has anybody successfully gone from parking far away and curbed to parking anywhere?
10-03-18, 06:36 AM
#1
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
has anybody successfully gone from parking far away and curbed to parking anywhere?
If you used to park your car far away, but now park anywhere, and feel comfortable in doing so, how did you accomplish the change?
Background: I park as far away from an entrance as possible, and make every attempt to curb my vehicles on one side. This is to avoid dents, of course. I have sat in my car and witnessed people opening their door into mine, and the responses, when confronted, were very different. One told me to go **** myself (short woman), one said oh did I sorry and walked away, a guy told me prove it, and one simply ignored me and went about her business. To reduce the chances, I park far away. I have experienced too, the ticked off Vic deal where someone is right next to me anyway when I come back, and I do laugh at that.
Maybe this sounds crazy, but I treat loaners and rentals the same. Park far away.
In my own history, I did not start parking this way until I bought a BMW brand new in 12/06. Prior, with the brand new Maxima, I tried to park carefully and said if I get a dent, I get a dent. I only had 3 in nearly 1 1/2 yrs. But once I moved to Phila., there were countless ones in a matter of another 6 mos., I mean 20-30. The worst was when a PECO cherry picker opened into me. I didn't see it, but a neighbor in the apt. complex did.
I don't think it's necessarily OCD, but rather wondering how the majority of folks don't let parking bother them.
Background: I park as far away from an entrance as possible, and make every attempt to curb my vehicles on one side. This is to avoid dents, of course. I have sat in my car and witnessed people opening their door into mine, and the responses, when confronted, were very different. One told me to go **** myself (short woman), one said oh did I sorry and walked away, a guy told me prove it, and one simply ignored me and went about her business. To reduce the chances, I park far away. I have experienced too, the ticked off Vic deal where someone is right next to me anyway when I come back, and I do laugh at that.
Maybe this sounds crazy, but I treat loaners and rentals the same. Park far away.
In my own history, I did not start parking this way until I bought a BMW brand new in 12/06. Prior, with the brand new Maxima, I tried to park carefully and said if I get a dent, I get a dent. I only had 3 in nearly 1 1/2 yrs. But once I moved to Phila., there were countless ones in a matter of another 6 mos., I mean 20-30. The worst was when a PECO cherry picker opened into me. I didn't see it, but a neighbor in the apt. complex did.
I don't think it's necessarily OCD, but rather wondering how the majority of folks don't let parking bother them.
10-03-18, 06:43 AM
#2
Lexus Fanatic
10-03-18, 06:50 AM
#3
drives cars
Easy. I got a door ding, now I don't care if I get another one. 
In all seriousness, I just have a gut feeling about who I should and shouldn't park near. If it's an older car, particularly dirty or rusty, I stay away. That very type of car is what I suspect door-dinged me. Also, if it's a really windy day, I also stay away. I door-dinger myself once at a gas station (in my previous car). It was really windy, and the wind blew my door open and into the pillar near the pump. Scratched the crap out of my door handle... But I've convinced myself that it's simply impractical to park out of the way every time, especially for a daily driver.
In all seriousness, I just have a gut feeling about who I should and shouldn't park near. If it's an older car, particularly dirty or rusty, I stay away. That very type of car is what I suspect door-dinged me. Also, if it's a really windy day, I also stay away. I door-dinger myself once at a gas station (in my previous car). It was really windy, and the wind blew my door open and into the pillar near the pump. Scratched the crap out of my door handle... But I've convinced myself that it's simply impractical to park out of the way every time, especially for a daily driver.
10-03-18, 07:19 AM
#4
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
I once was given a brand new 428i loaner, and I got to my dr's appt. and saw a big dent on the rear right....I thought oh **** we never did a walkaround and I was in too much of a hurry to insist. Mentioned it to the dealer and the gal said oh Mr Fontaine I know about that dent. Checked the paperwork and there was a big X at that spot. New car as in < 1000 miles....seems other people don't care I guess...last time I did do a walkaround on an X3, had those low jeans in the back with Converse All Stars and a missing rear wiper. Car had < 300 miles, and the mgr. was livid. No dents though!
10-03-18, 08:37 AM
#5
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
as to your question, like you, i try to park on an 'end' parking spot as close to the end side as possible to give max space to the next car over. i don't care if it's close or far from where i'm going though. sometimes i might park further away to get some more walking in.
10-03-18, 09:11 AM
#6
Lexus Fanatic
I park carefully, I try to park on an end close to the curb to give extra room, I don't go crazy though, and there are times when I will park in a wide middle spot if thats all thats available. Its just automatic for me at this point. I park loaners the same way because its just automatic.
10-03-18, 09:28 AM
#7
If you used to park your car far away, but now park anywhere, and feel comfortable in doing so, how did you accomplish the change?
Background: I park as far away from an entrance as possible, and make every attempt to curb my vehicles on one side. This is to avoid dents, of course. I have sat in my car and witnessed people opening their door into mine, and the responses, when confronted, were very different. One told me to go **** myself (short woman), one said oh did I sorry and walked away, a guy told me prove it, and one simply ignored me and went about her business. To reduce the chances, I park far away. I have experienced too, the ticked off Vic deal where someone is right next to me anyway when I come back, and I do laugh at that.
Maybe this sounds crazy, but I treat loaners and rentals the same. Park far away.
In my own history, I did not start parking this way until I bought a BMW brand new in 12/06. Prior, with the brand new Maxima, I tried to park carefully and said if I get a dent, I get a dent. I only had 3 in nearly 1 1/2 yrs. But once I moved to Phila., there were countless ones in a matter of another 6 mos., I mean 20-30. The worst was when a PECO cherry picker opened into me. I didn't see it, but a neighbor in the apt. complex did.
I don't think it's necessarily OCD, but rather wondering how the majority of folks don't let parking bother them.
Background: I park as far away from an entrance as possible, and make every attempt to curb my vehicles on one side. This is to avoid dents, of course. I have sat in my car and witnessed people opening their door into mine, and the responses, when confronted, were very different. One told me to go **** myself (short woman), one said oh did I sorry and walked away, a guy told me prove it, and one simply ignored me and went about her business. To reduce the chances, I park far away. I have experienced too, the ticked off Vic deal where someone is right next to me anyway when I come back, and I do laugh at that.
Maybe this sounds crazy, but I treat loaners and rentals the same. Park far away.
In my own history, I did not start parking this way until I bought a BMW brand new in 12/06. Prior, with the brand new Maxima, I tried to park carefully and said if I get a dent, I get a dent. I only had 3 in nearly 1 1/2 yrs. But once I moved to Phila., there were countless ones in a matter of another 6 mos., I mean 20-30. The worst was when a PECO cherry picker opened into me. I didn't see it, but a neighbor in the apt. complex did.
I don't think it's necessarily OCD, but rather wondering how the majority of folks don't let parking bother them.
Door dings always come with time and so do scratches. You'll learn eventually not to care too much. Remember you own the car not the other way around. Get a 2nd gen GS and live carefree
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10-03-18, 09:33 AM
#8
Lexus Fanatic
My cars stay ding free for the length of my ownership. If they do get dings, I just get them fixed.
Putting space between cars may "give more room for the door to accelerate" but it also makes it less likely for the person opening the door to need to contact your door in order to get into their car. It also makes it less likely for people beside you to scrape or hit your car when backing in or out of spaces.
Putting space between cars may "give more room for the door to accelerate" but it also makes it less likely for the person opening the door to need to contact your door in order to get into their car. It also makes it less likely for people beside you to scrape or hit your car when backing in or out of spaces.
10-03-18, 09:36 AM
#9
Lexus Fanatic
When I go to Target, Wal Mart, Grocery Stores, or Lowes I try to park far away from cart returns or away from random carts in the parking lot, other places I mainly just park where I can find a spot, when I go to the gym I always try to park next to a curb at the back when I can so I at least only have to deal with one side getting dinged. You will drive yourself nuts trying to predict the best place to park your car every time not to get dinged and worry about it the whole time, chances are you are going to get several little dings, nicks, and chips while owning your car, just deal with it, try to avoid if you can but don't be that super **** retentive guy and be miserable about it when it happens.
10-03-18, 09:39 AM
#10
Lexus Fanatic
In my experience, if you park carefully but not crazily, its not that hard to keep your car ding free. Of course...now I've jinxed myself.
10-03-18, 09:52 AM
#11
My Lexus was dinged in a Best Buy parking lot by a soccer mom tending to her toddler. She just jumped out of her SUV and swung the rear door open smashing into my vehicle. On another occasion my vehicle was scratched by a elderly neighbor in the parking area of my condo. I knew it was her because of the paint transfer and the proximity of her vehicle to mine.
Despite trying to prevent these incidents they seem to follow me no matter which car I drive. I have a dashcam with parking mode to help monitor my vehicles but there is only so much you can do.
Despite trying to prevent these incidents they seem to follow me no matter which car I drive. I have a dashcam with parking mode to help monitor my vehicles but there is only so much you can do.
10-03-18, 11:00 AM
#12
drives cars
Thankfully it's a small enough dent no one seems to notice; I sometimes forget it's there myself.
10-03-18, 01:09 PM
#13
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
My cars stay ding free for the length of my ownership. If they do get dings, I just get them fixed.
Putting space between cars may "give more room for the door to accelerate" but it also makes it less likely for the person opening the door to need to contact your door in order to get into their car. It also makes it less likely for people beside you to scrape or hit your car when backing in or out of spaces.
Putting space between cars may "give more room for the door to accelerate" but it also makes it less likely for the person opening the door to need to contact your door in order to get into their car. It also makes it less likely for people beside you to scrape or hit your car when backing in or out of spaces.
Oh btw my LS430 does have 3 dings, extremely tiny. Mentally they came with the car, so I am not bothered. I seem to be most bothered if it happens under my care....
10-03-18, 01:12 PM
#14
Lexus Fanatic
That's one way to mentally deal with it, most dings can be fixed via PDR. I had 3 on the BMW and one was in the "no" zone. It was literally in the lower front corner of the front door (this was not by another car, likely a rock). I thought it was done, get the car back and it was gone. If on a crease I think PDR cannot help. With the Maxima, could not help at all, guy told me this metal is not good like a BMW or Mercedes, where it has a memory and a piece of cake to fix. Poor Maxima...
