How do you park yours?

[mika]

shouldnt get knocked here

 

[Dieselman]

I bet when you came back some git had parked next to it.

I had that happen to me a week ago, but she cleared off as I was sat in the car.

 

[Dieselman]

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/atta...umber-plates-cars-lately-image-3813100213.jpg

I would be so tempted to squeeze into the space by the side, even if it meant mounting the kerb.

 

[st13phil]

I had that happen to me a week ago, but she cleared off as I was sat in the car.

One evening a couple of years ago I was sat in in my car in an almost empty carpark when some dozy bint parked up next to me and then proceeded to open her car's door onto mine!

Maybe you look more scary than me?

 

[George Douglas]

In an end bay as close to the outer line as possible , no chance of a ding on one side and a limited chance on the other.

 

[peter49]

If any one parks with in a meter of my car, they'll get a 300 psi punch. Lol.

Would that be a gas meter or an electric meter?:bannana:

 

[Dieselman]

shouldnt get knocked here

Don't think you're safe there.

[YOUTUBE]ceHC82NSaO8[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Bear]

Doesn't really matter my sidesteps soon sort out any car doors inadvertantly opened onto them

 

[zach1810]

In general I'll pick a bay as far from the (pedestrian) entrance to wherever I'm going as possible as the mouth-breathing knuckle-draggers who are most likely to open the door of their vehicle on mine are idle slobs who don't like to walk too far. I also avoid parking next to Chelsea Tractors, commercial vehicles, people carriers, or anything with child seats in it. Oh, and I also avoid leaving it near any of the trolley points in the supermarket carpark.

Thinking about it, it may be easier to just drive a wreck myself...

This is exactly what I feel like 99% of the time...

 

[MD5]

Doesn't really matter my sidesteps soon sort out any car doors inadvertantly opened onto them

Didn't know you were a dancer, Pete!

 

[Conquistador]

Lol I took that pic of the GT3. It's in a Tesco car park a lot and is always parked in literally the farthest corner from the entrance and always straddling those two bays. To be fair, if I had a new £150k Porsche I'd probably do the same.

Parking next to a nice car is often a good bet and always avoid the people carriers and white vans!

Top tip: B&Q have "family" parking bays in prime position rather than "parent and child" per se, so if I ever nip there with my Dad or any family member for that matter, I always park in one of those if it's available. Lots of room for buggies, so your doors will never get dinged and Technically no rules are bring broken

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Since buying my RR Sport, I park in the allocated Range Rover spaces right next to the entrance of the shops.

Someone even paints a special sign for us, right in the middle of the plot.

 

[alistairgd]

Do any of you have any tips of tricks of how you park yours to avoid the dreaded door dents and scratches?

I had my 318 for 4 years and it was totally ding and scratch free when I traded it in for my C-Class. I'm not saying it was esay though.

Here is the strategy, which must NEVER be deviated from.



Supermarket Car Parks

In order of preference, seek a space from the following criteria,

• parent and toddler space (*)(**)
• Furthest away spaces with at least a 5 bay clearance to the next closest park car.
• Longitudinal spaces are preferred (ie similar to a taxi rank) as no-one can park alongside
• Must be an end space this cutting down on risk of damage by 1/3rd.
• Must not be in a double line of bays, ie park against a kerb, cuts down risk of damage by a further 3rd.
• Park next to a partially occupied bay, ie a bay that has a litter bin in it, or piled up snow etc. This means you can straddle the line (as porsche photo) with a good excuse.
• Take an end bay next to a hatched area, and park into the hatched area by the width of your tyre. This affords a valuable extra space on the other side and reduces risk of a door ding significantly.

Never leave your car unattended even if you satisfy the above criteria. Wonder why? Sit in your car and watch the world go by, in and out of the supermarket they go, n their own little world, oblivious to the amount of time and expense you put into your pride and joy. What you will see will shock you.

Other Car Parks

• As per Supermarkets, however it will be more difficult without parent and child, or hatched areas at the end of rows.
• Avoid areas of heavy pedestrian footfall.

Multi-story Car Parks.

• Difficulty here is that you cannot straddle lines or bays, even into hatched areas, without risking a fine. So it has to be a longitudinal space.
• Has to be top floor, outside, as this is always the quietest area.
• Has to be an end space. Try and look for the partially occupied bay trick as mentioned above.
• Side note, these places are alloy wheel KILLERS, you cannot, I repeat CANNOT take too much care navigating these tight corners with high kerb faces. Take your time.

Cinema Car Parks

• AWAY. Park AWAY as far as you can. The average age of door-opener at these car parks is approximately 15 years less than at a supermarket, making these car parks especially hazardous.
• End bay, hatched or kerbed at one side, preferable a corner space somewhere.
• By virtue of the fact this is a cinema car park you are probably not going to be in a position to stay in the vehicle without causing strife with the rest of the party. As you are parked a taxi distance away, you will need to consider security; try and park under a light.

Garage Parking


See those wide spaces marked for MOT that are almost always empty? Those are for you.


General Guidance

You will never ever park next to another car.
If you have ever considered parking between two cars, I'm surprised you've even read this far.
Develop a 360 awareness. This means look up as well as around. Tree branches will sweat out sap, which requires cleaning, which risks swirls. Elevated footways or walkways are risky. I learned this one only two weeks ago. Suspect EVERYONE.
When reversing up to an area of shrubbery behind the kerb, be aware that these shrubs can have stiff stems that will scratch your bumper of you get too close. Remember to factor in wind movement of the shrubs.


If you can follow these simple steps there is no reason you cannot enjoy a ding free car for many years. Yes, you will get the occasional "why are we parking here" remarks from passengers, as they peer into the distance for their final destination, but they'll enjoy the walk.

Finally, as a distance guide, here's mine at a supermarket.

(*) This requires the presence of a toddler.
(**) Assess route of shopping trolleys, and complete risk assessment for chances of collision. This may outweigh the benefit of the wider bays offered for parent and toddler spaces.

 

[moonloops]

IDGAF - I park anywhere and everywhere - I have this thing called a life to live.

 

[bpsorrel]

Like most here I try to park in the end bays so only chance of one side getting dinged.

Wherever possible I choose bays as far from the "crowds" as possible though I often return to some muppet parked next to me no matter how empty the car park!

And lastly, (to save on my stress levels!) I take the car that was bought for the urban assault to places like supermarkets. CLS stays at home!

 

[shshivji]

I always park furthest away from the entrance, take 2 spaces and park at a 45 degree angle! My inlaws now laugh about this when we go out on day trips. But most people just don't give a damn about hitting their car doors against others and that really annoys me.
Probably will get a parking ticket at some point but its cheaper then having multiple dents and scratches repaired lol

Shak

 

[Bear]

Alternatively if I'm in my battle scarred Sprinter I park amongst the Beemers, always lots of space around me when I get back to open doors and get my shopping in

 

[Tinck]

Luckily I have two toddlers, so mother and toddler for me everywhere I go with them, I drag them out all the time....!!!but if on my own I have a few other tactics.

1 to go on the top deck of a multi storey as far away from anyone, or even in those tights spaces that are sometimes above the ramp, which will just about fit one car.

2 At the local supermarket I know where the staff park so I'll park next to them as the are unlikely to move whilst I nip in the shop.

3 Hunt out a space next to a nice shiny and well presented Car. Park to a car from the same marque or higher!!!

I had a new golf about 10 years ago and parked at the end of a bay. There were other bays at 90 degrees, but I thought it was safe. I came out of the Supermarket to an old lady imbedding her towbar into the passenger side door and sill. Only had it a week with 200 miles on it.. It was silver and in some light the colour never really matched!!

 

[Ian_Mac]

Just wait until it snows then you can have the car park all to yourself. This was taken in a Tesco car park around lunch time when you normally find 100's of cars there.

 

[Deleted member 11979]

Top tip: B&Q have "family" parking bays in prime position rather than "parent and child" per se, so if I ever nip there with my Dad or any family member for that matter, I always park in one of those if it's available. Lots of room for buggies, so your doors will never get dinged and Technically no rules are bring broken

I'll make sure that my kids smear the side of your car with whatever food they have on their grubby mits on our walk from further away.