I don't really trust anyone well enough to park next to them, but if I absolutely must choose someone to park next to, I will always choose an expensive luxury vehicle -- the owners are usually careful for one and if not, they likely can afford good insurance.

 

I seldom park next to anyone but if there's no other choice I try to pick a newish compact 4 door. The doors on a Mini are much larger and swing further out than a 4 door's.

 

There aren't many MINIs in my area, so I have rarely parked next to one. But, where I park is often a function of where it is. If I go to a grocery store by myself, I'll park next to one of those BasKart storage racks and get real close to it on the passenger side (maybe about 8"). That way if someone parks even halfway close to the center of the parking space, they will be far enough away so that their doors can't reach me.

At work, I park in a far corner of our parking garage. It is among several other new or very well kept cars. Frequently I'm in the company of a 335, a 328, a Saturn Sky and a Lincoln MKS.

My wife uses a wheelchair. If she is with me, we use her accessibility card. Those spaces are VERY wide and folks shouldn't really get close.

 

When I'm trying to find a spot on the street I'll drive around until I can find a lead spot. I don't like having anybody in front of me, since my one of my driving lamps was broken by somebody not paying attention when they backed up.

 

An update to my post #10: Parked in an end space on Friday and a lawnmower got me with a piece of gravel in the passenger door. It didn't bend the metal, but it did go down to the bare metal in one of 3 small spots. Touched it up the best I could so it's not real noticeable.

 

Ever since I got my first MCS in 2002 I have been seeking out the far corners of the parking lots, part of my new exercise program.