My carport is a little wider than a typical compact parking space. (Note: Most vehicles short of an H2 or dually will fit, but one side of the 'port is a stucco wall, so if I'm dealing with a half-ton pickup, a bench seat is convenient as I can exit from the passenger side.) Our long-term 2012 Nissan Quest fits in here with room to spare. A couple nights ago I allowed what I thought would be a comfortable margin -- almost 2 feet -- to exit on the driver side of the Quest.
And indeed I could get out, but when I tried to leave the driver door open to retrieve items in and around the front-passenger seat, it wouldn't stay open... because I couldn't get the door open wide enough to hit that first detent. Forcing the issue was only going to result in having the door scrape against the wall. This was inconvenient. It would have been even more annoying in a crowded parking garage with another van or SUV parked next to me.
A couple hours later I left to run an errand, and when I returned, I snugged the van up more closely on the passenger side. That netted me another inch or two on the driver side, and sure enough, now I could open the door wide enough to set it in the first detent. OK. Good.
But since I can't always park the van just so, I'd like another detent so that I can keep the driver door open at a narrower angle. Given the parking situation in Japan (that is, really narrow garages), I'm frankly surprised our Kyushu-built van doesn't make more allowance for maneuvering the hinged doors in tight confines.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor @ 5,070 miles
jl30 says:
09:08 AM, 02/ 5/12
The USDM Quest is actually 5 inch wider than the JDM Elgrand. Even though they look the same, the Japanese version is actually narrower to fit their tight parking space.
ed124c says:
09:11 AM, 02/ 5/12
OK, here's an opportunity for a manufacturer to advertise Variable Door Opening Postion Engagement, or v-DOPE.
hondacura4 says:
10:22 AM, 02/ 5/12
The real question is, is the van too big or is the car port 2 small?
When we built our garage we had 4 vehicles so I told my brother to design it so we could fit 2 cars deep and with garage doors on both sides for easy exit. An Odyssey, CL Type-S and a pair of S2000's!
mercedesfan says:
11:48 AM, 02/ 5/12
@ed124c
You joke, but actually high end luxury cars have just that. I know that the BMW 7 and Mercedes S (maybe others as well) have hydraulic mechanisms in the doors that will hold them open wherever they are. There are no door checks. It's one of my favorite features, actually.
billt9 says:
12:43 PM, 02/ 5/12
It looks like you've outgrown California.
Time to move out to a bigger state. There are 40+ other good choices.
Falconx84 says:
12:51 PM, 02/ 5/12
@ mercedesfan - any idea what the "official" name of the part is or where I might find an aftermarket version? I'd be really interested in retrofitting this if it was available at a reasonable price.
dinobot666 says:
12:57 PM, 02/ 5/12
Hop in through the sliding rear doors. You'll have as much room as your (growing?) body allows it.
jm1212 says:
02:48 PM, 02/ 5/12
Look at how the M37 is parked. there is NOTHING around the driver's door.
igeekone says:
09:00 PM, 02/ 5/12
Yes, the Quest was built in Japan. That doesn't mean it is built for the JDM. The Quest was designed for the U.S. market and the JDM Quest, called the Elgrand, is different.
fordson1 says:
07:14 AM, 02/ 6/12
Wow - that is one postage-stamp carport.
bankerdanny says:
07:15 AM, 02/ 6/12
igeek beat me to it, Made In Japan does not equal Made For Japan.
kevinlch says:
01:59 PM, 02/ 6/12
jl30 is right, USDM Quest is 4.7" wider than JDM Elgrand
also around 7" longer
blueprint1 says:
09:54 AM, 02/ 7/12
In a garage, or any tight parking situation, always use the sliding doors :facepalm: