Stephen F.

"Roarmeister" <ebnezrvfgre2@argfpncr.arg> wrote in message
news:79ke91lo60iij9ipva2pv7cm8fh0cio08l@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 25 May 2005 08:27:26 +0200, "Stephen F."
> <ferguson@NOJUNKbluewin.ch> wrote:
>
>>What really annoys me is the industry-wide trend towards bloated cars.
>>The
>>new Focus is 14cm wider than the old one. This is substantial, and ...
>
>>Oh, and it didn't fit in my garage at home.
>
> Out of curiosity, just how big do they make garages in Switzerland?
> Obviously we in NA are just used to large vehicles (the Focus is
> considered
> to a small or compact car). Even the smallest of garages in Canada can
> accommodate a NA Focus and most any other car. Min. garage door size is
> 6'x7' high (1.8m X 2.1m) ie a double wide man door although that is
> extremely rare and the more typical is an 8' or 9' wide x 7' high door and
> single garages are 10'-16' wide.
>
> A lot of people have 9'x8' high doors for their SUVS and 3/4 ton pickups,
> and 2 and 3 car garages are not uncommon.

I'd have to measure it to be sure, but the clearance on either side of the
mirrors is a few inches when backing past the concrete pillars (it's an
underground garage). Once past the pillars, there is a little more wiggle
room to get out of the car. Our friends have to fold the mirrors on their
Volvo V70 to park reliably.

I know what you mean about NA garages. My parents live in a modest 1960s
split-level near Toronto, and the garage accomodated (barely) a 1974
Plymouth Gran Fury coupe. My father's Passat looks somewhat lost in it now,
and my old '78 Fiesta looked like it would have fit sideways.

Roarmeister

On Mon, 6 Jun 2005 08:31:50 +0200, "Stephen F." <ferguson@NOJUNKbluewin.ch>
wrote:

>
>"Roarmeister" <ebnezrvfgre2@argfpncr.arg> wrote in message
>news:79ke91lo60iij9ipva2pv7cm8fh0cio08l@4ax.com...
>> On Wed, 25 May 2005 08:27:26 +0200, "Stephen F."
>> <ferguson@NOJUNKbluewin.ch> wrote:
>>
>>>What really annoys me is the industry-wide trend towards bloated cars.
>>>The
>>>new Focus is 14cm wider than the old one. This is substantial, and ...
>>
>>>Oh, and it didn't fit in my garage at home.
>>
>> Out of curiosity, just how big do they make garages in Switzerland?
>> Obviously we in NA are just used to large vehicles (the Focus is
>> considered
>> to a small or compact car). Even the smallest of garages in Canada can
>> accommodate a NA Focus and most any other car. Min. garage door size is
>> 6'x7' high (1.8m X 2.1m) ie a double wide man door although that is
>> extremely rare and the more typical is an 8' or 9' wide x 7' high door and
>> single garages are 10'-16' wide.
>>
>> A lot of people have 9'x8' high doors for their SUVS and 3/4 ton pickups,
>> and 2 and 3 car garages are not uncommon.
>
>I'd have to measure it to be sure, but the clearance on either side of the
>mirrors is a few inches when backing past the concrete pillars (it's an
>underground garage). Once past the pillars, there is a little more wiggle
>room to get out of the car. Our friends have to fold the mirrors on their
>Volvo V70 to park reliably.
>
>I know what you mean about NA garages. My parents live in a modest 1960s
>split-level near Toronto, and the garage accomodated (barely) a 1974
>Plymouth Gran Fury coupe. My father's Passat looks somewhat lost in it now,
>and my old '78 Fiesta looked like it would have fit sideways.
>
Well then, the Smart Car definitely could. Those things are remarkably
small....