How many of you have dented your cars?

Post by **Sidney'61** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:50 pm

les wrote:
even if it just the supermarket car park reversing between the cars.
That seems to be where most people practice parking, judging by the dents you pick up there!! Anyone trying this, let me know where!

More than bad parking I think the dents usually come from people parking nicely then carelessly opening their doors too far...

Post by **Matt** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:59 pm

Ive got a nice scrape on my drivers side front wing where I clipped a wall when I was reversing

Post by **captain_70s** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:27 am

More than bad parking I think the dents usually come from people parking nicely then carelessly opening their doors too far...

Indeed, once I was wating in the car in a supermarket car park when a 4x4 pulled up next to our Citroen C5, the guy inside opened the door so hard in to the side of our car it rocked.
If that wasn't bad enough less than 2 mins later another 4x4 pulled up at the other side and did the exact same, this time a woman, its amazing how little consideration these people have for other folks cars.

I wouldn't suggest practicing parking in a place full of parked cars either, at least bashing your garage is only damaging your stuff rather than other people's cars, that could cause utter chaos!

The idea with the cones is a good one, depends on if the police turn up and ask why your are parking in a cone garage in a public car park and where the cones were "borrowed" from though!

The rozzers have it in for motorists now it seems.

Post by **Blaketon** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 8:09 am

captain_70s wrote: Indeed, once I was wating in the car in a supermarket car park when a 4x4 pulled up next to our Citroen C5, the guy inside opened the door so hard in to the side of our car it rocked.
If that wasn't bad enough less than 2 mins later another 4x4 pulled up at the other side and did the exact same, this time a woman, its amazing how little consideration these people have for other folks cars.

Yet if someone does it to them, it's another matter. What they need, when they do that, is their door kicked firmly shut. I am fortunate that I don't really have to use the car for shopping and when I do, I try to go when it's quieter and pick the less popular part of the car park...the one where you have to walk a bit further.

Post by **Peetee** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 9:07 am

the guy inside opened the door so hard in to the side of our car it rocked.

Tempting as it is to confront or retaliate you have to remember these are ignorant or socially challenged 'people' and anything you say would be wasted or result in pain. I would imagine that leaving a note and pushing 4 tyre valves down untill the hissing stops would be a suitable, jovial and spiritually uplifting response.

Post by **Blaketon** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 9:51 am

Very true but so long as the pain is theirs, that's OK

. Some of these sub culture types can be very churlish and brave when they have numerical superiority or some kind of weapon.

That said, a customer, who was a traffic policeman said that some of the worst people to deal with are some of the "Professional/executive" types. I think he meant those who are used to others treating them with reverence because of their position and who seem to infer that they are somehow devine. One such man was stopped for quite a minor motoring offence (Just for a friendly warning) and he became aggressive and profane (His wife and children were in the car). After repeated warnings, he was arrested on a public order charge

.

Post by **Peetee** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 10:58 am

some of the worst people to deal with are some of the "Professional/executive" types

20 odd years ago when I worked in a petrol station we used to call these the 'Barclaycard customers'. totally inappropriate now, but then cards were rarer and that one seemed to attract a particular type of lofty customer. Invariably the plastic was thrown accross the counter at you and the owner wouldn't give you the time of day.

Access customers on the other hand.......much nicer. Where are they now?

It becomes very difficult not to stereotype drivers when you've been in that sort of job.

Post by **alex_holden** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 11:49 am

rayofleamington wrote:Thinking about it... Last year Alex Holden managed to reverse into the doorframe of my garage
He didn't dent the wing though as he got it so far out, it bumped near the over-rider!

I'd completely forgotten about that!

In fairness it had been a very long day.

More recently I've scratched the wing against a drain pipe.

And he'd had the cheek to micky-take WibblePuppy for reversing... into a ditch!

No, that was Chris. Wibble drove her into a parking bollard. Then I got in and repositioned the car to show her how it was done... and drove into the exact same bollard!!

Post by **dalebrignall** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 12:55 pm

thats good alex,the easiest way to back a trailet is to look at the trailer and point it where you want it to go with the car.it does get easy with practice.if you want some real fun try reversing a 4 wheel trailer whete the front wheels are on a turn table.

Post by **Geraldine** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 1:04 pm

Glad I'm not the only one to have a scrape!
Wing looks a lot better now, hubby brought home a panel beating mallet from work and it's now back in shape, just a bit bumpy. A coat of paint will work wonders, now it matches the lesser scrape on the other wing

The annoying thing is that one of the things which made us buy Geraldine was her immaculate paintwork, have done my best to ruin it ever since I've had her

Post by **ani** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:53 pm

Well at least we will all know you're using it!!

Post by **stephenpolhill** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 9:08 pm

I have a ding in my front wing, and a scrape on the other side. It wasn't me, I think it was the older lady who owned it before me. This was in the 80's though, what with it being in the garage since then

Post by **Roni** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 2:00 am

Life is a bit easier here, NZ, as our garages are generally quite a bit wider than yours. It still doesn't stop dents though - timber leaning on wall beside car + strong gust of wind = dent.

Post by **pfgiz** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 7:58 am

When I rebuilt my Saloon I fitted new wings, within a year I'd been bumped by two cars of different colours without any notes being left. I'm glad she's now parked off road and under cover.

When I started driving I was forever bumping her. My dad's gatepost still has the paint marks to prove it.

Post by **Squiggle** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 12:43 pm

pfgiz wrote:When I rebuilt my Saloon I fitted new wings, within a year I'd been bumped by two cars of different colours without any notes being left. I'm glad she's now parked off road and under cover.

When I started driving I was forever bumping her. My dad's gatepost still has the paint marks to prove it.

A rear wing received a large crunch in a car park. No way the driver could have not known he'd hit my car. I was so shocked not to get a note. Call me naive [no please don't] but I'd always leave a note......old fashioned me....

I pulled over to let some cars pass [as you do], misjudged the distance of a small wall and crunched my front bumper. That horrible moment when you can't move for knowing you are doing more damage.

Post by **Pyoor_Kate** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 1:24 pm

My old golf's handbrake wasn't great and I did once find the car resting against the car behind. Thankfully there was no damage, but I was more careful about hill parking after that.

...And twice now, since moving the bikes and cars around the drive I've nudged the footpegs on the bike with the front numberplate of the DAF. It's 'cos I need to park within a few inches to get the car onto the drive with the bikes where they are, so I keep going and going...and going...and then...

Thankfully they've not fallen over yet.

Post by **ani** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 11:17 pm

Some years ago during my lunch hour I decided to pop out to the local petrol station to fill up and get some lunch. Filled up and then spent far too much time trying to decide what sandwich to get. After my leisurely browse I paid the cashier and went outside. Horrified - my car had gone

You read stories about stupid people leaving their keys in the ignition - well yes I did that. As I turned to go back into the garage in a mild panic I caught sight of a red car ............................ yep it was mine - it had rolled down the forecourt and embedded itself into a very nice shiny new car which just happened to belong to the garage owner

I don't ever leave my car now without checking the handbreak

Very strange but rather nice outcome - no damage to speak of to my car and the Insurance Company deemed it to be the other person's fault. Work that one out