Yesterday some stupid poor driver scraped up my co-workers car while probably backing out the parking spot. Didn't leave note, just a big gash in the paint.

That really sucks! :mad: :mad: :mad:

I realize that the majority of drivers feel that cars are just transportation. They don't care if they cause door dings or receive them.

What do we, as car enthusiasts, do to avoid damage? Straddling two spots is extremely poser, at my work place will get you towed, and disrespectful because there are so few parking spots. Parking next to nice cars doesn't seem to work, from my office I see nice cars with stupid owners dinging other cars. Parking in the boonies seem to help and other enthusiasts are now clustered with me in the boonies. But as I type this, there is monster suv parked next to me, I have no idea why this person chose that spot under sap spitting tree and the parking lot half empty.

I'm thinking of purchasing two traffic cones and placing them at the corners of the spot I park in. This will hopefully scare off idiot drivers from parking next to me. What do you think?

I've seen people parked their cars slightly over to the next spot (some even parked right in the middle of two spots), so no car is going to park next to them.
But sometimes even worse are those run-away supermarket shopping carts...

What I like to do is always take a space that's on the very end of a row of spaces, and park on the very edge of the space. This way you only have one neighboring car, and it's usually too far away from you to ding your doors even if they were trying to do so.

What's worse IMO is being parallel parked on a city street, because so many people bump cars when parking, and since cars come and go so often, there's really no way to avoid this other than luck.

i will park further away. i dont mind the extra few yards to walk. plus there is less traffic then if you park closer to where you are going. it seems like the people who park closer are all in a hurry and dont pay much attention to other cars, where the people who do care more will park further away and do respect other peoples cars. but if you are stuck at work, there is not really much you can do, though the cone idea seems good, perhaps you can put the cones in the parking stalls next to where you park, so it looks like they are being worked on or something, it isnt the same as taking 2 parking spots with your car but ust as effictive.

Originally posted by ibfubar2000
i will park further away. i dont mind the extra few yards to walk.Me too. I currently park as close to the door as possible because I really don't care what happens to the POS Explorer, but the RX-8 will be parked at the far end of the lot, alongside several other shiney new cars who's owners obviously have the same idea already. :)

When I mean putting cones around the car, I meant on the parking line itself. See my ASCII drawing.

=====================
| ccc || ccc || ccc |
| aaa || aaa || aaa |
| rrr || rrr || rrr |
| || || |
| |* *| |

DRIVEWAY DRIVEWAY DRIVEWAY

Where the astericks (*) is the cones.

I guess I could put the cones on the outer edge of the stripes for more of intimidation effect.

I tend to look for an empty section far away. I could use the walking. I also park it slanted talking up two shots. I park far enought so that it does not bug anybody

It really doesn't take long for the "new" to wear off. At 62, I've had a lot of new cars and fretted about parking for a few months, then go back into my old bad habits and park close to the door.

Just don't park the car, it might get damaged. Wait, just don't drive the car, it might get damaged. Wait, you can't keep it at home the kids might run into it in the garage and it might get damaged.

Just drive it! It's a car! Do your best to protect it and give it up. It will eventually take damage, once it does, everybody seems to relax. Might as well just relax now and enjoy it instead of stressing.

Best option is the right side of a row since most people drive solo and don't use their passenger side door. diagonal is better than straight in.

I used to park as close as possible to the driver side door of people who couldn't figure out how to park within their own slot. I never hit or scratched anyone, but took some damage down the passenger side from the irate drivers from doing this. It was important to me to provide negative feedback to these people who can't be bothered parking in their spot because I think it's highly disrespectful to the rest of us to take over more than one slot.

I can't believe some of you guys double-park - hopefully it's only when the parking lot's half-empty. A car that's double-parked is screaming "KEY ME!!!!!!!!!!", at least in San Antonio. Of course it's the fat capital of the USA, and most folks will drive around in a parking lot for 10 minutes just to get 20 feet closer to the front door of the Hometown Buffet :D

There is zero respect for a nice ride in this town, especially when probably half the drivers have no insurance.

1 - Park as far away as possible.

2 - If parking close, try to find a spot at the end of a row that has an island or curb so that one side is protected.

3 - IMPORTANT - pay attention to the lay of the land! Though you may park far away, make hella sure that you are not at the BOTTOM of a hill (a cart rolled down and dented my ol Celica this way).

Also, as long as this doesn't incovience others at your place of work, take up TWO spots! There are five or six parking lots at my complex that there's always a spot. Of course, it's kind of tight in front of the main building, but I would never park there anyway... so I just park as far away as possible and I take up two spots.

Like I said I double park only when I see the parking lot pretty empty

Originally posted by OmegaBob
IMPORTANT - pay attention to the lay of the land! Though you may park far away, make hella sure that you are not at the BOTTOM of a hill (a cart rolled down and dented my ol Celica this way).I'll add a corollary to that: If you have to park on a slope, leave more room between you and the car uphill of you than the one downhill. Someone opening their door downhill towards your car is far more likely to hit you than someone pushing their door open uphill.

If you park way over the horizon, at the far end of the lot, you are very far from 'observation', I find. Close to the doors, people are coming and going, lots of foot traffic - 'witnesses' if you will.

If a door swings wide in the forest, and no-one sees it - does it still leave a ding?
.
.
.
doc

Don't park next to my mother or anywhere where there's a spot next to you that she may park her car.

One time we pulled up in a spot.. My Mom opened the door firmly and all the way until it hit the new Exploder next to us.. Then while bitching at my Dad because he "parked to close" she continued opening the door into the truck about 5 more times. The damage was bad for a door ding... God she's such an ass sometimes....

RotaryStalker

Pay attention to the vehicles you park next to, if you can't park away from other vehicles. Park next to vehicles with shorter doors, i.e. 4-door cars, or next to the passenger side of a mini-van (with a sliding door that doesn't swing out at all). Whatever you do, don't park next to a Corvette, Mercedes SLK, Camaro/Firebird, or other 2-door vehicles with extremely long doors.

Originally posted by RotaryStalker
Don't park next to my mother or anywhere where there's a spot next to you that she may park her car.

One time we pulled up in a spot.. My Mom opened the door firmly and all the way until it hit the new Exploder next to us.. Then while bitching at my Dad because he "parked to close" she continued opening the door into the truck about 5 more times. The damage was bad for a door ding... God she's such an ass sometimes....

RotaryStalker


She does'nt come to south florida does she?

I'm gonna buy a red flashing light & park it in the fire lane. That'll look so hot with my Velocity Red with red/black, don't you think? It'll also get maximum traffic/exposure that way.

edit: OK, just kiddin'. Park out there where it's thinned-out significantly. Also, next to an island or the end of the row (if not prone to poor turning-caused accidents). Watch out for vandal-prone lots! Don't be takin'up 2 spots, even out there - just screems for abuse!

I think I'll surround the car with these :)

http://brattsfan.tripod.com/imagelib/sitebuilder/pictures/photos2go_images/entertainment/469166.jpg

let me add to runaway supermarket carts :(

had one hit my front fog light, by it self it was ok, except another dump driver park in front of me

hit the damn cart and ramp it into my fog light

long gone when i got back to my car.. sigh

Originally posted by Edge
Just don't park the car, it might get damaged. Wait, just don't drive the car, it might get damaged. Wait, you can't keep it at home the kids might run into it in the garage and it might get damaged.

Just drive it! It's a car! Do your best to protect it and give it up. It will eventually take damage, once it does, everybody seems to relax. Might as well just relax now and enjoy it instead of stressing.




Say that when u have ur rx-8 and right when u just got back from shopping ur in ur garage putting ur groceries and all of sudden u see a small dent on your door.

made a mistake

Have any of you tried something like this? Google for "magnetic door guard" and you'll find lots of vendors.

The Park Smart Magnetic Door Guard is the ideal preventative measure against Door Dings and Chipped paint. The design of the Door Guard, in conjunction with the soft nearly invisible PVC, helps cushion even the hardest of blows. A smooth magnetized rubber strip, along the top of the Door Guard, holds the Door Guard onto vehicle without scratching the paint. The Magnetic Door Guard measures 25"x 6.5"x 0.63". Comes with a Lifetime Warranty
My initial thoughts (don't have these, nor know anyone who does):
1. 25" might be somewhat short
2. vertical contact point from swinging door of normal car and SUV might vary quite a bit
3. not really invisible and might get stolen
4. someone might think these are the world's ugliest dealer-added option :D

Originally posted by moogle
made a mistake

I'll say! " ur door"!

Anyway, We lent a Durango from a family member to go to Florida for a week, OK? So, this guy who was dating my sister-in-law was with us. My vibs tell me "this guy's a real duffus", ya know? One early morning, he takes the Durango "to get something" at the grocery store. When he gets back, there's a dent in the front bumper, looks like "the Hulk" knukle-punched it. Found out, he punted a shoping cart across the parking lot with the Durango!!! Turns out, he was calling an old girlfriend, and she upset him terribly. Oh God, was I ever fumin' that day on him!!!

So, ya never know...hope he didn't hit ur car...

Originally posted by Gamera
My initial thoughts (don't have these, nor know anyone who does):
1. 25" might be somewhat short
2. vertical contact point from swinging door of normal car and SUV might vary quite a bit
3. not really invisible and might get stolen
4. someone might think these are the world's ugliest dealer-added option :D My initial thought: a magnetic panel won't protect the aluminum rear doors. ;)

Originally posted by Gamera
Have any of you tried something like this? Google for "magnetic door guard" and you'll find lots of vendors.
3. not really invisible and might get stolen
I saw a similiar product years ago. It was magnetic but also had a strap on the back that you would close in the door. That would help prevent it from being stolen.
Haven't been able to find them again though.

damn ill take the dings over having that POS strapped/magneted (is that a word) to the door. It could slide and fudge up the paint or just fade the paint if left on too long. Don't sweat it guys they are just little dings and unless you live on a farm youre gonna get em.

DON'T park downhill from one of those shopping cart corrals.

not much you can do to avoid door dings.

I've once had a guy throw his door into mine, while I was still in the car. :(

Do you think spraying the car with Windex might help? Or maybe StaticGuard?

What do you call those rubber bumper things that they put over the side of a boat at a dock?

ihave a 2001 eclipse gt the first month i had my car some lady was backing out of her spot at shoprite and boom dented and cratched my car from the front of the passenger door to the back of the bumber total repair cost 1823.00. And by the way it was hit and run. So when my 8 comes in i will park miles away right by the dividers so if anyone hits it will be on one side. I had some real bad luck with my eclipse my tires got slashed, egged , a bloder through my windsheild, and it goes on and on. i guess when u live in Nj and u have something other people dont have they want to fuck up there car beacuse even if they egg it key it it will always be a better than what they have. And people will lways vandalise beacuse theres alot of cruel people in this world but i will do anything in my power to stop vandlism to my 8 when i get it when it come in .

For those who've had their cars keyed you'll be happy to know I caught an ex-friend about to key my 85 GSL-SE. The results to his face were devastating. He claimed 7 fractured bones but the claim was never proven. Oh, and I tossed his keys which were never found...

RotaryStalker

Originally posted by Racer X-8

What do you call those rubber bumper things that they put over the side of a boat at a dock?
Bumpers

Originally posted by TJRX8

Bumpers

I think they're called fenders

Originally posted by TJRX8

Bumpers Oh. How nice. I thought they might be called something like "jibber jammers" or some corncob thing like that.
Anyway, yeah, just throw a few of them over port & starboard, aft & stearn. That oughtta do it! :D Aye aye!

fenders?

i first pray that i can find a corner spot far away. then i pray again.

and when i come out to the car, the car next to me is still to close to my liking.

santino

Originally posted by TJRX8

I saw a similiar product years ago. It was magnetic but also had a strap on the back that you would close in the door. That would help prevent it from being stolen.
Haven't been able to find them again though.
They were all reported stolen. In some instances, with the car attached! :D

I always park my FD as far as I can. Either that or in a closer, but "cornered" place where there's only one neighboring car. But sometimes parking TOO far (from my experience) is all that good.

There's this one time when I had met up with my gf to go eat, I had got to the lot first and parked all the way in the back where nobody parks. She arrived and wanted to park next to me. There was nobody else in that entire row. So we go in and eat (shopping mall) came back out 45min later and her car was stolen!! But then again it's a 92 Honda Accord, and to make it worse it was her sister's car too!

And I was like damn, my car was right next to yours and didn't get touched. But it was all good because the cops found it the next day and we got it back. :D


-Dan

I had a co-worker tell me his tale of woe. He got a new SUV, parked it at the back of the parking lot to avoid scratches. Some bozo was tooling around the parking lot and hit his SUV so hard it was totaled after only 1 week.

I usually pick an end spot, next to a curb if possible, so people can only on one side of the car.

I'm selling this '93 POS Intrepid of mine (I didn't really buy it, never used it, came with the house I bought - package deal, OK?) to at least partially fund my downpayment on the 8. Had it parked in my own front yard for about one week now. Came home from work Monday to find that it's been EGGED!:mad:

Might have been Sunday night / Monday morning but anyway...I called the cops & filed the worthless report...

What else is there to do (within reason, of course)??????

If the little cretans do it to my 8 , war will be waged!