Parking

[Matty_Z4]

I was parked at the airport the other night and when I came back from my flight my car was sandwiched between two very nice cars. To my right was a very nice Mercedes V8 Bi-Turbo and to my left was a nice looking BMW (new to the brand no idea if it was 3/5 or 7 series) but you get the idea.

I was parked on the 7th floor (one down from the roof) and pretty much by the lifts, I park up on the top floors because there is less likely people will park next to me and I park by the lifts because I'm lazy. Bearing in mind this is a 2005 E85 that hasn't been cleaned for about 1000 miles.

This got me thinking a little bit because I have noticed that similar things happen when I'm about town, I will park the opposite end of the carpark but in a mildly convenient location and when I come back there is nearly always someone next to me in a fairly modern relatively expensive car (compared to the Zed), It never used to be like this when I drove a Skoda.


I wonder do these guys park there for the same reason I do and use the logic that as I'm in a Zed I'm more likely to take car of my car and not dink theirs.


What are peoples opinions of touching doors, if someone is parked a tad too close is it acceptable to touch doors (not open deliberately into their car) I mean gently open with car as your getting in. I normally put my fingers on the door edge so there is something soft and flesh between my car and theirs as not to cause a dent.

[road warrior]

Yes I'm very carefully placing my car and do an analysis like yours on likely kinds of owners, I never park next to a van or sh***y car. And park away when possible and walk a little further. When in busy parking places I always get paranoid. And as we have such a tiny car i can never see it on returning to the car park so always wonder if it's been knicked.

[BeeEmm]

I normally put my fingers on the door edge so there is something soft and flesh between my car

Yep! that's loving your car.

[ben g]

I once parked up at a popular walking spot and when I got back to my Z4, I had a brand new Skoda wedged up next to my driver's door. There was just enough of a gap for me to squeeze into my car, whilst pressing my door onto his bodywork.

It left a mark on their shiny new car, but I couldn't really care less. They must have known how close they were when they parked up, to the point they probably got out through the passengers side door.

I've also had the same problem when parked right at the back of a supermarket car park. No one else was there when I turned up. 15 mins later I had a brand new Jaguar parked next to me.

I really don't understand what goes through these peoples' minds?

[obewan]

Yep, do all that
Avoid 4x4's, cars with child seats, sheds, delivery vans................
Also wherever possible if I have to use a car I park I try to find an end bay and park on the passenger side of the other car
There's always a driver but not necessarily a passenger
One less risk of a dink

[buzyg]

The Fiat Coupe I used to drive as a daily, had fiber glass doors. Caught in the wrong light they were covered in tiny indentations, where dickwads had open their doors with no consideration. The Zed is a weekend Queen and gets parked as far away from the entrance to any car park as I can manage. For exactly the reasons above.

[RustyZ4]

I have been known to drive in and out of a car park, if I cant get a reasonable space, if I park at a supermarket always at the furthest distance from the store, as I reckon anyone parking there is in the same frame of mind,
It has crossed my mind to put a bay seat in, so I can use the wide parking bays

[stupot1]

I was in B&Q car park yesterday, I parked well away from anyone..and came back to a knackered old Jag/Mondeo! Parked next to me. I raised my arms and said a few choice...I don't believe it's! Got in the car and made a phone call. A few minutes later a pair of really...really old farts got back to their car, the woman opened the passenger door into mine! I got out and told her what she'd done, she point blank denied it, I said I was sat in the bloody car, she wouldn't even look at me, just kept denying it!!
The pair of them were well in their 80s, I didn't know what else to say so I just drove off!
A few minor scratches on my door, but for Christ's sake! Luckily 'in a way ' I was in my daily Volvo, but not a lot I could, if I'd been in the Zed, it may have been a different story!

[paddy wright]

I always follow all these rules but found a huge ding on my X5 rear door tonight! £60 odd quid down the drain due to some inconsiderate a-hole!

[Chris_D]

My good ladyfriend Laura is The Queen of defensive parking. We should all follow by her example....

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[NickDE]

My good ladyfriend Laura is The Queen of defensive parking. We should all follow by her example....
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Nordwijk ?

[Mr Tidy]

If I ever park my Z4 in a car park I always park miles from anyone, but invariably find some old shed (usually an SUV, 4 x 4 or Transit) about a foot from the driver's door.

So I try to only use car parks in my daily - it still happens, but I'm not so bothered!

I think Laura may be over-doing it slightly - that car park is deserted anyway!

[Chris_D]

My good ladyfriend Laura is The Queen of defensive parking. We should all follow by her example....
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Nordwijk ?

Close. Bloemendaal

[road warrior]

Yep, do all that
Avoid 4x4's, cars with child seats, sheds, delivery vans................
Also wherever possible if I have to use a car I park I try to find an end bay and park on the passenger side of the other car
There's always a driver but not necessarily a passenger
One less risk of a dink

i hear you, but have found passengers who often dont have a car and not aware of the pain give even a less rats arse about your car or even the car they are travelling in. kids dont give a s**t about anybodies car, or grannies or indeed most passengers.