So, I've lived in/around cities my entire driving life (10 years) and have accordingly been forced to parallel park repeatedly. In fact, one apartment had only parallel parking available. My point here, is that I've done it quite alot and, frankly, I'm quite good at it.

Or at least I was.

Until yesterday, when I inexplicably bumped the car behind me while performing a perfectly mundane park job in a space large enough to accomodate at least a minivan, if not an outright Suburban.

I apparently nudged their license plate, as there was no damage to their car but the screws from the plate did manage to gouge my bumper*. Despite the fact that their bumper was scuffed (in places I did not hit) beyond measure, I left a note asking them to contact me if they saw damage that I hadn't. I just hope they don't use this as an opportunity to have me buy them a new bumper.

As if the horror of doing something so stupid wasn't great enough, I managed to do it right on a main drag through town, in front of the little window cafe we were headed to.

Excuse me, waitress, have you any humble pie this evening?






*ok, by "gouge" I actually mean that the screw left 2 circular indentations on my bumper. But now, of course, it's all I see. Oh well, there were scratches (I think from a cat? Or from someone who hit me and didn't leave a note.) on the bumper anyway, now I have increased reason to have it resprayed.

 

I'm feelin' ya. (pop definition, of course)

 

Confession is good for the soul

 

Sorry about that. Sometimes it happens to the best of us.

Parking blunders haven't happened to me in a long time (knock on wood), but like you, I would leave a note as well. However, you being honest doesn't make them honest so my policy is I take a picture of the bumper as well. If you're giving them an admission of guilt, you'd better have a back-up plan in case they run into a fence a week later.

 

It can happen to the best of us, Om. . .

I always like to say that if people need the Park Distance Control gizmo on a MINI, they actually need a remedial driver's ed. class. . . . but I am not being entirely fair as I have scratched every single one of my wheels over the years.

 

I have to admit, the bumper of my Altima (ok, it's not a MINI but it is a car) is held on to the car with zip ties.... thanks to my handy-dandy always fix it yourself without asking your mother-in-law, Russian son-in-law. At least I got him to take off the neon orange zip tie and replace it with a matching white one. By the time he told me about it (I would have paid to get the new clip) the holes were punched and I was zip tied together. At least it's not duct tape.

Reminder to self: Don't let the Russian son-in-law touch the new MINI.

 

have you ever tried to park a cabrio?

 

My dealer had no hard tops in stock for me to test drive, so I tested in a cabrio....couldn't believe how bad the rear visibility was when trying to park it, especially with my MA in the back seat. Glad I bought a hard top.

 

Confession IS good for the soul

I also managed to destroy a spankin new rim about a month ago -- something else I'd never done before. Perhaps I have early-onset parking-specific Alzheimers? :impatient

Haven't gotten a phone call from the "victim" yet... here's to hoping that's a good thing.

Good point about taking a photo -- wish I would have thought of it at the time!

 

Poor Om....so sorry! It's hard to retain that razor sharp concentration and perfect poise all the time. Heck, some of us barely can achieve it at all.

They say the human brain reached it's final stage of development long ago when all a humanoid had to remember was a few landmarks (a stump or two) and few dozen people (your tribe). Life its so complex now w/ PINs and passwords...........and FAFSA. Temporary brain function override is, in fact, a societal phenomonon....and probably massively on the upswing.

Ask me how I know.:impatient

 

And FAFSA PINs!!! :impatient :impatient :impatient

This, gokart, is very true - I have only begun the MINI-detrimental brainfarts since beginning the financial aid process

 

You are by no means an idiot. That could happen to anyone; don't beat yourself up over it. Actually, what you did was honorable, not idiotic.

An idiot is someone who knowingly hits another car, damages it, and drives off without leaving a note.

 

Don't feel too bad, I gouged one of my wheels while parking the other day. I had a feeling I wasn't backing in quite parallel, and then I felt it scrape the curb. Now I know to trust my instincts!! But seeing those marks on my bumper might bother me even more! :(

 

i think the proper term for that is *sshole.

 

Had that happen to me one. I had an MGC-GT, and some guy in a Rapid-Rooter truck was parked next to me. He backed out, and turned the wheel too soon, caving in my left rear quarter panel. One of our employees not only saw the whole thing, but got the guy's plate number and truck number. He took off. I called the CHP, and they came out to take a report. The first thing the officer did, was look at the undisturbed dust line under the wiper blade (summer time), proving the guy didn't try to leave a note.

I call my insurance company, and then I called Rapid-Rooter and told them what happened (without mentioning the CHP). They checked into it, and said their driver left a note. Then I lowered the boom, told them our employee was a witness, that an officer is satisfied that no note was left, and their driver is liable for a hit and run accident.

Amazing how fast my car was repaired at the most expensive body shop in town!

 

BTW, Om? I believe the word you're looking for, is D'OH!

 

I had always thought I wanted a convertible at some point in my life... test drove that cabrio and said NEVER. Visibiity is horrid. Safety was too high on my list to have the wind blow through my hair.

 

Its an inevitable part of city life. One month and I already have a mysterious scuff on my bumper, I figure it was from another car while I was parallel parked. But I can't imagine having something bigger in a city, the other day I managed to squeeze into a spot that even a Honda Civic wouldn't have been able to get into.

 

Kel,

You're just exercising your "park by feel" rights. There is an unwritten law that states that anyone parking within a 20 miles radius of a professional or NCAA Division 1 stadium is permitted to "park by feel". This covers 95% of the urban USA (and Green Bay, WI too) and gives the vast majority of urban dwellers free license to practice their NFL blocking and clipping skills with a motor vehicle. Yes, even the 100 lb. "soccer mom" can now block with the best of them by squeezing her Chevy Suburban Sub-Division into a space meant for a Mini Cooper. Of course, you should feel free to return the favor, by parking your MC in a space designed for the big-*** Chev.

 

What is even more painful and unforgivable is that my nyc garage which I pay an arm and a leg for put a scratch on my passenger door- against the wall, and on the rear bumper in the first week!!!! I try not to lose sleep over this stuff, but it is difficult not to.

 

ouch. crap just happens sometimes...and to anyone.

when i parallel park, i look at the reflection off the store windows
to proximate how much space i got left while backing up.

 

Hmm, hadn't thought of that. Good idea!

 

You mean that is NOT why they call them bumpers?

 

I'm horrible at parallel parking, but I thought, I'm in a much smaller car, I've got that back-up beeping sensor thingie, how can I go wrong?

About a month after I got my baby I had the opportunity ( ) to parallel park in front of school (also in front of all the parents in their parked cars waiting for their kids.)

At least five tries, in and out. I was watching the people behind me in the rear view mirror. They were all . What could I do? Just and make a hasty exit. Sheesh.

 

Well now I've lost all respect for you, Toastie.

I would beat myself up a bit over it too, but it happens. Try to keep things in perspective - it could've been worse. Our MINIs are like children: we can keep them warm and safe in garages all their lives, but then they wouldn't get to experience motoring. There will be some scars along the way. Chin up!