Hi everyone,

Sorry for the sudden influx of questions, but they are things I have been trying to work out for a while and just now came to the realization you guys are the best resource out there!

I've noticed it a bit difficult to park and make U-turns in my 2002 Verada Ei Series 2. I assume it just has a bigger than I am used to turning radius. Do you guys find the same thing? If so, how do you cope?

We've been doing a lot of 3point turns and 3point parking attempts etc... maybe it just takes some getting used to but I was wondering if anyone out there had any tips!

Thanks!

I jump into a Falcadore and go for a quick drive and realise even with the large turning the Mitsi is still better than driving one of those rwd dinosaurs.

I jump into a Falcadore and go for a quick drive and realise even with the large turning the Mitsi is still better than driving one of those rwd dinosaurs.

I think you will find that the falcon, commodore and magna all has very similar turning radius of around 11m. However I know which car is allot easier to front in park out of my BA and TH.

I just reverse park in car park, I find it easier. But you will get use to it, and you find car parks you won't park in.

I don't find it too difficult to park. Yes it is big but after you've parked a ve Commodore you can park anything.

Some of the JDM models were 4WS equipped.

I just reverse park in car park, I find it easier. But you will get use to it, and you find car parks you won't park in.

This one

Hi everyone,

Sorry for the sudden influx of questions, but they are things I have been trying to work out for a while and just now came to the realization you guys are the best resource out there!

I've noticed it a bit difficult to park and make U-turns in my 2002 Verada Ei Series 2. I assume it just has a bigger than I am used to turning radius. Do you guys find the same thing? If so, how do you cope?

We've been doing a lot of 3point turns and 3point parking attempts etc... maybe it just takes some getting used to but I was wondering if anyone out there had any tips!

Thanks!

The Magna is notorious for their YUGE turning circles – not sure about the Falcodore or Commocans though. I can't even say their real names without spitting ~spits~ :disgusted

Yeah, the turning circle in the Magna's has never been great but you just get used to it and make allowances.
Reverse park into car park spaces has always been the best idea once you get used to it - in any car, even cars with good turning circles.

I was reading somewhere and the magna only has 20cm more turning circle than the commodore and the falcon has 20 less than that. It isnt bad for a family car at all.

I was reading somewhere and the magna only has 20cm more turning circle than the commodore and the falcon has 20 less than that. It isnt bad for a family car at all.
My mate's EF falcon has a smaller turning circle than my TJ, as does another mate's VS commodore. All been through the same Maccas drive thru and mine is the only car that can't make the U-turn out of there.

Magna TJ - 11.9 m
Falcon EF - 11.1 m
Commodore VS - 11.0 m

I had to reprogram my brain to park my magna. It takes a bit of getting used to and anticipating before and making allowances. once all this is pre-calculated, you will get the parking right everytime. However, a 3-point turn will always be an extra effort compared to a medium sized sedan. If you think the magna is bad, wait till you try parking an Evo or a a Legnum!

Wait til you try and park a 380!!

Um, have you tried a 2nd gen? Dad's 3rd gen feels a million times better,
then again, our land cruiser is a million times better again...

How to deal with the large turning circle? Get dodgy rear tyres and make use of the handbrake when turning :P lol works best on gravel and/or wet roads! ;)

In all seriousness, unfortunately the its the downside of a large fwd car. Space in the front wheel wells are tight when trying to fit the macpherson struts, driveshafts and steering assemblies and the turning circle suffered. Coupled with a protruding bumper, bad vision over the bonnet and in my case; wider wheels, it means parking is difficult.

Personally I just opt to reverse park most of time. Unfortunately I don't have reversing sensors or a spoiler so I effectively guess how far I can reverse back. I don't want to drill my bumper but I do recommend others to invest in parking sensors. I know it does make a big difference. Otherwise when it comes to nose-in parking then I look for a parking spot that has two spaces next to each other or at least wider parking spots. If I need to nose-in park then its a matter of turning in about half way, reversing back opposite direction about 3/4 back in the car park and then turning in again full lock and move in. This for me took practice with learning the boundaries of my car. I practised parking using old cardboard boxes and witches hats (cheapy $15 one's used for sports) in a empty industrial park. Looked a bit stupid and is a bit embarrassing but I'm far more confident with parking these days although it still isn't my strength. I miss my old cars because they all had much better turning circles.

Just a hint when parking on the street in a shopping centre/mall area, use the shop windows as a mirror to judge how close you are to the car behind you and in front.

Shortly after I got my Magna on my P's (after driving an FG Falcon around on my L's) I pulled a sick U-turn. Well, up until I met the curb on the other side. Ripped a mad 3 point turn in front of rapidly approaching oncoming traffic :P

It takes some getting used to Also the front wheel drive. Steering changes, especially when you plant your foot, etc.

All I can say is be prepared for the occasional 3 point turn. I don't usually have trouble parking. It helps to wait until theres no cars around, then I whip the front right out before turning in. EG say theres a spot to the left. As I approach, I move right over to the right, and go full lock. Occasionally you'll need to stop, go full lock in the other direction, reverse back 50cm, go back to the other full lock, and continue. (Full lock is as far as you can turn the wheel).

How fast you turn the wheel will also dictate parking. Found that the steering wheel appears to have more turns in it, so you'll need to turn faster to make the wheels turn faster.

I made a very unconventional move and bought a very expensive and very large sedan for my first car while still on my L's. I didn't see the problem, but I also learnt to park in a tiny Corolla which was like parking an ant in the ocean compared to what happened when I first tried to park my Verada.

It is something you just need to deal with. There is no way to make it better, it simply has the turning circle of a submarine. You simply cannot do a U turn even on a very large road without a side street, and even then sometimes you won't be able to do it so you need to allow yourself plenty of room for traffic and be aware of the situation to determine if the car can do it or not.

I've now pretty well gotten used to parking but if the space is tight I will usually need to come out and back in to straighten up, because the car simply cannot get in centred and straight. Basically, scorcher93 nailed it. The car is different and you need to get used to it.


Shortly after I got my Magna on my P's (after driving an FG Falcon around on my L's) I pulled a sick U-turn. Well, up until I met the curb on the other side. Ripped a mad 3 point turn in front of rapidly approaching oncoming traffic :P

It takes some getting used to Also the front wheel drive. Steering changes, especially when you plant your foot, etc.

All I can say is be prepared for the occasional 3 point turn. I don't usually have trouble parking. It helps to wait until theres no cars around, then I whip the front right out before turning in. EG say theres a spot to the left. As I approach, I move right over to the right, and go full lock. Occasionally you'll need to stop, go full lock in the other direction, reverse back 50cm, go back to the other full lock, and continue. (Full lock is as far as you can turn the wheel).

How fast you turn the wheel will also dictate parking. Found that the steering wheel appears to have more turns in it, so you'll need to turn faster to make the wheels turn faster.

You really have to plan ahead when driving in car parks with the Magna. Also when doing a U-turn I always make sure to start from as far left as possible and turn the wheel from straight to full lock very quick so as not to waste road width. If I'm going to a place that has a tight carpark I usually take my SWB 4WD. It's amazing easy to navigate in small spots compared to the Magna.

How to cope with large turning radius?

Go slow.
Turn the wheel like mad.
Practise 3 point turns.

And don't blame it on front wheel drive. They do come small. Just not the Magna. lol

Cars with the smallest turning radius are as follows.

(Numbers in feet. I think . . . . lol)

2010 Toyota Yaris Sedan 4-Spd AT 32.6
2010 Toyota Yaris Sedan 5-Spd MT 32.6
2010 Kia Rio Base 32.7
2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart 32.8
2010 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS 32.8
2010 Mitsubishi Lancer ES 32.8
2010 Mitsubishi Lancer DE 32.8

Go buy a Lancer! (32.8 feet = 9.99744 metres)

All 3rd gen magnas have a turning circle of 11.2m according to the car magazines, also ive got a 2005 Wheels 5 car test.

MAGNA/VERADA= 11.2m, 3.1 turns lock to lock.
FALCON= 11m, 2.8 turns lock to lock.
COMMODORE= 11m, 2.7 turns lock to lock.
AVALON/CAMRY= 11.6m, 3 turns lock to lock.

This shows that magna/veradas turning circle isnt much different to Falcon/Commodore but needs slightly more turns to do it, most likely due to magna/veradas marginally larger wheel.

I haven't considered it an issue. It seemed to have better turning circle than my old Elantra, and my wife's Pulsar, and my Dad's LTD (by that statement, I mean that it was easier to manoeuvre in a u-turn or other similar situations). The only thing that has bested it that I have owned was an 80's Mazda 929.

I will just stick to doing 3 point turns.

In a car with a good turning circle, you can start making the U-Turn before youve fully turned the wheel... With a Magna, youre best to have the wheel close to (or preferably at) lock before you start.

If there is heaps of traffic and finding time for a 3-point turn is hard to come by, Ill come out a bit at right lock (without impeding traffic of course), then lock the wheel to the left and reverse up to the curb. It cuts the circle down by a lot and when done right; saves the need for a U-Turn.