Avoiding door dings
 

How far out of your way will you go to reduce the possibility of a door ding?

I imagine parking at the fringes of a parking lot is pretty common, or parking with a curb on your right. How about parking with your car facing into the wind? Wind can't grab door and slam it against your car...

Any other tricks, advice? Leave it in the garage? Haha!

-1.3L

Park VERY FAR away and if a lot seems overcrowded, don't bother to even enter, just park across the street. I've had my car 5 years and never have gotten one ding, besides the ones from the previous owner who only had the car two years.

If you're really paranoid and park next to trashed cars, take pics of their plates before you leave, so if something happens, you can track them down.

http://doordefender.com/dis_index.html

i literally park as far away from cars as possible...does the trick lol

When I bought my Rx8, the VERY FIRST place we drove, my friend didn't wanna walk too far because it was cold and such, so I parked in the middle of the parking lot, when it wasn't that busy, so nothing was near me anyway. Came out to three dents/scratches. Awesome.

The only other time, some customer at work hit my car. Of course, me leaving at 2 am, I walked out to being the only car in the lot. Awesome.

Now I park in the absolute furthest area from cars as I can. Hell, at work, I park in a corner half in grass. I don't joke around about it anymore, because it's just too expensive to park near people, because well.. I have an explicit opinion about them.

I still need to get all that fixed, as well as a ton of rock chips on the front of my car. Sucks, because I never drive close to people either, because I don't want them.

I used to park as far away as possible, but then when you do that, you get the typical douchebag in the POS car/pickup that will park right next to you just to be an asshole. I usually park away, but not so far away that it's obvious. I also park where if someone is going to park next to me, my car will be on the passenger side, that way if it's only one person they won't be opening a door near my car.

Also never, ever park by some kidmobile minivan. Kids have no concept of not hitting the car next to them, they just fling the door open and jump out.

Also have to watch out for rolling grocery carts, never park near a place where they can roll. the store I go to, the entire parking lot is downhill from the store, there are always rolling carts heading downhill. I just park on the side of the store.

I never park near the cart return areas because people fling those carts in there. Also I've found that you don't park next to handicap parking because some have wheel chairs.. and there door has to open all the way to get out. Then rush in the store and get back to your baby asap.

people are ignorant and dont care about other peoples shit. most people dont give a dam about their own vehicles much less yours. bottom line is it will probably happen no matter how careful you are unless it never leaves the garage. i have a few door dings and when i see them i remember why i hate poeple so much

Nice idea. Kinda expensive but may be worth it.

^ I've been using these for the last couple of years; they work fine – and they're cheap:


(Caution: don't press the suction caps too hard, or they'll cause a ding! If you press them gently, not too hard, they stick fine and do the job.)

me personally... my oem wheels have a little bit of curb rash, and ive accepted it. so what i do is find a parking spot with a curb on one side and hug the shit out of the curb (usually about a inch away), id rather chance some additional rash than a ding

Avoid minivans and suvs. If its a buisy lot I try to park next to a car that's nice and homefully has an anal owner like myself and will be careful.

I park as far away as possible, and always try to park next to the newest car in the lot if i have to park next to a car.

People are just oblivious to peoples stuff that isnt their own. I was waiting for my mom to come back to my car and i see 3 men come and go on my right, each holding the door and being careful. A older woman comes on my driver side to get into the passenger side of her car and she sees me and STILL hits my door as im INSIDE. I turn my head in shock, she jumps in and her daughter driving RIPS out of the lot, like serious drag race launch. I was in shock, the woman was like 60. I also installed my towhook that i painted to look nice on the front so that if i ever park on the street, whoever wants to play bumper cars with my front bumper gets a nice hole in theirs.

This is how i park everyday in order to avoid dings at school...

Attachment 235945

I saw a new Lexus GX with what seemed to be couch cushions strapped to all four sides of the car at a parking lot one time. Hilarious, but I'm sure it worked.

For me, I just don't take the 8 out if I have to park it at a busy lot or street park it. I do the usual park a mile away and walk 5 more minutes thing if I have to drive the 8 to a parking lot.

I always park at the far end of parking lots and walk, it's good for you and no door dings.
also no big booties in an R3

I find parking on the line quite helpful. Then no one else will decide to park there...unless it's a Mini. But yeah parking as far as possible usually helps!

Had some bastard slam his door right into the passenger side whilst I was still in the car. Gave him and his gf a piece of my mind afterwards.

Take up two parking spaces......!!:)

Extra exercise is always a plus and I love looking back at her and just taking in the view.
I work at a government agency so everyone drives really nice luxury vehicles but I still park way far away from everyone. Never had such pride in a vehicle I've own.
The other day an old dude in a Caddy pulled up next to me, pointed to my car and gave me a thumbs up...lol I just smiled and go...I know....

How far will I go? I'm looking to move out of my apartment and into a house/town house just to have my own drive way. I've gotten two dings and one large scratch from assholes not caring. So yeah, I'll pay an extra $500/mnth to avoid dents and dings. It'll also be nice to have my own place to wash my cars instead of having to do it at work. And a BBQ grill will be nice :D:

That can blow up on you. I've seen people key cars for doing that (both sides), and I don't think the tradeoff of keying versus door dings is a great choice.

Look for a space in a corner of a parking garage where there's a support post on one side and a no parking space on the other, then deliberately park all the way of the valid space, up against the side that is adjacent to the no parking space (just to discourage some smart @$$ from parking in the no parking space. You'll still have the concrete post to protect you on the other.

NJIT parking lot???

yeah

If you want to avoid dings just park next to me. It doesn't matter where I park some douchebag will ding my car.
Last year I had a bunch of little dings fixed, two days later some ass clown at a golf course decided to walk close to my car and drag their golf bag down the side even though there was about 100 feet of open space beside my car.
I'm lucky I didn't see him do it or I'd have probably ended up in jail.

Where I live people are relatively respectful of other people's stuff but I still park away from everyone and walk.

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