Not only are you asking for trouble as so many others have pointed out, but because you are taking up two compact spots you are also extremely inconsiderate. I park at the farthest reaches of a parking lot where no one wants to park. Try walking a little ways instead of irritating and pissing people off to the point of getting your car damaged.

And I’ll just bet if it does get keyed, you’ll come on here whining about how someone didn’t like your car. It would be more like your attitude and parking practices and I’ll say it servers you a good lesson.



Door ding free MCS for three years myself, but I know how to drive and park.
Apparently you don’t.

 

I'm also paranoid about door dings, but I never take up 2 spaces.

I try to follow most of the parking tips outlines previously in this thread, but there have been a number of times when I just couldn't. I've had to park next to large cars or trucks in tight spaces, when there was no other choice, and was sure that I'd have a door ding on my return. So far... hasn't happened.

I had an '03 MCS for 2 years; zero door dings, and an '05 for 7 months; so far so good.

Everybody gets a new car from time to time, and everybody takes their chances in the parking lot. When I see someone taking up 2 spaces, I just have to shake my head.

 

If you're way out in the boonies, I don't care... and I'd even park next to you (with plenty of space) as I know you'd be less likely to ding MY car.

But when I used to drive pick-up trucks I could park them into the tightest spots you can imagine... and whenever I found some tool taking up two near-by spots, I'd park with my passenger side so close to their car they'd need a can-opener to get in it. If they keyed my truck, I don't think anyone would have noticed.

 

This is what you deserve

 

 

I guess this type of parking practice can be summed up as such:

Parking your car such that it takes up two spots in an effort to minimize door dings increases your chances of getting one (or more, or worse) exponentially.

Granted, some people do the diagonal parking in two spots not solely to avoid dings or people parking too close, but I think most do it primarily as an attention getter. And garner attention it does, almost always negative.

 

I'll admit i've parked VERY close to one of the lines of my parking space, while another car was parked pretty close to that same line. But it was a mini :P And i was excited to see it. All the other corner spots were taken (rush hour after work, it was busy!), so i figured he'd be a relatively safe car to park next to. But the SUV on the other side of me freaked me out, so i just hugged the mini spot.

There was even a cart really close to it, in which i moved to the proper place. Everybody needs a mini, we'd all get along much better then :P

 

Does this mean if you take up four spaces in the middle of the lot you would have sixteen times the risk?

 

Dude, at least keep an umbrella in the car! I have definitely subjected lady friends to my obsessively cautious parking techniques, but getting them soaked seems a bit much, even to protect the MINI. I always have two 'brellies in the boot.

 

I have a conundrum for you all. I think you'll find it funny . Any feedback is appreciated :

I do research at the Miami Children's Hospital, where I have to park every day in a covered, multi-level parking lot. You read right: the CHILDREN'S hospital. Now, I love kids and in fact I want to go into pediatric spinal surgery, but I've seen with my own eyes that kids open doors like reckless fiends! . That, coupled with the fact that the garage inexplicably has mostly COMPACT spaces (which are strangely TOO SMALL to park my MINI in!!!), has got me thinking about how/if I can keep my car as safe as possible. End spaces are in short supply... . Here's what I've figured out:

1) kids don't drive, so they will be exiting on the passenger side exactly twice as often, at least. They also don't usually sit up front.
(so, I figured, I should park my car closer to the right car's driver's side which has more 'responsible' occupants)
2) but, I still can't park THAT close to the driver's side either, for obvious reasons.

After much deliberation (no lie! ), I've decided to park *slightly* diagonally, with the front of my MINI nearer the left car's passenger's side and my rear nearer the right car's rear driver's side. This puts the middle of my car roughly in between the right and left front doors, but gives me maximum space at the left car's right rear door (ie, the DANGEROUS one!). So far, so good ::crosses fingers::. Does anyone have any better advice or keener insight? Laughs are welcome and will be considered constructive criticism. Thanks!

 

Please read my posts - specifically #29 above.

Mike

 

Yes Mike, we saw what you wrote earlier... the picture was to illustrate an idea, and you didn't actually leave the car like that on that day, in that place...

BUT

Your post pointed out how you like to do that. So even if the actual photo was not a "real" situation, you demonstrated your typical behavior when you started the thread. Perhaps you were trolling, I don't know... but the fact you have defended your situation since, suggests that you weren't, so all following criticism is justified based upon the apparent intent of your post.

 

chrisnl, I offered to drop her off at the door and then go park,but she sticks with me.

 

Whoa Perry Mason, you are all wrong about my "apparent intent"

All of this anger is a big surprise to me. No, I was not trolling. Yes I double park way out of the way, have zero door dings because of it and have never been keyed in the 5 years I've done it. Numerous times in this thread I've pointed out that I only park like this in the outskirts. Then I get freaks suggesting that a FELONY is warranted for anybody violating a parking ordinance and I deserve that crap. And you wonder why I'm scared of door dings with this kind of pent up anger in the parking lot.

Unbelievable,
Mike

 

I got my sickness of parking far away FROM my **** boyfriend. I make him walk just as much as he makes me.

And who said getting soaked wasn't fun? He still threatens me to not open my own door (even on my OWN car!), and when it DOES pour, he forces me out at the door of the store...but i'm not so traditional

But i do enjoy the look of girls faces when they see my boyfriend of 3 years getting my door everywhere we go. And then when i slug him in the arm for making me have to wait for him to open it Good times.

 

doesnt everyone park sideways?????







its funny when you park two minis in two spots....sideways. (but if someone parks on both side, you have to wait to leave)



(yes, its sad, but i have done that before lol )

 

HEY! watch the language, this is a family friendly forum here!!!!!!!

 

Post #1
Seems you really touched a nerve in the community with this one. I don't think there has been a single post that supports 'always taking two spots'.

 

I believe Griots sells magnetic door bumpers that would be perfect for this situation

 

Hey Mike,

I'm also in SoCal so I know where you're coming from. Some drivers just don't care if they swing their doors wide open and hit another car.

Of course personally, if I ever see your car parked like that, I wouldn't bother because you're parked so far away. However, there ARE haters out there. Even though you're parked far away while spaces are plentiful around you, there are people out there that just likes the "thrill" of messing up your ride because you're being over-cautious. So, regardless of how far you park, eventually something's gonna happen. I'm not trying to jinx you or anything, but just telling you the truth. Just my $0.02 :D

 

I missed that part. In that case, I take back what I said:smile:

 

I totally agree, can't tell you the number of times when I park as close to the curb as I can to give the car next to me (empty when I pull in) more space, and the a$$wipe just pulls in using all of that space--so they are like inches away from me, but have several feet on the passenger side. Like, WTF? Can't you show some respect and repark straight?? Noooo, you gotta swing your door wide out of your SUV despite having tons of room on the other side. Geeeeesh.

 

Wow, that's a tough one. Asides from parking somewhere else and keeping a scooter in the car to go back and forth from it to work you are stuck in a bad lot with a high risk of damage to your car.

Perhaps, since it is so family oriented with kids, you could charm them into being careful with a cute sign in your side windows like "Hi, my name is ___. Please be careful, dings hurt and make me sad"

I dunno n Good luck anyhow :smile:

 

I looked back... the problem is that you quoted the wrong part of your #29 post. You quoted the part about the picture being only an example, not a real one. What you SHOULD have quoted (IMO), to remind people, is the part about "I don't take two spaces anywhere in a crowded lot". The fact you quoted yourself in the first place is why I didn't read #29 again until now. I figured you had quoted what you wanted to say.

While I still don't advocate taking two spaces in any situation, I do acknowledge that you said what you did. However, I still hope you don't do it close to the venue, because even if the lot ISN'T crowded, you're still denying someone else a close space, which goes back to the selfish aspect.

 

Hate door dings.
Don't park in two spots.
Always try to park away from everyone.
Always annoyed when no matter how far away I park from everyone, someone always decides to park right next to me.


My door ding story:
Parked (old '85 CRX) in a parking garage across the street. Pick the far end with a half space beside it (behind a pole) and tuck it in nicely. I come out at lunch to find some &%^*&$^* took advantage of the extra room in my space and squeezed in between me and the car (legally parked) next to me. Dented my door upon exit (no wonder - he was all of 4" away.) I resisted the urge to bash his door in.
The good part: He had mail on his back seat. It had his name and company. We had several discussions over the next week. I doubt he'll ever do that again.