Would you pay for parking?
Discussion
QuattroDave said:
£1,300 gets you between 20-40 parking tickets a year. So the question is how often are the wardens likely to issue a ticket!
Given the OP’s description of parking in his area, it sounds like fertile grounds for finding parking infractions, so the council will be on it like a rash. In London, you’d burn that allowance in a month. It will have routine patrols, maybe even a centrally controlled CCTV led scooter riding hit squad. Once I parked on a yellow line, went into a Starbucks. As I was queuing, a parking warden rode to my car on a scooter and ticketed it. I rushed outside, asked him how he knew, he said it was on CCTV and they called it in.
Edited by wyson on Friday 9th February 19:47
QuattroDave said:
MrManual said:
TREMAiNE said:
This might be a bit patronising but have you measured for a 5 series sized car?
The 5 series is 60cm longer than the focus and 28cm wider (comparing 2022 models for ease).
Is the driveway really that tight that you couldn't squeeze a 5 series on it?
4.3m for a hatchback vs 4.9m for a saloon so yeah 60cm which doesn't sound like a lot. However the hatchback just about fits, any overhang onto the pavement and the traffic warden issues tickets. The 5 series is 60cm longer than the focus and 28cm wider (comparing 2022 models for ease).
Is the driveway really that tight that you couldn't squeeze a 5 series on it?
One thing to consider is how far away the parking is? I'd wager that whatever comfort you'll gain from a midsized exec will be taken away by the walk to and from the car, especially when raining, cold, hot, dark, in a rush, forgot something in the house/car or just nipping to get something!
swisstoni said:
This all sounds a massive faff for some refinement.
This. Each to their own, but the faff of parking elsewhere easily outweighs any benefits in NVH.I mean, a Focus isn't exactly a Citroen 2CV, is it? If you're doing 50,000 miles a year, maybe I could see the benefit in having a longer wheelbase. If not, do as others have said, and choose from the surfeit of smaller premium cars on sale today.
Bennet said:
Due to having become a father recently, I now mostly drive around in a MINI Countryman S. I hate it for various reasons, however I struggle to imagine why the NVH levels could possibly be unacceptable to anyone. Its footprint is probably marginally smaller than a focus.
A smaller Lexus of some kind is probably what you are after. IS and RC range look nice to me and not that big. CT is older now but was marketed with quietness and comfort as its main selling point.
I'd rather take advice off the guy who suggested paying the fines.A smaller Lexus of some kind is probably what you are after. IS and RC range look nice to me and not that big. CT is older now but was marketed with quietness and comfort as its main selling point.
QuattroDave said:
One thing to consider is how far away the parking is? I'd wager that whatever comfort you'll gain from a midsized exec will be taken away by the walk to and from the car, especially when raining, cold, hot, dark, in a rush, forgot something in the house/car or just nipping to get something!
Absolutely, unless the OP is doing mega mileage I can't believe that there is no car of the requisite size that would provide enough 'refinement' to outweigh the arseache of parking away from the house. As has already been said an Evoque/XC40/UX etc seems ideal. Pica-Pica said:
You don’t really want to ‘park your car round the corner’. You’ll constantly be worrying, having to get things out of the car, etc. How will you unload goods or shopping if you can’t park near your house (when you can already with a smaller car). If you rally can’t get a 5 series on your drive - and please don’t let it overhang onto the pavement - then settle for a shorter car.
+1I kept a car in a garage a few mins walk away, it was a right pain. The money is something you can factor into the overall cost of ownership, but the inconvenience makes it not worth it.
Work out what your max length is and find the best car for you within that constraint, or move house, IMO.
Maybe consider an A-Class or similar, or as suggested a small premium SUV and/or EV if that fits the length of journeys you're doing.
Teddy Lop said:
Bennet said:
Due to having become a father recently, I now mostly drive around in a MINI Countryman S. I hate it for various reasons, however I struggle to imagine why the NVH levels could possibly be unacceptable to anyone. Its footprint is probably marginally smaller than a focus.
A smaller Lexus of some kind is probably what you are after. IS and RC range look nice to me and not that big. CT is older now but was marketed with quietness and comfort as its main selling point.
I'd rather take advice off the guy who suggested paying the fines.A smaller Lexus of some kind is probably what you are after. IS and RC range look nice to me and not that big. CT is older now but was marketed with quietness and comfort as its main selling point.
Pit Pony said:
Teddy Lop said:
Bennet said:
Due to having become a father recently, I now mostly drive around in a MINI Countryman S. I hate it for various reasons, however I struggle to imagine why the NVH levels could possibly be unacceptable to anyone. Its footprint is probably marginally smaller than a focus.
A smaller Lexus of some kind is probably what you are after. IS and RC range look nice to me and not that big. CT is older now but was marketed with quietness and comfort as its main selling point.
I'd rather take advice off the guy who suggested paying the fines.A smaller Lexus of some kind is probably what you are after. IS and RC range look nice to me and not that big. CT is older now but was marketed with quietness and comfort as its main selling point.
It does seem like too many people turned right when they should have turned left and gone to Mumsnet these days here though.
Baldchap said:
I wouldn't be happy leaving my car in an underground car park 24/7.
Buy something that fits the drive is the answer. Plenty of great Focus sized (and less) cars.
Really?Buy something that fits the drive is the answer. Plenty of great Focus sized (and less) cars.
Used to leave the motor here for days,often in illustrious company,near central London,open to public 24/7 no issues
Pica-Pica said:
QuattroDave said:
MrManual said:
TREMAiNE said:
This might be a bit patronising but have you measured for a 5 series sized car?
The 5 series is 60cm longer than the focus and 28cm wider (comparing 2022 models for ease).
Is the driveway really that tight that you couldn't squeeze a 5 series on it?
4.3m for a hatchback vs 4.9m for a saloon so yeah 60cm which doesn't sound like a lot. However the hatchback just about fits, any overhang onto the pavement and the traffic warden issues tickets. The 5 series is 60cm longer than the focus and 28cm wider (comparing 2022 models for ease).
Is the driveway really that tight that you couldn't squeeze a 5 series on it?
One thing to consider is how far away the parking is? I'd wager that whatever comfort you'll gain from a midsized exec will be taken away by the walk to and from the car, especially when raining, cold, hot, dark, in a rush, forgot something in the house/car or just nipping to get something!
this threadGiantt said:
Really?
Used to leave the motor here for days,often in illustrious company,near central London,open to public 24/7 no issues
I'm hoping that the desirable vehicle in question was the white one in the middle. Weirdly, of all the cars (or in that case car derived van) in that picture, that's the one I would want to own if money were no object. Used to leave the motor here for days,often in illustrious company,near central London,open to public 24/7 no issues
Some years ago around 2008, whenI lived in a house with no garage or drive only street parking, I had some cash to burn on a toy.
I was looking at F355 (this was when you could get a good one for under 50k if I recall) and looked at renting a garage. Had the correct measurements, service costs etc etc, but found no garage really near say within 15 mins walk, or at least in an area where I want it parked and known. I couldn’t make it work dammit. Bought a cayman S, which was wonderful and parked on the street…but….missed that boat. So yes I would pay for parking for the right car. When I lived in west London I had street parking but with paid for permits.
Doh
I was looking at F355 (this was when you could get a good one for under 50k if I recall) and looked at renting a garage. Had the correct measurements, service costs etc etc, but found no garage really near say within 15 mins walk, or at least in an area where I want it parked and known. I couldn’t make it work dammit. Bought a cayman S, which was wonderful and parked on the street…but….missed that boat. So yes I would pay for parking for the right car. When I lived in west London I had street parking but with paid for permits.
Doh
A friend of mine rents a space in a private underground car park of a nearby block of flats for his “weekend” car car around a 5 minute walk from his house
He says it’s a faff as he has to disconnect the battery and periodically recharge it at home, but it’s relatively secure and safe
He says it’s a faff as he has to disconnect the battery and periodically recharge it at home, but it’s relatively secure and safe
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