I have a question about MINI life. I have had mine over a year now and notice at all events I go to that most owners park backwards into parking spots. I have started doing it too, but wanted to know why. Is there a story behind it or just a MINI thing?

Thanks,
Kevin

 

Don't most people back in? I go in headfirst when it's crowded because I'm a slow parker :D It's just easier to pull out though.

 

I never park next to people and I normally back in because I can see the curb in my side view mirror, allowing me to get really close to it.

 

When I'm alone, I pull in forward. I think it just looks nicer when you back in, so in groups people back in.

 

I'm not talking about parallel parking, just regular parking places. (assuming that is what you were talking about! )

 

Nope, I was referring to stall parking! I'm slow at that too, I'm a bit uptight about being dead center, and this is my first "cage" (former biker, hah.) so it takes me a few tries

 

There's another practical aspect to backing into parking spaces at MINI events. Many events begin with people trickling in over the course of an hour or so, and then all leaving at once (like meeting up for a large group run).

Since people aren't arriving all at once, you can take the extra few seconds to back in, but when a few dozen people are trying to get out of a parking lot at the same time, it's easier to be able to just pull straight out and go, rather than having people backing out all over the place.

 

That makes a lot of sense. Never thought of it from that perspective.

 

It's a car event, group mentality, peer pressure thing. People are showing off their cars and want to create a line of the cars that is the focus of the event. I'd imagine that the same thing happens at, say, a Porsche event. Yet, in everyday parking I would imagine that the vast majority of the same people normally park headfirst.

 

Also if there's a concrete bumper/curb, backing in will prevent the front spoiler from getting scratched

 

I always park in backwards no matter where I am, because when I turn back to look, I can see how pretty she is one last time.

 

I back in because the rear visibility sucks on the convertible. I'd rather take my chances at 3-5mph with the other cars stopped backing in to a spot, then to take my chances with other cars flying by in the lanes of the parking lot.

 

Yup
BMWCCA Golden Gate Chapter, Golden Gate Lotus and SOFA KING club does the same, even the ricers park like that. Just a Car Meet, Car Club, Car Show thing.

 

If you have the MINI guidelines booklet (I forget the name)... it does tell you that it's a MINI "rule" to Always Park Bonnet Out. Oh and also park with the bonnet at the front line of the parking spot, not all the way back (so other cars don't think there's a spot only to zoom into your car and slam on the brakes when they realize it's taken).

Now, on a clubman sometimes it's more convenient to park forward, with the barn doors out thus guaranteeing I'll always be able to open them...

 

+1

Plus it is fun to see Tiffany's smile when I find her in the parking lot. Backing in also makes it easy to park really close to the curb in a corner parking spot.

I only pull in if I know I will have to load groceries or open my hatch (Some people like to fill that unused space in my parking spot ).

 

AMEN. I do exactly the same thing.

As for at events - as has been stated - it's both an appearance thing, and an ease of mass exit thing. Makes for nicer photos.

 

I think this has spilled over from the car show circuits, having been involved with car shows and car clubs for years most of our events organizers always required the cars to back in. We did this more for safety then aesthetics because If you pull in front first, people are more likely to trip over the curbs or bump stops trying to see the engines plus this also eliminated people getting to close to the vehicles and banging into side mirrors, staging props etc. Also when the show cars are lining up at the beginning of the event we always had someone to spot them in. This we felt reduced the risk of them hitting a spectator or another car while staging their car. We also found a benefit at the end because the driver didn't have to back up blindly without a spotter since we didn't provide spotters at the end of the shows, the spotters would be working the exits for us at the end of the events.

 

Yep! If not, the person with the honking huge SUV will pull up and park three inches from your barn doors because his/her car is so gas guzzling big that some of YOUR parking spot is required as well. But I don't mind sharing if they don't hit or ding me.

I also try to get corner spots that allow me more room on the right side for the stupid, I mean Club door. It's easier to get back to my child if I can open the right/front and Club door wide and not get trapped by the triangle/wedge of death.

 

Haha, +1

If I spot another MINI to park next to, I always park in the same direction just to keep things uniform. There's not a whole lot of rebel in me I guess.

 

I was taught many years ago that it's better to reverse into a parking space as it's a controlled (and usually empty) environment, rather than reversing out into traffic (esp. people hunting for parking spaces or trying to zoom out of parking lots, not to mention pedestrians).

I do frequently pull in (grocery thing), but then I don't own a mini (yet). Waiting to order an '11 hatch. Will probably reverse in more often, then!

 

I back in 99% of the time....but then I've done that my whole life, even with my old minivan!

My father was a truck driver, and an excellent all-around driver, and he always backs in, too. He convinced me that it is much safer to drive out of a parking spot than to back out of one. Since he also taught me never to look over my shoulder (always use your mirrors), backing into a spot is just as easy for me as pulling into one.

I've also noticed that with the mini, it's easier to line my nose up with the opening of a parking spot when I back it in, . That way no one accidentally whips into the spot I've already parked in, under the mistaken impression that it's empty! ;-)

 

Awww...LOL. I do it too

I always park so I can drive forward to get out...whether its backed to a curb, or just in a normal open stall.
I did it driving big vehicles, & just do it by habit now with my Mini.

 

There are some advantages for backing in, but I'm too impatient and almost never do it.

I have an R52 (cabrio) and I would be doing it more because of the poor rear visibility, but my rear camera eliminates the issue.

 

If I can, I almost always back into parking spaces. It's safer to pull forward out of a parking space than to back out. Especially if your MINI is sandwiched between SUV's and pickup trucks.

This is balanced with making sure it is safe to back into the parking space.

This is also recommended in most defensive driving courses.

 

I pull in at events, and nearly everywhere for that matter.

Interesting note: while most Americans normally pull into spots, in Japan, 95% back in, no matter what, no matter how tight the parking spot is.


Here is a photo I took of the Aqua City shopping center's rooftop parking garage in Odaiba, Tokyo as seen from the Fuji TV building (9/07). Notice how neat and evenly spaced everyone parks, the one-way traffic, and designated walking lanes in green. Every parking garage/lot was the same.