You would like my CIA grade German stink bombs, come in little glass ampules. I have never done it, but one of those broken over an air intake, the car will stink like rotten eggs for the next year. Believe it or not, government agents used these to sabotage [embarrass] the victim without doing any visible damage. Rendered the royal limo unusable because the odor would permeate the air and into the clothing of anyone inside the vehicle. Once in the air vents there is no way to neutralize the odor, at least not in the short term.

 

One thing I have come to realize. Most people are incapable of parking between the lines of a parking space. That have little or no spacial visualization to get between those lines once they lose sight of them when pulling in. They aim between the cars they see. If one of those cars is parked badly, it just propagates down the parking row.

That's one reason why SUV and Pick-ups are the greatest violators. The soccer moms can't see over the hoods and fenders of their own tanks.

 

I have 3 small dings, one on each door, and one on the middle of the left rear quarter panel, all from idiots opening their doors against me. They are only noticable when my car is very shiny (which presents an aggrevating dilemna every time I clean my car). Paintless dent repair would be just under $300. If I actually saw someone doing, I would definitely confront the moron. What gets me, is I invariably seek a lone place in the lot. And just as invariably, some idiot in a rusted out, ten year old Dodge Caravan that looks like it was detailed with a ball peen hammer, parks on or over the line next to me.

 

Which is exactly why they should not be driving them.

 

Ah, but I politely disagree!

"May those who love us, love us.
And those that don’t love us,
May God turn their hearts,
And if he doesn’t turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles,
So we may know them by their limping."

Let's be able to recognize them beforehand; let them drive their klunkers!!

 

+1000!!!

And sorry lightningJCW, but this is flat wrong: " If you park close enough to other cars for this to happen, it's a risk you run." That's blaming the victim, it doesn't work in a rape case and doesn't hold water here.

I do AGREE, however, with your point on not being "known as the guy who freaked out and chewed out a mom on the parking lot in front of her child ". If that's the choice, then walk away. A ding is preferable to a violent reaction. The OP said they "addressed" the offending party. As long as this was civil, I'm 110% with him on the approach (always treat people with respect, even jacka$$es). If it is the choice between taking a ding or escalation to violence and disrespect, a balance must be struck between damage done to sheetmetal and damage done to flesh and blood.

Also, I respect your point on avoiding the situation in the first place by parking intelligently - but that is not always possible (see other posts on the rudeness of other drivers).

Hope this is resolved easily.

 

Coincidental with this thread I saw the following when I was walking home from the corner market.

From the noted evidence and overall scene I suspect it was the Rover who backed into the "Rover MINI."

 

That is one reason why I have never put lights on my car, though I have always wanted them. I don't want them used to dent my hood. Another is that someone, like one of those revolting little feces-covered snot factories who tend to spill out of minivans when the doors are opened, will just bend them down simply because they are vulnerable. Granted, mother/father might reprimand little Jayden/Brandon/Isabella/Justin/Kayla/Ethan/Sophia/Aiden/Britney/whatever before never giving it another thought, but the damage will have been done.

 

Don't scare me! I was thinking about putting the lights on my bonnet, to get closer to the "Italian Job MINI" look, but now you've got me wondering if it's a smart idea...

 

Its a pain in the ***, but after my door ding I carry a pad of paper, an camera and write down EVERY license plate next to me (if I park next to someone) I also do a complete walk around before and after leaving and arriving. Here in europe It is so over crowded even the farthest park spot is full. The parking garages are like one big orgy, cars on top of others, you have to turn sideways to slide in between... the only banging going is car doors I freaked out on someone And Im proud I did. the Polizei assist with the ordeal and was handle really fast.
I do kinda miss the days of having an old car, you never notice a new dent and hell nobody parked next to me.

 

You live in Alaska. Lower population density.

IB/W here as well.

 

Did I mention that my MCS had *NO* dings whatsoever when I purchased it in the Bay Area (CA)?

Now it has (at least) 3, and it hasn't even been 2 years.

LOTS more 4x4s, SUVs, big pickups, and people with banged up vehicles around here!

 

AKIndi - get the lights, you won't regret it...

at night...

 

Another shot.

 

you did the right thing.. its ur property and others have to respect... even if it was a kid... parents have to explain to those kids how to respect others' stuff

 

Yeah, I'm still thinking about it! They would probably go great with the Euro-spec '05-'06 Xenons that I installed the other day.

Looks great!

 

I would have done exactly the same thing you did. People should respect other people's property, and "stuff" happens is not an excuse to disregard your responsibility for damaging something that belongs to someone else. I'm biting my tongue right now in regards to your wife's comments, but let's just say I strongly disagree with her.

In the future, you may consider parking away from others. I don't know if that was possible where you were, but if you worry about dings like I do, park way the heck away from everybody else and walk. Drop your wife and kids off if necessary, or else you will have to constantly deal with "stuff" that happens in parking lots. I never park up front, EVER. I don't mind walking. I'm glad I am able to walk. Also, I would never inconvenience someone else by taking up two parking spots near the front of any parking lot like I see some people do, so I park where no one else wants to and foot it.

 

I agree on parking as far away as possible. The few places I must go and can't park alone far away, typically because the lot's usually too full, I take my truck instead. Even that I park far away but I won't be quite as upset of someone dings it. The MINI is 3.5 years old and dingless so far! I'd also agree that many or most are so lazy as to always park close, and even park illegally in a fire lane so they don't have to walk 100 feet.

But I must wonder about the rant at Type 2 diabetics etc. I understand you were trying to vent re lazy people, but lots of Type 2 patients are NOT 'fat', do NOT eat crap, do exercise and don't deserve to be lumped into some catergory as vile and contemptable. No one is more upset by having their baby dinged than I... But as someone who has family suffering from Type 2 I find this extremely offensive, and cruel to some who may not fit our ideal of appearance, sure sometimes through habits, but sometimes through no fault of their own. Yes, its the internet, freedom of opinion and speech, and one is going to find some offense in what others say on the net every day, but once in a while I am moved to point out, hopefully in a calm, not equally offensive way that which I find insensitive.

I'd challenge anyone here to match my slim 70 year old fathers diet, daily excercise regimen, and general healthy lifestyle. And yes, he's always been slim, excercised, and has Type 2... And he doens't ding other peoples doors!

 

I just zoom past everyone -- don't have to worry about assessing each car.

 

Hmm, I *had* to make a stop at a store yesterday. There was no time for me to grab my other vehicle, so I reluctantly drove the MCS there. I parked on the far end of the parking lot, and when I came out, there was a beautiful (AB?/W R50) JustACooper parked next to me.

Being that it's a small town, it's quite easy to tell when a new vehicle comes in. This one was fairly fresh to the island, being that it still had the shipping tags on the windshield. So now there's 10 MINIs in my town. I'd almost dare to say that we've got the highest number of MINIs per capita, than any other place in Alaska.

Would it bother any of you that another MINI parked (normally) next to you waaaay out in the far reaches of a store parking lot? It bothers me when other vehicles do it (unless they're nice, and expensive)...but somehow it actually made me smile to see a new MINI hanging out with mine.

 

^ I tend to think that MINI owners who join me in parking out in the boondocks are equally caring and careful to avoid the door bang -- so no issues . . . in fact, I welcome it (better a MINI than someone else)

 

Would not bother me at all since the reason the MINI was there was to say hello, hey we are one, and there's strength in numbers.

You should have taken a pic of that MINI moment so we could all enjoy the experience.

Hey, Alaska was in the news this week. Does Stevens drive a MINI?

 

I've been trying to get the other MINI owners in town to get together for a photo shoot of some sort. The best we have done so far - participate in our Crab Festival Parade. Unfortunately, I've only got one crummy pic from last year's (4 MINIs, including mine), and none so far of this year's parade (5 MINIs). It's kind of hard to take pics when you're IN the parade, lol.

And Stevens...I hear he has a Land Rover Discovery...

 

I like when a Mini parks next to me, and if possible, I'll park next to another Mini. It has nothing whatsoever to do with having cute cars hang out so they can talk - they're CARS, not puppies. I'm parking there because at least I know the side of my Mini that's next to the other Mini is less likely to get dinged. Oh - and meeting another Mini owner isn't a bad thing.

 

All the other MINIs I see parked are parked in spaces close to buildings, which means those owners do not care about their cars. No thanks. I'll keep my distance.