So I applied for a job to make some extra cash as a valet parking attendant. Part of the interview process is driving through a slalom course and backing into a few very tight parking spaces while being timed. What I didn't realize is that I was going to be using my own car to do this. There were 5 other guys taking the test also. The first guy drove a little acura integra. He pulled out of the parking spot and after rounding his first cone had to back up and correct. After making it around the next cone he had to stop and correct again, it took him a long time and you could tell he had trouble seeing out the back window while he was reversing into the parking spots. The next guy drove a VW Jetta, his run was nearly indentical to the first guys, slow with numerous corrections. The other guys had to drive the valet managers VW Golf because their cars were automatic and you had to do the course with a stick, the Golf was a really sporty ride that I was sure would have no problem making it through the course, but it didn't, it had similar results as the two previous.
I was the last to attempt the course, when I pulled up in my 245 "Big Blue" the interviewer suggested I use his Golf but I just had a feeling I would be better off in my familiar volvo even though it is a bohemoth. So I pulled out of the slip and made a wide sweep then turned into the first set of cones, made it no problem. Turned into the second and again no problem, then the third and only on the last did I have to back up and make a slight correction. I whipped the car around and backed into the spot with ease and 4 or 5 inches on either side to spare. There isn't a blind spot on the 245 and you know exactly where your back bumber is, 4" past the back window allowing for a brisk sweep into the parking spot. After I returned to the beginning of the course I drove up to greet 6 people, all jaws dropped. I actually did it in half the time of every other person. Score one for the 245!