Parking Full Size SUV in Parking Garages

[Anonymous]

And NEVER leave the sunroof open when going into a garage lower than 6’2”. That additional 1 inch of height where the sunroof slides back over itself can be the difference between fitting in the garage - and getting stuck on the pipes along the ceiling. Ask me how I know.

[Anonymous]

I’m not going to tell you to get a minivan. I will say that even my minivan is super tight pulling through my single door garage opening at home, and it’s also tight backing out of parking spaces in pubic if the lanes aren’t wide and the cars parked behind/opposite me are also long. Cars in general are just longer and parking lots haven’t really changed to accommodate. It’s obviously doable, but you will notice the difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are going to be in the market for a new vehicle in about 8-10 months. We have three kids doing multiple sports year-round, all between the ages of 6-12, and one large dog that we also take with us on vacations and trips to visit family a few times each year. Plus my in-laws visit with us 3-4 times a year for a week or so each visit. We do not want a minivan, but have found a 3 row SUV is a must for our needs - and really need more space many times throughout the year. The new 2023 Toyota Sequoia looks really interesting to me but we've never owned a full size SUV.

Can those of you who have a full size vehicle tell me if it is challenging to find parking garages that fit ? I may need to drive this vehicle 2 days a week to my job in Arlington and occasionally to DC. We have an older/typical midsize SUV now and the rooftop radio antenna scrapes a few spots in the garages I've used this past year, so it's making me wonder if having a FS SUV would solve one problem but create another (i.e. a parking challenge). Is this a common problem for those of you with FS vehicles or rare?

P.S. Please don't reply just to trash full size SUVs or people that buy them. We are not trying to make a statement, we both work FT (not a 'soccer mom'), we just want a bigger vehicle to better meet our needs. And while it won't change minds, the 2023 Sequoia apparently has a new engine that gets slightly better mileage than the Tahoe/Yukon, similar to many mid size SUVs.

Buy a commuter car too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a QX 80 and there is only one very old garage downtown I had some issues with. Otherwise we have fit into all other garages.

And I should note, it was a turning radius issue, not a height issue. I couldn’t get around a corner without hitting a wall or another car.

This is very valid point, when comparing SUV's consider checking the turning radius

Get the new hummer with crab walk, problem solved.

[Anonymous]

I live in Arlington and had a first gen sequoia for 15 years. Worked in crystal city mostly.

Although it was taller than the listed max height I could park in my garage by knowing where the low hanging pipes were.

I roofed the luggage rack a few times in new garages. Some garages in dc dc and crystal city, Clarendon and ballston were not a chance in hell as they were too low.
As was posted the size of the car made it hard living in Arlington and working here. We kept it and got a mid size suv and it worked for us for 10 years for the sequoia on family trips and Costco runs/big item purchases.

The issue with the new ones is the third row seats are not removable as far as I can tell: and dealers are charging 5-10k over msrp to order one.
I would get a Yukon or suburban probably now.

[Anonymous]

My work garage can handle our big SUV, DH’s downtown simply cannot. Horrible time fitting in narrow spots against support columns and tight turns. After months of dings and scrapes we finally agreed that he needs a small commuter car and I take the big one. On weekends we can take the smaller one if one of us is just running with one or two kids. It’s honestly better!

[Anonymous]

We have a large suv as a third car. Use it really for trips, buying big things or heading out to the suburbs where we know we can park.
We live in Arlington and never use it around town unless we have to (another car in shop or whatever). We put maybe 4k miles on it a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vehicle width and parking space size are likely to challenge you. Many garages and parking lots try to squeeze out extra revenue by making spaces quite narrow. Couple that with incompetent drivers who park closer to one side of a space than the other, and you may find it difficult to park alongside others, and to open and close your doors once you have parked. Expect door dings.

You'd be better off with something compact which is suitable for commuting, and a different vehicle for weekends/family things which you don't park in parking garages.

This. Hate massive SUV owners who park in ridiculous spaces they won’t fit in, thereby preventing me from fully opening my door. I ding away with no shame or guilt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My work garage can handle our big SUV, DH’s downtown simply cannot. Horrible time fitting in narrow spots against support columns and tight turns. After months of dings and scrapes we finally agreed that he needs a small commuter car and I take the big one. On weekends we can take the smaller one if one of us is just running with one or two kids. It’s honestly better!

This. And as someone with a compact car, the suvs limit available spaces at times due to not being able to open doors when parked next to them. Consider a second or commuter car if possible, or metro. I think it’s easier elsewhere but downtown def problematic for more than just height issues.

[Anonymous]

Get a small car for parking in Dc. My parking garage is very tight. I drive a Nissan Altima-old- just for parking in there. All the SUVS barely fit line to line.

[Anonymous]

Height has been an issue for me with my Rubicon -- particularly when I have the top partially back. It also has kept me from getting the lift I really want. But you make choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are going to be in the market for a new vehicle in about 8-10 months. We have three kids doing multiple sports year-round, all between the ages of 6-12, and one large dog that we also take with us on vacations and trips to visit family a few times each year. Plus my in-laws visit with us 3-4 times a year for a week or so each visit. We do not want a minivan, but have found a 3 row SUV is a must for our needs - and really need more space many times throughout the year. The new 2023 Toyota Sequoia looks really interesting to me but we've never owned a full size SUV.

Can those of you who have a full size vehicle tell me if it is challenging to find parking garages that fit ? I may need to drive this vehicle 2 days a week to my job in Arlington and occasionally to DC. We have an older/typical midsize SUV now and the rooftop radio antenna scrapes a few spots in the garages I've used this past year, so it's making me wonder if having a FS SUV would solve one problem but create another (i.e. a parking challenge). Is this a common problem for those of you with FS vehicles or rare?

P.S. Please don't reply just to trash full size SUVs or people that buy them. We are not trying to make a statement, we both work FT (not a 'soccer mom'), we just want a bigger vehicle to better meet our needs. And while it won't change minds, the 2023 Sequoia apparently has a new engine that gets slightly better mileage than the Tahoe/Yukon, similar to many mid size SUVs.

Just get a minivan. And many soccer moms work. Better gas mileage than a Tahoe is like the lowest bar.

As long as you are okay with your car getting scraped in the garage (it will be too tight, it’s about 1.5” wider than a Sienna, and I’m pretty sure has bigger side mirror.

You minivan proselytizers are worse than the evangelicals. You just can't resist trying to push your favorite vehicle when people have said they have reasons they don't want it and want other advice.

I'm glad you like your vehicle, but give it a rest and move on. OP already said that they've decided that a minivan isn't right for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vehicle width and parking space size are likely to challenge you. Many garages and parking lots try to squeeze out extra revenue by making spaces quite narrow. Couple that with incompetent drivers who park closer to one side of a space than the other, and you may find it difficult to park alongside others, and to open and close your doors once you have parked. Expect door dings.

You'd be better off with something compact which is suitable for commuting, and a different vehicle for weekends/family things which you don't park in parking garages.

This. Hate massive SUV owners who park in ridiculous spaces they won’t fit in, thereby preventing me from fully opening my door. I ding away with no shame or guilt.

HaHa- obnoxious SUV drivers will look for camera footage and nail you one day. You deserve it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vehicle width and parking space size are likely to challenge you. Many garages and parking lots try to squeeze out extra revenue by making spaces quite narrow. Couple that with incompetent drivers who park closer to one side of a space than the other, and you may find it difficult to park alongside others, and to open and close your doors once you have parked. Expect door dings.

You'd be better off with something compact which is suitable for commuting, and a different vehicle for weekends/family things which you don't park in parking garages.

This. Hate massive SUV owners who park in ridiculous spaces they won’t fit in, thereby preventing me from fully opening my door. I ding away with no shame or guilt.

How fat are you that you need to fully open your door to exit your car??? Even 2 compacts parked next to each other in most garages don’t allow for a door to be open 90 degrees.