Parallel parking on a steep hill

[barrysharp]

A week ago I had to parallel park my '03 XC70 on a very steep hill and found the car was very cumbersome to park pointing uphill when trying to go back and forth to get the car closer to the curb. Trying to move the car forward took great effort and care on the throttle to avoid smashing into the car in front of me. It was kinda like the car needed a fair amount of throttle with wheels at half full lock to move it forward. Is it the Haldex AWD system that I was 'fighting' with maybe? My wife exclaimed to me that she was glad it was me parking the car and not her -- this of course labours the question of how she would have done had she been parking the car.

[mas71]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (barrysharp @ Sep. 02 2003,04:51)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">A week ago I had to parallel park my '03 XC70 on a very steep hill and found the car was very cumbersome to park pointing uphill when trying to go back and forth to get the car closer to the curb. Trying to move the car forward took great effort and care on the throttle to avoid smashing into the car in front of me. It was kinda like the car needed a fair amount of throttle with wheels at half full lock to move it forward. Is it the Haldex AWD system that I was 'fighting' with maybe? My wife exclaimed to me that she was glad it was me parking the car and not her -- this of course labours the question of how she would have done had she been parking the car. [/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Hi Barry.

I have experience something similar to what you describe, but I find it more cumbersome to park when the front points downwards.
The reverse has an extremely high treshold before it &quot;kicks-in&quot;

I do not believe it's the Haldex, mine has the VC as you know, I would suspect the implementation of the transmission.
I belive the lowest gear and the reverse are extremely &quot;low&quot; with high tresholds if you know what I mean.
Might it be to give the car advantages in more terrain like situatiuons?

I can notice a big difference from my previous 850 Turbo's transmission which was very tight and easy to handle.

[GeorgeXC70]

I think &nbsp;its just the way the throttle respose has been set up.

I noticed this when I took an 04xc on a longer drive... the ting just took off from 0 to about 20 mph I was really impressed. &nbsp;But i guess in a situation like you described it can be a bad thing.

As far as what your wife would if she were ever in that situation, she would have done what my wife always tells me she would do when we're in &quot;challenging&quot; parking maneuvers.. find another spot...

Do you think trying the &quot;winter&quot; mode button next time would smooth out the jerkiness of the car?

-GXC70

[barrysharp]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (GeorgeXC70 @ Sep. 02 2003,12:29)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Do you think trying the &quot;winter&quot; mode button next time would smooth out the jerkiness of the car?

-GXC70[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
George: Using W is a good suggestion -- didn't think of using it at the time but will do so nxt time I'm presented with parking uphill on a steepish hill.

Thanks.

[SpudRacer]

Barry,

My suggestion, for what it's worth, would be to avoid using the &quot;W-mode&quot; as most are saying it causes too much slippage in the auto tranny which will increase the rate of wear.

My advise when trying to parallel park on an uphill grade would be to use neutral when reversing, and use the brake to modulate your speed when going forward. &nbsp;Let me explain the brake part. &nbsp;You use your right foot on the accelerator increasing the RPMs to a point sufficient to provide enough torque for moving forward with your left foot planted firmly on the brakes, you then &quot;modulate&quot; the brakes with your left foot to go forward while keeping the accelerator pedal at a constant. &nbsp;You will find much more control with less chance of surging forward as the engine's output now will remain a constant which you govern with the brake.

Make sense?? &nbsp;If so, I can teach you some stock-car racing tips such as steering when near the apex of a corner using your accelerator instead of your steering wheel.

Most respectfully,

Spud

[barrysharp]

Woweeeee -- that's a fine looking SpudRacer. Have at it -- tells us how to steer with the throttle. Is that car racing on a dirt track?

...thanks for the parallel parking tips.