Having a ‘nice’ car makes your life more stressful?

[ChrisHGTV]

I’ve posted about these before but we use these on our cars. Had them about 12 years now and not a car park ding in sight - at least along the sides. I notice they now do a suction version for non-magnetic cars. It does remove a lot of stress when parking.

Door defenders

 

[ChrisHGTV]

To my wife's dismay i have even cancelled a short break in a lovely little hotel because the parking was hit or miss... Sorry love!

Tony.

I have to say when we do our road trips the parking is high up on the list of priorities!

 

[Mactech]

I do like to keep my cars looking smart and clean. I just will not drive a 'skip'. I'm not sure I even like getting them dirty and try to choose to go out when the roads are dry and not on mucky wet roads.
We have a small car for local and trips into the city and small car parks, so I don't really worry about parking 'dings' especially as it has 'plastic' body panels.
I have had an S class keyed all down one side whilst parked at the NEC, but I'm not paranoid about it. Sometimes stuff just happens.
Forty five years or more of motorsport has taught me that cars are only a pile of bits assembled for a short time, and can be put back together if they suffer from some sort of vandalism or 'rapid disassembly'. See Brazilian F1 race for details!
Whilst being very 'car proud' I do think this has taught me a sense of perspective about the ownership of nice cars, so used sensibly, I have absolutely no qualms about of taking my 'long distance' car out anywhere.

 

[MSG2004]

Just to add to my previous post having read some of the newer posts - I only have my car washed about twice a year, once its via MB another time its the carwash. The reason I don't get it washed but run a cloth over the windows/chrome/lights is there is less of a chance of idiots leaning against my car in carparks. Like almost everyone, I tend to park away from others often at the other end but try to ensure its not an area where car windows have been smashed
We keep nothing at all on display in the car when we are not in it, not even empty bags or clothing as the criminals don't know if the back is empty etc.

The inside of the car is always pretty clean and I shake out the mats and rarely more than two of us in the car

One of the several reasons we've not changed our gle is that the first few weeks of a brand new or relatively new car, I worry about parking even more.
As the car is now 8.5 yrs old I worry less.

We go away to seaside towns and stay in seafront hotels the time before our last trip last week was in August. As I was driving around to find a safe space to park and the place was packed, Mrs M got wound up told me to park the car near the hotel and got out and left me to it - she did wind me up a bit - thankfully we'd dropped our suitcases off at the hotel from the loading bay. I managed to find a space half mile up and later almost in front of the hotel. The last thing you want is car smashed on your mini-break. Having said that I worry a lot less and as some others have said, I have always parked in a place where I feel there is less chance of it being smashed, or broken into. What made my day was a guy that was walking past our car when we moved it nearer to the hotel said "nice car." - even though its a bit dirty on the outside he still said it, made my day - FYI we did have a nice time as we all enjoy waking up to a sea view

There are too many people that envy other people's hard work and spitful when they see others with something they like but can't be ****d to work for it.

 

[Gollom]

Had similar a few year ago with one of the bikes , 2001 ZRX 1100 Lawson Rep with just 4500 miles and absolutely unmarked.

I got to the stage it was just an ornament in the garage and i felt it was too good (or scared) to use so i sold it and planned on getting another watch , either a Planet Ocean Ultra Deep or a Datejust but ended up getting a new kitchen , how the feck that happened i have no idea

K

Ask your wife - she will know...

 

[TC350]

All i can add is ' Yep That is me'

I tend to drive to supermarket in a neighbouring town - It has a huge carpark and where i park is just right for the SL, and as far from the front door as possible! I rely on the lazy factor and it works.
One day i am sure that i will encounter a doppelganger and there will be two cars crammed into the corner!!

I’m sure that all of us who park in a deserted distant corner of a car park have returned to find another car parked next to us, with all the other spaces around still empty

 

[SpikyMikey]

I’m sure that all of us who park in a deserted distant corner of a car park have returned to find another car parked next to us, with all the other spaces around still empty

The frequency with which this happens to me is mind-boggling; normally it's a chavtastic Corsa with an exhaust the size of an Exocet launcher.
They do it deliberately

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

'Soon, your possessions will own you' goes the cautionary expression.

How about: "Think of material possessions as things that you put in a canoe and pull behind you.

"As life goes by, you put more in, and have to put effort into maintaining what you've got.

"And then you spend your last decade throwing stuff out....

"Until your children eventually finish off the job for you."


Or "Fashion is rich people waving at the door ?"

 

[Bellow]

How about: "Think of material possessions as things that you put in a canoe and pull behind you.

"As life goes by, you put more in, and have to put effort into maintaining what you've got.

"And then you spend your last decade throwing stuff out....

"Until your children eventually finish off the job for you."


Or "Fashion is rich people waving at the door ?"

Whatever wafts your raft but there's a place for simplicity.

 

[sgregory124]

As much as ib love my cars and bikes whether they are new or old and I look after them.... I'm glad I'm not like some of the posters on this thread! Life happens, things get damaged.... I'm sure we have all accidently damaged someone else's....or our own.... cars or property at some point.... but getting obsessive about it affects no one else at all except your own mental health. I've had my car about a month or so now.... someone, some how or other had managed to put a typical car park ping on my car.... but somehow they have managed to do it right on the middle of my boot lid. As luck would have it , it was not on a double skinned part so I can get it put.... but if it hadn't been... well that's just life.... no point shortening your life through worrying about it. I'll admit I try and park in big spaces or away from other cars.... but I'm not obsessive about it.

The key differentiation here is the amount of money some people spend on their cars, a not insignificant amount i'm sure you'll agree.

If I had a car that didn't cost as much as it did (and compared to some owners on here, I imagine it wasn't a lot) then perhaps I would be different. But I just don't share the 'Oh well, not to worry' attitude that you do - I spent a lot of money buying this nice thing, which is indeed the second most expensive item I own aside from my house. I see nothing wrong with wanting to make sure I do my best to keep it in tip top condition, particularly as it might actually be worth something when I come to change it.

 

[ALFAitalia]

But I just don't share the 'Oh well, not to worry' attitude that you do

I would not go as far as "dont worry".....but some people sound like there head might explode if it got so much a car park ping. They can be got out for no much cash if that does happen. I have enough stress in my life without adding extra via my cars!!
For example I would not put those ugly magnetic protectors on my cars....looks awful when parked.....and that when most people see your car!!!

Reasonable lengths to stop damage?.... fine.....obsessing over it and let it affect how you use your car that you bought to drive for fear of damage?.........you might need a little counseling!!

 

[KennyN]

Ask your wife - she will know...

She will , as she knows everything - no need for Google when i could just ask her

K

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

but getting obsessive about it affects no one else at all except your own mental health.

I doubt many people worry about parking their car to the degree that it affects their mental health, however given a choice between a potentially high risk parking space and a potentially lower risk parking space them I’ll always take the lower risk space.

There really aren’t many occasions in which there isn’t a potentially lower risk space available, and if there really isn’t one then I’ll park nearby in a low risk space or go somewhere else with more available parking.

 

[SpikyMikey]

She will , as she knows everything - no need for Google when i could just ask her

K

'Tis true, our nearest and dearest are the font of all knowledge.
Bless them

 

[ChrisHGTV]

The key differentiation here is the amount of money some people spend on their cars, a not insignificant amount i'm sure you'll agree.

If I had a car that didn't cost as much as it did (and compared to some owners on here, I imagine it wasn't a lot) then perhaps I would be different. But I just don't share the 'Oh well, not to worry' attitude that you do - I spent a lot of money buying this nice thing, which is indeed the second most expensive item I own aside from my house. I see nothing wrong with wanting to make sure I do my best to keep it in tip top condition, particularly as it might actually be worth something when I come to change it.

I think generally how you care for things matters as well as outright value. I never spend more than a couple of months take home when I buy cars but I would say all are looked after fastidiously! But then I tend to treat all my things the same way. Even though the value isn’t great I still find it stressful sometimes when parking somewhere dodgy. I used to be really protective of the Alfa to the point of only doing 500 miles/year on average. But strangely had a bit of an epiphany and use it much, much more now.

Interestingly the other day I saw an example of the complete opposite. A beautiful but really ratty Alfa Stelvio with mismatched tyres, one of which was a Landsail!

 

[Diana1990]

I agree 100%. I wasn't like that but since I had my MB and especially after getting whacked I'm super cautious and not just parking either, but driving. I'm watching if people get to close. It's not always easy having a nice car . But I bought a service or something whatever it called that protects my car for 3yrs from small prangs, scratches and, knocks. Basically Mercedes will repair it for a free. Saying that I still rather not have it whacked again anytime soon

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Whatever wafts your raft but there's a place for simplicity.

Precisely what was implied in my comment.

Why weigh yourself down in the second half of your life with unnecessary weight, that'll only get thrown away later.

You can only sleep in one bed, cook in one kitchen, and chew the fat with the family in one space.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

I doubt many people worry about parking their car to the degree that it affects their mental health, however given a choice between a potentially high risk parking space and a potentially lower risk parking space them I’ll always take the lower risk space.

There really aren’t many occasions in which there isn’t a potentially lower risk space available, and if there really isn’t one then I’ll park nearby in a low risk space or go somewhere else with more available parking.

I always park at the furthest distance in the car park for my own health, as well as to avoid dents. But TBH, I never worry about small dents: not worth the energy.

Tis the wisdom of Sir John Armstrong Muir Grey

Muir Gray - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

It's fun to notice how people struggle to park so close to the front door of the gym, tennis or golf club....