"best you give a local driving school a phone and re-learn to drive".

...

Obviously you have the right to say what you think, but in this case you do not know me or how I drive, or even that I drove Ferrari's and Porsche's around Silverstone. so you comment "give a local driving school a phone and re-learn to drive" really made me smile!!!!!

 

 

His attitude is unfortunately pretty common. We got a pretty good deal on our current Volvo, since it had been used by one of the sales reps for the first autumn. He had picked pretty much every option on it, except for the parking sensors. When inquiring on why this was, his remark was something along the lines "if you need sensors, give me a call and I'll come and park it for you". Should have taken him up on it during these nearly 9 years, because the poor rear visibility on the V50 makes it a pain to park. It's not like I haven't learned the dimensions by heart...in fact I can parallel park it in a spot not more than 15 cm longer than the car itself. But I'd still love to be sure there isn't some hidden object looming below the view of the rear window and mirrors without having to step out and check for myself.

 

This is why I picked both the parking sensors and the camera for the Octavia.

Edited 20 November, 201411 yr by kallekilponen

I'll tell you what is farkin annoying, motorbikes zooming passed when I'm stuck in traffic setting off the side sensors, scares the bejesus out of me at least once a week!

Here it's roads with no pavements and firkin great granite walls.  The damn thing hardly ever stopped beeping so I turned it off and now it only comes on when I put the car in reverse (stays on until you speed up again) or when you hit the button.

 

 

Why?  Driving schools don't teach you how to park.  And if they did it would be in a little Corsa not a geet big Octavia.

My school did. Both bay parking and parallel park.

 

In fact Parallel Park is on the syllabus and can be part of your test, so if yours didn't teach you then I wouldn't recommend them to anyone!

Mine taught this too - that was over 30 years ago but I am pretty sure they still teach it.  Essential these days (unless you have park assist, of course!)

 

A Triumph Dolomite 1300 was my instructor's tool of choice.  Great all-round visibility and ideal learner hack.  Sh1te car in just about every other respect

Edited 20 November, 201411 yr by Smeghead

Can you use parking sensors on a driving test? It wouldn't surprise me, since you can use an electronic handbrake with hill hold, which is absurd as you're never going to learn techniques for holding a car on the clutch, or how to set off from being on the handbrake. At least if you do a test in an automatic, you can only drive an automatic until you complete it properly.

"best you give a local driving school a phone and re-learn to drive".

 

I learnt to drive many years ago, mostly in a pre-war Austin, no indicators-only hand signals, no syncromesh so it was a case of double de-clutch or mash the gearbox, one wiper-hand operated, no heater, opening windscreen for when it got too hot, pump up windows. it was equipped with the the latest 'gimmick' though, it had an electric starter.

 

You drive a posh VRS, powerful and with lots of modern 'toys' compared to my leaner curve and far advanced in modern driver aids, or should I say, modern Gimmicks?

 

I CAN park a car, so don't make stupid comments, I asked a simple question how does Park Assist cope with curbs, nothing wrong with that, I also mentioned that £ for £ using the front and side sensors was better value than 4 front sensors only. Your VRS has rear sensors have you disabled them as you clearly need no modern aids to park your car under any circumstances? I would prefer to have the sensor warnings as were on my BMW 5. Sensors are simply a 'guide' the driver is in control or should be at all times, Park Assist is just another modern advancement that comes free of charge with 8 more sensors and is there should I want to try or need the function for any reason. However that does not mean or indicate in any way that I am unable to park a car. I have decades of NCB, a clean license, I have built my own sports car and restored another old Austin.

 

99% of members on this forum are very happy to give their time to help to those not so knowledgeable on various Skoda subjects, and this help is invaluable so to the 99% please keep it up. To meta55b; please keep you nasty comments to yourself and try to be a much nicer person. Your comments do nothing to help anyone and only show you in a poor light. I am sure you could, if you wanted too, join the other 99%.

 

Obviously you have the right to say what you think, but in this case you do not know me or how I drive, or even that I drove Ferrari's and Porsche's around Silverstone. so you comment "give a local driving school a phone and re-learn to drive" really made me smile!!!!!

First of all, my I apologise. My comment was not aimed at you directly, it was more at the the fact that cars are now coming with assist everything, drivers don't have to do anything but stare out a window. Yes my vrs does have rear sensors and are only used as a guide due the high level of the boot and spoiler, I still park the car. The point about you having decades of NCB, clean license, built two sports cars, restored an old car and driving Ferrari's and Porsches round a race track has no connection to parking a car. As for the "light" you mentioned, the one above you us shouting look at me. And yes you are correct I don't know you, as you don't know me and goes to show how easily comment of forums can be taken the wrong way.

Can you use parking sensors on a driving test? It wouldn't surprise me, since you can use an electronic handbrake with hill hold, which is absurd as you're never going to learn techniques for holding a car on the clutch, or how to set off from being on the handbrake. At least if you do a test in an automatic, you can only drive an automatic until you complete it properly.

That's an interesting question. I'd like to imagine they would disable such systems during the test. Just like they disabled the ABS for some parts of my driving lessons a decade ago.

Looks like meta55b has applied to join the 'other 99%'!

I reckon his application should be accepted.

Looks like meta55b has applied to join the 'other 99%'!

I reckon his application should be accepted.

 

Slowly puts pitchfork down and backs out of the forum post... 

 

Edited 21 November, 201411 yr by kitset

First of all, my I apologise. My comment was not aimed at you directly, it was more at the the fact that cars are now coming with assist everything, drivers don't have to do anything but stare out a window. Yes my vrs does have rear sensors and are only used as a guide due the high level of the boot and spoiler, I still park the car. The point about you having decades of NCB, clean license, built two sports cars, restored an old car and driving Ferrari's and Porsches round a race track has no connection to parking a car. As for the "light" you mentioned, the one above you us shouting look at me. And yes you are correct I don't know you, as you don't know me and goes to show how easily comment of forums can be taken the wrong way.

 

Apology accepted. What got my goat was the line "best you give a local driving school a phone and re-learn to drive" If that wasn't directly aimed at me I don't know who else you meant!

 

Anyway I second your application to re-join the other 99%

 

Motion carried.

No disrespect but when beeping parking sensors first appeared they were a bit of a gimmick, I remember people saying things like if you cannot part without them you shouldn't be driving, now they are pretty much accepted as normal, having them back and front came next and now we have a screen giving us a guide of 'safety space' as well, all to help the driver from damaging his and other cars. Now we have Park Assist, a natural advancement of using the sensors.

Personally I feel that any aide to protect your car from damage (You see loads of cars with dents in the rear or front plastic bumpers) and probably a good bet that most of them costs more to repair than the cost of Park Assist, Loss of NCB etc.

I reckon the general opinion is on the positive side.....

Oh no its a valid point and taken.

I used to think the same about parking sensors until I got a car with them...now I'm used to having them I think id really struggle again having a car without them (well to be fair the missus's car doesnt have them and I dont like parking that now).

I still think though that I dont need the car to park for me though; its pretty clever and for the sake of another 140 quid on top of front and rear sensors I do get why people tick the box....i do however expect once the novelty wears off v few of those who have it use ot in anger.

I'll avoid getting into the whole discussion about being able to park, etc. I have learned it as well during driving lessons, I can still do it (without sensors and park assist). But I heavily rely on the parking sensors in our current cars (and certainly the VRS as well). I think parking our previous family cars (Nissan Primera, Nissan Micra, Vauxhall Astra, some french ones..) was simpler. Maybe it also comes down to styling. The rear of the cars and especially visibility has changed dramatically in the years since I started driving (or maybe I have just switched from boxy cars to more stylish sporty ones that have the poorer visibility as a design fault?)

 

Ignoring the park assist and the actual number of times it will be used, I think the number of sensors and the price to buy them is much smaller than the cost of repainting or even getting new bumpers (esp. the front on the VRS since my other cars had "smaller" bonnets). And the little one has learned to sleep right through the beeping, he now only wakes up as soon as the engine is switched off....

 

I found that parking a Volvo V70 is a piece of cake. The car is about 5 cm longer than the rear window, it's just the front that's difficult since you can park a small car on it :-D

I'll avoid getting into the whole discussion about being able to park, etc. I have learned it as well during driving lessons, I can still do it (without sensors and park assist). But I heavily rely on the parking sensors in our current cars (and certainly the VRS as well). I think parking our previous family cars (Nissan Primera, Nissan Micra, Vauxhall Astra, some french ones..) was simpler. Maybe it also comes down to styling. The rear of the cars and especially visibility has changed dramatically in the years since I started driving (or maybe I have just switched from boxy cars to more stylish sporty ones that have the poorer visibility as a design fault?)

 

Ignoring the park assist and the actual number of times it will be used, I think the number of sensors and the price to buy them is much smaller than the cost of repainting or even getting new bumpers (esp. the front on the VRS since my other cars had "smaller" bonnets). And the little one has learned to sleep right through the beeping, he now only wakes up as soon as the engine is switched off....

 

I found that parking a Volvo V70 is a piece of cake. The car is about 5 cm longer than the rear window, it's just the front that's difficult since you can park a small car on it :-D

 

This thread was never about the ability to park, if you have PA the system is there should you wish to use it, nothing more. My curent car has functions I have never used but are there should I need too.

 

"I think the number of sensors and the price to buy them is much smaller than the cost of repainting or even getting new bumpers (esp. the front on the VRS..."

 

This is exactly my point and says it all, as I made earlier in my post above. If I never use PA and only use the front/side and rear sensors to park my car safely and use the guide screen and my mirrors, this alone should see me parking dent free.

 

I agree about the V70 being a doddle to park rearwards but I found the turning circle rather large, especially in our company car park, bit like turning the Ark Royal in the Thames!

I agree about the V70 being a doddle to park rearwards but I found the turning circle rather large, especially in our company car park, bit like turning the Ark Royal in the Thames!

going just very shortly OT: my brother in law has an V70 R with the T5 remapped to 360 or so. Yes with AWD and that power he is much quicker than me in the Scirocco, but I'm way quicker out of the parking lot :-). His has the turning circle of a semi-trailer truck.

going just very shortly OT: my brother in law has an V70 R with the T5 remapped to 360 or so. Yes with AWD and that power he is much quicker than me in the Scirocco, but I'm way quicker out of the parking lot :-). His has the turning circle of a semi-trailer truck.

Seems to be a common problem with Volvos. I'm used to doing at least one extra turn when getting out of/into a tight spot with mine, compared to other similarly sized cars I've driven.

A bit boring but here goes .... Hope this helps ;-)

I have the park assist and find it a good tool to have , never had an issue with it .as company car driver and visiting several customers a day i am always searching for parking spaces. The park assist dosnt get used every day because it isn't always needed but I deffo use it 2-3 times a week. It works best for me when I maybe driving in an unfamiliar town and I am trying to find a space on the high street close to a customer and the traffic maybe very busy and parking spaces are snapped up quick .i can press the p/a button and let the tech/ little invisable wizard measure the spaces and tell me if the octy fits or not . I can concentrate on the driving and pedestrians etc and let the little wizard do his job with his tape measure !! Nothing worse for the ego than thinking your car fits ....you stop the traffic trying to squeeze it in the gap and after 2-3 attempts you realise .... You can't park a car . So you pull out and drive off and some smart arse in longer octavia fits in the space no probs !!

I am usually carrying samples/paperwork so This often means that I manage to park a little bit can park closer to my customers & if the weather isn't so good I keep myself dry too . Tbh i don't know if I would have gone for the p/a if the car was a for private use only .....I probably wouldn't use it enough day to day to justify the price but during the week as a work tool it is very handy to have . And as a big billy bonus It also helps you out if a tight space if someone parks too close and blocks you in ;-)

fabswimmer; Not boring at all!

 

This will be a private buy and I appreciate your comments. I am buying on 0% so the added cost of PA and ACC over the 42 months is really negligible. I often have to park in small car parks and so this may well come in handy at some point and if it saves a scratch on my car or anyone else's that has to be bonus for both cars!

 

Funny how its being promoted now on many cars, I saw the ad for the new Focus last night. Ford is also now  pushing PA strongly (along with other driver aids), and I will assume it will become standard on the upper end versions of most popular cars. Of course all the drivers who can slide park using full lock and the handbrake will .................. not tick that box.

 

Front Assist now standard on the Elegance as is Fords City Assist (I think that's what they call it) on their higher end models, reversing cameras standard on most Toyota's and Honda's and options on many other makes. I wonder when the first mass produced Zero Emissions driver-less cars will hit the roads!

No PA please

Yeah?

 

I'll have two please!!!!