You know you have all done this too...

[Retrobmx63]

So when I came into this restaurant it was empty. I decided to be "that guy" and take up a couple spots to protect my car. When I left the restaurant the place was packed. I felt a little bad. Just a little...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3083/2396479823_ca9a7155d2_o.jpg

[Antoniogut]

id rather park just far far away cuz there is a thread called 'vandolism' and there are some people that go out of their way to damage "that guy's" car

[stockms3]

Nice next tiem dont forget about the orange cones :D

[Olestra]

id rather park just far far away cuz there is a thread called 'vandolism' and there are some people that go out of their way to damage "that guy's" car

+1 be careful there are lots of jerks out there that would really be bothered by a shiny double parked black car.
The wide parking spot dividers look like they would have protected your car enough. Next time choose an end spot and then park right against the curb.

[Retrobmx63]

Yeah I totally agree. That's actually me in the picture making sure no one keyed my car for being a jerk, haha. I normally park far far away from everyone. But like I said, this time I came into the lot, and it was dead. I didn't think anyone was even going to show up that day. Boy was I wrong.

[Kobyoshi]

No. I've never done that.
It could because I've never had a car I thought was so great that it needed two whole parking spots or maybe I'm just considerate. Either way it doesn't matter....

I've always wanted to be "the guy" who tries really hard to fit my car in on each side next to the jerk who parks like that....but messes up and accidentally f's up the whole car...
of course I'd leave my insurance information and a nice note telling the owner I just tried my hardest and failed. (upyours)

Never done it, of course, but I can't say that the thought doesn't cross my mind.

Unfortunately, there are people who don't think before acting... and they are the ones who walk out to a vandalized car. ;)

[Bravnik]

I never do that as it is just jumping up and down screaming for someone to key your car or worse.

OMG - One time in High School some guy parked like that in the parking lot. Me and about 6 buddies got his car and picked it up (VW Bug) and turned it sideways between the cars and left it. I fogot all about that :)

[hectik1]

Never done that. Why would you want more attention brought to your car?

[Betelgeuse]

Nope, never done it. I'd rather park far away. Aside from having a considerate personality, I hate bringing attention to myself and I like my car too much. Besides, down here, 2 oil tanker-sized SUVs would probably be sitting on either side and my car crunched like a beer can.

[ExCaLdA]

that would be something i would pull off.. lol

but yeah people now and days... you neverrr know what they would do...

[dkswim]

i like the ends or next to islands but every now and then there is still some one that parks a couple of inches away.

[Mocoso]

Porblem with parking as far away as possible and as close to the curb is som AHOLE ona beater car parking inches from you when there is nobody around just to piss you off... happens to me all the time (usually not on the MS3 tho) - but that beats the double spot park... at least ya didnt park it sideways across two slots... thats a sure "vandalize me please" sign...while I agree in a crowded parking lot it can be frustrating I cant see people taking the next step to actually inflict damage on the car....

[shockdoctor]

Been there, never done that. I'd walk a mile if it meant that my car was safe, and that someone who needed the spaces had access to them. The parking lot Gods are not a fickle bunch. They dole out swift, severe and expensive punishment for those of us who might even consider disrespecting them. Not that I would ever bow down to them, but, it might be wiser to avoid their wrath at any cost. I'm not so sure that I want to find out if Cosmic Blue metalic paint is even on the radar of the body shops in my neck of the woods. I don't mind walking an extra few hundred yards to open up spaces for those who think it's ok to park next to the average F-350 with a bed full of empty Budweiser cans, or next to the rather dingy and dented Villager minivan. (My rule of thumb is to stay clear of mini-vans, Suv's, and anything pulling a trailer). Besides, couldn't we all benefit from a bit of fresh air and exercise?

[dkswim]

the problem with parking too far away is the feer of getting broken into.

[oaklandopen]

I've always wanted to be "the guy" who tries really hard to fit my car in on each side next to the jerk who parks like that....but messes up and accidentally f's up the whole car...
Unfortunately, there are people who don't think before acting... and they are the ones who walk out to a vandalized car. ;)


yea...im the same way. who made you so special that you can park any way you want to? often times when i park someplace (and my wife loathes me for it) i'll be all the way in a spot about to shut off the engine before i reassess the spot and think it's too skinny afterall. then i park someplace else

i'd never key a car or anything, but i can sure make it hairy for someone trying to open their door and have to liquify themselves to get in

[StealthWyvern]

yea...im the same way. who made you so special that you can park any way you want to? often times when i park someplace (and my wife loathes me for it) i'll be all the way in a spot about to shut off the engine before i reassess the spot and think it's too skinny afterall. then i park someplace else

i'd never key a car or anything, but i can sure make it hairy for someone trying to open their door and have to liquify themselves to get in

I've dont that a few times! Their was this oen guy who thought it would be a good idea to take up 3 spots.. yes 2 spots! So a few buddies of mine went and got our old beaters of a car and blocked him in for a few hours whiel we went in to watch a movie! He was parked like this ..... B-B. The B's are my buddies car and my old beater.

[MSelo]

...we drive a 24k hatchback..... not a benz

[StealthWyvern]

...we drive a 24k hatchback..... not a benz

true... however we all like nice things and want to keep them that way.

[kneedragger241]

The best way to protect your car is not to park it anywhere other than your garage.
Just go through a parking lot and look at how bad people park. People are just plain sloppy. And for most people, their car is just another piece of utilitarian necessity. They really could care less about it.

Seriously, my last three cars have been hit while parked in parking lots or in front of my house on a residential street.
One of my coworkers backed up over the nose of my Miata. Then my neighbor across the street backed into it when it was parked in front of my house. Then an old lady backed into it while it was parked at Tire Mart.
Yes, damaged on three sides!

My Liberty got the rear quarter panel taken out by a larger SUV while parked at Target. And the front fender was ripped off in a hit and run while parked in front of my favorite sushi bar.

My Eclipse... sideswiped in a parking lot.

Nonetheless, I'll do what I can with my MS3 until it starts getting too beat to care. I do the park far away and find a wide end spot thing.

I've done the "that guy" park job and personally suffered vandalism from parking lot nazis that were offended by my park job.
Even parked far away, if someone is so unhappy with their life and what they drive, they'll take it out on your shiny red car just because...
You can't prevent it.


PS: I just remembered.
My MS3 has been hit already. I was parked in front of a pub in what I thought was a safe spot when the owner of CR-V came in to tell me he bumped into my car, but it looked like it could be buffed out. It ended up being as he described, but an inch higher and he would have taken out my headlight.
I can't win. It's easier just to stop worrying about it.

[Mid_Life_Crisis]

At the grocery store near me there are always a handful of cars parked diagonally in the far row. Thing is, none of these cars are anything special. I just don't get it, but at least they're as far to one side as they can get.
The other day, some jackass in a big 4x4 parked diagonally across 4 spaces. Not away from the entrance either, but right in prime territory near the carriage return.
The best comeuppance for a parking jerk I ever heard of was when I was in high school in New England. There was a snowstorm that literally shut down everything for a week. Another senior worked for his dad's construction company clearing parking lots while school was out. He was with a crew clearing a large lot and they had half of it completely clear before the workers arrived and were asking everybody to please park on that side until they finished. One jackass refused, because the door he wanted to go in through was closer in the area where they were working. He was asked nicely to move his car and was unpleasant in his response. He parked parallel to an embankment right in their way. The last thing the kid did before they left was to take the front end loader and drop a full scoop at each end and beside the car, walling it in. He didn't touch the car, but it wasn't going anyplace in a hurry.

[Mid_Life_Crisis]

I can't win. It's easier just to stop worrying about it.

Damn, dude...what were you in a previous life? Did you operate a car crusher or something? Talk about paying off a heavy karmic car debt! Whatever your past life sins, your cars have suffered enough for them.

[Bravnik]

Best way is to find an end parking spot where you can get really close to the line/curb and protect one side while giving enough room from the line on the other side so that idiot will not give you a nice door ding.

[trufanatic]

actually i do this quite often. The double spaces in the parking lot doesnt really mean squat. Just this other day some old prick in his 7series bimmer threw his fucking door open at the grocery store and hit my car, i stood there and watched him in amazement....the asshole looked at me as if i did something wrong. So now by habit before and after i park....if i see a new dent best believe the SOB parked beside me will see my size 10 footprint planted in the side of his door. Keep doing it, shit why not!? whats the most going to happen, if you extremely lucky you'll get a 12$ double parking ticket...its a hell of a lot cheaper than gettin a bad door ding fixed.

[trufanatic]

OH YEA! that parking is the back of the parking lot or away from other cars shit never works...there is always some dumbass that will go out of his way to come park right beside you! this has happened so many times to me. Forgive my anger, i live in palm beach with A LOT of rich self centered assholes...50% of the cars on the road down here are more expensive than mine, the price of my car MIGHT be able to buy two maserati front seats.... so people blatently have no regard for lesser peoples shit.

[mckraut]

No, I've never done that before. However I did take the liberty of filling this out for you...

http://www.geocities.com/grayfoxone/parking_citation_edited.gif

[dkswim]

dude i need some of those

[happy and angry]

I'm having awful luck with parking lately. Two weeks ago I went to a movie during the middle of the week, and the parking lot was empty. I still went and parked at one end of an empty row right up against a curb, lots of room on the other side of me, just in case. Come out after the movie, the entire row is still empty, except for the jackass in a beat up Camry who parked a foot and a half away from my car. Was I dinged? Yes.

Then this weekend, I got the car washed Friday, and everything (but the ding) was fine. Went here and there with friends, came out to see a really big scuff on my rear fender that looks like someone ground concrete against my paint. It's down to the sheetmetal, and about 5 inches long. It follows the bend on the upper part of the inch wide flat portion of the fender, and there are strange swirl marks above and below it. No idea how it got there, who caused it, or how much it'll cost to fix, but I'm pissed.

I go out of my way to park way the hell away from anyone, and I'm never a dick taking up two spots, and in two weeks, two different bits of damage to fix from other inconsiderate pricks.

[cosic]

lol those particular parking spaces are idiot proof! Look at the huge gaps inbetween each space!

[camrycev6]

I park far away... Don't take up two spots. That is just wrong.

[MSelo]

true... however we all like nice things and want to keep them that way.

Pfft, yes let's keep them nice by parking inconsiderately.

[StealthWyvern]

Pfft, yes let's keep them nice by parking inconsiderately.

Think about that statement and think about why other people would even park like that for a secound... I myself have never parked like that but I can understand and relate to it.

[MSelo]

Think about that statement and think about why other people would even park like that for a secound... I myself have never parked like that but I can understand and relate to it.

I see your point, guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. The very statement of "Keeping it nice by parking inconsiderately" is in direct contradiction due to the fact it has been said many times in this thread that you are inviting trouble towards your vehicle when parking like that.

[swimman]

I expect to see someone park like that who lives in New England - you know, the inconsiderate ones with limited, is any common sense. I'm the type that will not inconvenience others by parking like that and would rather find a spot further away. I'm also the type that would find just enough room between this car and the other one and shimmy mine in allowing for maybe 2-3 inches between my passenger door his driver door making impossible to get in.

Call me vindictive!!

[StealthWyvern]

I see your point, guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. The very statement of "Keeping it nice by parking inconsiderately" is in direct contradiction due to the fact it has been said many times in this thread that you are inviting trouble towards your vehicle when parking like that.

I see your point as well. I am in no way saying that its a good idea to park like that because it just screams coem key me! I also agree with you on it being a contradiction. I guess what I'm saying is that I can see adn relate to both sides of this topic.