Hooniverse Asks- How Paranoid are You About Parking Lot Dents?

Robert Emslie

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parking lots of room

Right behind a house, and an unopened complete original Star Wars Lego set, your car or truck is probably going to be your biggest expense for a tangible object. Unlike the others however, we frequently are required to take our automotive investments out in public, despite our deep seated antisocial tendencies. When we do, we sometimes fear that others in these social melieu won’t share our desire to maintain the value of our investments.

Look, most people are respectful of other people’s property, and getting door dinged in the parking lot of the Piggly Wiggly is a risk the majority of us are willing to take without resorting to the kind of asstastic parking shenanigans documented on YouParkLikeanAsshole. However, many of us probably still take some precautions. I for one will – much to my wife’s chagrin – park at the back of the lot, were there are plenty of open slots and less likelihood of gaining a neighbor on either side. Even doing so, I still park within the lines. 

What about you, do employ similar tactics in an attempt to keep your car or truck from suffering the unnecessary results of the negligence of others? Do you take it one step further, making you a frequent object of the above site’s derision? Or, do you just not care and accept that if you’re going to play in public that you’re going to get a scrape every now and again? What do you say, how paranoid are you about parking lot dings and dents?

Image: YouParkLikeanAsshole

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Robert Emslie

Robert Emslie

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43 responses to “Hooniverse Asks- How Paranoid are You About Parking Lot Dents?”

  1. $kaycog Avatar
    $kaycog

    I'm pretty paranoid about where I park. If I don't have the option of parking far away, I check out how close cars are parked to the white line. It's amazing how people can't center their car in a space.

    Reply
  2. muthalovin Avatar
    muthalovin

    The truck is already pretty much a beater, so not so much, though I habbitually park pretty far away.
    On the bike, I am terrified, not of dents, but some asshole parking too close, rushing into a spot, or jerks in general, so I park as far as possible away, or try to find a parking space.
    As a related note, I am not carrying chalk around with me wherever I go so I can do this:
    <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yKKvwpRAEg0/URq3HMMdBgI/AAAAAAAAduk/Bw6xhX98SDI/s1600/tumblr_mi3u57FNrX1qb5gkjo1_500.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  3. smalleyxb122 Avatar
    smalleyxb122

    My truck is enough of a beater anymore that I wouldn’t care too much if I even came out to find a crunched fender, let alone a door ding, but I still park it far away from the store. Not for fear of dings, but because the turning radius sucks so much (extended cab, long bed) that it’s rather difficult to park. I still park between the lines, but it is much easier if I can use about half of an adjacent space while pulling in.
    My GTO is much nicer, and I’d be more upset if it got dinged, but I honestly don’t pay the danger much mind. I probably would avoid parking next to a car if it had the trailing edges of the door rolled in, though.

    Reply
  4. JayP2112 Avatar
    JayP2112

    The truck already has dents so no problems there.
    The car is another matter… Park far away from everyone, parking uphill from rolling carts.
    I can live with stone chips, road rash, damage the car gets on road trips and the track.
    BUT DOOR DINGS SUCK.

    Reply
  5. DasWauto Avatar
    DasWauto

    Even in the lowly mazda3 I tend to park away from other cars. One car gap between mine and other cars minimum most of the time.

    Reply
  6. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    Hooniversally dented, unloved daily driver +1.
    On a side note, it is good to remind oneself from time to time that the driving population as a whole once past a test that included parking within the white lines. In a way that didn't include a steep angle or strong favouritism to one of two lines. Habitat observations do regularly suggest otherwise.

    Reply
    1. Hopman Avatar
      Hopman

      My driving test (for my regular license in NH) included backing into a parking space. Fast forward a few years later, my test for my CDL (class A) included paralell parking a SEMI TRUCK (48' trailer attached to a full sleeper tractor) and getting the back bumper inside a 24" wide box. If you were outside the box or hit any cones, you failed.

      Reply
      1. Sjalabais Avatar
        Sjalabais

        That's the way it should be! What I meant is that quite many people seem to have forgotten the basics of good parking – thereof the reason to be afraid for dents and scratches. I remember my driving test included both parallel parking and forward parking. The last one was my first time – my teacher had forgotten that, and told me that forward parking "never comes up in the exam". Oops. Worked out anyway.

        Reply
    2. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      *passed

      Reply
  7. engineerd Avatar
    engineerd

    The Jeep already has a nice collection of dings, so getting another one here and there isn't an issue. However, when I had my Mustang and in the wife's Edge I tend to park out in the boondocks. I'd rather walk a little bit further than a) worry about dings and b) be a dick.

    Reply
  8. dculberson Avatar
    dculberson

    Most of my cars are beaters, so I don't even think about it one way or another. A jerk like the one in the lead picture would come back to find me parked very tightly up against his driver's side, without having touched his car at all. I hate people that park like that.
    Someone pulled that stunt on black friday a couple years ago – at the mall! The entire lot was full except for this bonehead's new Camaro was parked in the middle of two spots, near a curb. I put two wheels up on the curb to park next to him. He was apparently just getting back to the car – he came running up because he saw my roof line bounce and was worried I had hit the car. He apologized, said he got there early enough that nobody was in the lot, but seriously? You don't expect it to fill up??

    Reply
  9. HSA Avatar
    HSA

    Very paranoid. However, I'm also against the selfishness that drives people to occupy more than one slot – but I have no trouble to walk a few meters more from the more distant row. End slots are always preferred, like are the ones that have a support beam or something on the other side.
    Anyway, once again I'll remind you that it does not take another car to cause door dings:
    <img src="http://hooniverse.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Other-Makes-Other-Makes-eBay-Google-Chrome-1222012-21308-PM.bmp-700×412.jpg&quot; width="600">
    The image is stolen from Jim Brennan's Fiat 600 Multipla post.

    Reply
    1. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      I wonder whatever happened to that Multipla? And how is Jim doing?

      Reply
  10. stickmanonymous Avatar
    stickmanonymous

    Yet one more reason why I drive a slightly rusty 1996 Grand Marquis.

    Reply
  11. C³-Cool Cadillac Cat Avatar
    C³-Cool Cadillac Cat

    I'm still quite paranoid, though someone put a huge, obvious dent & separate scuff on the door of my 8 year old STS two weeks ago.
    The car was dent/mark-free until this.
    I'm choosy about parking spots, not only how close to the lines others are, but also what vehicle is in said space. I won't hesitate to pass up a close-in space, even if I'm physically having a 'bad day' (I'm more than a bit crippled), to avoid inconsiderate/uncaring morons.
    This is about the only remotely positive thing related to not being able to walk well. Crippled parking spaces are wider than most, which they need to be. However, this is not universal.
    I have to open the driver's door all the way to have a fighting chance of getting out of the seat before the third attempt, so plenty of space is pretty much required.
    The days of driving a '73 Coupe deVille are over, methinks, 'cause those doors are huge.

    Reply
    1. MrHowser Avatar
      MrHowser

      You need to get an old yacht with seats that rotate.

      Reply
  12. Wolfie Avatar
    Wolfie

    My shopping trips are all done in the early morning when the lots are mostly empty around here. Had my truck three years and no dents yet. Small towns like mine are much easier to work with ,big cites seem full of impersonal clods.

    Reply
  13. buzzboy7 Avatar
    buzzboy7

    It's nice to drive a 10 year old car with plenty of love. It has no dents, but if it got one, I'd just hope that they received some damage as well.

    Reply
  14. Devin Avatar
    Devin

    Right now, not at all!
    Check the forums to see why, it is not a happy reason.

    Reply
  15. Maymar Avatar
    Maymar

    I drive my wife's 2004 Hyundai Accent. It gets parked on the street. I routinely squeeze into the smallest spots possible if someone else parked like an asshole. At this point, I'm just hoping for it to die so I have an excuse to buy something else (although with 128k kms, that's not likely).

    Reply
  16. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    I was for the first month or two when I first got my truck, but after it got one or two little ones I quit worrying about it.
    There is a great way to avoid dings, but EVERYONE in the lot would have to do it. I used to have access to the rail head shipping lot here in town, to test fit aftermarket parts on new vehicles. There, every car was parked with the left side wheels ON the white line, not centered in the space. It made all the cars perfectly spaced with room to avoid door dings.

    Reply
  17. TurboBrick Avatar
    TurboBrick

    Very paranoid, which is why my anxiety level is much lower with older and already dinged cars. My 760 has two shopping cart bruises, one on each rear quarter, so now I can drive down the freeway and not worry about the rocks landing on my hood, windshield and roof.

    Reply
    1. HSA Avatar
      HSA

      Some years ago we were looking for a used Volvo 850 with my friend. Or atually two: one for him and one for me. One example had a dent in the hood. Said friend told me: "Look, there's a dent. That's good. You don't have to be afraid of the first one." Wise man, indeed.

      Reply
      1. TurboBrick Avatar
        TurboBrick

        Absence of worry is a great thing. 1991 Sony tape player as sound system? aw man… no, awESOME, man! No one is going to steal that, and my half as ancient tape adapter gives me mp3 player compatibility.

        Reply
  18. jeepjeff Avatar
    jeepjeff

    I park out in the boondocks, but that's more because I use the 'take the first semi-reasonable spot and walk a bit' parking strategy. I don't optimize on door dings. The Jeep came with some love marks, so I'm not too worried about it. The Civic, well, it's seven years old and has accumulated a couple of scuffs here and there.

    Reply
  19. Cdubya Avatar
    Cdubya

    Always having a newer car I specifically park wherever I can (without being an asshole) to minimize damage from idiots who just don't pay attention. My REAL problem lies with the people who have beaters and are contemptuous of those with nice rides – to the point of intentionally parking their pieces of shit as close as they can…

    Reply
  20. Ken Avatar
    Ken

    I'm also very paranoid and have been that way for years. Sadly, I took a chance one time at a Walmart parking lot because I was just going in for one thing and I'd only be a few minutes. That one time was all it took. I got a huge ding up high on my door. Must have been from a van or 4X4. I often dream about buying a beater so that I can park in any old spot like "normal people." I occasionally get a rental or a loaner and I can't tell you how liberating it feels to park and not care. That said, I'd never take two spots. I park waaaay out and sometimes it seems jokesters know what I'm doing and they park right next to me. One of these days when I have copius amounts of free time, I'll sit and wait for them to come back just to see who does that.

    Reply
  21. wisc47 Avatar
    wisc47

    I really couldn't care much about my Honda beater car, but the Fiat? Yeah, back spots are usually a good way to go. Or, parking along the street is a good option too if you have it, although parallel parking is a bitch in a car with no power steering and a heavy(ish) clutch.

    Reply
  22. dukeisduke Avatar
    dukeisduke

    I'm moderately paranoid, as my new truck is just four months old, but I don't worry too much, as my '95 F-150 was relatively ding-free after 17 years of driving. I try to make sure I'm relatively centered in parking spaces, and I'll pick an end space if I can find one, and park close the edge of it. I need to get my door edge guards on, as my kids aren't always as careful about opening doors as I am.

    Reply
  23. I_Borgward Avatar
    I_Borgward

    Borgward's Law: The value of a vehicle, whether tangible, perceived or sentimental, shall be directly proportional to the probability that it will be damaged.
    I've had over 25 vehicles pass through my herd at one time or another, widely ranging in condition from scruffy beater to flawless and pristine. The nice ones -always- seem to be subjected to the most abuse when parked, while the beaters rarely suffer from so much as a scratch.
    You know, it's always felt a bit odd to me that so many of us routinely take one of the most expensive things we own and leave it out on the street.

    Reply
  24. OA5599 Avatar
    OA5599

    I'm kind of the opposite with my Olds. I could care less about the already-shot paint. But it's a coupe, so the doors are long. They also taper in at the top. If I park too close to another car (or more likely, someone parks too close to me), it is difficult to get back in my car, especially without dinging the other guy, so I generally park farther away.

    Reply
  25. clunkerlove Avatar
    clunkerlove

    My wife would emit loud groans and give me the dick eye when I'd pass up a spot by the business' entrance and park a hundred yards away by the curb. That harpy is long gone but my Citron green Insight still looks mint. My girlfriend, who used to ride Ducatis and a Honda 996 fully understands my hatred of door dings and doesn't mind a lil' stroll.

    Reply
  26. Mr. Smee Avatar
    Mr. Smee

    Yep, paranoid. I had just gotten the best car I've ever owned, a 10-year old Lexus GS400 (yeah, I know, everybody hates Lexus, but this is a seriously nice car) in mint condition…….and someone walking between my car and the one next to me dragged their purse or back-pack or briefcase, or key the entire length of my car. Then a two weeks later, I come out from work and on the rear door, some idiot has left a door ding fully one-inch diameter and 3/8-inch deep. They pretty much had to open their door as hard as possible to do that. How freaking hard is it to not destroy someone else's car!

    Reply
    1. mnm4ever Avatar
      mnm4ever

      Nothing wrong with a GS400, those cars are awesome and overlooked in the market. A buddy has one, every once in a while he considers trading it then realizes there is nothing else out there like it and nothing wrong with his. They have plenty of power, they ride nice yet still handle very well, they look better than the LS of the same generation, yet have the same stellar build quality. I say pay to get the damage fixed so that it remains mint and then park it far from everyone.

      Reply
  27. CABEZAGRANDE Avatar
    CABEZAGRANDE

    I used to worry about it a lot, parking out in the back of the lot, parking length-wise across two or three spots, that kind of thing. And still got dings. So I just bought a car where I don't really care. Bought a hail car that was mechanically almost perfect and low mile for a steal, and I just don't really worry about more little dents.

    Reply
  28. wunno sev Avatar
    wunno sev

    i appreciate older GSes. older lexuses in general. good cars, they do what they're supposed to do and do it well. they also look good. what more could you ask for?

    Reply
    1. wunno sev Avatar
      wunno sev

      whoops, meant to post that in mr smee's post..
      i guess i deserve a caning

      Reply
  29. mnm4ever Avatar
    mnm4ever

    I always go for isolated spots or end spots, or I just park far away. There are just far too many clueless drivers that simply cannot park between the lines, or people who drive giant trucks and can't fit into a normal space, though they still try.
    One time at a resort I parked in an end-spot next to the entry gate, which was up on a 1-foot curb with lots of yellow line space around it, the perfect place to leave my car unattended for a few days. 5 days later we went to leave, and while loading up the car I noticed a huge scrape on the rear corner of my car. Then I noticed the yellow tape and wood holding up the entry gate. WTF?? As it turns out someone barreled OVER the 1-ft tall curb and took out the gate, scraping my car as they went through. My wife never lets me forget that if I had just parking correctly in the spot instead of tucked over half in the yellow then my car wouldn't have been touched.

    Reply
  30. G8GTJav Avatar
    G8GTJav

    I'm very paranoid about getting dings on my Pontiac G8. I try to park far away but don't take up two spots. I've heard people will key you car if you do that. I also avoid mini vans, suvs, & wagons like the plague because they're often moms chauffeuring a bunch of kids who don't care or aren't careful opening doors. Learned that the hard way on another vehicle.

    Reply
  31. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    Robert, with your good questions you might consider including polls. Sometimes it would be very interesting to see the answer distribution at a glance. 😉
    Considering that image source, this is my local source for unloading bad parking photos – from Norway's second city.

    Reply
  32. Lex Avatar
    Lex

    Fairly. Not out of anal retentiveness, but because i live in a land of giant trucks, SUVs, and the like. The e30 is positively tiny in comparison to many of the cars it has to be parked around. But my answer is mostly to park fairly far out in the lot, and i do the same whether i'm driving the BMW, the Civic, my old truck, or a work truck. I don't mind walking and since it appears that the majority of my fellow man is a little too dim to figure out parking lots, it's just easier.
    On a parking side note, i want winter to end just because i can barely take the random parking in snowy lots. Come on, people, i get that it's hard to tell exactly where the lines are, but there's usually some indication and there's no excuse when you're parking in your work lot.

    Reply
  33. ... Avatar
    …

    i drive a suzuki samurai. its a beater but the brilliant thing is that i could fit down the side of above asshole to within an inch or two away from his driver door with enough space so i can get out my side. i do this often when i see a badly parked car. tho it had the best effect when the driver hasnt left his seat yet. 🙂

    Reply
    1. mnm4ever Avatar
      mnm4ever

      Haha I will do that too, but in rental cars, not with my own cars. Usually I end up leaving before the offending parker does, so it is useless. One time at Starbucks someone did this to one very badly parked car, and when I left the guy who was over the line was throwing a fit because he couldn't get in his car. He asked me if I knew who's car that was next to his… I said no, but maybe if you had parked properly you wouldn't have that problem. Felt good.

      Reply