Door opening clearances

[Whaleblue]

I’m clearing out the garage in anticipation of the arrival of Auriane (my Fire Orange A110), and looking to see whether it’ll be best to drive her in forwards or in reverse.

There’s more room on the left looking into the garage, which is a reasonable size single around 3m wide.

What I’m interested in are the opening measurements of the driver’s door in terms of distance from the side of the car to the trailing edge of the door - or to put it perhaps more succinctly how much room do I need between the car and the wall?

If there are multiple points at which the door clicks into position I’d like to know measurements at each point.

If anyone can be arsed I’d appreciate it!

[a110au]

if you park as close to one wall as your dare, you will still need a couple of feet clear on the other side because the doors are long, and not thin. You won't get it open enough to get to a detent. Put some foam on the wall and just hold it open against the foam.

[Whaleblue]

Thanks au.

I’ve measured more precisely (width of garage is 307cm) and think I’ll have 90cm between the car and wall on the drivers side. Is that not enough to get to the first detent?

I’ll put carpet/foam on the wall anyway, but it would be good if it held on a detent before getting there.

All just a bit of over-excitement waiting now - of course I’ll find out for myself when she arrives

[timbo999]

On mine (also Orange) there is only one detent between closed and fully open... and its too close, for me at least, to get out of.

The distance from the sill to the edge of the open drivers door is around 106 cm. measured with door open from the sill to the furthest point of the door.

Edit to add I'm off out now but will measure the width of the first detent when I get back - easy for me as I can nearly see the car in the garage from the living room!

Edited by timbo999 on Sunday 16th April 13:38

[gloomington]

I think I can help here, being the owner of an A110GT and the smallest city centre garage imaginable.

The garage door width is 2130mm, the interior is 2209mm. Essentially, it's a standard (small) parking space on which someone has then built a single-layer brick garage. I ended up buying an entire 2-bed house in need of a new roof and refurb in order to get that garage, because they're like hens' teeth round here (I've split the garage on to a separate deed, and should hopefully should still turn a profit once the house has been done and sold).

I can get the car in there if I fold in the mirrors. I use convex mirrors mounted at eye-level at the rear of the garage to spot where I am as I enter/exit, but it's always a slightly brown-trousered process. I've fixed rubber padding to the wall on the offside so I can push the door open as far as possible without scratching it. I'm a reasonably chunky chap (6'1"/100kg) and can just get in and out so long as I do some contortions with my right leg.

I'd much prefer to use one of these www.myparker.co.uk but sadly a very grumpy neighbour won't permit me to put in the runners on the forecourt, so that idea's out. Another neighbour has one and it works a treat.

[timbo999]

Just to add that my car measures 61 cm from the side of the car to the edge of the door with the door open to its first (and only...) detent, so your 90 cm should be plenty... and just to rub it in, my garage entrance is just under 5 metres...

[Whaleblue]

Thanks chaps. So, some foam / carpet on the wall it will be!

[douglasgdmw]

I used this instead of carpet as slightly thinner than carpet but just as effective:
https://premiernetting.co.uk/aquamat-capillary-mat...

Guy at the garden centre did look at me strange when asked for multiple metres and then asked how big was the greenhouse !!!

[a110au]

these are also easy. one in the right position is fine.
then just hang the tennis ball from the roof at the right spot and your old geezer garage is done.
https://softfloor.co.uk/product/wood50-black-ash/

[s111dpc]

a110au said:

these are also easy. one in the right position is fine.
then just hang the tennis ball from the roof at the right spot and your old geezer garage is done.
https://softfloor.co.uk/product/wood50-black-ash/

I reverse mine in - I line it up first then retract the mirrors and the carefully back it in using the tennis ball technic on the rear window to tell me when to stop

[Whaleblue]

Of course there are some pipes running horizontally on the wall in question, so will probably box a section in if they turn out to be at the “wrong” height!

[Sporky]

I have 60cm between the car door and the bicycle, and it's not particularly awkward to get in or out.

[LE62NDE]

Whaleblue said:

Of course there are some pipes running horizontally on the wall in question, so will probably box a section in if they turn out to be at the “wrong” height!

If they are at the height where the door will hit them, lag them with foam pipe lagging:

https://www.screwfix.com/c/heating-plumbing/pipe-i...

Job done!

[Whaleblue]

LE62NDE said:

Whaleblue said:

Of course there are some pipes running horizontally on the wall in question, so will probably box a section in if they turn out to be at the “wrong” height!

If they are at the height where the door will hit them, lag them with foam pipe lagging:

https://www.screwfix.com/c/heating-plumbing/pipe-i...

Job done!

Good point, and obvious really! Thanks.

[Colin P]

Just a tip from the Lotus guys, if space is tight wind the window down when getting in and out. Makes a surprising difference as to how much room you need.

[fossett]

don't know if this helps but here's my method;

drive in forwards
veer left and hit the line down the middle off the windscreen (dab antenna I guess) into a ball hanging from the rafters
then I can open the drivers door fully (with foam on the wall just in case)

(handy for hoovering too)

[7en]

I can't really add much other than I test drove an A110 for the first time today and it was remarkable how difficult it was to get in and out of, even with quite a bit of space between the car and the wall.

[bcr5784]

7en said:

I can't really add much other than I test drove an A110 for the first time today and it was remarkable how difficult it was to get in and out of, even with quite a bit of space between the car and the wall.

If you are having trouble with the A110, then you'll have trouble with anything else in its class in confined spaces. The doors are a tad shorter and a tad thinner than a Cayman, so the Cayman is a tad worse (I've had one). A Boxster or Elise is easier with the roof off, but not with it on. A current 911 is wider and doubtless worse (unless its a Cab or Targa) . Unfortunately most cars these days are wider and have thicker doors than is desirable for easy access in confined spaces.

[Sporky]

I'm not sure I find mine harder to get into or out of than my Golf.

The Lotus Europa I tried was darned near impossible to get out of with the door fully opened!

[Colin P]

Must admit I must admit I never gave it a second thought. Then I am used to Lotus models many having much wider and higher door sills.