Stiff Neck --- New Radar Assisted Car Any Help??

[5thwheeleroldma]

Wife was backing out at Walmart, supposedly hit another car and made slight dent. Think it was a scam, no marks on her bumper, other guy had a small '97 pickup with dents all over it, claimed she dented him. Cop said no matchups between her bumper and his "new" dent.

That's all besides the point; she got really upset and worried over it. My question is, if we traded in our old Sequoia for one of those new models with radar, would it help in such situations? Our necks have gotten stiff and it is hard to look over our shoulders. We look anyway, but this guy showed up just after a look.

[5thwheeleroldma]

I installed a backup camera on my '05 duramax a few years ago, also backup sensors. The backup camera is fair, not great. I keep the backup sensors turned off mostly because the noise is so high and piercing, even with my bad hearing, that we can't stand it. It has a high and low setting, but the low setting would wake the neighbors up. Also, the taped on dash monitor is pretty dorky.

So, in summary, I haven't been all that happy with aftermarket cameras and sensors. I don't know why they make the sensors so loud and irritating. She loves her '03 Sequoia and won't trade it in. Can't blame her though, feel the same way about my Duramax.

[dieseltruckdriv]

OH48Lt wrote:
The sensors AND the rear camera are the way to go. Still look around, but you should avoid that little kid or old lady that walked behind your vehicle after you got in. Rear cameras will be mandatory on all passenger vehicles in one or two years, and almost all have them now. Nothing is foolproof, but with a camera and the sensors you should avoid hitting anything but that stupid kid driving 40 mph through the parking lot.

The talk about backing into a parking space is interesting. I'll do it whenever its convenient, but a friend of mine just got a ticket for doing that. He was in a parking garage at the Ohio State University attending a function, and he backed into a spot. Easier and safer to get out, and with the sensors and rear camera he knew exactly how far away he was from the wall. He got a $75 ticket, apparently there was a sign somewhere in the parking garage prohibiting that. He says that will NEVER get paid....

That is a good point, many hotels post signs to prohibit that. Carbon Monoxide concerns in the rooms, and that makes perfect sense.

[OH48Lt]

The sensors AND the rear camera are the way to go. Still look around, but you should avoid that little kid or old lady that walked behind your vehicle after you got in. Rear cameras will be mandatory on all passenger vehicles in one or two years, and almost all have them now. Nothing is foolproof, but with a camera and the sensors you should avoid hitting anything but that stupid kid driving 40 mph through the parking lot.

The talk about backing into a parking space is interesting. I'll do it whenever its convenient, but a friend of mine just got a ticket for doing that. He was in a parking garage at the Ohio State University attending a function, and he backed into a spot. Easier and safer to get out, and with the sensors and rear camera he knew exactly how far away he was from the wall. He got a $75 ticket, apparently there was a sign somewhere in the parking garage prohibiting that. He says that will NEVER get paid....

[Gene_Ginny]

We Cant Wait wrote:
IMO an easier solution and it's what I always do, Back into the parking slot, that way you have control of the parking spot before backing in and can see everything, and then when you pull out you're facing forward with a clear field of vision.

A telcom company I worked for REQUIRED anyone driving a company car back in like that. It became automatic for me to do that even with my own car. It also makes it easy to see people walking. My wife saw a painfull incident where someone backed out and ran over a pedestrian in a parking lot.

[dieseltruckdriv]

Bumpyroad wrote:

cruiserjs wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

We Cant Wait wrote:
IMO an easier solution and it's what I always do, Back into the parking slot, that way you have control of the parking spot before backing in and can see everything, and then when you pull out you're facing forward with a clear field of vision.

that's why when possible I always try to find a parking space with both front to front slots open and pull in head first and into the second slot. I am always amazed when I see people who pull into this type of situation and stop half way thru.
bumpy

And when you leave you are going the wrong way??? bad!!

nonsense. these are straight in and no "wrong way".
bumpy

Those people are making a big deal about pulling out in a direction that a painted arrow says is the other way. Into a lane that is easily wide enough for two vehicles going opposite directions.

I also pull through, or back into a site. You have to back up one way or the other, I pick the easiest, less stressful way.

[Bumpyroad]

cruiserjs wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

We Cant Wait wrote:
IMO an easier solution and it's what I always do, Back into the parking slot, that way you have control of the parking spot before backing in and can see everything, and then when you pull out you're facing forward with a clear field of vision.

that's why when possible I always try to find a parking space with both front to front slots open and pull in head first and into the second slot. I am always amazed when I see people who pull into this type of situation and stop half way thru.
bumpy

And when you leave you are going the wrong way??? bad!!

nonsense. these are straight in and no "wrong way".
bumpy

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Saw this in a Costco parking lot in Antioch CA.

Woman and man yelling at each other. She was screaming bloody murder and pointing at her passenger door. Crush dent with yellow scrapes. Other car red Honda with red rubber bumpers. She was cursing him in the foulest language imaginable. Sat morning young children passing by with adults.

"You want a dent lady?" He walked over to her car - an 80's Subaru.

With a massive stroke he jammed a paratroop type boot into the rear door. Leaving a huge dent.

"Now -there's- a dent!"

I went shopping. When I was finished, both cars had left.

I could even use a camera on the toad but they are way too expensive. The bus has two. But the monitors are small.

[cruiserjs]

Bumpyroad wrote:

We Cant Wait wrote:
IMO an easier solution and it's what I always do, Back into the parking slot, that way you have control of the parking spot before backing in and can see everything, and then when you pull out you're facing forward with a clear field of vision.

that's why when possible I always try to find a parking space with both front to front slots open and pull in head first and into the second slot. I am always amazed when I see people who pull into this type of situation and stop half way thru.
bumpy

And when you leave you are going the wrong way??? bad!!

[Admin]

I just got a XTS with the radar and camera because of the stiff neck problem.
The camera has guide lines to show you where you are going to go.
It's really great and highly recommend it especially in a car that has the guide lines.

That was one of the reasons I upgraded to a new car.

Admin

[coolmom42]

What you really need is a backup camera. You could easily add one to your current vehicle, no need to trade vehicles.

[RandACampin]

We Cant Wait wrote:
IMO an easier solution and it's what I always do, Back into the parking slot, that way you have control of the parking spot before backing in and can see everything, and then when you pull out you're facing forward with a clear field of vision.

Problem is people are doing this in angled parking lots...idiots.

[boogie_4wheel]

Our Buick Enclave has both the backup camera and the radar sensors. The sensors work really well at sensing items behind the car/SUV/crossover/minivan without sliding doors.

Ours will pick up most squared off curbs.
Will pick up walls/fencing to the side as I approach it (even if I would not hit them if I continued to back up straight.

I have a carport on the side of the house, 3" square tubing, covered with tin. The sensors will notify me of the carport while I'm backing under it, so it is picking up a 3" wide piece of steel that is ~2' to the side of it as it approaches.

Now a backup camera is a cheap addition to your existing vehicle, and can help in many situations, but I find that I don't actually look at the camera display very much (unless I'm hooking to a trailer or backing up close to something, or when the sensors alert me of something).

For what it's worth. I almost always park farther out in the parking spaces, usually pull through or on the end, or back in. I look and hope for nobody crammed next to me, makes it easier to load kids in the car seats.

[Tiger4x4RV]

I had stiff neck troubles a few years ago and physical therapy really helped. Might be cheaper for you both than a new car, and better for your lives all around.

And X2 on backing into the parking space. Prevention beats cure any day.

[Bumpyroad]

We Cant Wait wrote:
IMO an easier solution and it's what I always do, Back into the parking slot, that way you have control of the parking spot before backing in and can see everything, and then when you pull out you're facing forward with a clear field of vision.

that's why when possible I always try to find a parking space with both front to front slots open and pull in head first and into the second slot. I am always amazed when I see people who pull into this type of situation and stop half way thru.
bumpy