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Does your Model S fit in your garage?

HankLloydRight

No Roads
Jan 18, 2014
12,821
10,834
Connecticut
I had a forum user bring his over to try out my garage (2 single doors, built in 1932). Had to fold in the mirrors to clear the sides, and when pulled in all the way (touching the wall with the nose) I only had about two inches clearance in the rear. Had to cancel my reservation...

That sounds like it fits!

I wouldn't let two inches or clearance deter me.

:)
 

HHHH

Member
Jun 11, 2013
732
23
Henderson, NV
I park mine at my in-laws house at times and although it fits, it's a two car garage, and the Model S if in the garage can only be parked by itself. My routine parking is in my condo's parking garage otherwise, so no real issues there except I can't charge there :(
 

santana338

Member
Apr 11, 2012
341
47
Manchester, NH
With all due respect to those that choose to use a cement curbs and lasers to park, let me offer this alternative. I saw this posted somewhere else on the forums and this was also mentioned in an earlier post on this thread.

The MS has a perfectly useable rear camera that can be used to determine when you are far enough into your garage. To set the up for perfect parking every time, I simply parked where I wanted it to be. Then took some painters tape and put in on the floor at the rear of the car where it can just be seen by the camera. To use this I just turn on the backup camera when pulling head first into the garage. Once I see the tape I know I can stop. I did the same thing at the back of the garage in case I want to back in. In that case I used some neon yellow paint once I was comfortable with the tape mark.

Of course, I don't have issues lining up side to side in my garage so maybe I am just oversimplifying.
 

ElSupreme

Model S 03182
Jan 13, 2012
4,303
89
Atlanta, GA
With all due respect to those that choose to use a cement curbs and lasers to park, let me offer this alternative. I saw this posted somewhere else on the forums and this was also mentioned in an earlier post on this thread.

The MS has a perfectly useable rear camera that can be used to determine when you are far enough into your garage. To set the up for perfect parking every time, I simply parked where I wanted it to be. Then took some painters tape and put in on the floor at the rear of the car where it can just be seen by the camera. To use this I just turn on the backup camera when pulling head first into the garage. Once I see the tape I know I can stop. I did the same thing at the back of the garage in case I want to back in. In that case I used some neon yellow paint once I was comfortable with the tape mark.

Of course, I don't have issues lining up side to side in my garage so maybe I am just oversimplifying.

I do this too. Although I use a preexisting oil stain. ~2-3" from garage door every time.

I also adjusted my IR garage door crush sensor, to be the same height as the furthest reaching part of the nose cone. So my garage won't close when the car would get hit by the garage door.

Don't ask what happened when I parked front in (only once) and then tried to open my tailgate. Just always back into your garage.
 
S in garage small.jpg

When entering, I have clearance of 4.4 inches on each side but am still very careful when backing out. Once the mirrors clear the door frame I find that I am paranoid about scraping the fenders.:scared:
 

Kermit

Member
Mar 7, 2013
52
9
Silicon Valley
What cement curb did you use? Sounds like an easy low tech option?
Thanks!

You can buy a plastic or rubber parking "mat" with two humps at any auto supply store. It's about 2' long and 1' wide. You place it where you want the front tire to be located. Just drive over the first hump and stop when you hit the 2nd hump. They tend to slide around after a while so I screwed mine down into small concrete anchors ($3 at hardware store) in the floor. You can walk on these mats without tripping unless you are clumsy.
 

DavidM

P2624, Delivered
Aug 18, 2011
451
21
Florida
How high is your parking curb? While it needs to be low enough to clear the front end, I guess it also needs to be high enough that you don't easily roll over it, too. I've seen folks do this in parking lots (not with a Tesla) and it can be tough to get back over the hump in that situation.

My curb is about 4 inches high. So a little shorter than curbs in parking lots. Only problem is the curb creeps forward over time. I have to reposition it every 2 or 3 months.

- - - Updated - - -

What cement curb did you use? Sounds like an easy low tech option?
Thanks!

I bought the cement curb many years ago at a yard supply store. Forgot which one. But you can also use straight planting bed curbs. When laid flat, they are only 2 or 3 inches tall. You can keep it from sliding forward by using a piece of the rubbery mat people put under carpets to keep them in place. Only issue is when the car is not in the garage, the curb is a tripping hazard if you are not paying attention.
 

howardc64

Member
Oct 19, 2013
147
53
Seattle
The Model S feels about the size of our previously owned Honda Odyssey in the garage. Actually seems just a tad longer so very limited space in our 2 car garage. Have to be careful opening and closing the door and can not do full extension on all 4 doors. I do have shelves built in on one side and a post in the middle of the garage. My garage door is a single car garage door. Car has no folded mirrors so have about 2+ inches of clearance on each side.

As for the proper parking depth in the garage, I used to dangle a tennis ball from the ceiling but found a much easier solution for all my cars. Just stick a bright colored tape to align it with the side mirror at the proper parking depth. Do this on the side of the mirror that is facing something close like the wall or any shelves. Been doing this for like 10 years on all my cars. Perfect parking depth every time :)
 
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Hybris

Member
Sep 14, 2013
445
0
Sweden
its truly a big car...

My last family car was a BMW X5 E70.
485 cm long
193 cm wide

Model s:
497 cm long
196 cm wide

It fits my garage but its not leaving much space...
 

CaptDaveHowe

Member
Mar 12, 2013
90
2
LI, New York
I tried. My garage is an attached one car garage, and I arranged it so that the MS would fit. However, the fit was so tight, that pulling in and out on a normal basis was just too difficult. Besides, once in opening the doors was tight. I ended up buying the Tesla cover, which actually is really good. It is easy get on and off, fits great and did not blow off in 50 mph winds. There are no strings or straps, just pull it over the car and you done. Takes about 30 seconds.
 

snort

Member
Jun 27, 2015
164
74
Seattle, WA
You can buy a plastic or rubber parking "mat" with two humps at any auto supply store. It's about 2' long and 1' wide. You place it where you want the front tire to be located. Just drive over the first hump and stop when you hit the 2nd hump. They tend to slide around after a while so I screwed mine down into small concrete anchors ($3 at hardware store) in the floor. You can walk on these mats without tripping unless you are clumsy.

I use one of these too. It seems to move around a little every time I use it. I use the same floor space sometimes for projects that need the floor to be flat, so I used painters tape to mark the right spot on the floor so I could put it back in place easily, and once I was sure I had it right, replaced that with a mark from a permanent marker.

My dad solves the same problem (with a different type of car) with a tennis ball hanging from the ceiling of the garage so it hits his windshield when the car is in the right place.

The model S is too wide. I live in the city and there are lots of streets that are scary, and lots of parking spaces that are too tight. I was hoping the model 3 would be narrower, but only 4 inches. Counting the mirrors, the S is 15 inches wider than the '97 explorer I used to drive. With the mirrors out, I've got less than 2 inches clearance on each side in my garage entrance. Going in isn't so bad, but coming out is tricky.

--Snortybartfast
 

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