[eloisant]

I always park like this because it's much easier. Not just to get out, but to get in.

Because your front wheels rotate, not the back wheels, it's much easier to get into proper position when parking backwards especially when you're between 2 other cars and the space is small.

[matsemann]

Also safer. You back into a small space no one occupies. Versus backing out later with people walking behind, cars driving past etc.

[avidphantasm]

I get what you are saying, but I find parkers who do this to be selfish or at least unaware of how their actions affect others. In my experience, it takes more time to fancy park, and much less to unpark. Whereas with normal parking, it’s much faster to park then unpark.

So, in a busy parking lot (classically a grocery store lot on Saturday) fancy parkers make others wait on them while they park. Normal parkers have to wait on others when they leave.

[scott_w]

This is a totally bizarre opinion.

Reverse parking is the only parking method taught in the UK (and thus the only one you're tested on).

The reason you should use this (unless the car park is setup for forward parking bays) is that it's far, far safer.

Forward parking means you need to exit by reversing, functionally blindly, into traffic or children walking across the rear of your car.

Reverse parking means, when you exit, you can see cars wanting to be past, or children now walking across the front of your car.

And no, you're not "trading" safety by reverse parking because, when you park, any obstacles would be directly behind you, as opposed to at an angle.

[dave333]

This assumes we are talking about what is known in the US as parallel parking, i.e. parking on a street and not parking in a parking lot. Parking lots are the norm in the US.

[scott_w]

I don’t think we are. I’m talking about reversing into a parking space in a car park (parking lot). It’s generally accepted to be safer for the reasons I highlighted. That’s why I think calling it “selfish” is bizarre.

[KolenCh]

No, no, no. You completely missed the points here. And no, parking lots are not the "norm" in the US. Both parallel parking and parking lots are common in the US and in the UK as well.

[jhoechtl]

The time you lose while parking you gain when leaving. It's a zero sum game.

[avidphantasm]

I don’t get my time waiting for you to fancy park back. When I’m backing out, I have to wait until it’s clear to go. Fancy parkers parking get a mutex on their part of the row.

[bloody-crow]

I park this way cause I'm daily driving a sports car that is really low and I don't want to risk hitting my front splitter on the curb or the wall. Backwards camera allows you to get close enough without hitting anything.

[thsksbd]

Its incredible how few people appreciate this, or how hard it is to explain to people.

The rear wheels pivot!!

This is also why the quality of the rear tires is far more important - the fulcrum, or pivot, sees the most stress!

[duckqlz]

Op was talking about the front wheels pivoting. Rear wheels do not pivot. Furthermore, the quality is sometimes better on rear tires in a rear wheel drive car if the owner is trying to be frugal and save money when changing their tires. Similarly with front wheel drive drive train, owners will often opt to replace only their front tires as they will wear quicker. This is all due to the traction needed to start the car moving. Now, back to the crux of the question, why fancy park? Reversing and turning creates a wider turn radius, reduced control and greatly increases the size of the cars “blind spot”. A driver can opt to have their driving ability impacted while they safely enter an empty spot by reversing in or deal with the hustle and bustle of reversing into a busy parking lot. Despite the efficiency and obvious gains from “fancy parking” some people have parked forward their entire life and have honed their spacial sense around a certain car or truck making the switch impractical, at least until the purchase of their next vehicle!

[fragmede]

Totally besides the point, but the real wheels on some cars actually do pivot! :)

On top of the Honda Prelude, there's also the Porsche 911 GT3, the BMW 7 Series, Audi Q7, Nissan Skyline GT-R (R32, R33, R34 had HICAS), Renault Laguna (only in some European markets), Acura RLX (P-AWS), Lexus GS and LS, Infiniti Q50 and Q60, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado, and then to round out the list, the Lamborghini Aventador and the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta.

All of those feature rear wheels that pivot.

[throw0101a]

> I always park like this because it's much easier.

Easier? Do you have some kind of system/algorithm that you use, because I find backing in harder than driving in.

[scott_w]

Start by driving forward until you can see both sides of the parking space, drive to the middle of the road (so the centre line goes through the centre of your car).

Reverse in full lock.

Use your wing mirrors to get the side of your car parallel to the white lines.

Adjust as you go.

Practice makes perfect.