Having just bought my new car, this subject definitely crosses my mind. A few thoughts/observations, in no particular order:
Where to park: The first spot I try for is the spot right next to a handicapped space. 95% of the time, no-one is in the handicap spot, plus the handicap space is huge,
which means there's always lots of space next to it, even if there is a car there. I try to cheat a bit towards the edge of the handicap space, leaving lots of room on the other side.
If that's not available, I try to grab a spot at the end of a row, again, cheating to the outside edge.
Parking a mile away from the store door doesn't work. It attracts attention. You might as well hang a sign over your car that says "I'm new. Come and scratch me",
and there's always some idiot that thinks it's cool to go out and purposely scratch your new car.
Cars to avoid parking next to: Pick-up trucks. Self explanatory.
2 door larger cars, like older Camaros/Firebirds. The doors are so long, they have to be opened wide for the driver to get out. That's a dent waiting to happen.
Old clunkers. People who drive them don't give a crap about their cars, or yours. (I should know. I have a 15 year old Pathfinder that I don't care where I park it.)
With my new car, I actually try and park next to other new cars. Their owners are as scared about scratching their cars as you are.
I also try to avoid SUV's with car seats in the back, although that describes half the cars in a parking lot.
When mom comes back to her car with the kids, that back door flies open, and bounces off your car about ten times while the kids climb in, and the mom tries to buckle them in.
The kids or the mom don't care.
Lastly, most of the dings on my cars have happened when others have driven them, like my wife or my grown kids.
My kids don't care because it's not their car, and my wife doesn't understand what the fuss is all about. "It's just a car...." Arrggh.
Purchase Date: Nov 2017
Battle Damage (Type/Kind): Windshield scratched
Mileage: 2500 KM
We have been getting lot of snow and freezing temps lately. On Christmas day and boxing day had to scrape ice off windshield and car and then noticed 3 deep scratch marks on front windshield. 2 are fairly light and 1 in center off windshield is fairly deep. No idea how I got them, if it was from scraping ice or road debris hitting windshield. Cant believe within a month windshield is already damaged. I so mad when I saw it and my OCD makes me focus right on it when I am driving. Wife was like not big deal you can barely see it. Will take it to glass shop tomorrow to see if it required repair or replacement.
After the last snowstorm, I got a hit on my left rear by a hit and run driver backing out of a spot. Scraped bumper (and the reflectors), rear hatch and rear fender.
Insurance adjuster estimated damage at $1700+
Purchase 7/2017
Miles 6,000
Right at the 6 month mark, wife was rear ended. Everyone is safe and unhurt.
Was hit by high school kid, his 2nd accident.
Hope it looks good after repairs. $2,200 damage.
So $2,200 just for new lower bumper cover? Looks like some slight damage on lift gate. Body shop will fix without replacement I imagine? I wouldn't want to see the cost for replacing the lift gate! It may become fairly common. Most crossovers are losing any sort of bumper that extends beyond lift gate.
What happened to Cessna CJ4’s account?
What happened to Cessna CJ4’s account?
Come to think of it...yeah he hasn't been around posting as of late. Maybe mod disabled his account/blocked it or worse banned him...he was one of those that got into a back and forth with 2 other posters that became personal with all the attacks/insults etc.
I was wondering the same thing about fruitman, a.k.a. Mango.
Haven't run across anything from him recently either.
Maybe this has something to do with his beloved CR-V's starting to exhibit some serious issues.
I monitor the CRV forum, and two rather major issues have come up with the new 1.5t engines: Oil dilution and lack of cabin heat in cold weather.
There is a major recall in China, which I posted about last week.
Purchase Date: November 2017
Battle Damage: Door Paint in Parking lot
Mileage: 4950
I'm in the grocery store for 35 minutes. Come back to a new door ding.
I'll be getting it repaired.
I parked far up the lot away from the entrance with at least two open spaces on either side.
Some humans can't seem to control their car doors.
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Purchase Date: November 2017
Battle Damage: Door Paint in Parking lot
Mileage: 4950
I'm in the grocery store for 35 minutes. Come back to a new door ding.
I'll be getting it repaired.
I parked far up the lot away from the entrance with at least two open spaces on either side.
Some humans can't seem to control their car doors.
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Ouch! It doesn't help either that Mazda's paint is very thin...