Would you pay for parking?

[MrManual]

A bit of a weird one, but I've got quite a unique parking issue, I'm lucky that I have a driveway however it's only big enough for a Ford Focus. Due to parking restrictions there is no space on the road (lot's of HMO's and permit zones etc).

Now the main issue is that I'm looking at buying a new car but want something refined (BMW 5 series/E class size ideally under £15k), there are a couple of solutions- Either a long stay car park or an Underground/multi storey car park- The main issue is that it will cost £1100-1300 a year.

Has anyone else had to pay for parking their car at home? Is it worth it or should I scrap the idea entirely and stick with small cars?

[MrManual]

simon_harris said:

clearly the only real solution is to move house, preferably to somewhere with sufficient underground parking for all of your fleet.

What about an "upmarket" smaller car? Audi S3 etc

I don't feel like they're very good value for money and I don't really want a hot hatch and whilst the NVH levels of hatchbacks have improved they're still not on a level of an executive saloon.

Moving house is out of the question for now, maybe in a couple of years I could look into it.

[MrManual]

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.

[MrManual]

QBee said:

errr no.

But car lengths can be deceptive.
I had Renault 25 back in the 1990s, and had a bet with another staffer that his Volvo 740 estate was longer.
I lost.

I suggest you measure the exact space you have properly, and then check car lengths on 't'internet against that.

I thought the same as well, got the tape measure out and yeah no way I can fit a 5 series/E class.

Even had a family friend try to park his old 5 series and it wouldn't fit

[MrManual]

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.

Such as?

[MrManual]

I've looked into renting a driveway and the prices are similar, guess I'd either have to stomach the cost or stick with small cars.

I still maintain that a small car will not match a larger car, very few small cars with a V6 or a V8. And whilst the SLK55 is a brilliant car it is not a suitable alternative to an E class

[MrManual]

Having been in various 1 series from 116d to M140i, I don't see how people can say the NVH or interior quality is similar to a 5 series/E class/Lexus GS.

There's a reason why these manufacturers produce executive saloons...

The only small/medium car that fits the criteria would be the Lexus IS250 so I guess I could look into it.