I also park away from the crowd, and if the parking is limited try to park real close next to the curb on the end. Mine isn't a DD either and if I know it's going to be parked for several hours I usually take the truck. I take the vette when I know the majority of my time will be driving it.

 

All my C5s are treated like any other car. I try to find the closest spot to the door of where ever I'm going and never worry about what could happen. If something does, I have insurance. In 5 years of doing this I have had one door ding bad enough to consider reparing. Remember, in the same lot there are SUVs and other cars that cost a lot more than our Vettes. Worst thing you can do it attract attention to it, IMO.

 

I seldom leave mine out of sight. On those very rare ocassions when I park at a store, it's so far out you'd have to pack a lunch to walk to it.

 

I am fortunate to live in a region where most people respect others' property. There are still places where I park farther away than the normal, but I don't really worry about damages that much. I might worry more in the summer, though, with this being a tourist area. Visitors have been known to vandalize local property just because they could.

And, as has been mentioned earlier, there are more enticing vehicles to a thief than our beloved Vettes. They steal what the black market supports. And, right now, that's SUVs, exotics, and the latest "blinged-out" vehicle making the music video rounds.

 

Well, I usually try to find an end spot. But, I don't stress myself too much about it, nor, should you. Hence, just practice good sense when looking for an ample, but, safe spot, or, public parking lot to park in. Enjoy.

 

God how i can relate - i had a 2001 mustang gt vert and i bought it used. I parked it outside my fraternity one night on the last spot and some ******* from the frat next door must have done a left hand turn too sharp and my new to me mustang had a huge scratch down the driver side...

Then when i returned to London i bought a mazda miata, had it for 4 days, went to NYC for a week, came back and it had a 8 inch scratch on the passenger rear wheel fender. No notes were left either time

 

There are a couple of ways to go on this: You can garage/cover the car 99% of the time, never let it out of your sight, cover the front with "saran wrap" when you take it anywhere, agonize over whether or not there is the slightest chance of rain when thinking of driving it, put it up on blocks for fall,winter and spring, put seat covers on, and etc, etc, etc. Or, as seems to make much more sense to me, you can drive it anytime you feel like it, wash it when it gets dirty, drive it to work when it is not pouring or snowing, and be reasonably careful where you park (end of row, near populated areas, away from drunks & loiterers), or in other words, enjoy it. Parking across two or three spaces or way off in the corner of the lot will only encourage the idiots, so don't do it. A C4-C5-C6 with thermoplastic panels will take most minor door hits and the like with no paint damage, and if something worse happens, get it fixed or replaced. As much as I enjoy (and sometimes worry about) my C5, it is really- only a car. PS: carry a 40 cal in case you catch one of those key guys in the act!

 

Right on.

 

Mine is my daily driver and I have not yet had any problems. Owned it about 6 months now.

 

I like to use the technique I call "defensive parking", which is basically what others have already mentioned: Park on the end of a row, or in the widest stall - (they are NOT all the same size!). Also, I try to park on the "fringe", or outer tier of occupied spaces rather than way out in a "display" spot which can draw the wrong kind of attention. I have used this sytem with my 97 pickup since it was new and have absolutely NO dings on it. I've only had the C5 for a month, but I'm confident this system will work with it too.

A related observation: While at supper tonight, window seat, I was looking out as two neanderthals pulled up to the curb in a 4 door beater. The passenger door flies open unrestrained, BANG!!, bounced off a no parking sign post so hard that it nearly went all the way back shut again! She clambored out and slammed the door without so much as even looking at it or acknowledging anything out of the ordinary had even happened. Come to think of it, it probably wasn't out of the ordinary!!!! But my point is, had that been another car - yours or mine- she most likely wouldn't have reacted any differently. She had no ill feelings toward the post, she was just oblivious to the fact that ANY obstacle was even there. So if you feel the need to park as close to the door as possible, you're gonna have that..... I personally don't want either of my vehicles to serve as someone's doorstop !!

 

couldn't have put it better

 

Same here....

 

I keep it to a minimum, then as far away from the crowd as I can, and never sideways. What I NEVER do and warned the wife never to do, is park it anywhere a shopping cart could roll into it.

 

I agree with many of the previous posts... It really depends on the parking lot, area your in and other related issues...Motel, store, theatre, etc... I try NOT to draw attention but yet give her the room she needs to be left alone... Or don't drive it...

Don't park where several people will be walking past casually either...ie: spots by the elevator doors in parking garages... too many idiots that don't pay attention and rub up against your car with coats, purses, zippers from open coats, etc...

As for the Mustard and condoms... I always used Mayonaise or Butter!! I guess I'll have to try Mustard and see how that works.. good advice!!

 

Life is to short to stress over things like this. Of course I would be upset if something were to happen to my car. But I am not going to let that keep me from driving it every chance I get.