Exercise - Focal lengths

I couldn't find any open view with some details in the distance. I could but I would need to drive some where so i picked the parking area to be my object for my exercise.
Placing my car (again) on the off right hand corner, it is in being part of the scene.
Using my EOS450D with kit lens 18-55mm:
focal length 18mm

focal length 24mm

focal length 30mm

focal length 42mm

focal length 55mm

As I zoomed in the car seem closer. I first thought that it should be the same as moving the camera closer but with the next exercise I did on the same day, i realised how wrong I was!

in this exercise, the car looks exactly the same. it looks like using zoom in tool in photoshop.