I was just reading about this option and wondered if it was remotely useful?

I would guess that if you could not parallel park a MINI in the space previously occupied by a mere car, then you really should think about driving around the block until something easy opens up.

But nonetheless, it might just be fun for showing off to passengers.

Now if it could use some digital imaging and AI and Fuzzy Logic type software to park itself in a tight space, it would be quite a show. . .

 

Park Distance control is a nice feature but not very necessary. I have had my Mini for almost 6 months and the only time I used this feature is when I wanted to test it out. Maybe it will be worth my while when the wife takes it out shopping.

 

Well, with no current wife and no immediate plans to ever lease a newer model, parking assistance won't really be necessary for my motoring needs

 

Hey Wedge,

Do you happen to have any pics of the rear bumper with the parking assist on your car. I know with most cars with that option you have little rivets (for lack of a better word). I have the option between picking from two incoming cars at my dealership, one is ds/w (my fav, but indi is growing on me) it has all the options I want but has parking assist. And the other is IB/W and has all the options that I want and no parking assist. I wouldn't mind eating the cost on the parking assist , but only if it doesn't mess up the lines of the car. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Ditto in the wife taking it shopping (not that I have anything against women drivers, just my fiance, it's scary)

 

I wonder how many cars MINI has sold with this option. Virtually no one discusses or mentions it on this board. Personally, I can't imagine a more pointless -- or come to think of it, annoying -- option. I would think that if my car had it (it doesn't), I'd keep it turned off most of the time. I mean, a) turn your head; and/or b) what's the harm if you tap the bumper of the car behind you? As you're parking, do you really want your car beeping at you with increasing frequency?? Yech. It'd drive me crazy... (there! I've got my daily rant out of my system and can safely go to work )

No offense to drivers who can't turn their heads for some medical reason. I guess it could be useful there. But can you get licensed if you can't turn your head??

 

I will say this: I have only ever incurred three minor accidents. All of them happened to occur when a stopped car(two in a parking lot, the other at a stop light) decided to slam in reverse without looking and back right into me(idiots right!). I sure wish those guys had had the pdc option. And since I appear to be a magnet to these driver who "can't turn their heads," in order to prevent others from backing in to me, I'm going to go ahead and incourage all of you to go out and get this option right now! I mean what harm can it really do?

 

i'VE GOT THIS OPTION, I LOVE IT, FOR NOTHING ELSE THAN IT LOOKS COOL. THE SENSORS ARE A GREAT CONVERSATION PIECE, I'VE HAD PEOPLE JUST STARE IN AMAZEMENT THAT THIS LITTLE CAR WOULD HAVE THIS OPTION, THEY JUST SAY THAT"S BMW FOR YOU.

 

(OK, this is a silly debate, but...) But the parking control option does nothing to stop an inattentive driver from slamming into a fixed object while parking! All it would do is beep like crazy at you while you're mindlessly flooring it in reverse.

It's like the "curb feelers" my dad had on our 1962 Fury wagon. They kept working just great until he eventually broke them off by "feeling" one too many curbs.

 

Advantage, do you have the volume turned up really loud on your PDC unit too?

 

>>Advantage, do you have the volume turned up really loud on your PDC unit too?

 

I got this feature on my car, but I haven't picked up the car yet so haven't tested it out to see what it's like. I mainly got it for purposes of parallel parking and for going in reverse when you are unable to see what is behind you. In my last car, I backed into a stupid 3 foot pole because tons of other idiots hit it and caused it to bend over to where you couldn't see it in any of your mirrors, and it was night time..I was mad!!

I doubt I'll be using the option much, but it didn't cost much so I figured, why not?

 

>>i'VE GOT THIS OPTION, I LOVE IT, FOR NOTHING ELSE THAN IT LOOKS COOL.

Advantage, could you post a pic of these said sensors?

 

I have this option and have found it useful when backing into parking spaces in a crowded parking lots. I can back in quickly and can gauge the distance from the frequency of the beep. Where it has come in most useful so far, is backing out of my garage. Twice it kept beeping as my rear end cleared my garage door. I quickly stopped and would have scraped my side view on side of the garage while backing out. I have put white scrapes on side mirrors on my last two cars after backing out too far to one side.
I wouldn't say hands down the option is a must buy, but it is useful. I am planning to order a 2003 and will likely get it again.

 

Well I picked up my car tonight. The sensors don't look bad at all, they are just small little circles on the back bumper....about 5 of them I suppose. It doesn't beep every time you go in reverse...only when you are close to something. The only time it beeped at me tonight was when I was backing out of my garage, it beeped when I was at the entrance and the walls were close.

Like someone else said, its not a must have feature...but its not that expensive and its pretty useful.

 

are the circles painted? or are they black?

 

>>are the circles painted? or are they black?

The circles are painted the same color as your car, so they blend in pretty well.

 

The way I figure it....if you need the parking
assistance option maybe you shouldn't be
driving a Mini.......

 

>>The way I figure it....if you need the parking
>>assistance option maybe you shouldn't be
>>driving a Mini.......

Or shouldn't be driving at all, it's funny that this is offered on the MINI, heck, my 5'2" wife could parallel park her Suburban without it.

X2

 

Daddy's paying for the car and daddy really wanted it. He said that if I didn't get it, he'd make me pay for the repairs if I backed into something. Oh well - I'd rather have a MINI with PDC than no MINI at all.

 

I don't plan on backing into anything, and I don't agree that you shouldn't be driving a MINI if you have to have this option. I didn't have to have it, I just thought why not, its cheap, and if there ever is something behind you that you can't see, at least it will let you know!

No need to get down on the people with PDC!!

 

I was joking. I think it is neat.

 

I have the park assistance beeper on my MCS and not on my wife's Suburban...figure that one out...lol!

 

861,316

 

>>861,316


HAHAHA