work to pull into the garage.

Re: Car, Garage Fear

santorini — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 23:04:47 GMT

Just remind yourself that this car that you just spent lots of money on will be safer in the garage than outside, and the garage will protect it from weather. It can indeed be scary. I drive a larger SUV and it was a challenge the first few times I parked it in my garage. I just go very slow when entering, and use my driver's side mirror as a measurement tool. If I leave about 2 inches of empty space on the side of the left mirror and pull straight in, everything fits fine, so I just slowly maneuver around until I have the 2 inch left mirror open space and then I have no problems at all. Good luck.

Re: Car, Garage Fear

ROMARY — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 23:05:34 GMT

Many years ago, my dear brilliant in common sense dad hung a lightweight long stick on a rope from the ceiling so I could easily judge when to stop my new-ish car and still have room to walk in front of it in order to access the washer/dryer. It's still there, and sure is very handy.

Re: Car, Garage Fear

aubnwa01 — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 23:14:37 GMT

I back my car into the garage (old phone co. habit) & bought a new car last Dec. My previous car I could practically back in with my eyes closed, but the new car is longer & wider. When I brought the new car home, I backed part way in & gauged how far & had on either side by putting it in park & getting out & looking. Once I had my "landmarks" on how far I needed to back it in set in my brain & still be able to close the garage door, I was fine. The new car also has a backup camera & beeps when I get close to the cabinets at the back of the garage & the screen has little grid lines & I know how close I can get & still be able to open the back lift gate & also still close the garage door.

Re: Car, Garage Fear

KLm — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 23:19:17 GMT

My car mirrors fold in. There's a little switch on my door that makes that happen. It's nice when colums and walls and cars etc are close no matter where I'm parking. My other car has mirrors that fold in but I have to do them manually.

Parking your new car in your garage is a matter of self confidence. I let mistakes I've made play in my head sometimes and whittle away at what I think I can do. First step is to change the tape that plays, into "I can do this." Imagine yourself doing it. Then practice. I would have to do it by myself, because having anyone watching me and "helping" would undermine my concentration. Good luck!

Re: Car, Garage Fear

Skyegirl21 — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 23:20:27 GMT

Let him park it in garage. Then you sit in drivers seat while it's in there and look around at the distances, for example how far you judge from sides and how close to pull in.

I use a shelving unit in my garage to judge where I should be when parked.

Also, if it's a turn into the garage, make sure when your pulling in, the back of the car is straight. Before I pull in, I reverse to straighten out the back, that helps a lot.

You'll get the hang of it... try to relax.

Re: Car, Garage Fear

suzyQ3 — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 23:27:06 GMT

We both park our cars in our garage, and we both have tennis balls hanging so that we know when we are in far enough to enable the automatic garage door to come down.

Re: Car, Garage Fear

RedTop — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 23:28:15 GMT

We've had 4 different trucks and/or SUV's in the years since building our double garage, and I've never been afraid to pull them inside, or back them out. My feelings are that I'd rather ding or scratch it myself than wait for it to happen by some ***hole in WalMart parking lot, who won't own up to the damage.

However, the one thing my husband and I have stood firm on, is that we absolutely will not park our vehicles outside in the driveway because the garage is full of stuff. Half the stuff in this house belongs to our 2 daughters; their rooms are full, and they have boxes of stuff in the basement and the garage. We are quite tolerant of their stuff unless it ever infringes on our parking spaces, and if that happens, their stuff is history.

Re: Car, Garage Fear

kivah — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 23:59:29 GMT

I drove my last Honda Accord for 29 years - and I've always parked it in my garage. It's the only car in my garage. Almost 2 years ago, I bought a Honda Civic -- and soon realized that it's a little longer and wider than my previous car. I knew the car salesman and he drove my car home (with me as the passenger) - as I was "literally" afraid to drive it. I was able to drive it into the garage --- where it stayed for 3 days - as I was afraid of it!!!! Finally, I drove out of the garage and around my area for a few minutes - then back into the garage. The bigger size scared me -- and the electronics scared me. When I start the car, all the bright lights come on - but then they go off. I'm a lot better now -- and when I drive into my garage, I push my seat back, take my seatbelt off -- and actually check the back of my car, making sure my garage door won't slam on it. I'm never sure how far I should drive into the garage.

I recently went to the Honda dealer to get oil/grease. They told me that I need to use that gizmo on the steering wheel - and when it says 15%, I should bring the car back.

I still don't how to use it.

I was also uncomfortable driving, as the seat was sooooo low to the floor. I'm very short and could hardly see out the window. A month ago, I went to the tile store and the sales woman asked me what type of car I had. I told her that almost 2 yrs ago, I purchased a 2012 Honda Civic -- but the seat is too low for me. She pressed on this gadget on the side of the seat --- and the seat raised up. I never knew u could do that!!!!! Now - I'm much more comfortable.

I hate to admit it - but I still don't know how to use the radio, change stations, use the flashers, change the time, etc. I do have a book to read - but I know it will confuse me more.

I don't drive that often - and somehow I've managed.

Re: Car, Garage Fear

SeaMaiden — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 00:22:10 GMT

@Lali1 wrote:
So we recently got a new car and my husband insists it needs to parked in the garage. The problem is I'm terrified to pull it in and out. I've only driven the car 2 times and that was before my husband cleaned the garage out. I know it's silly but I stress over the thought of it so I drive me truck instead. Many years ago I actually did hit the mirror of a car on the middle section of the garage. My garage now doesn't have that but obviously I'm still stuck on this silliness. Anyone else dread this? Any tips?

@Lali1 I am the same way.....I drive my 2000 van and my husband drives the 2017 Kia. I feel comfortable in my old car and I am use to maneuvering it in and out of the garage...the new car feels strange and it is harder to see out the smaller windows on the new car. I have never hit the sides of the garage....but hae gotten close a couple of times! I know just how you feel.