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What is the shortest space a parked car can get out of? Or a parking car can get into? (continued)

Hubert van Hecke
Santa Fe, New Mexico, US

It is possible to squeeze out of a tight parking spot even if the length of the space is less than the diagonal of the car.

Here is how: imagine the curb is to the right and there are cars front and back. Back up to touch the bumper of the car behind. Then cut the wheels to the left and inch forward partly into the gap in front.

About halfway in, cut the wheels to the right and ease forward until touching the car in front. If done properly, you will now be parallel to the curb, but a small distance away from it. Back up straight and repeat.

But what if the gap is zero? This happened to a friend of mine who went on vacation in Sicily, Italy, where he rented a car.

When he found the car, it was parked with bumpers touching the cars to the back and front. So he went back to the service desk to explain his predicament.

The service agent went to the car, got in, started the engine and pushed the car in front until there was enough space, then got out and handed the keys to my friend. Ecco!

Bob Cory
Altrincham, Cheshire, UK

Grant Hutchison claims that the record for parking in a tight space is a space 7.5 centimetres longer than the car. I can beat that, and in a car much longer than a Fiat 500.

On 22 August 2007, I parked my Audi RS 6 in a space in the Lake District in the UK that was at most 6 centimetres longer than my car (see photos, above).

The whole process was watched by dozens of people on an adjoining grass bank and at the end they gave me a standing ovation – but no flowers.

Here’s how I did it. You must reverse in. Then position the back wheels so they align correctly with the side of the road. You need a person to help stop you hitting the cars behind and in front, especially with an audience. You put a hard right lock on the steering and reverse back until you almost hit the car behind. Then hard left lock and edge forward until you almost hit the car in front. Repeat maybe 20 times – each time you are 5 centimetres further in.

Mike Piff
Via email

It is the length of the car, provided there are no other cars parked nearby.

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