My apartment complex has assigned parking spots. The truck in the spot next to me is this big hulking thing with a big hulking engine that I can hear from my apartment 100 yards away. Every time he starts his car, it sets off my car alarm. My car alarm is set to the lowest sensitivity setting, and this doesn’t happen anywhere else. The car on the other side of me is also a big truck, and this truck doesn’t ever set off my car alarm.
My neighbor asked me to not turn on my car alarm. I’m from New York City. I would put an alarm on the cream cheese in my refrigerator if they made one that was effective.
Now, I’m not sure I absolutely need the car alarm on now that I’m no longer in New York, but I feel more comfortable with it on, and see no reason that I should keep it off. I suggested that he ask for a different park space instead. We both said we would think about each other’s suggestions (although in the actual story the word “asshole” and “dick” were used more liberally).
It’s reasonable to want your car to be as protected as possible. Besides, your alarm going off is an effect not the cause.
I’m with you. (of course I can’t hear it from here)
I don’t know the laws in NYC, or the NY. But I’d look into it. He may be violating sound laws/ordinances with loud exhaust. While it would be more convenient for you to turn off your alarm, he would be in the wrong if he has illegal exhaust. Maybe suggest that. Note though, using this method would likely sever any good communication you may have had this guy.
I think the good communication between us went out the window already. I have no temper at all, but even I was getting a bit perturbed that the conversation started with, “You have to turn your car alarm off.”
Neither of you have done anything “wrong,” actually. He can’t control his truck setting off your car’s alarm any more than you can control your alarm going off.
One of you is going to have to suck it up and ask for another parking space, though.
I think he should. You have done everything short of disabling the alarm to keep the alarm from going off. It’s not his fault that his truck sets off your alarm, but the fact is his is the ONLY vehicle that does it.
Your alarm may be a little bit of overkill if you live in a Mayberry-like town, but it’s in your car. It’s already there, and you’d be silly not to use it. Plus your insurance company may screw you over someday if your car is stolen and they find out you had the alarm turned off.
So yeah. He should move. What I’d do is contact the apartment complex’s office (or, better yet, go in person), nicely explain the situation and ask them to assign him another parking space. Make it clear that you realize nobody is really at fault here, but short of disabling the alarm, there’s nothing you can do to solve this situation and doing so could get you into trouble with your car insurance company. Also throw something in there about how you’re sure your neighbors are getting tired of hearing the alarm go off all the time, and they’ll probably realize that this guy’s desire to keep his present parking space overrides everyone else’s desire to not be bothered by your alarm.
Yeah, he’ll be pissed if you broach the subject with the powers that be, but he doesn’t sound like a reasonable guy so chances are he’ll never do it himself. Plus he’s pissed at you anyway. May as well let him be pissed in a different parking space.
[QUOTE=
So yeah. He should move. What I’d do is contact the apartment complex’s office (or, better yet, go in person), nicely explain the situation and ask them to assign him another parking space. Make it clear that you realize nobody is really at fault here, but short of disabling the alarm, there’s nothing you can do to solve this situation and doing so could get you into trouble with your car insurance company. Also throw something in there about how you’re sure your neighbors are getting tired of hearing the alarm go off all the time, and they’ll probably realize that this guy’s desire to keep his present parking space overrides everyone else’s desire to not be bothered by your alarm.
[/QUOTE]
That’s MUCH more reasonable than my plan, which involves considerably more dog poop than your plan.
It’s possible that a car that causes so much noise as to set off a car alarm does not meet state vehicle standards, depending on the location. Which would be “wrong” (and correctable).
Is it possible he’s not using mufflers or has holes in his exhaust system? Oh, and before you do anything, is he going to drive his car over the top of yours and crush it like in a bad movie (I’m thinking of Serving Sara, but I’m sure that there are other examples).
Ask him to just Fred Flintstone the truck out of the parking space. Point out that an engine that loud is illegal anyway, but you won’t tell if he can find a way to not set off the alarm. Perhaps he could change the muffler to the other side, or point the exhaust in a different direction. I hate car engine noise regulations - cars shouldn’t be difficult to hear and a lot of them, probably including that one, sound great.
Well, I know jack about cars, but it does have this awfully big looking exhaust tube that’s pointing out of the side (at my car) rather than out the back, where I’m used to seeing them. Although, as I think about it, he parks head in sometimes, and this tube is not pointed at my car then.
And I’m thinking of getting a Prius, which would be the direct opposite of his truck.
The irony is that I can’t hear my alarm from my apartment, but I can hear his engine. In other words, his engine is louder than my alarm. It doesn’t sound great.
I feel like yelling, “All right! I get it! You have a big car with a big engine! If I make an impressed face every time you drive by, will you get a different parking space?”
Hey, like I said, I’m from New York originally. I’ve never had a car before! If there were anything resembling the NY subway system, I’d be all over it.
Also, if I could have gotten a silent alarm, one that shuts the engine, but doesn’t do all the useless noise stuff, I would be all for it.
