my secret to not scratching the lip is to not let my wife drive the car.

 

Better to replace a lip than a whole bumper anyway, so why not get a lip?

 

I almost always back into parking spots, easier to judge distance to the curb for me this way and much easier when you leave the spot.

 

Parking Secret #184: Don't pull up so far
Parking Secret #72: Pay more attention
Parking Secret #215: Judge the distance
Parking Secret #1: Think before you park

 

lol....those must be the Gibbs rules of parking

 

You'll get use to it. It becomes a conscious effort each time you park.

 

some of the guys at work give me hell because I sometimes end up parking about 3 feet from the concrete block...as long as Im not sticking out in traffic I dont care...rather be safe than sorry.

 

i visually measure with my driverside mirror. when i see the very bottom of the parking block creep under my driver mirror(visually from my driver's seat.. not driving over the parking block), i stop. hard to describe, but it leaves me about 6-10 inches from the parking block every time.

or i use the reflection of cars beside me.

 

Hone your skills by pulling up to an orange cone with an egg balanced on top.

 

Be careful after you learn to stop short. I did not realize once that the parking space I was in had a downhill slant to the curb. I parked short of the curb, but when I went to start the car, I pushed the clutch in and rolled in to the curb.