silver1.3

First off, I usually park out of the way and next to a curb, or a light pole, or something to limit my risk of other people dinging or hitting my car, but my wife was with me and I didn't want her to walk a million miles to get to the theater. So against my better judgment I parked at the first convienent spot. Went and saw War of the Worlds, get out to the car and sit in the driver seat about to start the car and look out my front window. . . man this car in front of me seems close to me. . .hmmmm, I just gonna be **** and take a look. . . Mohter &%$#ers. They had parked their POS pontiac so that the nose of the fiberglass was tucked under (and touching) the nose of my front bumper and pressing up against the grill. I almost blew a gasket. There didn't seem to be any damage, but the fact that this moron didn't have the sense to know when to stop his car made me loose my cool. I had thoughts of keying his car or getting a metal bar I carry and smash in his window. But seeing how he didn't do any visible damage I opted for a nasty note using many explitives starting with "F" and just for fun saying how I had there license number and my lawyer will be in contact with them (just to make them sweat). Childish - oh yes - made me feel good oh yes, yes.

Moral of the story - stick with your gut when it comes to parking and stay the hell away from Pontiacs.

Now I feel better!

GotZoom

My wife is used to it - I drop her off at the door and then park in BFE.

StewC625

I always park in a specific spot - on the end, preferably with no opportunity for anyone to "nose" to me, and ideally under a spotlight so my brilliant yellow paint sparkles. And inevitably some dorkass parks his shitbox next to me.

snizzle

I parked next to someone ONCE since i've had the car and that resulted in a ding on my back door. I completely understand where you're coming from and I feel for you.

Even so, some idiot seems to park right next to me anyway just to **** me off.

Lady_Shinka

I give any riders fair warning that they better like walking :p I, like many, park way out by a pole and where nobody is in front or behind me.

When I am at school I park in a parking lot that is very out of sight, I actually get upset when new people see it because I'm always afraid some jealous kid will think about keying it.

BlueFrenzy

That's just horrible. He probably uses the tactile technique of parking ... that little bump of running into the other person's car is a signal to stop and park.

If that had happened to me, I would have flipped and found a new use for the tire iron we have in our trunks

fullsmoke

I plan to invent an invisible shiled--a "forcefield" if you will. No one or thing will be able to touch my 8! HAHAHAHA!



... but seriously, I hate these types of people--no respect for other people's property.

FS

fredw1

When I park at the airport, I ask to park out in left field, where there are no cars. The last time I did, I parked at least ten cars away from the closest car (other people who have the same thought of preservation), only to return from my trip with a car in the spot right next to mine. There were scores of other places this idiot could have parked and not been next to anyone, but he (or she) parked their Lincoln right next to me. I checked for dings where his (her) door would have opened, and there were none, but what would possess someone to do this? One of the mysteries of the universe.

crossbow

Its like that scratch remover commercial on spike tv

Section 8

My wife has gotten used to walking great distances across parking lots, she sees it as added exercise

Jackie

You think your movie theater parking story is bad, but listen to this! I parked wayyy at the end of the movie theater parking lot, had the car for less than two weeks and somebody (insert explicit word of your choice) backed into my passenger doors! Long story short- the insurance company are not nice people (insert another explicit of your choice) and I pay over $1200 out of pocket to get the car fixed... Less than two weekd old! And the people didn't even leave a note, naturally!!! And the cops say it's on private property so they can go after the person even if I knew who it was! So how about that? It happened two months ago, so I have come to terms with it, but now I have to find the right bolts for my underbody in the front because the people (another explicit) at the body shop didn't put them all back in!!!!! So that's my movie theater story...

Frostee

Last time someone bumped my car (using the 'bump! im parked' method), they even left their car pressed up against mine. i moved the car back and upon inspection, noticed a scratch in the front bumper and a bent license plate.

they drove home without sideview mirrors.

i have no respect for people like that. i hate to see what my reaction will be when i have an 8 though....

Whitey

Ya know another option you might try (I use it) is to park next to a REALLY expensive car, or atleast one with a lot of modifications to it.........that way you atleast know that they care about their car and they're more conscious about dinging other doors and such.......or if nothing else they don't want to damage their own door. Course they may be thinking "I parked all the way out here and this idiot parked right beside me"..........but atleast neither of you have any damage to your cars. It works for me.

Shinka13

That's the method I use if I can't find a curb all by itself. On a + side to parking next to the curb, you can hug the curb and give any potential idiots that park next to you even more room to not be able to park straight. :D

apotocki

Yep....all these are good options. Before parking out in BFE which I usually do (and, yes, no matter how far away you park, someone always 'feels' the need to park next to me anyways. I simply can't figure that out), I first try to see if a spot is open next to a handicap spot. If so, I hug the blue line leaving plenty of space on the other side for the next guy. Usually, the handicap spots are always open and there are enough of them so that the ones bordering the 'regular' spots are seldom used.

o_town_racer

OK, well how about this. The RX-8 was safe in the garage and I was taking the wife's Mazdaspeed Miata to get a trailer hitch installed. I'm in the parking lot at the trailer hitch place waiting for the mechanic to take a look.....this white pickup pulls up alongside....and this old lady on a cell phone opens the door and lets it smash into the lip of the right rear wheel well. I go nuts! The car was bought new in December and has less than 4000 miles. Anyway....she moves the truck and comes back. She looks at the car and says...."oh, there's nothing there...just a little scuff"....and...."well this is my son's new F-150 pickup and he just got it yesterday". Anyway, she puts her glasses on and with the trailer hitch guys backing me up finally sees the damage she did. She finally gives over her information and I calm down. I ended up taking the car to my trusty paintless dent repair guy (he had fixed a ding in the front left fender of the RX-8) and he did a superb job. Total cost of repair $35. The lady sent me a check to cover it and she got off REALLY cheap.

The moral of this story....people are stupid and careless even when you are standing right there and staring at them as they open their car doors. A good paintless dent repair guy is your car's best friend!

Nubo

Lol, somewhere there's a forum and someone complaining "I parked to see a movie and when I came out someone had busted my sideview mirrors... what's up with that"

I feel your pain. The very first time I parked the 8 in a lot I really did park in BFE. I came out twenty minutes later and this big-*** van is parked next to me with this huge family pouring out. Kids of all ages, granny and grampa, strollers, a papoose, etc. They were all smiles and friendly as I walked up. I think they parked there so the kids could look at the car. I ended up with a tiny dent.

belkjz

i always park far away but i also park at an angle just a slight one so when that idiot pulls in straight and parks next to me his doors have less of a chance of hitting the car i know ill regret this but im at ayear with no dings i just have guys who think they need to run on top of cars (see hooligans on 4th thread for sob story)

AKBen

I always get the ricer in the Ford focus with the HUGE exhaust can parking right next to me. The can sticks out ever so nicely, it fits a size 12 boot quite well. I can just see the sparks flying as his can is dragging down the road..........

V_for_velocity

Yeah, but how was the movie?

silver1.3

AHHHHHH! Somebody FINALLY asked me!!1 :D I'd figured everyone would say I was just being ridiculus with the way I think about parking, but I guess like minds think alike!!!

The movie was pretty good - even with the half crazed Tom "the Scientologist" Cruz!! Graphics were pretty cool - kinda looked like a Lebbeus Woods design (Sorry - thats an obscure architecture reference for those who don't know)

Heres an image from Woods. . .



ok one more

Gambit

I always park eitehr next to a curb, a more expensive car, or out in the middle of nowhere. I got scared sh*tless one day I was in work on a saturday parked way out by myself, then I came out to leave and there's a POS busted up ford bronco next to me....aaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Low Fly'n 8

I recently parked in a huge golf course parking lot with plenty of room for everybody. When we finish the round and got back to the car, a huge brand new Ford 4X4 pick up was parked beside me on the driver's side, with about 12 inches or less of room between us. Only about a half dozen other cars scattered out in the lot. I stood there speechless for about 2 minutes looking at this ridiculous sight. There was not enough room to open my door and get in! The old me would have kicked his door in and called it even. I keep a small post-it pad in the glove box. The kinder, gentler me left him a note that said "Thanks for parking so close, a$$holes like you should take a bus".