To take up two parking spaces?

[Amy214]

Over the past 6 months i have noticed scuff marks (the kind you get when someone has opened their car door too wide and hit my door) today i noticed a dent and massive white scuff on my left passenger door. No note was left behind and because i can't prove when it happened the police aren't doing anything about it (took my details, checked my insurance policy then left) I always make sure i don't park too close to neighbouring cars and when i have dd with me i use parent and child parking. I also always make sure i keep a hand on my door (if the weather is especially windy) so i don't hit anyones car but i am getting so fed up with spending money on repairs and taking my time with t cut to get the scuff marks out. Im on a low income so can't afford to keep spending money on repairs when it could be avoided. I know i will probably come across as a massive idiot but if i find two spaces that are quite some way away from the shop entrance (as no one really parks there or go to the shop when its quiet) then it should be ok? It's very upsetting when you spend money on something nice and then someone damages your property and doesn't even apologise.

[Cashewnutts]

amy even though those parts are cheap to replace and it may be relatively cheap to fix scratches/chips/dents, you aren't going to sell your car for more that you bought it (unless you're really lucky) and you really are just wasting money. Cars depreciate in value over time, whether you keep it dent free or not, you are still losing that money spending out on fixing them all the time.

You say you're on low income yet continuously spend money (cheaply or not) on fixing up each chip and dent. I don't get it.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Well, you say 'why not', but why would you?

If it doesn't affect how the car drives and works and passes its MOT - and if it won't lead to further damage down the line - you don't need to do it. And you definitely don't need things like alloy wheels!

[jamdonut]

Park on an end space or next to a disabled space, that usually gives room, but please don't park over 2 spaces. You may not want your car scratched, but those of us who abide by the rules find it infuriating. It's kind of " What makes you so special?" . Think what would happen if everyone decided to do that!
Last year, I got my first ever brand new car, and so far I've been really lucky that I've had no scratches. My old car was covered in scratches from people who couldn't care less.
My biggest annoyance is someone stole the radio mast from off of my new car ,the other night, parked in the street outside my home, which I did report.

[Farfromtheusual]

I did this in a car park I park in all the time for work. There was a car parked wonky and over the white like so I parked in the next space along, also over the white line and not leaving enough space for someone else to park in the space on my driver's side so I had plenty of space to get out. I got so sick of people parking too close to me that I literally couldn't get in my car. I'm currently 38wks pregnant and on about 4 occasions throughout my pregnancy I have had to get into my back passenger door and climb over as I literally couldn't even open my driver side doors as people had parked so close to me (even though I parked right up against the pillar on my passenger side. There was no was I was even getting in, even if I wasn't pregnant and I'm not particularly big normally. I got a £100 fine, which I refuse to pay anyway.

I left many angry notes on windscreens telling people what massive cunts they were

I don't blame you for doing it if people keep damaging your car but just be careful where you do it as I know a couple of supermarkets that employ a parking company to issue tickets for it. They're not enforceable anyway so you can quite easily no pay like me lol

[Amy214]

Cashewnutts i'm trading my car in for a newer one and i know what dealerships are like. My dad had a small dent on his door and they said it would be a problem and he lost money.
This is the biggest dent i have on my car and i was going to replace it after christmas or closer to the date of me trading it in (which is in 2 years) i've spent around £60 on repairing my car, stone chip repair kits are £5 and i only done it because the car was covered in them (car is bright red so loads of white dots was noticeable) it immediately looked better and like new again. The most expensive thing was the light (it was cracked, not sure if it was my fault)

[EssentialHummus]

I'm otherwise a very reasonable, well-mannered person, but if I come in to a parking lot and see someone doing this anywhere near the main access point - and it's usually an expensive "look at my tiny willy" type car - I park my battered 20 year old Merc thisclose to their driver's side door and enjoy watching them trying to climb in. Away from the store/access point - I wouldn't care.

[Amy214]

LRDtheFeministDragon i don't have alloys i was simply stating what the shop sold. I have normal steel wheels with plastic trims.
I forgot to mention that i had to buy new carpet mats as it didn't come with any but i bought them online and im starting to realise why they were so cheap.

[JaceLancs]

It is very irritating my car is covered in small dings and scuffs n scratches all gained in car parks
I drive a lot for work and have to park in a variety of public car parks sometimes 2-3 different ones s day
The only time I really saw red was when I returned to my car to find a neat pile of trim bumper and 3 different sections of grille next to the drivers door - thankfully it was caught on cctv and I traced the person involved - still had to go through the insurance - police weren't interested even though it was technically a hit and run

[Cashewnutts]

amy sorry, presumed you were hanging onto it for a longer time! The only experience I have trading cars in was my OHs shitty gold bmw which was only worth £300. Says a lot about how we treat our cars

[Cashewnutts]

Pressed post too soon!

However I do understand keeping a nice car looking nice, I'm obsessive over the car we traded in for, particularly not having off road parking on a narrow street

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Ok, look, I get why you're upset. I do.

Yes, sure, if you want good resale value, it's a right pain when annoying things happen.

But the bottom line is, either you cannot afford this car (which looks like new when you pay for fancy repairs most people don't bother with, and which you hope to trade in soon), or you can afford it. If you can afford it, you have to take into account normal scuffs and dings.

Sounds as if you would be better trading it in quick, and buying a cheaper runaround, perhaps?

Of course it's crap if you think this is something out of the ordinary and malicious, but if not, then I doubt parking over two spaces will achieve anything much.

[Amy214]

cashew Its the nicest car i've ever owned so i want to keep it looking 'beautiful'

[QuestionableMouse]

I hate driving a car that's scratched/scuffed. I get where you're coming from there! I have a Zafira and it barely fits in some of the spaces.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es]

Mine is covered in dings, but we always keep our cars for years until they are worth not very much, I've never done any repairs before trading in and it's never been mentioned by dealers, we check against Parkers and the figures are always about right.

We have a local FB Rants page which is full of name and shame pics of bad parking with a lot of nasty comments, I'd rather have dings than be featured on it TBH.

[Amy214]

LRDtheFeministDragon where did i say that i couldn't afford my car? I want to keep my car looking nice not like its been used in the dodgems. The stone chips made it look horrible so i fixed it (took about 20mins) and looked great! I didn't say this person meant it, they may not have realised (police said so themselves) i've had my car for nearly 3 years and have managed quite well so far, i have 2 years to go and i've not quite made my mind up on what i want to do. Fancy repairs?

[Amy214]

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es Those types of pages are terrible and so are the people who take the time to take a photo.
In my experience the dealership said it would be a problem, even if we thought it wasn't too bad.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Im on a low income so can't afford to keep spending money on repairs when it could be avoided.

My understanding was that you were asking us for advice based on the fact you couldn't afford repairs that weren't necessary?

If what you mean is, you want it to look like new - totally your call and fine! I do get it.

If you mean, you want to sell it for a good price, that's your call too.

It's just I can only go off what you say yourself.

[isitginoclock]

I do this all the time. Never in busy car parks and never if I think the car park will get busy whilst I'm there (if I'm arriving at 9am to the shops) ...

[Babyzoo]

I would never take up two spaces. I hate it when people do that, the car park could get busy and someone need the space, plus you could end up with a fine.

Although, I've been there, my last car kept getting hit, loads of marks on the doors, I had a big scratch along the front like a pushchair had been scraped across it.

What colour is your car? Mine was black and I found that marks really showed up.

[Amy214]

LRDtheFeministDragon low income doesn't mean i can't afford the repayments. I monitored my finances before i made the commitment and i have managed very well so far. As i said i only have 2 years left to go and i'm not 100% sure what i want to do yet. I know when my mot/service is due so i can budget to fit that in (also to fit in repairs if needed) i like to look after my car its the only expensive thing i have in my life right now (except from dd) and once i own my own home i will be the exact same.

isitginoclock I have started going shopping once dd is in bed, its much quieter and i don't think people would notice as much.

Babyzoo bright red.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

I had no idea you were on repayments, let alone commenting on it!

All I was trying to say was, if you genuinely are worried about which repairs are unnecessary, then worrying about things like these, is a waste of time.

If you are not struggling for money and are happy spending out on a treat, that's your choice - no one is judging you.

[Amy214]

LRDtheFeministDragon i don't go out on the weekends or do anything like that (not my scene anymore) i don't do a high mileage so my brakes, tyres etc.. Don't need repaired often. I have money put away for unexpected situations. A lot of people i know are on repayments so i sort of expected others to have that kind of plan too sorry.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es]

What difference does being on repayments make? Is that the same as leasing? If so, I guess that will be why it's important, I didn't realise as I've never done that. We tend to keep ours till they are about 9-10 years old therefore not worth much to trade-in, sorry if I misunderstood.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es]

Oh and I agree about those FB posts being nasty. But sometimes the parking shown is far worse than taking up two spaces.