Parking aid

[stickytape]

I had an audible parking aid in my old Mercedes; sadly, my new Astra doesn't have this feature - does anyone have any opinions matter on after market Ines and any real world situations with it fitted?

Views appreciated!

 

[tom24]

I've always found the old school name 'bumper' was called so for good reason and a firm call of 'ouch' sufficed for any human obstacles..

 

[Fuzzdog]

Honestly, pretty much any of the cheap aftermarket sensor kits will work well as long as you stick to the traditional "Near thing, make beep, repeat" type rather than the ones with the fancy displays - it's not rocket science, they're simple little devices and as long as you don't mind the drilling holes in the bumper part, can't go too far wrong. I've fitted all manner of cheap eBay kits for friends, and all of them work every bit as well as the OE systems as long as you get the mounting right. Occasionally better! You can even order the sensors pre-sprayed now to match the car from some places.

Worth checking to see if there's an OEM version available for the Astra though, if you want to keep it all Vauxhall and care about finicky people at resale time.

 

[nilagin]

I've always found the old school name 'bumper' was called so for good reason and a firm call of 'ouch' sufficed for any human obstacles..

Hopefully you'll never come close to my car then.

 

[tom24]

Hopefully you'll never come close to my car then.

I'm not too bad, did enough courses involving parking at speed (sounds odd but it's really about maneuverability ) but I think i'd really miss my parking aids now.
So much so, the next car will have cameras or that park assist methinks.

 

[Fuzzdog]

I'm not too bad, did enough courses involving parking at speed (sounds odd but it's really about maneuverability ) but I think i'd really miss my parking aids now.
So much so, the next car will have cameras or that park assist methinks.

Same. I used to work in car sales and I can slide pretty much any size car into any space barely thinking about it, but I still love having parking sensors. They saved my neighbour's really stupid dog once when he dashed behind my car while I was reversing. Couldn't see him as he was too short, but the sensors suddenly beeped like crazy and I slammed on the brake. Little sod was sat there licking my rear bumper when I got out to find out what I'd nearly flattened.

 

[Cobra]

Another thing we can't live without these days how on Earth did we survive in years gone by?

I've always found the old school name 'bumper' was called so for good reason

The more politically correct name for that now is "touch parking"

Little sod was sat there licking my rear bumper

And I bet it was only because ( being short) he couldn't reach the windows?

 

[Garry Edwards]

Honestly, pretty much any of the cheap aftermarket sensor kits will work well as long as you stick to the traditional "Near thing, make beep, repeat" type rather than the ones with the fancy displays - it's not rocket science, they're simple little devices and as long as you don't mind the drilling holes in the bumper part, can't go too far wrong. I've fitted all manner of cheap eBay kits for friends, and all of them work every bit as well as the OE systems as long as you get the mounting right. Occasionally better! You can even order the sensors pre-sprayed now to match the car from some places.

Worth checking to see if there's an OEM version available for the Astra though, if you want to keep it all Vauxhall and care about finicky people at resale time.

Agreed, I drive an off-roader with very poor rear (and front, come to that) visibility, well worth having and very straightforward to fit.

 

[nilagin]

The more politically correct name for that now is "touch parking"

Is that what they call dry humping now?

 

[LongLensPhotography]

We fitted the £10 ebay kit to the Hyundai SUV - and it works perfectly so far.

The rear ones are far easier to install. Our came with a small LED light indicators too which is very helpful.

You could also fit one of these ebay reversing cameras. They are not as wide as OEM ones, and naturally both are almost useless in total darkness in countryside.

 

[andyred]

[emoji3]

 

[stickytape]

Honestly, pretty much any of the cheap aftermarket sensor kits will work well as long as you stick to the traditional "Near thing, make beep, repeat" type rather than the ones with the fancy displays - it's not rocket science, they're simple little devices and as long as you don't mind the drilling holes in the bumper part, can't go too far wrong. I've fitted all manner of cheap eBay kits for friends, and all of them work every bit as well as the OE systems as long as you get the mounting right. Occasionally better! You can even order the sensors pre-sprayed now to match the car from some places.

Worth checking to see if there's an OEM version available for the Astra though, if you want to keep it all Vauxhall and care about finicky people at resale time.

Thank you! I've had a look and there appear to be some OEM versions - I will check them out.

 

[Steep]

I drive quite big vans with terrible rear visibility so I fit a camera to any van I'm keeping for a while. My current one is made of a camera that gives a brighter image at night than I can see with my own eyes, fed to a 4" monitor sitting on the dashboard. The whole thing cost about £30 and I fitted it in a hour or so.
I don't like sensors since I can never be sure just how close I am to an object or where it is though the system fitted to a hired Transit Custom I drove last week was pretty good.

 

[Ian D J]

Attach one of those plastic wide angle lens to the rear window, or even a mirror on the outside looking down.