14 replies to this topic

[electricfurnace]

Wondering if anybody can provide any suggestions...

At my house we have a drive, however the pavement to get onto the drive is pretty steep and angles downwards towards the road fairly excessively. For my Clio Sport I have to reverse on and drive off forwards to avoid the front splitter catching on the floor, and I do usually get a bit of a scuff off the exhaust now and again, even when reversing on.

It's become more of a problem now my partner has bought her '98 Mini Cooper, as the exhaust and front number plate on these are seriously low and we can't actually get it on the drive! The exhaust pipe scrapes everytime, whether she reverses on on drives on forwards.

Bit of a long shot but any suggestions as to what adaptions I can make to the drive, aside from getting a big job like contacting the Council to get permission to re-sculpt the pavement and that? Was thinking something like kerb ramps or something, but I wouldn't have a clue where to look!

Heres a rough diagram showing what I mean - Please note the arrow "catches here" also applied to about halfway on the red line too.



Cheers

[Ethel]

How accurate is the diagram? I wonder if the pavement is so steep it breeches some regulation or other?

I'm not taking it too literally but if it catches the car where you say it's down to the angle between the road and pavement.

[danny2009]

could you get a picture of the drive might make it a bit more clear ?

[Pooky]

Have you tried raising the number plate and the exhaust at all?

[electricfurnace]

Have you tried raising the number plate and the exhaust at all?

No, have not tried that. Any guidance as to how to go about it without it looking silly?

Cheers

[Ethel]

You could have the number plate on a hinge with a control on the dash to lift it

[Pooky]

The number plate is just a thick piece of plastic. Take it drill some holes a little lower down the plate, this will raise the plate up a little. Bear in mind that the plate still needs to be clearly visible from the front of the vehicle.

The method of raising the exhaust would differ depending on how your exhaust is mounted currently. Is it standard or an aftermarket one? Mounted on bushes or hangers? I'm sure that if you have a look underneath all will become clear.

[danny2009]

put the plate on the grill ?

[Bungle]

funny enough the pavement into my garage is like this

i have more problems getting my clio van into the garage than my mini

the sloop into my garage is a sort of convex shape rather than straight the council resurfaced the pavemet a few years ago and replaced in in a concave shape resulting in my mini being stuck in the garage

a quick phone call to them and it was resurfaced again with in 2 days

[camp freddy]

As you have just purchased it could it be fitted with hi-lo's?
If so it could be raised a tad.. just a thought.

[Mattl]

You need to dig the drive out a bit and make the ramp section at less of a steep angle. If its just the mini your worried about, get some hi los on there.

[trafficface09]

high lows are the answer,

or build a car ramp that is removable, so when you want to park just go and get the ramp out and lessen the angle then put it away once your done.

you could go out at night with a bag of tarmack and neetly (and sneeky sneeky) fix it, not sure if the council will spot it, seems roads are the last things on thier minds at the moment

[pantera2075]

What is your driveway made of?

I know it sounds a bit drastic, but if you drop your drive just a little, then go at the lip of the pavement tarmac with a lump hammer, you will be able to squish it down over time, and it shouldn’t crack if you go slowly enough. Tarmac is pretty "fluid" especialy on hot days.

[dazzul]

Hello, have you tried driving on at a angle ? like come at the dive at 45 degrees then straighten up once your on?

[captainjack15]

Hello, have you tried driving on at a angle ? like come at the dive at 45 degrees then straighten up once your on?

I was going to suggest that.

Bit like I do when going over a speed hump.