By Jen

AKA SusyBruisy

Since having both my cars painted, I’ve become pretty neurotic about parking them. Nothing triggers my fight response like returning to my spot to find some other jerk’s car crammed up against mine, especially when I’ve gone out of my way to park far away from everyone else. Sean’s blog on vigilante ticketing really spoke to me--I’ve terrorized my neighbors with angry notes and highway cones, and I once even pushed a car with my Eagle over several feet of gravel after warning the owner repeatedly to quit parking right up in my face (she didn’t, after that). While I’m not too proud of my short fuse and I’d certainly never damage someone’s car in anger, protecting your own ride’s finish from other people’s idiocy can be an uphill battle--it seems that nothing short of making them think you’re a raging psychopath seems to get the message across. That’s why it was refreshing to find Parking By Design, a site on parking “strategy” that turns the question of where to leave your ride into a precise science. The author offers a scoring system for parking spots and lectures methodically on how to make the most of nearly any space, applying a philosophy of “risk management” to the parking jungle. While some of the advice is a little Captain Obvious, there are some great tips and photos, many supplied by the site’s readers. Mostly, it’s just reassuring that someone can be so calm and constructive on a subject that never fails to make my blood boil.

Comments

Jas
Jul 9, 2007 12:52:06 PM

Nice stratagies,but what i like is parking in a area where no other car is in sight,that way i can keep the Candy apple red on my honda looking fresh,lol.

Heidi
Jul 8, 2007 11:02:06 PM

i dunno how fail safe it is to park next to other "nice vehicles." i've seen many rich snobs who might have a $100k car, but sure the hell don't care if they ding up your car or theirs. i know more people with metros that park nicer than luxury car owners.

nor do other car enthusiasts make your car any safer. i've had more crap happen to my car at a car shows than happens in walmart parking lot. other participants opening doors into my car, etc.

Jul 8, 2007 10:35:38 PM

AUTHOR:
EMAIL:
IP: 69.79.6.242
URL:
DATE: 07/08/2007 10:35:38 PM

jus chill company
Jul 8, 2007 6:02:10 PM

another trick is to park by light posts because thats one less person to hit u. and dont park near cart things or carts that r just chillin cause i have seen carts blow across lots before

Karl
Jul 8, 2007 3:40:41 AM

i love this!!! i just put a rediculously nice paint job on my accord....taking up 2 or 3 spaces works...if you have the space butttt that can piss people off if there is a lack of space...word...my technique is to park beside really nice cars because i KNOW they are thinking the same thing i am...so they are just as cautious!!!

David
Jul 7, 2007 8:59:26 PM

Glad you posted that I just painted my formula white and i'm finishing that up and my firebird is about to get striped again and painted (door dings scratchs and the paint looks horrible now)

peter
Jul 7, 2007 4:17:48 PM

that`s realy irritating,have a workfellow who insist park close to my ride, and he is slobby with his wheels. best to park too a 4 dorrslammer,they have shorter doors swe_petta@hotmail.com

Carl
Jul 7, 2007 9:18:43 AM

Put an NRA sticker in your window....hehe.....

I always park in the back of the lot....

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2414498

Come check me out

Take care all!!!!!!

Trav
Jul 7, 2007 8:38:43 AM

I think the thing about parking that gets me the most is sure I want to park closest to the enterance somewhere but I don't and park way off by myself somewhere and when I come out I have a couple of beat to hell woodgrained soccer mom vans with a mother of 7 who let herself go after maybe kid #2 parks a foot away from me and you know there's no way in hell she shoehorned her big @ss out of that van with all the disrespectful ankle biters in tow without hitting my car at least once or dragging the suitcase she calls a purse down the side of my car and there was still 50 spots between my car and the rest of the lot closer she could have parked. As soon as I see some obvious new damage in a lot I'm caving in the door of the car that did it, I'm tired of stupid people.

Kristopher
Jul 7, 2007 12:42:07 AM

A few people have said, "what's wrong with taking up 2, 3 or 4 spaces if there's a lot of open room?" Well, nothing.. other than it exudes an air of pretension which makes some people WANT to do something to your car. I park in the rear of the lots also, but I only ever use one spot. I try to keep from doing anything that would draw someone's indignation toward my car.

gary
Jul 6, 2007 7:36:09 PM

why would or is it to be illegal to take up 3 4 5 spaces to park ur vehicle say theres 300 parking spots and only 85 are takeing and u dont wanna park close so take up the 3 4 5 spaces

gary
Jul 6, 2007 7:33:05 PM

well heres my saying WARNING if you value your life as much
as i value my this truck DONT MESS WITH IT

Alex
Jul 6, 2007 5:16:05 PM

Me and my dad are the same way. his truck aint custom painted but when we go places we park far away from every one. It pisses us off is there is a piece of shit car parked becide us. He carrys a hammer in his truck if there is a scratch or dent.

chris
Jul 6, 2007 9:34:25 AM

I get more exercise hoofing it across large parking lots than at the gym. most people wouldn't notice a small ding or scratch on their car( or really care), so you think they give a rats ass if yours gets it.

Heidi
Jul 5, 2007 11:44:02 PM

Awesome site! Turns out I don't think about how I park nearly as much as I should! Luckily I have an awesome spot at my apartment that is an end spot that is massively wide, so I can tuck my little Sentra into furthest corner and not have to worry about my neighbors even getting close to my car. I'll have to bookmark that website!

Calichevylover
Jul 5, 2007 6:05:47 PM

SWEET model cars lol

Auto
Jul 5, 2007 5:30:19 PM

Parking by Design is the best site, that was defiantly worth a click!!

Kmbr
Jul 5, 2007 4:32:26 PM

Too bad I was in a "Great Space" when my first Camel (the '93 Loyale) was kicked. :o/

Jul 5, 2007 4:13:17 PM

I try to park next to cars nicer than mine, since I feel they have more to lose.

charlie
Jul 5, 2007 4:05:47 PM

i had a dream once that someone hit my truck and then took off....i gave cjase and when i got close i rammed them...thats either the cop blood in me or me watching too much nascar...lol

Brian
Jul 5, 2007 3:38:15 PM

Myself if I go to a Mall,shopping Center or a store like Wal-Mart etc. I park way out in the Back 40,and then park right in the middle of 4 spaces.I may have to walk a way to the store entrance but haven't had any mishaps this way.Yea I know taking up 4 spaces is illegal,but when there isn't a car parked within 300 ft. or so from me..what's wrong with taking up 4 spaces.