What we do to protect our vehicles?

C

CharlesW

The Rainmaker
There is a thread on a different forum about some of the "strange" thing we do to protect our vehicles.
Actually, the more I thought about it the less "strange" it seems. A big investment deserves some care.
Anyway.
What are some of the steps you take to protect your vehicles from the general public when parking?

1. Find the extra wide spaces that most lots have somewhere.
2. Park next to a curb, post, whatever so you only have one side to worry about.
3. If you have to park next to another vehicle, try to find a shiny, compact, four door sedan.
Shiny should mean they care about cars, compact four door sedan will have smaller doors.
4. Park a loooong way out in the lot. Most people want close to where they are going, but the exercise will be good for you.
My question to passengers, "Do you want me to drop you off at the door or do you want to walk back with me?"
5. Avoid trees. The shade looks inviting, but the tree sap and the bird crap make it less than ideal.
6. Look for sprinkler heads in any green areas near where you park. An hour of sprinkling creates a real mess.
That's enough of mine, how about some of yours?
 
I usally try to park on the passenger side of cars, in hopes that there is only a driver thus lessening the chances of a door ding.
 
LOL Charles i have done all those, i also wont park near or next to one of those grocery cart catch bins and definatly not the cart catches at lowes or homedepot.
 
Yep. Everything that has been mentioned. I have lightened up a little though. The other night as I was playing tennis, I looked over and saw a group hanging around by my truck and one guy was leaning against it.:eek:

I considered saying something but decided it wasn't worth it. I plan to paint my truck soon anyways.
 
In addition to all the things listed above, one thing I did indirectly was buy a 2 seater car. Becomes a great excuse when I don't want to drive it somewhere if more than one other person is involved. This also got me out of havin to use my car to commute to work when I joined a carpool :rockon

Although...the problem is...no matter what precautions you take, something is still bound to happen. For example, I went to eat yesterday, and parked 4-5 spots away from everyone, yet someone still managed to hit my car in the lot...I'll be providing pics and asking advice in the near future :wall
 
BPebzly said:
In addition to all the things listed above, one thing I did indirectly was buy a 2 seater car. Becomes a great excuse when I don't want to drive it somewhere if more than one other person is involved. This also got me out of havin to use my car to commute to work when I joined a carpool :rockon

Although...the problem is...no matter what precautions you take, something is still bound to happen. For example, I went to eat yesterday, and parked 4-5 spots away from everyone, yet someone still managed to hit my car in the lot...I'll be providing pics and asking advice in the near future :wall
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Did you forget to put the cones up?:D

Seriously, sorry that happened. It always amazes me how careless people are in a parking lot. I had a guy in a little itty bitty Saturn slam his door into the side of our van. I was sitting in the van waiting for the family and just couldn't believe this guy would do that with out even a second thought.

That was another situation where I didn't say anything because it just wasn't worth it. There was a day where I would have jumped out and probably gotten in a huge fight with the guy over it. Now had it been my car instead of the family van.... I think I might have been a little more verbal.
 
Park utilizing two parking spots - this could actually cause harm to my vehicle if I piss off the wrong person by taking up two spots but I have done it - lol

I have to worry about my vehicle more in my own driveway though it seems. I am always telling my 6 year old daughter not to ride her bike by the vehicles and telling my 16 year old not to park so close to me.
 
Troy@DetailCity said:
Did you forget to put the cones up?:D

Seriously, sorry that happened. It always amazes me how careless people are in a parking lot. I had a guy in a little itty bitty Saturn slam his door into the side of our van. I was sitting in the van waiting for the family and just couldn't believe this guy would do that with out even a second thought.

That was another situation where I didn't say anything because it just wasn't worth it. There was a day where I would have jumped out and probably gotten in a huge fight with the guy over it. Now had it been my car instead of the family van.... I think I might have been a little more verbal.
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CONES!!! Now that's a great idea! or caution tape or something! Haha, but seriously ppl are amazing with how inconsiderate they are of other ppl's property...I think most of the time it's intentional out of jealousy too!

Does remind me of a funny story tho...the other day I was walkin out of a Sheetz, and a kid that worked there was in front of me, but didn't know I was behind him...he proceeded to to run his finger up my fender (thank god it wasn't dirty!)...I was like hey, could you not touch my car, please! The kid goes, oh, I'm sorry, and looked like he was gonna cry...it was quite amusing, but now I'm paranoid to ever park in that lot out of fear of retaliation :notme: ...so you're right...it's probably not worth it.

Cool thread, btw!!
 
A good friend of mine was parked in a parking lot waiting on his wife and some guy in a Cadillac parked next to him and opened his door in to my friends car.
He got out and looked and their was a small scratch on the door so he turned his back to the caddy and mule kicked it right in the middle of the door making a huge dent in it and he said now you SOB we are even.
Funny thing is the guy didn't say a word.
 
BPebzly said:
Does remind me of a funny story tho...the other day I was walkin out of a Sheetz, and a kid that worked there was in front of me, but didn't know I was behind him...he proceeded to to run his finger up my fender (thank god it wasn't dirty!)...
Click to expand...
A friend of mine not only wants to run his fingers over my paint, he will also tell someone else to "Feel how slick this is". :wall
 
CharlesW said:
A friend of mine not only wants to run his fingers over my paint, he will also tell someone else to "Feel how slick this is". :wall
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One time at a car show a woman with a ring on nearly every finger run her hand along my car and told the man that was with her feel how slick that is. :crazy2:
 
I really think a lot of the touching is because people really don't know any better.

Banging doors into other cars is just plain lack of common sense and lack of respect for others.

When my kids were old enough to start going to car shows with me, I taught them to look at the cars with their hands held behind their back. I explained about not touching and the hands behind the back thing made them think about it.
 
Charles , your a man after my own heart . When my kids were young , I would slap there fingers when they touched my windows. They never ate anything in my car . I tried to keep my cars like new forever.
 
HAHA, I do used to do about all of that. Got kind of pointless to park far away any more. My car seemed like a magnet to door dings.

That reminds me. Yesterday I was out shopping at an (expensive) outlet mall. I was in the chocolate store getting some goodies. (no, not me) One of the cashiers blurted out "ooooooo myyyyyy gooooooddddd" Everyone looked in the direction he was looking. Way out in the middle of the parking lot was a Lambo Gallardo. Orange in color, very sexy. It was parked with no cars anywhere remotely near it. I stare at it, buy my chocolate and leave the store. I turn to take one last look at it, (as if it were a beautiful woman that just passed by, and you have to see if the backside looked as good as the front :-)) ) There was a family of , I don't know, 10-15 people, mainly kids, just walking around the car. Hands running down the side as they walk past. 2 leaned and sitting on the hood as the mother takes pictures, one kid trying to figure out how to open the door, the dad laying on the ground looking under it, and the list goes on.

It goes to show, the nicer/cleaner the car, the more that people are drawn to it or damage it in some way. Now if it were a 1980 grand marquis, all rusted..........
 
Or a guy with a big knife scar on his face and a Benelli M-4 on a speed sling. Just overseeing the parking situation of course.
 
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