Public Parking

[VchrisW]

So I got my Roc yesterday and needless to say I am very very pleased with it. Only thing I'm finding is that I have become very paranoid about parking, on public roads car parks etc. I'm worried about other drivers scraping and scratching and wondered if anyone has any tips or tricks on how to avoid your car being damaged whilst you are not around. I supermarkets at the moment I'm just choosing to use two bays, but thinking people may get pissy with me over this?! Any handy tips to put my mind at ease would be great!

[Actus Reus]

Use the family parking bays at the supermarket. If you don't have a family buy a cheap child seat and a life size doll. Nobody will dare scratch your car as they'll be too scared of you to say anything

[trix]

I supermarkets at the moment I'm just choosing to use two bays, but thinking people may get pissy with me over this?!

yes they will & then you are probably more likely to get it scratched, sadly thats the way society seems to have gone/is going imo.
the main thing you can do in public car parks such as this is park as far away from everyone else as possible, think of the extra exercise you will get when you combine the steps, or park next to cars that look well looked after (no dints, dents, scrapes) as they are likely to be owned by people who will watch where their door goes when they open it etc.

alternatively borrow a small child for every trip & then you can park in the parent/child parking (don't do it with out one though)

S

[robmx]

If the ends of the aisles are protected making sure nobody can cut the corner and scuff your bumpers, always park in those as you only have a car on one side to worry about.

You can also park next to 5dr cars as they have a smaller door span.

[bleedsoff]

Could try this. I don't know the reputation of it so am not promoting it but I have been thinking of getting it.

http://www.car2cover.co.uk/SMART-Insurance" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Anyone know where to get alloy wheel insurance?

[VchrisW]

Thanks guys some good suggestions, I'm hoping I will become a bit more relaxed about it given time but at the moment, it's like a family member to me and I would be pretty angry if I saw someone not showing it respect.

I'm liking the parent/child parking option, I don't have a family yet, but I could quite easily put a sign on the back of the car and get a cheapo car seat!!

Another option is get a doctor on call badge made up I guess and just park right outside anywhere I go...think that may be taking it a little too far though!!

[Gilez]

I have exactly that same issue - it make my misssus get very annoyed with me at times, as I will drive around a car-park for ages before deciding where to park.

For me, I park in an end spot in a car-park, thus limiting potential damage by people opening their doors to the one side only, and park as close to the side of the spot as possible. If in a mult-storey , I park in a space where there is a column between spaces, which hopefully gives you a few more cm's between you and the next car. I also park far away from everyone else to reduce the likelyhood of someone parking next to me.

If the carpark if fullish, I too park next to someone who has a new or well looked after car.

I also avoid parking next to people carriers, vans, any commercial vehivles and cars with child seats in.

As you can tell, I have thought about this (perhaps) too often

[VchrisW]

I've only had it a day Gilez and it's already stressing me out! Glad I'm not the only one though! Someone should start a website called "Park my car safely" which you can login to and use private spaces across the UK from people that also use the service, you could get paid everytime someone uses yours and then pay when you use others?!?! Would need a lot of locations though and probably quite unviable!

[mrbojangles]

It will be something on my mind once I take delivery, but I keep trying to remind myself I bought the car to enjoy it, not cause me stress.
I think as long as basic precautions are taken as mentioned above, then the rest is down to chance.
There is always the possibility of some idiot opening their doors without cheeking, kids brushing past etc.

For me it will be park properly in a bay that has reasonable room either side (so, avoiding 4x4's etc), is not next to a banger and is not at the end of an aisle (or where people walk past the most).

Also, always fold mirrors in

[bleedsoff]

Also, always fold mirrors in

Hence got me some electric folding one

[Searchin4aRoc]

I parked at the far end of an almost empty Burger King carpark in Coleraine last night.

Safest spot in the place!!

As I sat down to eat, I looked out the window to see a dirty (white!) transit van swing round the carpark, and reverse into the space immediately beside mine.

There were rows of empty spaces in the car park ... why on earth did he insist on parking immediately beside me?!

Lesson: you cannot be too careful - idiots are always on the loose!

[caprinolaw]

Could try this. I don't know the reputation of it so am not promoting it but I have been thinking of getting it.

http://www.car2cover.co.uk/SMART-Insurance" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Anyone know where to get alloy wheel insurance?

I have to say this looks great!

I have my car on PCP, and considering they will charge you and arm and a leg if the car is returned in an unsatisfactory condition this would be ideal.

I am just about to return my Golf (prior to getting my Roc) and i have just spent £450 on having the alloys retfurbished, scratches buffed out, all dents and dings removed (and a large piece of front bumper someone scratched).

[Gilez]

I parked at the far end of an almost empty Burger King carpark in Coleraine last night.

Safest spot in the place!!

As I sat down to eat, I looked out the window to see a dirty (white!) transit van swing round the carpark, and reverse into the space immediately beside mine.

There were rows of empty spaces in the car park ... why on earth did he insist on parking immediately beside me?!

Lesson: you cannot be too careful - idiots are always on the loose!

Or he knew you wouldn't bang the side of his van with your door

[Searchin4aRoc]

Or he knew you wouldn't bang the side of his van with your door

There's always a silver lining in every cloud

[Lovepug13]

Dont visit the supermarket......shop online for food to limit the opportunity of supermarket damage. lol

[stuaz]

I always find that if you park alone, someone will always come and park next to you.

I think it's all down to the fact that some people can't park unless they have a reference point of a solid object (not the white lines). What worries me is that they are using my car as that reference point....................... *crash*

[bleedsoff]

Could try this. I don't know the reputation of it so am not promoting it but I have been thinking of getting it.

http://www.car2cover.co.uk/SMART-Insurance" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Anyone know where to get alloy wheel insurance?

I have to say this looks great!

I have my car on PCP, and considering they will charge you and arm and a leg if the car is returned in an unsatisfactory condition this would be ideal.

I am just about to return my Golf (prior to getting my Roc) and i have just spent £450 on having the alloys retfurbished, scratches buffed out, all dents and dings removed (and a large piece of front bumper someone scratched).

There are limitations on that insurance the dent/scratch can only be a certain size. Read it all before you buy. But as you say good be good value. I need to look at it in more detail.

[coldel]

I was super careful with parking, and always paid so much attention always parking on ends etc. Then the other day my car was parked on a side street and when I returned it had been inexplicabley smashed into and green paint left on my shiny black roc. Really, there is nothing you can do about it, luckily a company called Revive came over and in 2 hours did a completely perfect repair job.

[Searchin4aRoc]

Ultra annoying!

[Tolkan]

Im exactly the same.. I remember I used to take note of the 2 cars I'd park next to just incase! :L License plate.. everything