I am very **** about this subject. I have a few pointers for those concerned about parking.

Parking far away can backfire and make your car stand out taunting someone to vandalize. Instead, find an end spot preferrably next to a curb or landscaping and park as far over as you can to give the next car over room to open their door fully. Look for angled spots. They tend to offset your car enough not to get dings. If spots are wide enough, park next to nicer cars. There is no need to park away from other cars if you are in a spot that is wide enough. But anything can happen. You can park further away during daytime hours where people are conducting business, not partying on a Friday night.

Another good thing is if you frequent a certain shopping center, restaurant, etc., look for familiar cars such as employees. They tend to group their cars together in the back and most likely will not exit the premises until closing, so you car is protected and blends in with other cars. This works great at places like Home Depot and Walmart. I often notice the same cars in lots and know they must work there.

Avoid high risk places like high schools, concerts, tailgate parties, sporting events, bars, spring break locations, movie theaters. These places just ask for trouble.

If going to a mall, park near anchor department stores such as Dillards, macy's, Nordstroms, etc. Most punk kids will park near main mall entrances and food courts whereas soccer moms will park at fancy department stores and go in those entrances.

Avoid shopping on windy days where carts can fly across the lots and crash into your car. When grocery shopping, park near the cart corrals. People tend to return the carts there if they are close by and will not leave them by your car.

Also avoid parking next to big pickups and SUVs no matter where you park. Also don't make enemies and don't drive like a jerk pulling into a location. If you **** someone off who was driving behind you, etc., they may want to do something. And never fight over a parking spot. Let it go and find another.

 

word!

 

i agree, haha. neway, ya it's crazy how stupid people can be when they see a beautiful car sitting in the same lot as their ricemobile grr, the things we have to deal wit for havin evos

 

I agree Sin and those are great pointers.

The Ruby Tuesdays here is right next to Macy's, unfortunately. It wasn't far off in the boonies that it would attract an abnormal amount of attention, but just far enough to stay away from everything. I refuse to go back to that mall in my baby.

As for shopping carts: I work at the local Home Depot. I see the damage that carts can do to cars just from wind and people carelessly placing them around. I also refuse to bring my car anywhere near where any carts would be. That's just asking for trouble.

I'll have those pics up later so you guys can tell me what you think. Hell, maybe even give me a ballpark figure of the amount of damage

Also, should I put the insurance claim in now or after I get the report from the po pos?

 

I will park close if the spot is the last one on the end of a row. Some one pushed a shopping cart into my rear corner panel to the tune of $375. Some of the auto parts stores now sell this kit that has a primer for filling some of the deeper scratches. You fill the scratch, wipe off the excess and let it dry before doing the pain/clear coat. It works pretty good but takes a lot of time..............

 

I don't think they send you a police report. You simply call you ins. and they'll ask you if there is a report filed. All you have to say is "Yes" and they know how to find it.

I agree with not driving like an ***. People might see your car another day, and say, "that's the dule that was cutting me off going 120mph" and because he FEELS you could have endangered him and his car full of friends, you should expect damage to your car. Also, I don't want someone to say, "I saw an Evo 8 today, the dude was an ***" Just some stuff I've been trying to live by...

 

Yeah, but to most people, when they see an Evo, they assume it's aftermarket parts and a body kit and don't know they come from the factory that way. It could be another silver Evo that cut them off and they assume it was you because you have the same wing, wheels, etc. Just be careful and drive like an *** when no one's around.

 

thats sucks dude! I never use my evo when I go out for dinner, work, mall, etc. Only use it when cruising or park it where I can see it very close by.
Its good to have a 2nd car. My evo is more of a weekend car. IM VERY PARANOID TOO. afraid of door dings & vandals.

My uncle use to tell me "DONT BE A SLAVE TO YOUR CAR"

 

Yep, it sucks that we have to be so paranoid about our cars. I'm really **** about door dings, especially since my car is black. I'm lucky I have a second car to drive around to crowded areas. It definitely takes a lot of stress out of my life and my gf's.

 

jk addict is correct about the police report. Hopefully the officer gave you a case# (or you can call & get it from police records dept). You can go ahead & just turn in the claim to your insurance agent, I assume it'll be covered under comprehensive. To add to tips on parking, I also look for stalls next to handicapped spaces. They are rarely used, nearly 20' wide & close enough to front door I can keep an eye on car. Just wish there was some way to catch the guy who did it. Feel sorry for ya bro.

 

wow SIN.. that's pretty damn good info..
I get the same crap from my friends and wife when i park far away too. Tough S, next time we'll take you're honda and park next to the handie's if you want! (we'll also get passed by the senior citizens bus on the way there)

Really sorry to hear that deceit. I know the monmouth mall pretty well... you've helped me confirm to NEVER park at a mall. Good luck and post how things worked out.

And to the f'er that did this?... may you rot in hell you chicken s...

 

If you park your car infront of a resturant, where other cars are, where people are commonly going in and out of resturant, odds are it wont get keyed, as theres to much comootion, possibility of witness, so theyll be afraid to do it, if its near entrance of resturant. Way in back, in an empty parking lot ,where no ones looking, is the perfect setting to quickly key a car.

 

there is some truth to this.. but then you are at higher risk of door dings from careless people opening their doors. I think i fear that more actually...

.. its a compromise whatever you end up doing. Luck plays a huge roll. you can only control a certain number of variables.. there will always be some out of our control... I had a friend who had a light lense from a parking lot light fall on his car one time. He was not a lucky friend.

 

You know, no matter where I park, I come out and cars are parked next to me. It's like a magnet. I'll park like 6 spaces away from someone and when I come out, cars are nowhere else except on both sides of my car!!! My wife and I laugh about it because it ALWAYS happens. I've pretty much gotten over the **** phase of having the car... I drive it pretty hard out in the countryside so I've got a lot of chips and dings. Fortunately, on silver it's only apparent if you're up close.

 

Has anybody who has had their car keyed or otherwise abused considered setting somebody up?

If there is a place that this has happened often, maybe a few guys could get together and watch over an EVO (from a hidden area) in one of these places then try and catch them in the act.

If this unsuspecting person got the crap beat out of them and then this made it into the news, maybe people would think twice about keying somebody's car!

We could leave the guy tied up with a big note on him that says "I got caught trying to key somebody's car."