People generally freak out when I tell them that I street park my car in Georgetown. It goes something like this, "Oh my god blah blah blah how do you blah blah blah awful blah blah blah weekends." Surprisingly, even living below Wisconsin I rarely have trouble finding Zone 2 parking more than a few blocks from my house.
Part of the reason I don't have trouble parking is that I drive the shortest car currently available for purchase in the US and am a parallel parking NINJA. Exhibit A is not the tightest job I've ever pulled off - but is indicative of the kind of spots I'm able to finagle while asshats in SUVs are circling the block.
The only downside to this is that my car size to spot size barometer has become horribly warped. I'm contantly encouraing my friends who drive compact cars (like Civics, etc.) to try to wedge into spots that would be tight for a Vespa. Whoopsie.
I also drive a MINI and have executed exquisite parallel parking jobs. One time, I parked, got out, and saw that my front and back bumpers were touching (on a molecular level) the cars in front and behind me.
Posted by: J.J. | March 31, 2008 at 12:34 PM
Wow. You ARE a parallel parking ninja! Most impressive.
Posted by: lacochran | March 31, 2008 at 05:13 PM
@JJ - totally hilarious. My most impressive park to date had the back bumper touching and with about 2 inches on the front bumper. Do you find getting in is much easier than getting out? I can go in in one motion, but getting out I'm like Austin Powers.
@Iacochran - Thanks!
Posted by: Catch Up Lady | March 31, 2008 at 05:23 PM
I once had a friend visiting from Europe, where parking in her city is also at a premium, tell me that I am "an exquisite parallel parker" and have an "amazing sense of proximity"! Sadly, I drive a Honda CR-V.
Still, not everyone can parallel park. It's truly a gift!
Here's a picture you'll appreciate:
http://wdc-confidential.blogspot.com/2007/06/diminutive.html
Posted by: Janet | March 31, 2008 at 06:10 PM
Isn't the Smart ForTwo about half the size of a Mini?
http://www.smartusa.com/
Posted by: Justin | March 31, 2008 at 08:55 PM
@Justing - Are they actually available for delivery yet? The only one's I've seen around town still have European plates on them. When they get here, they will be shortest on market though. :)
Posted by: Catch Up Lady | March 31, 2008 at 09:13 PM
Bingo! That's why Europeans, with their more compact cities and narrower streets, drive much smaller cars (and almost never an SUV!). I just returned from Budapest, and on most streets in the city they park with two wheels on the sidewalk, so that even on narrow streets they can park on both sides.
Posted by: Used Cars Dave | June 27, 2008 at 08:27 AM
The Europeans do have the smaller cars which may be a heaven to park on the side of the road, but what about the cars which let loose hell while on the road?
Honestly, can any car compare to the Pontiac G8 GXP, Solstice Coupe?
http://automotoscope.com
Posted by: Robby | September 01, 2009 at 08:44 AM