SoCal-CJ (993S)

How long does it take to get over the parking paranoia thing? I park where nobody cares if I take two spots, as long as I can see it through the windows. Drove through Santa Ana today (ghetto for all the non-CA guys), and had to stop for a while at the office (aka Baseball field). I was so nervous that somebody was going to key it or something... <img border="0" alt="[nono]" title="" src="graemlins/nono.gif" />

I just love it so much!
This weekend (finally, garage+tools+free time) I get to jack it up for some unneeded underside care, and a routine wax/interior polish.

My only DIY in the first couple days was scraping the windshield for the PO's toll road transponder glue.

I can't wait! <img border="0" alt="[jumper]" title="" src="graemlins/jumper.gif" />
Countdown til CA-AZ roadtrip: 20 days

B-Line

Enjoy your car.. You won't stop worrying until after you get your first scratch, ding, etc.
I took mine to the race track one week after getting it.
As a matter of fact, go outside right now and key it.. just kidding.

Jeff 993TT

I remember the first night that I got my p-car, I couldn't sleep. I kept on waking up every 2-3 hours to "check" on it.

Enjoy your car!

Jeff

Arthur Del Mundo

I feel the same way. Just waiting for the C5redit Union to deliver the check to the dealership so I can take the car home! I think I'll probably sleep in the car the first night I get it while it sits in the garage hehehe.

pjc

I'm afraid there is no solution to your problem - bought my fist 911 15 years ago (1976 model)and felt the same way. I still have the old girl and guess what? Yeh, nothings changed. Still won't park her unless there is at least half a mile to the next car and won't let her out of my sight when out and about. Recently traded an '86 Turbo (26k miles only!) for a 993. Haven't got the some love feel yet but I'm sure it will arrive soon.

Caveman

Hi CJ,

I'm exactly the same, even with my runaround car (eighteen year old BMW). Golden rules include:
1. Park as far away as possible from the entrance (people are lazy so less cars).
2. Look for corner plots where only one side is exposed though watch out for pathways where idiots with prams, small children may be passing.
2a. Even better find end position where you can park right up to the edge and thus well away from the nest car.
3. Avoid parking anywhere near, or downhill of, shopping trolley areas.
4. Avoid two door cars if possible as the doors open very wide...
5. Don't park under trees that might drop sap on the car or have large birds climbing around them...
6. Avoid new Boxsters as they are probably company cars and the owners won't give a sh*t what they bang into (found this one out to my own expense).
7. Always keep the car highly polished as people take better care around a shiny car as it's obviously cared for.
8. Avoid parking in direct view-line or you won't be able to concentrate (or else sit with your back to the window!).

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

David
<img border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" title="" src="graemlins/drink.gif" />

Steve 96C4S

Man, we are all very alike. I try SO hard to park it as per the earlier post, away from anything, everything, and NOT under a tree(I learned this over time - bird droppings suck!) This isn't easy, as I take it to work alot and there are NO spots away from everything, so it's really a mathematical calculation as to where to park, what time of day the other guy will probably leave opening HIS car door near mine... "Hmmm- is that work truck parked there overnight or not?" If it's a long term parker, I know that's a great place to park next to as I can get close to it knowing he probably won't be opening his door today, giving me more breathing room on the other side next to the car I'm unsure of when it will leave.

I've been very lucky so far with my statistical analysis. I just bought my car 3 weeks ago but had my 88 911 for 5 years and worried about it alot. Luckily, they are very small cars and always have that advantage in that they will be physically further away from other cars because of their size when parked in a packed lot.

You've inspired me to maybe walk the quarter mile or so and park on the other side of the office park where it's pretty much guaranteed not to get another car parking next to me. I never thought of that. It's pretty far, but it may be worth it for peace of mind. It'll be good exercise, too. Plus, there's nothing like seeing your 993 at the end of a hard day, parked off all by itself, better to admire those timeless curves and lines away from the distraction of another car parked next to it. Gosh I hope it stops raining and snowing so I can drive this thing already! As of yesterday, it is ultra zaino'd, leatheriqued, vinylexed, new floor matted, and ready to roll <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" /> .

Steve

jhb

I try to park away from the crowd, but it seems wherever I park, when I come back, I have a car on either side (well, at least on one side), its like a magnet or something. I recieved my first door dent 1 week after I picked up my "new" car. That was a tough one, I wanted to cry. I have not had it removed yet, and I must say, first thing anyone ever notices is that door dent. sigh

J-McDonald

JHB - get paintless dent removal done on that door ASAP - it works!

I also make note to NEVER park next to a car with kid's stuff in it (minivan, SUV or sedan), since kids (and their mothers) throw their car doors open with wild abandon, not even noticing the car in the next spot over.

Atlanta_Kevin

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by Caveman:
<strong>Hi CJ,

I'm exactly the same, even with my runaround car (eighteen year old BMW). Golden rules include:
1. Park as far away as possible from the entrance (people are lazy so less cars).
2. Look for corner plots where only one side is exposed though watch out for pathways where idiots with prams, small children may be passing.
2a. Even better find end position where you can park right up to the edge and thus well away from the nest car.
3. Avoid parking anywhere near, or downhill of, shopping trolley areas.
4. Avoid two door cars if possible as the doors open very wide...
5. Don't park under trees that might drop sap on the car or have large birds climbing around them...
6. Avoid new Boxsters as they are probably company cars and the owners won't give a sh*t what they bang into (found this one out to my own expense).
7. Always keep the car highly polished as people take better care around a shiny car as it's obviously cared for.
8. Avoid parking in direct view-line or you won't be able to concentrate (or else sit with your back to the window!).

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

David
<img border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" title="" src="graemlins/drink.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">This is so funny! My wife thinks I am crazy because I do all these things regardless of which car I am driving. I can't help it! I drive a 2000 Intrepid (American Shi*box) as a daily driver and I still treat it "like a Bentley" as my wife says.

If I ever get a door ding (not often) I bring it right to the paintless dent removal guy, I touch up paint chips, wax it often, and generally treat it like my Porsche, except it doesn't get a garage spot.

jhb

Can anyone recommend a Paintless Dent remover in Boston/Cape area?

ca993twin

I feel that parking at the far end of a lot is really good exercise, as well as a potential ding saver. But the reason I'm posting is to say that I had a paintless dent guy take about 8 really small dents out of my black Cobra, and it works like a charm. My buddy had a golf-ball dent in the hood of his silver M3... right where he had to look at it while driving. The dent guy got 98% of that dent out. This means that you can actually relax a little bit, since there is a pretty easy solution to most dings and small dents. I'm still parking at the far end, but I sleep a little easier.

Mark in Hermosa

How long for Parking Paranoia to end? Hopefully never.

My 95 has 63k miles and not one door ding or scratch (aside from the typical road rash). I am still paranoid of where I park it.

1) End spots on the right of every vehicle. Why? Most cars in LA have one inhabitant. I am reducing my odds by parking as far to the right on an end spot and only exposing the left side to an unlikely passenger.

2) No valet. Never.

3) No Home Depot. Never. That is what the wife's car is for.

Transform the paranoia to caution and you will be fine.

STLPCA

So far, by carefully selecting my parking spots, I've avoided any door dings. However, I have experienced this widely reported phenomenon: regardless of how far away I park from a store entrance & no matter how empty the area in which I park, there's usually a pickup or SUV parked next to me when I return. I've decided the presence of a P car alone on a lot is perceived as some sort of an oasis by others.

GTR 993

I don't care if you park 25 miles away where I live someone will park next to you. I went to Borders the other day to get a book. And I parked in a parking lot nearly sideways where the store wasn't even open. No cars anywhere near it. I buy my book walk out and there is one early 90's Mustang GT parked right next to it with no other cars around.

People with really beat up cars will park right next to you just to P_ _ _ you off. I don't understand it. Everytime something like that happens I think of one of the members sayings "people will forgive you for anything...except success. People can't stand that you drive a Porsche of any make or model even if it's a $6,000 car. Most of the people on here sound about like me. If I am driving my wifes car or my daily driver 99 Explorer I park it where no one can hit it. <img border="0" alt="[icon107]" title="" src="graemlins/icon107.gif" />