Seriously????
CF Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,313
Likes: 25
From: Tucson Arizona
I have mixed feelings on the subject. On one hand I well understand how you feel or I might feel in a similar circumstance. On the other hand I realize the other guy has the right to park wherever he wants...even in the spot next to you. Just because its a Corvette (or my or your Corvette) doesn't mean its more 'special' than his 62 Ford pickup (or whatever). It might not alleviate the anxiety but unless the other guy dinged your car there really isn't anything to be upset about. Now, keep repeating that....
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I rarely go out of my way and inconvience myself by parking farther away from my destination than necessary. As much as I enjoy my Vette, I refuse to get stressed over the possibility of damage to something that can be replaced or repaired. Life is too short to spend time being overprotective of a car.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 11,367
Likes: 211
From: Edgewood Washington
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
The OP has merely had an encounter with "the common clay of the New West, you know....morons...."
Many people are really just Lemmings, and they are used to being in line following somebody at all times. Your car just represents the front of the line and they are falling in behind you.
Searching for that really 'safe' parking spot is a worthy endeavor and one of the challenges of Corvette ownership.
My parking space at work, for example.
Many people are really just Lemmings, and they are used to being in line following somebody at all times. Your car just represents the front of the line and they are falling in behind you.
Searching for that really 'safe' parking spot is a worthy endeavor and one of the challenges of Corvette ownership.
My parking space at work, for example.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
I double park everywhere i go and if not I snap a pic on my droid of the car and plate numbers that are next to me. My last car was a Mercedes CLK55 AMG and it was perfect till some jack@ss decided to wack my rear quarter panel. 
Supporting Lifetime
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,273
Likes: 1,516
From: Syracuse NY
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Parking is always a crap shoot. As long as we elect to drive our Corvettes on public roads and park in public parking lots, we have to accept the slings and arrows of the Great Unwashed. So, you try to pick your own parking space carefully to provide yourself what safety you can, and the rest is in God's hands.
Fortunately, He drives a ZR1 and understands our dilemma. Hell is full of door- dingers.
Fortunately, He drives a ZR1 and understands our dilemma. Hell is full of door- dingers.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,753
Likes: 210
From: North Western Connecticut
As a person who also likes to park away from others, I find that people choose to park right next to me when there are many, many spots available. I have my developed my own theory on this. Here is it:
People like the feeling of being next to someone because it makes them feel "anchored" instead of floating all alone with unoccupied spaces next to them. Also, they feel it is more orderly than cars "scattered" with empty spaces in between.
People like the feeling of being next to someone because it makes them feel "anchored" instead of floating all alone with unoccupied spaces next to them. Also, they feel it is more orderly than cars "scattered" with empty spaces in between.
The Lemming principal as applied to cars!! 
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Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: San Antonio TX
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,412
Likes: 1,295
From: Bluffton, SC
We sure are reading an awful lot into the probably innocent actions of others. I don't believe most people really think about where they park in a lot other than to find the most convenient spot. In a mostly empty lot, some like to park with other cars and some like to park away from other cars. In the majority of cases, that's all there is to it.
In this case, there was no vandalism and not a single mark on the Vette. That means this was unlikely to have been anything more than a truck parking next to another car; a car which happened to be a Corvette. The truck owner didn't slam his door into the Vette, or in any way block it in. He just parked next to it.
Yes, I prefer to have my car parked away from other cars and do get annoyed when someone needlessly parks really close to me. I don't, however, take it as a personal attack. As long as the other driver is careful and doesn't hurt my car, I'm fine with it. On the other hand, I've watched as slobs piled out of vehicles ... usually clunker SUV' s... and whipped the doors open smashing into anything unfortunate enough to be parked nearby. But that's another story ....
In this case, there was no vandalism and not a single mark on the Vette. That means this was unlikely to have been anything more than a truck parking next to another car; a car which happened to be a Corvette. The truck owner didn't slam his door into the Vette, or in any way block it in. He just parked next to it.
Yes, I prefer to have my car parked away from other cars and do get annoyed when someone needlessly parks really close to me. I don't, however, take it as a personal attack. As long as the other driver is careful and doesn't hurt my car, I'm fine with it. On the other hand, I've watched as slobs piled out of vehicles ... usually clunker SUV' s... and whipped the doors open smashing into anything unfortunate enough to be parked nearby. But that's another story ....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,285
Likes: 14
From: Iowa
The truth is that there is one hell of a sense of entitlement here that OP and others have a right to expect their cars to survive the real world any better than anyone else's car. I've had a number of nice cars that I have parked away from the "crowd" and have suffered plenty of dings anyway. Sadly, it is the price we pay for driving with everyone else.
I suggest that if you want to protect your car, don't park it anywhere that it can be harmed...or leave it at home in your "museum"...or you can get some of these:
I suggest that if you want to protect your car, don't park it anywhere that it can be harmed...or leave it at home in your "museum"...or you can get some of these:
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 11,216
Likes: 178
From: Pensacola Florida GO GATORS!!! www.rlsebring.com www.c6c7vette.com
St. Jude Donor '17
Can I get those in VY?
The truth is that there is one hell of a sense of entitlement here that OP and others have a right to expect their cars to survive the real world any better than anyone else's car. I've had a number of nice cars that I have parked away from the "crowd" and have suffered plenty of dings anyway. Sadly, it is the price we pay for driving with everyone else.
I suggest that if you want to protect your car, don't park it anywhere that it can be harmed...or leave it at home in your "museum"...or you can get some of these:
I suggest that if you want to protect your car, don't park it anywhere that it can be harmed...or leave it at home in your "museum"...or you can get some of these:
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 462
From: Southern Utah
Most people park in the closest spot to the door....whether there is a Corvette next door or not. In hot places, people will look for a shady spot, even if there is a Corvette in the next spot. It always amazes me when I pull into a parking lot along with another car, then I park mine away by itself, then as I walk into the store, I see that the car I drove in with is still driving around in circles looking for a closer spot. People are funny...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,040
Likes: 416
From: hardyston new jersey
St. Jude Donor '09-'25
I rarely go out of my way and inconvience myself by parking farther away from my destination than necessary. As much as I enjoy my Vette, I refuse to get stressed over the possibility of damage to something that can be replaced or repaired. Life is too short to spend time being overprotective of a car.
But is does seem that no matter where you park, another car is going to park next to you, even if the lot is empty.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 599
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles California
The OP has merely had an encounter with "the common clay of the New West, you know....morons...."
Many people are really just Lemmings, and they are used to being in line following somebody at all times. Your car just represents the front of the line and they are falling in behind you.
Searching for that really 'safe' parking spot is a worthy endeavor and one of the challenges of Corvette ownership.
My parking space at work, for example.
Many people are really just Lemmings, and they are used to being in line following somebody at all times. Your car just represents the front of the line and they are falling in behind you.
Searching for that really 'safe' parking spot is a worthy endeavor and one of the challenges of Corvette ownership.
My parking space at work, for example.
