This may sound a little strange, but here goes...
I can reverse into spots and parallel park perfectly, but I have trouble pulling into spots going forwards. I have my learners permit, and I won't be taking my test for a few months, but it's driving me crazy.
So I was wondering, is there a specific way to do it other than just aim and go? To reverse, I was taught to line up my shoulder halfway between the second parking spot over, then turn the wheel all the way and slowly back in. I just want to know, is there some sort of formula to follow for going forwards?
I will be asked to parallel park, park forwards and reverse for my test, so it's necessary to be able to do all three!
Update:Perpendicular, not parallel. I can parallel park just fine. For example, the parking spots in a shopping mall.
And, not everyone is American on here, I do not live in the states, I live in Canada, where you have to be able to park all three ways.
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
Better than writing a lot of facts, have a look at the video I found for you. other links there too, best of luck on the test :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7dJPeyJtuw
What state do you live in that they require you to parallel park forward? Parking going forward is not recommended bc there's no way to swing the back end of your car around because the turning wheels are in the front. It's significantly easier to do it in reverse. Now to actually help, I have a smaller car so I can sometimes do it forward if the space is large enough. You have to start from a little farther out towards the center of the road and then turn into the space as far back in the space as you can. Pull as close to the curb as possible but still giving enough room to turn the car and continue forward. Go forward as far as you can while staying as close as possible to the curb for your rear end to follow you. Once as far forwards as you can go, reverse backwards while turning the wheel in the opposite direction to get the back end to go into place and then continue to straighten the car out until you're within the space.
When you're trying to park, instead of pulling in directly, overshoot just a little, then cut hard right or left, roll a little, then straighten out, and you should be able to master in one shot. Practice and you'll see what I'm talking about. Good luck.
get a real speed up (65)+ and spin it in/watch the videos of this/nothing like it/works everytime
"little" hard on the tires