DRIVING AIDS

geek84

Hi Folks

I'm in the process of buying a used car (Fiord Focus).

Are there any driving aids on the market which could help me to:

1. Get a more clearer view of the rear.
2. Help me park in tight spots (e.g. car assist)
3. Help in assisting the width of the car

Thanks in advance.

Mildly_Miffed

• 1. Central and door mirrors… Reversing camera.

2. Reversing camera, reversing beepers, auto-park

3. But you can see that out of the windscreen and in the door mirrors…

While there are aftermarket cameras and beepers, surely it's easier to buy a car that has them to start with?

MattMattMattUK

Focus is not a big car by any stretch, if you are struggling to reverse park one I suggest finding an instructor who offers refresher courses.

Vitor

Most modern cars have ultrasonic parking sensors that beep when you are approaching an object. You can also get stick-on blind-spot mirrors that will show a wider view to the rear of the car.

Herzlos

If you haven't bought the car yet, then look for a car you're more comfortable driving.
Anything vaguely modern will have the option of a reversing camera or at least reversing sensors.

paul_c123

Don't know specifically about a Ford Focus but if you are looking at a model without rear camera, its probably possible to get an aftermarket stereo with eg Apple Carplay or Android Auto, and it will have a video input for a reversing camera feature.

IOWJJBTM2025

360 camera is great. My wife called it the drone camera as it shows a birds eye view of the car. My car has it already and it works really well.

You can get kits to retrofit to cars and there are company's that can install.

born_again

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6666847/driving-aids

Age & Spec of car you are looking at, will make a big difference to what is installed. So look for one that has your requirements.

Adding what you are looking at is going to not be cheap & @MattMattMattUK idea is the best bang for buck.

Frozen_up_north

Like others mentioned, it is better to buy a car with these already fitted as opposed to finding someone to fit them afterwards. We had reversing sensors fitted by a main dealer on a new car that didn't have them and they are hopeless, they are unreliable and beep all the time when reversing when there is nothing nearby at all.

All round ultrasonic parking sensors are great for manouvering in tight spots, as is a reversing camera with a normal/wide view. My car has "auto park" but it's just as easy to manually park with the sensors.

On the flip side to cameras, it is easy to become distracted when manouvering, you cannot look at your central screen, side mirrors, interior rear view mirror and out of the windows at the same time. Thankfully the ultrasonic sensors will alert the car computer and hit the brakes before you hit something! Although often the auto brake systems are too keen. I doubt you will find aftermarket all around sensors that work with your brakes and that are approved.

Car_54

To add to the above, it is generally agreed that even most factory-fitted options add little or nothing to a car's resale value. Some even reduce it

chuffinnora

I had a Focus Vignale and it had all that tech you require as standard (and lots more useful stuff). Top of the range so a bit more cost, but well worth it over standard models.