Where do you park when going out?

[Jimmy The Detailer]

We all put much effort to detail our ride so it serves we would be cognizant of where and how we park our babies when going out or shopping, cause unfortunately some people can be inconsiderate.

[CharlesW]

Re: Where do you park when going out?

Interesting poll.
It is a standing joke with me. I ask people if they want me to let them out at the door or do they want to walk back with me.

One other thing. Almost every business we frequent has a few parking spaces that are either protected on at least one side or oversized. They must not measure correctly since lots of times there are spaces that are close to 2 feet wider than the others. Eventually, I find one and use it regularly.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Where do you park when going out?

I usually try to find and end spot so I know that at least one side of the car is completely free from even the potential of someone parking next to it. If I have to park next to other cars I try to pick out the cleanest, most expensive cars on the lot. I figure the space between the spotless Porsche 911 and the gleaming AMG SL 55 is a pretty good bet. My PT is now 4 years old and doesn't have a door ding anywhere - not a mark from a parking lot.

[Jimmy The Detailer]

Re: Where do you park when going out?

Agreed, most people don't take a Meguiars-esque type pride as we do, and certainly couldn't fully appreciate the work we pour into our cars. I find a passable appreciation at best, as readily evident in their cars. We are addicted, UQDing at every turn and they simply don't :-)

[ramphonic]

Re: Where do you park when going out?

I park 3 or 4 spots from the last car. I'll double park or park next to a curb so someone can not park next to me. I also make sure there are no shopping carts that could cause interference.

Regardless I still get dings here and there

[Ryan L.]

Re: Where do you park when going out?

Since I just started driving a couple months ago, all the cars have at least 1 or 2 door dings so I really haven't gone to extra lengths to park away from people. Then again I don't really go to many places when its busy which helps and at school I park next to friends that I know won't ding the car...

Ryan

[Patman]

Re: Where do you park when going out?

When I'm out in my car I always park pretty far away so that nobody will park beside me. I don't mind the extra walk, it's not as if any parking spot is going to be five minutes away from the entrance. At the most, it's usually a one minute walk. When I'm driving my car I'm always alone anyhow, since it's only a two seater, so there isn't enough room for my wife and 6 year old son.

When we all go out together and take her car, we'll park anywhere, as her Civic already has tons of dings and scratches on it, so one more won't even be noticeable.

[Ticman]

Re: Where do you park when going out?

I usually try to find and end spot so I know that at least one side of the car is completely free from even the potential of someone parking next to it. If I have to park next to other cars I try to pick out the cleanest, most expensive cars on the lot. I figure the space between the spotless Porsche 911 and the gleaming AMG SL 55 is a pretty good bet. My PT is now 4 years old and doesn't have a door ding anywhere - not a mark from a parking lot.

Exactly what I do.

You'll also find that the people parking like that do so for the same reason. They are tired of the door dents as well. I said dents because around here they push the door with their feet so it will hit the other car much harder.

I also have a parking space in the garage I park in for work that has a support column on one side and white stripes on the other. I call it defensive parking.

Tic

[SVT Lightning]

Re: Where do you park when going out?

I park as far as possible from other vehicles. Also uphill from shoppings carts if they are on the lot. If I have to walk in the rain, no problem. My truck is a '99...not a single door ding yet!

[2KLS1]

Re: Where do you park when going out?

If possible I'll try and park farther back where the lot is more empty. That's not always an option though so I'll just park where I can, unless the spot is too tight.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Where do you park when going out?

All of this just reminded me of something that happened to me years ago:

Back in High School before I had my own car I used to drive my mom's car to school 3 or 4 days a week. She always said "park it in the back of lot, not real close to the building, and don't take the car to leave campus and go to lunch with your friends". Well, I never parked out in the boonies, and I always left campus for lunch with my friends. Never had a problem.

Then, one day, after hearing the same admonition before driving off, I decided to actually do what mom asked. Funny, huh? At the end of the day I walk out the door and see the front end of the car poking out from the other side of this big red van. I get maybe 50' from the car and the red van pulls out, revealing a HUGE yellow scrape down the side of the car - almost bumper to bumper. Somebody in a yellow vehicle had obviously sideswiped mom's car earlier in the day and just creamed one whole side of the car.

Moral of the story: listen to your mother, but don't think parking at the far end of the lot is any real guarantee.


Seriously though, listen to your mother.


I mean it.

[Ryan L.]

Re: Where do you park when going out?

Yea, the high school parking is pretty dangerous, but the worst is when the nice cars pull in. You'll see S-Class's and M3's and X5's and plenty of other BMW and Mercs pull in and just park next to some piece of junk and open the door and hit the other car and just continue on like nothing happened...it's ridiculous.

Ryan

PS: We can't get out for lunch, theres so many security guards that you'll eventually get caught before you even get out of the parking lot.

[PaBlkBrd]

Re: Where do you park when going out?

Always park as far away as possible, and always find someone parked next to me when I return.......

[Jeepster04]

Re: Where do you park when going out?

We had an hour in HS for lunch to do and go where ever we wanted. It was sweet.

I park away from other cars or try to park where a car can only park on one side of me. If I can, I drive another car that Im not worried about.

[Jimmy The Detailer]

Re: Where do you park when going out?

hahahaha, tell me about it, I'll park where there are no cars, and when I come back it'll still be that way but some dingdong chooses out of all the available empty spaces and much closer to stores, to snuggle next to mine. I tell ya LOL.