I have a 7th gen ('09; I used to have an '04 6th gen) and I feel I am, for the most part, a very good driver. So why is it that I have a hard time with depth perception? Whenever I back up, I always think the car's tail is closer to whatever I am trying to avoid than it really is. I'll think I'm ready to smack into a wall, only to step out and see that I have a ton of room between the tail and the wall.

I'm also not perfect about parking near curbs. Again with the depth perception - I've scraped my rims before.

Anyone here have tips to get over such things? Tricks you use when parking to make sure you have enough room? (For instance - when I think a driveway entrance may be too low, I make sure to pull in at an angle to avoid scraping up the bottom of the car).

Or do I just need to invest in a pair of glasses?

 

Because depth perception is a feeling not something you see, when I park I feel it out and that's when I became great at parking. I was like you before, you have to have your cars size down pact like the back of your hand, and know its limits. The rest will come to you

 

How long have you had your 7th gen? You should get used to its size rather quickly. I spent a week and half driving my 7th gen on a trip only to come home and have to get used to the "excellent" turning radius of my other maxima. Then again I can swoop my 2010 F150 in and out of spaces most people can't fit a Civic in.

 

A trip to the eye Dr. would be a good start.

 

Move to New York. Every aspect of driving will be a piece of cake after a month. lmao

 

If parking near other vehicles,,, Look for the reflection of a curb and your car in the paint of the car next to you... It helped me till i got really used to my car/

 

Oh, I know - I used to live in Manhattan! I sold my car the minute I moved there; no need to own one in that city.

 

I live in midtown atlanta and just went from a sentra to a 4th gen. EVERY time I part I feel like I am getting withing a few inches of the wall. I get out and I have a few feet . I did squeeze in a tight little parallel spot the other day but I am still feeling this car out. I also am an excellent driver.

 

you're getting old. Thats the same thing I tell myself when I wake up and my body aches lol

 

Same here, whenever I back up into a spot in my mirrors everything looks so close and I feel like I am going to hit the car/wall behind me but when I get out I have like 5 feet left.

I used to be very good at getting her booty in, but for some reason I lost the skill? Its funny because when I park with the front going in, I know exactly when I should stop. I must be getting old too

 

Backup camera?

 

With regards to curbs I'd say start using your side mirrors, I love to use mine, so helpful. But it does sound like your depth perception is a bit off, my sister has the same problem.

 

I lived in Midtown from late '03 to summer '07. I had a beautiful Super Black 6th gen...it was broken into twice! Both times, they came into a locked apartment garage and just busted a bunch of windows at random. In both cases, there was nothing in my car to steal! I even started leaving the glove and other compartments to show that nothing was inside, but it made no difference. They beat up my door frame on the second attempt, trying to smash the window.

Atlanta is a great restaurant town, and I have lots of friends there, but I don't miss it! Well, except the burgers at The Vortex...

Yes, I think my next car will have a backup camera.

 

For backing up, my 02 Max SE had the wing on the back so I could see where the trunk ended. (So, put a wing on it?) For parallel parking, my Acura has the auto down tilt mirror when put in reverse, does the new Max have that feature? ( I wish my 04 Max did.) Otherwise; practice, practice, practice.

 

Try to use cars next to you to judge how much space you have left, if its roughly the same size as your car your tires should line up at the same spot. Otherwise you can try and use the paint reflection to see the car behind you.

When I drive my astro I open the door and stick my head out lol

 

When did cameras become options and standard equipment in maximas? Since it's a premium sedan, I'd expect them to have it! And tilt down mirrors too.
Dr J

 

Astros can be hard to park. Especially if you have one like my dad's without any back windows and no cam

 

Curb feelers?

 

This or sonar.
My first mishap was backing with the being weeks old and bended one of the muffler tips. Better 5 feet away than one inch into whatev