parking lot tactics and logistics.
05-07-2004, 08:03 AM
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parking lot tactics and logistics.
Hi there .I'm curious. How many owners out there actually park their vehicle at a public facility,lock up and walk away. 
Does anyone have some sort of formula that has evolved from your experiences of -the kinds of vehicles to avoid. Do you park at an angel> Do you avoid Mini-vans and trucks? How about dirty cars ? How about ricers,how about very expensive cars .Do you go so far as writing down the plate #'s of the ones next to you?,not me
or do you get your exercise for the day by parking over the horizon. Have a good day. Mike. Curiouser and Curiouser.
Does anyone have some sort of formula that has evolved from your experiences of -the kinds of vehicles to avoid. Do you park at an angel> Do you avoid Mini-vans and trucks? How about dirty cars ? How about ricers,how about very expensive cars .Do you go so far as writing down the plate #'s of the ones next to you?,not me or do you get your exercise for the day by parking over the horizon. Have a good day. Mike. Curiouser and Curiouser.
05-07-2004, 08:08 AM
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Re: parking lot tactics and logistics.
Originally posted by mpesik
Do you park at an angel>
Do you park at an angel>
05-07-2004, 11:06 AM
#3
Three Wheelin'
If I'm out in one of my nice cars, and have to stop and park somewhere in a parking lot, I'll always park WAY out in 'left field', and only use one parking spot.
I was reading on another board where this guy in a new car parked out in 'left field' in a large mall parking lot, and chose to park across two parking spaces (..he was sideways versus nose first); no other cars at the time were even remotely close to him, and the huge lot relatively empty.
Well, he comes out and finds that two cars boxed him in; one parked directly in front of him, and the other directly behind! Other than those three cars way out in the middle of nowhere, the lot was still relatively empty.
How do you like 'dem apples?!
I was reading on another board where this guy in a new car parked out in 'left field' in a large mall parking lot, and chose to park across two parking spaces (..he was sideways versus nose first); no other cars at the time were even remotely close to him, and the huge lot relatively empty.
Well, he comes out and finds that two cars boxed him in; one parked directly in front of him, and the other directly behind! Other than those three cars way out in the middle of nowhere, the lot was still relatively empty.
How do you like 'dem apples?!
05-07-2004, 11:12 AM
#4
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" Curiouser and Curiouser." .... well Alice, from my miles on the Yellow Brick Road (actually, that ref is for Dorthy and OK, which comes later)- there is no easy answer!
The 928's are blemish free - so far! I normally park near large immovable objects, and walk any reasonable distance to protect the isolation.
Even this backfired badly once: I was fairly new in Oklahoma, the land of Prairie schooners and mega land yachts. I parked my new BMW 1/4 mile away from the Tag Office between a curb and a tree - the kindly old doll ( actually all Oakies are kindly) who had just requalified in a humungous white Lincoln gleefully tossed it into reverse - for all of a 1/4 mile, and crumpled the right fender ( "there was no one behind me, and there was lots of room ......"). Not seeing this happen, one of the two evil sisters who ran the show, looked up at me and said "y'alls tags are ready, and I'll call Bert for a tow".
Parking near 2 door cars is to be avoided ( wider door swing), and never park near a 'Benz: A qualification of purchase for elder owners is that they don't give a crap for anything. Shiny pickup trucks are fine, as their owners care - about dinging their door edges: take what you can get, it works.
The 928's are blemish free - so far! I normally park near large immovable objects, and walk any reasonable distance to protect the isolation.
Even this backfired badly once: I was fairly new in Oklahoma, the land of Prairie schooners and mega land yachts. I parked my new BMW 1/4 mile away from the Tag Office between a curb and a tree - the kindly old doll ( actually all Oakies are kindly) who had just requalified in a humungous white Lincoln gleefully tossed it into reverse - for all of a 1/4 mile, and crumpled the right fender ( "there was no one behind me, and there was lots of room ......"). Not seeing this happen, one of the two evil sisters who ran the show, looked up at me and said "y'alls tags are ready, and I'll call Bert for a tow".
Parking near 2 door cars is to be avoided ( wider door swing), and never park near a 'Benz: A qualification of purchase for elder owners is that they don't give a crap for anything. Shiny pickup trucks are fine, as their owners care - about dinging their door edges: take what you can get, it works.
Last edited by Garth S; 05-07-2004 at 11:40 AM.
05-07-2004, 12:09 PM
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I have had some success with my cars by picking a spot in "left field", and then taking the end spot. This limits your door dent exposure to only 1 side of the car, and if you crowd the line on the other side, leaves lots of room(hopefully) if someone parks beside you.
As far as parking beside "nice" cars, keep in mind that a good deal of the newer ones are leased, and many of the people driving leases don't really give a damn about door dents, theirs or yours!
As far as parking beside "nice" cars, keep in mind that a good deal of the newer ones are leased, and many of the people driving leases don't really give a damn about door dents, theirs or yours!
05-07-2004, 12:26 PM
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I too look for end spaces with a lot of width. Some other helpful ideas are.
1. Park next to 4-door vehicles. Doors are shorter than a coupes. Less reach to nail yours.
2. Minivans with sliding doors. Front door also tends to be short. Less likely to get nailed.
3. I always try to park next to really nice cars. Even if they are leased they are spending big bucks monthly and likely have an appreciation for cars. They do get dinged ( pardon the pun ) for damage when they turn them in so I do think they are more careful.
Parking out in left field rarely works for me. I think people intentionally park next to you just to **** you off. What I hate are the people that take you parking space while you are turning around to get it. Had a guy look right at me then swing into a space I was already set to take. Then he got out of his car and ran to wherever he was going. Lucky I am not the vengeful type.
1. Park next to 4-door vehicles. Doors are shorter than a coupes. Less reach to nail yours.
2. Minivans with sliding doors. Front door also tends to be short. Less likely to get nailed.
3. I always try to park next to really nice cars. Even if they are leased they are spending big bucks monthly and likely have an appreciation for cars. They do get dinged ( pardon the pun ) for damage when they turn them in so I do think they are more careful.
Parking out in left field rarely works for me. I think people intentionally park next to you just to **** you off. What I hate are the people that take you parking space while you are turning around to get it. Had a guy look right at me then swing into a space I was already set to take. Then he got out of his car and ran to wherever he was going. Lucky I am not the vengeful type.
05-07-2004, 12:45 PM
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Having side mouldings, a few dings and rock chips decreases my paranoia. I just park between the lines like everybody else. What concerns me is runaway shopping carts! I always return my shopping cart for karmic reasons.
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05-07-2004, 01:05 PM
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I've given up - fact is, the jerks will track you down no matter what. I've parked in spaces so remote I needed a portable GPS to find my way back to the car and invariably I return to a car with someone so close I can't get in and wonder how anyone this side of Reed Richards got out. It's not just that people don't give a damn, it's that they actively resent that you do.
Oddly, it's the Porsches that bring it out; my '66 Rolls scares the heck out of people. They're as far away as they can get, and I've seen people maneuver for 5 minutes parking around it.
Emanuel
Oddly, it's the Porsches that bring it out; my '66 Rolls scares the heck out of people. They're as far away as they can get, and I've seen people maneuver for 5 minutes parking around it.
Emanuel
05-07-2004, 01:23 PM
#9
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I have always parked my Porsches anywhere I wanted. I like to park right in front of where I'm going to be. I think that where people look and walk by a lot, no-one will vandalise one's car. I have never received dings. And this has gone on for 6 years. The only place I find people like to turn my mirrors sideways is at a park-n-ride, but I take a pickup there so who cares.
05-07-2004, 02:04 PM
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I employ two techniques:
1. Egyptian Parking- I park out in Egypt. Considering the impressive and rapidly swelling girth of the average Floridian, it is unlikely that you'll pick up door dings if you park more than about two spaces beyond the last car. Cattle don't like to walk....
2. DRAMATIC Parking- It is a Porsche, right? As such, it should be displayed at an artistic angle to the parking row, in such a place as to be near the entrance to the parking lot so that it's beautifully formed flanks can be adequately depicted. Also, turn the wheel so that the front wheels are at about a 30 degree angle- this displays the tire width and cool tread while not making the car look like it is twisted in on itself. I always try to park so that the hatch faces south- this helps save my leather dash.
Normy!
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1. Egyptian Parking- I park out in Egypt. Considering the impressive and rapidly swelling girth of the average Floridian, it is unlikely that you'll pick up door dings if you park more than about two spaces beyond the last car. Cattle don't like to walk....
2. DRAMATIC Parking- It is a Porsche, right? As such, it should be displayed at an artistic angle to the parking row, in such a place as to be near the entrance to the parking lot so that it's beautifully formed flanks can be adequately depicted. Also, turn the wheel so that the front wheels are at about a 30 degree angle- this displays the tire width and cool tread while not making the car look like it is twisted in on itself. I always try to park so that the hatch faces south- this helps save my leather dash.
Normy!
'85 S2 5 Speed
05-07-2004, 02:05 PM
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If you want your car to be keyed, the best way to guarantee that is to park at an angle, or use two spaces - even if it's out in the boonies.
Those parking tactics are perceived as arrogance on the part of the vehicle owner, and are often rewarded as such.
Those parking tactics are perceived as arrogance on the part of the vehicle owner, and are often rewarded as such.
05-07-2004, 02:19 PM
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Originally posted by Randy V
If you want your car to be keyed, the best way to guarantee that is to park at an angle, or use two spaces - even if it's out in the boonies.
Those parking tactics are perceived as arrogance on the part of the vehicle owner, and are often rewarded as such.
If you want your car to be keyed, the best way to guarantee that is to park at an angle, or use two spaces - even if it's out in the boonies.
Those parking tactics are perceived as arrogance on the part of the vehicle owner, and are often rewarded as such.
i like end spots, next to pass door of other cars if possible (at least cuts odds down if they are solo driver) , and nice cars. leery of the minivans, with kids liable to drop , carry , or throw, anything while flying out those doors.
j.
05-07-2004, 02:41 PM
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At work, in the parking garage, I back into a space that's tight up against a column on the driver's side. On the other side of the column is (usually) a Toyota pickup, also backed in. I know the guy, he totally respects cars. He has a '56 chevy that he's into for about $50K and he understands. Even if he has an occasional passenger, his door can't reach because of the distance imposed by the column. Generally, whoever parks on my passenger side drives straight in, and leaves plenty of room. I've thought this through pretty carefully... Even if someone goes whipping around the corner and loses control, they're going to hit that column instead of my car.
Otherwise, I NEVER park the car at Costco... I use my RamCharger for that. Too many morons in close prokimity. Anybody wants to run into that with their car or car door, they'll get the worse end of the deal. Other places I just do my best to get an end spot in the boonies. Randy makes a good point about taking multiple places. There is a corner in the parking garage at work that is taken up by Bimmers who park like this, and it seems to be OK. But I wouldn't recommend doing this at any random spot.
Otherwise, I NEVER park the car at Costco... I use my RamCharger for that. Too many morons in close prokimity. Anybody wants to run into that with their car or car door, they'll get the worse end of the deal. Other places I just do my best to get an end spot in the boonies. Randy makes a good point about taking multiple places. There is a corner in the parking garage at work that is taken up by Bimmers who park like this, and it seems to be OK. But I wouldn't recommend doing this at any random spot.
05-07-2004, 02:55 PM
#14
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Never take the Porsche to a shopping center! But if you have to park in public parking; if available, crowd the line on a parking place next to a handicapped spot. Other wise park in the South 40.
Enjoy you life and dont worry about the car. 
