Parking tips

[Stonebreaker]

I was wondering if you guys might want to share any tips you have to avoid door dings or worse in the parking lot.

Here's mine: Never, ever, under any circumstances, park in two spaces. If the lot is full, you're going to get your car keyed by someone who's pissed off at the selfish jerk hogging spaces. If you park in two spaces of the farthest corner of an empty lot, not bothering anyone, you will still eventually get your car keyed by some unbalanced jerk who sees a chance to vent his spleen on a complete stranger simply because you take pride in owning a car he could never afford.

[BlkHemiMag]

I've had mine for nearly a year now and I'm still paranoid about parking.
1. Park in BFE, every opportunity. Now that doesn't mean always at the back of the lot, but at least a comfortable distance behind the last cars in the row.
2. If there is no BFE, look for end spots where at least you've got a car on just one side of you, preferably the passenger side of the other car towards yours.
3. Park next to the most expensive cars you can. At least in theory they'll be as careful as you are.
4. Park next to 4-door vehicles vs 2-door, their short doors swing out with less of an arc. Avoid early 80s rusted up camaros and the like. If it looks like they've given up on maintaining the appearance of their ride, what makes you think they'll care about yours?
5. I prefer angled spots to the perpendicular ones if given a choice.
...Just a few of the obsessive-compulsive thoughts that still go through my pea brain every time I go anywhere.

[Tommy T.]

Haha you could earn a master's degree in this subject! You're right, a lot to consider.

I like the spots that are right next to striped walkways, like those adjacent to handicapped spots, etc.

I do have luck parking far (but not too far) down the row. Fortunately, the motivation level here in S. Texas is such that most members of the general public are too lazy to walk even an extra step if they don't have to, especially in the heat.

-- Tommy

[BlkHemiMag]

like those adjacent to handicapped spots, etc.

I knew I was forgetting a really good one, that's it.

[your_tech]

I always park in BFE, next to a curb (practically on top of it) or next to expensive cars.

[Silver1]

Excuse the ignorance, but what is BFE?!? Thanks!

[l1tech]

My father, a few years back, purchased a brand new Lincoln off of the showroom floor, later that night he and one of my uncles decided to go the the local lodge. My father decided to park in the very back of the parking lot which is never even close to being filled to capacity. As luck would have it someone creamed the side of the Lincoln causing considerable damage with less than 100 miles on the car...IT DON'T MATTER WHERE YOU PARK OR HOW CAREFUL YOU ARE

[Zog]

Excuse the ignorance, but what is BFE?!? Thanks!

To put it politely, posterior copulating Egypt.

[Banshee]

It never fails if you park in BFE, you can be the only one there and when you come back there will one car on each side of you and a whole empty lot around you..

[bipto]

bipto's selection criteria, in order:

1) The spot closest to the store (so it can be watched)...
2) A space where one side is protected by a curb...
3) BFE...

General guidelines:

ALWAYS next to the cleanest / newest cars possible...
NEVER taking up more than one space...
NEVER next to a carriage return...
NEVER next to a minivan (kids)...

[jarrod]

I allways park far, one sided spaces, etc, drives my girlfriend and friends crazy but alot of people here in houston do not care if they ding u or not. Drives me nuts!

jl

[67alecto]

I like the spots that are right next to striped walkways, like those adjacent to handicapped spots, etc.

-- Tommy

Love those spots - don't really have much opportunity to use them, though.

When I go to our regular grocery store, there's an oddball section of two rows with 1 handicap spot that is the 2nd from the beginning - the first one is a normal spot. Most people assume it is also handicap, but it isn't. I try to grab that one (I do 95% of the shopping and tend to go late at night, so it is usually available).

At work, I used to park out in the middle of nowhere, but now that I've switched positions, that area is not at all convenient (I go home for lunch, but if I have to walk 10 minutes both ways, that would kill it). I now park facing away from the afternoon sun and next to people I know if I can't get an end spot. There are only two Magnums at my work, and the other one is Cool Vanilla and parks in a different lot. Even with almost 1,800 people at my work, you get to know who has a similar shift as you. Since my car is so recognizable, they'll know it's mine and hopefully (at least so far it's worked) be careful.

I've only gotten two door dings - same car, within a quarter inch of each other. I foolishly took the Magnum to a softball game and when I came out, some mouth breather was parked literally 8 inches from my car. I could see where his door would have hit, and sure enough, there were two scrapes.

The kicker is that I had 3 aluminum bats with me - if I had thought he would have noticed some (more) dents, I would have used them.

The next day, I went to an autobody spot and they mixed a bottle of Magnesium Pearl touch-up paint, so I'm able to hide my shame.

[jarrod]

No dings yet! Have a small dent on the hood, tree branch fell on it 2 days after i bought the car. what luck, lol

[Ferl]

I park way the hell out on the lot. Most of the fat bastages are too damn lazy to walk that far.

[LowGo]

bipto's selection criteria, in order:

NEVER next to a carriage return...

Actually, around here, that's probably the safest place to avoid cart dings. Almost nobody uses them, and those that do are probably a bit more considerate!