Posted 2 days ago

Driveway turntable. Anyone got any experience of using one?

Buying a house at the end of a really narrow cul-de-sac. Our parking area is right at the end at a right angle to the 10ft wide road. My car is large, with a huge turning circle (think oil tanker). I can squeeze in through the gateway but need a 9 point turn to get it again - I can't go past the entrance and reverse in, there's not enough distance.
Consequently I'm looking at installing a car turntable, but at several thousands I'd like some genuine feedback from real people that have got or used one.
So if anyone has any input, please let me know. Many thanks.
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  1. oldcodger's avatar
    Get a smaller car......or a bigger house.....
  2. bobdylan's avatar
    Stuff of fantasy, I'd be genuinely amazed if anyone had one
    Ringfinger's avatar
    Author
    They are available. But expensive.
    52298544-Q55m8.jpg52298544-oC7HZ.jpg
  3. windym's avatar
    Not wishing to cause any offence, but if you are thinking of spending 'several thousands' on a carousel type parking space in a cul de sac, could you afford to be buying somewhere more suitable?
  4. JimboParrot's avatar
    Wallace & Gromit have one!

    Do think carefully about being the end house in a cul de sac - if you have s****y neighbours life will be hell.
  5. darkstryder360's avatar
    That's such a cool idea! I'd love it if it also descends into a Bat Cave of sorts.

    If I was in your situation I'd probably do the turntable
  6. Roger_Irrelevant's avatar
    10 foot wide road? Seriously?

    Is that like an old cottage or on a new build estate where everything is crammed in?
    windym's avatar
    To be fair, I live in the middle of nowhere and our road, aka access (over a mile long) has grass that needs to be cut in the centre part, the road (it is a publicly maintained road) is less than 2.2m wide.
  7. cowtc's avatar
    Backup camera and reverse in?
    Ringfinger's avatar
    Author
    Only way to reverse in is from the junction, approx 70 metres. Edge of the property is the end of the road - I can't go beyond the gate to reverse in. It is possible to drive in, but to turn around in the availablespace needs multiple manoeuvres. Going with builder in a couple of days to look at relocating gate and fence. Maybe double gate - but would need to be sliding or the radius would block the road or take up a big chunk of the car park area. One other alternative is to remove fence into garden and use a chunk of garden.
    The turntable seems the easiest. Then gates. But see what happens when I talk to builder. At least it's a new build and the builder is willing to help.
  8. IAmATeaf's avatar
    Won’t something like this cost north of 10k?

    EDIT: Looks like a 3.8m turntable starts at £6500 with an average install cost of £2600 plus VAT on both so around £11k all in, you’ll need an overall 5m x 5m clearance around including the turntable. (edited)
  9. wpj's avatar
    I have seen a couple of these locally on older terraced houses with limited parking space, though the only reson for having it would be so that you can always leave forwrd onto a fairly busy road rather than backing out.
  10. Uridium's avatar
    I'd keep looking and buy a different house, it may seem like the "perfect" property but the reality is that if you can't park then it's really not. Trying to get your car in and out based on the description you've given sounds like something that would get old very quick.

    No a good parking space isn't everything and to some folks it's likely to be a long way down the list of must haves but for some it's pretty important and if it's bugging you now before you've bought the house it will bug you a lot more once you've moved in.

    Either move on to another house or buy a Citroen Ami (edited)
    Ringfinger's avatar
    Author
    Parking isn't an insurmountable problem. It may be as simple as moving the gate in the fence. Looking to remove the fence and with a bit of chalk work out exactly the best position for the gate. The turntable would enable more cars to get on there though.
  11. emoji47's avatar
    Moving the lampost & drive entrance would be significantly cheaper

    The this the parking for just 1 of the properties? (edited)
    Ringfinger's avatar
    Author
    Yes. Just one property. Not sure about how to go about moving the lamp post. I've got an angle grinder... :/
  12. mutley1's avatar
    Doesn't sound like the right property for you. Forget it and move on, you will regret it if you don't.
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