[Z06] can't get my C6 z06 into a narrow, steep driveway
#1
Heel & Toe
Thread Starter
can't get my C6 z06 into a narrow, steep driveway
I'm in the market for a new house and the driveway entry to most Oakland homes are not friendly to my stock z06. Any advice on how I can get my car in? Here's what I tried and didn't work:
1. Enter at a sideward angle - usually works for me, but this driveway entrance is too narrow to give me enough angle and still stay within the driveway
2. Backing up into the driveway (didn't think of driving straight in though, duh. will return to give that a shot as well)
3. Looked at curb ramp options that essentially sit in the gutter. As you can see, my front wheels haven't come close to the gutter and my front lip is already touching the street
I'm willing to purchase ramps but with theft being a common issue in Oakland, I would have to take the ramp in/out every time. I prefer a permanent solution like regrading the pavement/curb/driveway if the city permits it. Any other options you can think of?
1. Enter at a sideward angle - usually works for me, but this driveway entrance is too narrow to give me enough angle and still stay within the driveway
2. Backing up into the driveway (didn't think of driving straight in though, duh. will return to give that a shot as well)
3. Looked at curb ramp options that essentially sit in the gutter. As you can see, my front wheels haven't come close to the gutter and my front lip is already touching the street
I'm willing to purchase ramps but with theft being a common issue in Oakland, I would have to take the ramp in/out every time. I prefer a permanent solution like regrading the pavement/curb/driveway if the city permits it. Any other options you can think of?
#2
Le Mans Master
The next house I move into, the driveway and entrance will be flat. Keep looking, or move to another location. Marginally helpful advice, sorry..
Last edited by Dan_the_C5_Man; 02-14-2019 at 01:59 PM.
#4
Team Owner
I'm in the market for a new house and the driveway entry to most Oakland homes are not friendly to my stock z06. Any advice on how I can get my car in? Here's what I tried and didn't work:
1. Enter at a sideward angle - usually works for me, but this driveway entrance is too narrow to give me enough angle and still stay within the driveway
2. Backing up into the driveway (didn't think of driving straight in though, duh. will return to give that a shot as well)
3. Looked at curb ramp options that essentially sit in the gutter. As you can see, my front wheels haven't come close to the gutter and my front lip is already touching the street
I'm willing to purchase ramps but with theft being a common issue in Oakland, I would have to take the ramp in/out every time. I prefer a permanent solution like regrading the pavement/curb/driveway if the city permits it. Any other options you can think of?
1. Enter at a sideward angle - usually works for me, but this driveway entrance is too narrow to give me enough angle and still stay within the driveway
2. Backing up into the driveway (didn't think of driving straight in though, duh. will return to give that a shot as well)
3. Looked at curb ramp options that essentially sit in the gutter. As you can see, my front wheels haven't come close to the gutter and my front lip is already touching the street
I'm willing to purchase ramps but with theft being a common issue in Oakland, I would have to take the ramp in/out every time. I prefer a permanent solution like regrading the pavement/curb/driveway if the city permits it. Any other options you can think of?
The driveway inst his problem, its the apron and sidewalk angle to the street...and no way in hell is the city going to allow him to change the pitch of the public sidewalk (city property). Look at the sidewalk in his photo beyond the house...its straight and level. No way they let him screw that up for his car. Not in CA.
Last edited by MTPZ06; 02-14-2019 at 02:26 PM.
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dcooper23 (02-14-2019)
#6
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Last edited by Z064me2enjoy; 02-14-2019 at 02:46 PM. Reason: Correction
#8
Racer
I'm in a similar situation, but able to utilize the sidewalk to very gradually angle in to my driveway. Moving to Delaware in two weeks and the new place has a flat driveway; Winning!
Don't laugh too hard at me, but as hillbilly as it sounds, why not some 2X12 boards with some additional pieces tacked underneath to brace it at the lowest point (if that makes sense?). Would be cheap, effective, and even though it will likely get old moving them after you pull out/before you pull in, it'd be a simple solution. That was my plan at my current place if the angling didn't work out.
Don't laugh too hard at me, but as hillbilly as it sounds, why not some 2X12 boards with some additional pieces tacked underneath to brace it at the lowest point (if that makes sense?). Would be cheap, effective, and even though it will likely get old moving them after you pull out/before you pull in, it'd be a simple solution. That was my plan at my current place if the angling didn't work out.
Last edited by 99Hawk262; 02-14-2019 at 02:52 PM.
#9
Burning Brakes
A cheap option may be to just put a 2" x12" x 8' board over the recessed spot to even it out. Who's going to steal a board? Just remove it when not driving the car.
#10
Heel & Toe
Thread Starter
[QUOTE=MTPZ06;1598878472]Where your car is sitting right now looks perfectly acceptable...but continuing to go backwards, I could see the front end scraping once your front tires reach the gutter. I think a ramp and backing in like you have would work just fine. You just need a wide ramp like this one..
MTPZ06, where did you find this ramp? This might work.
MTPZ06, where did you find this ramp? This might work.
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tonysz06 (02-22-2019)
#11
Team Owner
[QUOTE=bacho;1598879092]
Found it on this site... https://ecohealthsafety.com/portfoli.../driveway-ramp
Looks like they do ADA/Accessibility type retrofits...but whatever works to solve a problem.
Where your car is sitting right now looks perfectly acceptable...but continuing to go backwards, I could see the front end scraping once your front tires reach the gutter. I think a ramp and backing in like you have would work just fine. You just need a wide ramp like this one..
MTPZ06, where did you find this ramp? This might work.
MTPZ06, where did you find this ramp? This might work.
Looks like they do ADA/Accessibility type retrofits...but whatever works to solve a problem.
#12
As others have mentioned, I use a 2x12 board. I took time to figure out exactly where to place it, then marked the spot on the driveway. Once I pull in, I just shove the board under the car. You may need 2.
#13
Literally bought my house partially based on how flat my driveway entrance is... LOL get that black ramp they are showing you
#14
Instructor
My car scrapes every time I enter/exit the driveway. I looked at several options and the bottom line for me is that I can hit the driveway at a 45 degree angle and minimize it, but I still scrape on the two or three speed bumps in the neighborhood. I keep a spare part in the garage and figure I'll have to replace the stock part at some point, but 8,000 miles later on a used car I bought with almost 32,000 miles on it and all is well. I hate the sound it makes but it's just part of owning the vette for me.
#15
Heel & Toe
Thread Starter
Found it on this site... https://ecohealthsafety.com/portfoli.../driveway-ramp
Looks like they do ADA/Accessibility type retrofits...but whatever works to solve a problem.
I've reached out to them. Will post back.
#17
Safety Car
Member Since: Dec 2018
Location: CA
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C5 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
St. Jude Donor '19-'20
Buy a few bags of asphalt at the Home Center. Strategically it lay the asphalt in the low spot with a shovel then simply drive on it to smooth it down. Buy a bag of sand to finish it off just sprinkle sand all over it to blend it in with the sidewalk and prevent greasy asphalt juice on your tires. It should cost about $40 and take you about a half an hour. No one is going to creep up and try and steal asphalt and if for some reason the city was to bitch could be scraped back out with a shovel and put in the trash. I did this at my old house and it was fine for 12 years luckily my car does not scrape at my new house or I would do it again. Asphalt is the permanent solution
#18
Not the most desirable option, but consider removing the front splitter. Pretty easy to do, just a bunch of screws. Will give you a few inches of clearance. When I had my Z06 shipped from the east coast, asked the seller to remove the front splitter, otherwise the transport company was considering not accepting the car. Removal provided the needed clearance to get onto the trailer.
#19
Race Director
When I bought my house, I did a recon of the neighborhood main roadways. Any speed bumps, etc. When I found my home, the very first visual inspection was the block the home was on (was it clean or ghetto), the neighbors homes (clean or ghetto), and then the potential home driveway.
If you have no choice but to home shop in this odd angled driveway community, get a storage unit or consider a construction crew repaving the driveway at a more gentle angle of approach.
Last edited by WICKEDFRC; 02-15-2019 at 03:10 AM.