Are parking sensors useful on small city cars?

I didn't order them as I felt I would be able to tell where the car's extremities were with unusual precision.

And in a recent ride in my sister's big mini, she told me she finds the beeping noise (of the retro fitted 'parking aid') a blinking nuisance as she reverses into her garage.

So. Useful gadget or unnecessary gizmo?

Edited 6 February, 201412 yr by staib

On bigger cars and ones with tiny squat rear windows and bulges everywhere (Scirocco) they are probably essential. I sat in an UP and the all round visibility was great, I imagine it would be like maneuvering a small greenhouse.

 

My friend bought an Audi with them and we used to joke that they were actually used to ensure you were following the car in front closely enough, staying true to the badge!

 

I think you made a good move and hopefully put the money towards another plush option  :sun:

Had them on my Citigo, wouldn't worry me if I bought one without as you feel like you can touch all four corners from the driving seat and visibility is good.

I didn't order the reverse sensors on the Citigo we ordered but have started to look at some cheap DIY alternatives and found these...

 

Sensor

 

or maybe a camera

Not needed on Citigo...the easiest car to park that I've owned.

Wife had them dealer fitted on hers - but by her own admission, she's "manure" at reversing...

They're essential on the Octavia. I don't feel I need them on the Mii. Easiest car to park ever.

 

However, it's probably one of those things that you don't think you need but if you have it, then you miss it if it packs up.

I like sensors as they can be heard from outside the car and give pedestrians a warning in supermarket car parks and the likes when they walk behind a car that is reversing. Also having had them on every car I've owned for the last 10 years I'm pretty used to them.

 

Not sure if it is still the case but on the Citigo they came bundled with cruise control and the multifunction computer (on the dash not the PID) when we bought ours.

Would be handy for me as I have to reverse up a very narrow driveway with brick wall on both sides, but for day-to-day driving utterly unnecessary.

If my daughter can park hers without reversing sensors , then I guess you don't need them.

I could do with them on my van but see them as an unnecessary expense on a small car.

For me they are an enhancement to the car and help prevent the user error of 'I did not see that' Bang? problem.

Definitely not required in my mind - the views all round are good enough that you can pretty much judge distances on all sides down to inches unlike on bigger cars where it can be hard to see the exact end of the bonnet or boot

Would be handy for me as I have to reverse up a very narrow driveway with brick wall on both sides, but for day-to-day driving utterly unnecessary.

Not very good in this situation....because they will activate all the way up the narrow drive (personal past experience!).

I don't see the need for them on such a short city car. I didn't see the need for them on my MX-5 either with being seated so close to the rear end but they are very handy when reversing with the hood up as the view rewards is pants. Come in very handy when reversing into the garage too, but had the car not come fitted with them I wouldn't have paid out extra to have the fitted.

Edited 6 February, 201412 yr by MickA

OK, I'll render myself in the minority again.

 

Yes, I'd have them.

 

And if they weren't there I'd pay to have them fitted afterwards.

 

Not because I'm no good at reversing because I've had years of experience reversing big red lorries with ladders and blue lights plus trailers and minibuses and vans....

 

It's just that it only takes one incident on a dark, wet, stormy night with rain obscuring the view and a saucy little 18" post or lump of granite (both of which abound round this way) combined with a seconds worth of inattention and you've got a scrape that'll cost the same as the sensors.

 

Anyone who has never come close to a minor touch due to driver error in forty something years is welcome to collect their halo from me.  Applications on a postcard.

Thanks guys for the helpful comments.

I did once manage to reverse into a low but solid bollard, so I get the value of protection, but on balance I am more careful these days, and feel I will manage without

Mind you I will check out those links anyway!

When I bought my Citigo I went for one available from stock, as I am far too impatient to wait for a factory build. It has the Convenience Pack, which gives you cruise control, trip computer and parking sensors. I wouldn't have bothered with it, but otherwise the car was the closest to what I was looking for.

 

I've never had them before, but now I've got them, I quite like the parking sensors. They just give an extra bit of confirmation over what you can see for yourself. I admit they are not really necessary, as the car is a doddle to park - I actually find it easier to reverse-park than the Smart Fortwo it replaced, as three-quarter rear visibility is better.

 

So I'm quite happy to have the sensors. Cruise control is a different matter, though - I really don't find that useful at all in congested British traffic.

Are parking sensors useful on small city cars?

 

 

Glasses are cheaper   

Glasses are cheaper   

You're not wrong there...

You're not wrong there...

 

 

Clearly neither of you have bought glasses lately then.  Even at Specsavers my varifocals cost a lot more than I pay to have reversing sensors fitted.  My Mrs. and I go at the same time so we finish up with a bill that makes your eyes water.  Maybe it's the watering eyes than prevent me from seeing through the boot of the car and into the depths of darkness beyond and in to the unlit backwaters down here in the deepest West Country?

would have saved me damaging a bumper on my roomster

 

have them on my GLII estate, wasn't fussed but thy came on it as it was a cancelled order, BUT now I have them, I still reverse as normal, but you have a little bit more accuracy

 

I reverse until I get solid tone up to wifes citigo and I know I will be pretty much exactly a foot from her bumper

 

in the supermarket, when reversing out of a bay missed hitting idiots just walking across the back cos you suddenly get a solid beep because you can't look every where at once

 

as to cruise, have it on GLII and citigo, both me and wife make use of it

 

great in variable speed limits on M25, 30 and 40 mph areas with speed camera's and great for on long runs stopping your speed creaping up on dual carriageway / motorway

 

I would have both, and I have nearly 30 years experience driving everything from citigo to 7.5 ton lorries

Fair enough. I am lucky that I don't need glasses, don't live in a rural (unlit) environment, and tend not to do the shopping.

Mrs S drives carefully, so between us I think we'll cope! If we don't I will resurrect this thread and admit I had poor judgement

There is a related issue which I have seen other members mention in other threads and that is the safety aspect of parking sensors preventing accidents involving "moving bollards" aka toddlers and small children. Other members have mentioned parking sensors preventing accidents in supermarket car parks etc in such a situation.

OK, I'll render myself in the minority again.

 

Yes, I'd have them.

 

And if they weren't there I'd pay to have them fitted afterwards.

 

Not because I'm no good at reversing because I've had years of experience reversing big red lorries with ladders and blue lights plus trailers and minibuses and vans....

 

It's just that it only takes one incident on a dark, wet, stormy night with rain obscuring the view and a saucy little 18" post or lump of granite (both of which abound round this way) combined with a seconds worth of inattention and you've got a scrape that'll cost the same as the sensors.

 

Anyone who has never come close to a minor touch due to driver error in forty something years is welcome to collect their halo from me.  Applications on a postcard.

I completely agree with you. I had them factory fitted on my car and i love reversing the car now.