I know people do it to protect their cars’ finishes, but damn that pisses me off. I’m just as much at risk as they are, and what are they gonna do in a controlled parking environment, such as an outdoor event or a stadium?
Had a Dr’s appointment yesterday and the parking deck had one of these “infractions” on all but the top (in the sun) level…
I KNOW this has been covered before, and probably belongs in The Pit, but since I don’t “do well” there I posted it here.
Because they’re selfish, elitist pricks. That’s why.
Even in a controlled parking environment, although it doesn’t happen as often, I’ve still seen people take up two spots. And, I shit you not, I’ve even seen people take four spots by parking right on the axis of four spaces.
It’s not a real good practice to get into. Cars taking up two spaces tend to get scratches and dents from things other than stray car doors if you know what I mean.
I bought a car that is just my fair-weather convertible. A year old and not 4,000 miles yet. Not a mark on it. I protect my car by parking in the farthest possible space, where nobody wants to park. That means I have to walk a little farther but I think I should do that rather than inconvenience other people. I also try to park in end spaces where I can get an extra foot sometimes. But I *never *take up two spaces.
I suggest that if you see a car taking up two spaces, and there is a free space on one side, that you pull in parallel to it. Then you have two cars taking up three spaces, so you are helping the ratio.
I recently witnessed a guy combine these two techniques:
All to save his Honda S2000 from getting a ding. Not a Lamborghini, not a McLaren, an S2000. At least it was in a parking lot about three times larger than the shopping center it serves really needs, but geeze, guy:rolleyes:…
The shopping cart idea sounds awesome. And yes, this is one of the things that really make me want to key their motherfucking car. You are not King of the World. Grr…
I don’t have a problem with someone taking up two spots if they park waaayyyyy at the far side of the lot. When they do it in with all the other cars, it makes me want to get my key out. :mad:
A public garage I used to use regularly would send a worker out on rounds every so often. One of his responsibilities was to make a note of the cars that were occupying two spaces, then put a little tag. The tag informed the car’s owner that he was now responsible for paying for a second space.
Next time, if they’re parked in two spaces, so that there’s a space and a half to one side of them (preferably the driver’s side), pull up and park on that side of them, as close as you can manage (i.e., blocking doors) without scraping the paint.
I like when the reason a vehicle is taking up more than one space is because the driver attempted to wedge a boat into a compact parking space. I particularly enjoy the domino effect this often causes; the car next to it has pulls off some awkward parking job trying to get into the spot, ends up over its line as well, etc. Downtown Mpls public library parking lot has a sign that reads something like, “SUVs and Vans parked in compact spaces WILL be towed.”
To you people that are talking about doing mean things to a car parked this way, does it matter if the car is parked way out where no one else is parked? I park that way myself when it’s an area where there are plenty of spaces, never closer in where it’s crowded. Should I fear for my car anyway?
Yes. It can get crowded while you’re inside, or a spot adjacent to your car could be ideal for someone who arrives later, even if the parking lot never gets crowded. Stop being sloppy, and just park in the freaking spot already.
The more I think about this, the more certain I am that I’ll steal this idea. Except I’ll make sure to call the person a shithead. I’m subtle that way.
Well, not to me. I probably wouldn’t even notice your car. But WHY do you do it? What are you so afraid of? Why is your car so special and everyone else’s is not?
Either way you don’t have to fear me. I’ve never keyed a car in my life, though my first car was keyed for no apparent reason (well it was parked at a liberal arts college. :p) But I still think it’s a silly habit.
I have, on occasion, written a note to the other driver and placed it under the windshield wiper. The note says something like, “I am so sorry … I didn’t realize you had taken up two spaces when I pulled in, and I am afraid I may have scratched your fender a bit. The dent is not really that big, so I am sure it won’t cost me that much to repair. Please call me at”
The trick is to write it in such a way that the last “at” is at the bottom of the page.
I did this one Christmas shopping season at a tremendously crowded mall. I dropped my wife off at the front door and was going to sit in the car and read until she was ready for me to pick her up. I found an offender and parked in the aisle across from him, then crept over and left the note.
I only had to wait 45 minutes before the guy came back. It was absolutely priceless watching him read the note, look for the phone number, and then run around his car 4 times examining every speck of dust, trying to find the dent or scratch.
I am not usually vindictive, but boy, did that one feel good! I still chuckle when I think about it.
The best part was when said jerk saw me sitting in my car and asked me if I had seen the expletive-head that had hit his car. I was able to answer him honestly that, no, I had not seen anyone hit his car in all the time I had been sitting there.
“I accidentally hit your car- sorry about the damage. However, I can’t afford to have my insurance go up, so I’m just going to pretend to leave my insurance and contact information. Sorry!”
With any luck, the guy will go nuts trying to find the damage.
