Reversing (parking) sensors

[XDA]

Why do people insist on fitting these to cars? Do they actually help with reversing?

I've started to notice alot of older cars fitted with them, which tend to be 90% driven by women. We all know women can't reverse but aren't they pointless?

I saw a Toyota Yaris, yes a Yaris; fitted with these sensors yesterday. Surely someone who can't reverse a Yaris without assistance should not be on the road??

I drive an estate car and I can reverse it into any space without hitting anything.

The majority seem to fit these as an aftermarket accessory. How did the manage before reversing sensors were invented?

[gf15]

It is a clever ploy by the manafactuers. Everyone gets used to them, then they drive a non parking sensor equiped car, and promptly reverse it into an obstacle while waiting for the beeps. Been there, done that.

[Baffled Spoon]

It doesn't matter what you drive or how big your vehicle is, some cars just do not have good rear visibility. I have driven all manner of vehicles and parked without parking sensors for years, but with my current car which is a saloon (and therefore doesn't havea flat easy to park rear end, like say a big estate car, XDA ) I got some parking sensors installed simply because the boot on my car is sligthly below the rear window line and you cannot therefore see it at all from the drivers seat, so parking sensors remove some guess work from the process and just make life easier. I totally agree however, that parking sensors on a Yaris for example are a bit too much.

Edited by Baffled Spoon on Saturday 27th November 16:32

[bigdods]

Useful on saloons but not on a yaris or any sort of hatchback.

My Omega has them , very useful as you cant see the boot when reversing. Its a very long car so typically even if parked back as far as it can go it still sticks out of the space a bit. So being able to get it within a few inches of the car park wall when reversing is useful.

My wifes golf doesnt have them and doesnt need them. You can see the back of the car so no fuss or drama.

The tvr I just sit up a bit and look over the back

[XDA]

Baffled Spoon said:

It doesn't matter what you drive or how big your vehicle is, some cars just do not have good rear visibility. I have driven all manner of vehicles and parked without parking sensors for years, but with my current car which is a saloon (and therefore doesn't havea flat easy to park rear end, like say a big estate car, XDA ) I got some parking sensors installed simply because the boot on my car is sligthly below the rear window line and you cannot therefore see it at all from the drivers seat, so parking sensors remove some guess work from the process and just make life easier. I totally agree however, that parking sensors on a Yaris for example are a bit too much.

Edited by Baffled Spoon on Saturday 27th November 16:32

I agree that some cars are difficult to reverse.

As I said before, I have an estate car and the boot is also below the rear window line. I don't need to rely on sensors to tell me when to stop. I use common sense as well as opening my door while reversing etc etc.

Truckers can blind reverse a 14(?) foot trailer with few difficulties. Why can't car drivers park their car by judging distances via mirrors?

It seems everyone needs reversing sensors, especially small hatchback drivers...

[daydotz]

think of it this way if it stops a clumsy driver hitting your car then they worth it

Edited by daydotz on Saturday 27th November 18:41

[eldar]

daydotz said:

think of it this way if it stops a clumsy driver hitting your car then they worth it

Edited by daydotz on Saturday 27th November 18:41

This. And they then leave a reasonable gap...

[EDLT]

XDA said:

As I said before, I have an estate car and the boot is also below the rear window line. I don't need to rely on sensors to tell me when to stop. I use common sense as well as opening my door while reversing etc etc.

You drive an estate with a boot?

[Jasandjules]

Well, I have no idea where the back of the Passat estate is, and there are often obstacles which sit below the rear window visibility - like in car parks the little bollards.

I quite like the idea of parking sensors meself........

As for the Chimaera, she needs sensors on the front and back, it's pure guesswork as to where she starts and ends......

[anonymous-user]

Why wouldn't you want them?

Ever tried reverse parking with tall passengers in the back seats, or at night, or with the back window covered in snow, all made easier, and much safer with parking sensors, rejecting the idea of them doesn't maker you a driving god!

[The fatboy]

they are really good for saloons espcially in rainy nights. but if the sensor got problems e.g. dirt it may end up keep beeping all the time.

[MG CHRIS]

personally cant stand reversing sensors, in a garage i had to get a merc in to one of the bays, the sensor didnt stop going off and i werent neaer anything, after a couple of seconds off the sensor going off i just ignored it, i drive a lot of cars in and out of the garage and i very raerly have a problem with getting a car on to the ramp, apart from cars with completly blacked out windows apart from that i cant stand them.

[davidjpowell]

My mother has so far

Reversed into a lamppost and knocked the top half off. No sensors
Reversed into a Porsche 911 Turbo. With Sensors (A particuarly expensive one, and a client who was rather red in the face watching...)
Reversed into a tree. No Sensors.

Does not seem to make much difference really. We do not park behind her car, obviously.

[Jazoli]

XDA said:

Why do people insist on fitting these to cars? Do they actually help with reversing?

Well yes of course they do, they are just an aid, I fitted them to my Merc to help me into tight spaces or when the windows are all steamed up and/or I have people in the back, I also fitted them to my van as I have to park it in some infeasibly tight spaces when working.

I don't see why anybody else should be annoyed with them, they are invaluable at times, I think its just one of the bits of modern tech on cars/vans that works and serves a purpose.

I can of course park perfectly like everybody else on pistonheads, if I can be arsed.

[RichB]

XDA said:

I agree that some cars are difficult to reverse...

Not very good rant was it really 2/10

[-crookedtail-]

Slighty off topic but does anyone know how to turn the volume of the beeps up?

My Mazda has rear sensors which I have read would have been a dealer fit,rather than factory fit,option. The trouble is that you struggle to hear them if the radio is on at all as they are very. very faint!

[poing]

MG CHRIS said:

personally cant stand reversing sensors, in a garage i had to get a merc in to one of the bays, the sensor didnt stop going off and i werent neaer anything, after a couple of seconds off the sensor going off i just ignored it, i drive a lot of cars in and out of the garage and i very raerly have a problem with getting a car on to the ramp, apart from cars with completly blacked out windows apart from that i cant stand them.

To be fair though your grasp of English isn't great so perhaps parking sensors are a little complicated for you too.

Personally I like them, especially on saloon cars and 4x4's. Very handy in some car parks and I like playing the game of trying to get them to flat line.

[rottie102]

XDA said:

I agree that some cars are difficult to reverse.
I use common sense as well as opening my door while reversing etc etc.


It seems everyone needs reversing sensors, especially small hatchback drivers...

Why on earth should I have to open my door and stick my head out when the sensors can do a better job? It's called PROGRESS, you've heard about it? I have cars with and without them and I know which ones I prefer to park in tight spaces.

The thing that baffles me the most is why it bothers you so much that you've decided to start a topic about it???? It's one of few things that shouldn't affect you at all when fitted to other cars, they don't blind you, slow you down, make you deaf etc. If they have any effect on you, it can only be good because someone won't reverse into your car. Yet you still decide to bh about it...

[Rob Dance]

-crookedtail- said:

Slighty off topic but does anyone know how to turn the volume of the beeps up?

My Mazda has rear sensors which I have read would have been a dealer fit,rather than factory fit,option. The trouble is that you struggle to hear them if the radio is on at all as they are very. very faint!

a) Turn the radio down
or
b) buy a car that mutes the radio when the parking sensors bleep.
or
c) wait for the louder noise of bumper/wall contact, then pull forward a little.



Parking sensors are fine, but one tends to become reliant upon them.jump into a "non sensor" car and it is possible to be happily going backwards, waiting for the "bleep" that never comes !!

[MG CHRIS]

poing said:

MG CHRIS said:

personally cant stand reversing sensors, in a garage i had to get a merc in to one of the bays, the sensor didnt stop going off and i werent neaer anything, after a couple of seconds off the sensor going off i just ignored it, i drive a lot of cars in and out of the garage and i very raerly have a problem with getting a car on to the ramp, apart from cars with completly blacked out windows apart from that i cant stand them.

To be fair though your grasp of English isn't great so perhaps parking sensors are a little complicated for you too.

Personally I like them, especially on saloon cars and 4x4's. Very handy in some car parks and I like playing the game of trying to get them to flat line.

Im dyslexic and cant be botherd to spell check it all, to be honnest the more electronic nannying that are on cars i hate i prefer driving older cars more fun and you can work on them yourself. Im a mechanic so i know about electronics so its not to compliacted for me, In my opinion all these driver aides just make people more lazy drivers and let the electronics do all the work apart from abs which im in favour off the rest of the electronic assitance i hate.