Rant
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 783
Likes: 224
From: Chilliwack BC Canada
Rant
I've read a few post regarding this topic before but now I have my own rant. WTF? What makes these Corvettes a magnet in parking lots?
Its a long weekend and stat holiday in Canada and freeways, gas stations, restaurants and mall parking lots are a zoo. I arranged to meet someone at a restaurant just off the freeway. I've kept our collector edition Corvette looking like it just left the showroom even though its 10 years old and low mileage.
I drove to the extreme back corner of the strip mall where there was a vacant store that closed. In front of that store were about 20 empty parking spaces and I parked there right in the middle spot. As I was walking to the restaurant to meet up I couldn't believe my eyes as a woman pulled into the spot to my right and close enough that her door could have hit my car and a Raised 4X4 pick up pulled into the spot on the drivers side. I ran back to the car said "screw this" (censored version) got back in the car and drove off.
Its a long weekend and stat holiday in Canada and freeways, gas stations, restaurants and mall parking lots are a zoo. I arranged to meet someone at a restaurant just off the freeway. I've kept our collector edition Corvette looking like it just left the showroom even though its 10 years old and low mileage.
I drove to the extreme back corner of the strip mall where there was a vacant store that closed. In front of that store were about 20 empty parking spaces and I parked there right in the middle spot. As I was walking to the restaurant to meet up I couldn't believe my eyes as a woman pulled into the spot to my right and close enough that her door could have hit my car and a Raised 4X4 pick up pulled into the spot on the drivers side. I ran back to the car said "screw this" (censored version) got back in the car and drove off.
Last edited by Icecap; Jul 3, 2017 at 05:10 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,959
Likes: 526
I feel your pain. Guess this is just a fact of owning a Corvette, or any other nice ride for that fact. You just never know what some people are thinking. Sometimes you swear that they are doing it out of spite....and maybe its true in some cases. Then again maybe some people like their ride just as much and think that if they park next to another nice ride then that person may be more careful when they open their doors. Its a mystery world to be sure....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 5,463
Likes: 1,138
From: Chino CA
I have always parked my cars at the end of parking lots. Still do. Not just my Corvette, all of them. Been doing this for 40 years. Didn't know I was pissing off people until I got on this forum. Just because they don't drive a Corvette does not mean that their car is not important to them
CF Community Team
Joined: Apr 2016
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From: Pittsburgh
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The sad fact is that if you want to keep your low mileage Corvette looking pristine, you can't leave it in a public parking lot alone.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 314
Likes: 7
It's just the way it is, I've stopped parking super far away and instead always find and end or corner spot. I park as close to the end as possible which means only a chance of one car beside me and leave them plenty of room.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
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From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
I did that for the 12.5 years I had a C6. Didn't have very many park too close. Parked the car at Walmart, Kroger, Loew's, K-Mart, OfficeMax.
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,390
Likes: 376
From: Cincinnati Ohio
It's just the times we live in, if you have a nice car it will happen sooner than latter.....I was looking for a white or silver car when I found the deal of life time on a Victory Red...sometimes I feel like there is a target on my back, but hey, life's too short and I love to drive my car ..I never take up 2 spots and I park out a bit always.... I choose to ignore most people, but it still bugs me when people do what they do!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,821
Likes: 204
From: Lincoln CA
Actually, in a world where the average housewife's 4x4/station wagon costs easily as much as a Corvette, I don't think that most of the brain dead public is aware of your car or trying to hurt it. They just don't pay a lot of attention to anything but their cell phones. My Victory Red '09 gets lots of attention in public, but it is generally the positive kind. We Corvette pilots have to get over ourselves. They are, after all, just fancy Chevrolets.
Last edited by RagTop69; Jul 3, 2017 at 06:12 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,318
Likes: 209
From: Lincoln Nebraska
Happens all the time. The wife and stopped for a ice cream at our local dairy queen, Backed the vett in at the back of the lot then sat outside where we could keep an eye on it. There were very few cars in the lot at the time so there were plenty of other spots to park but low and behold here comes two old beaters that pulled in and parked one on each side of us. We heard the one guy laughingly say to the guy in the car that was parked on the other side of us (Ya think I should slam my door into it)
I'm pretty sure he was just joking but still 20 other spots to park and they pick the ones right next to the vett. And yes I do believe they done it intentionally.
I'm pretty sure he was just joking but still 20 other spots to park and they pick the ones right next to the vett. And yes I do believe they done it intentionally.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 12,018
Likes: 3,555
From: Central MO
Happens all the time. I always park in an end space in the way-out. Invariably, some POS is parked next to me when I come out. I happened to come out of the store last week just as the people were leaving their car. It was a beater with a young couple and their mother. The guy said "Nice car, man, I just had to park mext to you." I don't get it but it happens enough that I am certain it is being done on purpose.
Last edited by BadAV; Aug 4, 2017 at 06:02 PM. Reason: dang phone fumble fingers!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 8,981
Likes: 58
From: Texas
I think it's done intentionally for two reasons:
1. Some people cannot stand the good fortune of others and they know it pisses us off. They are the a$$hats of the world who will never go away and multiply faster than we would prefer.
2. Others (a much smaller group) will park next to you on purpose to protect your car. Doesn't happen too often, but sometimes when I return to my vette having parked 15 spaces away from the closest car, another car is parked next to mine, occasionally one on each side, and they are generally nicer cars as well. I'll do the same if I see a well-maintained car who's owner obviously parked well away from the crowd---park right next to them and I think most appreciate the gesture (hopefully).
For the unintentional times... some people are literally oblivious to common sense, they walk among us with their heads permanently up their a-holes.
1. Some people cannot stand the good fortune of others and they know it pisses us off. They are the a$$hats of the world who will never go away and multiply faster than we would prefer.
2. Others (a much smaller group) will park next to you on purpose to protect your car. Doesn't happen too often, but sometimes when I return to my vette having parked 15 spaces away from the closest car, another car is parked next to mine, occasionally one on each side, and they are generally nicer cars as well. I'll do the same if I see a well-maintained car who's owner obviously parked well away from the crowd---park right next to them and I think most appreciate the gesture (hopefully).
For the unintentional times... some people are literally oblivious to common sense, they walk among us with their heads permanently up their a-holes.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,318
Likes: 209
From: Lincoln Nebraska
I think it's done intentionally for two reasons:
1. Some people cannot stand the good fortune of others and they know it pisses us off. They are the a$$hats of the world who will never go away and multiply faster than we would prefer.
2. Others (a much smaller group) will park next to you on purpose to protect your car. Doesn't happen too often, but sometimes when I return to my vette having parked 15 spaces away from the closest car, another car is parked next to mine, occasionally one on each side, and they are generally nicer cars as well. I'll do the same if I see a well-maintained car who's owner obviously parked well away from the crowd---park right next to them and I think most appreciate the gesture (hopefully).
For the unintentional times... some people are literally oblivious to common sense, they walk among us with their heads permanently up their a-holes.
1. Some people cannot stand the good fortune of others and they know it pisses us off. They are the a$$hats of the world who will never go away and multiply faster than we would prefer.
2. Others (a much smaller group) will park next to you on purpose to protect your car. Doesn't happen too often, but sometimes when I return to my vette having parked 15 spaces away from the closest car, another car is parked next to mine, occasionally one on each side, and they are generally nicer cars as well. I'll do the same if I see a well-maintained car who's owner obviously parked well away from the crowd---park right next to them and I think most appreciate the gesture (hopefully).
For the unintentional times... some people are literally oblivious to common sense, they walk among us with their heads permanently up their a-holes.
Very well stated!
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,203
Likes: 4,327
From: Chirper Island
I think that most people are generally clueless, and it's the gregarious instinct kicking in.
There are a few outliers where they park next to you to protect you or **** you off, but generally it's clueless, herd behavior.
There are a few outliers where they park next to you to protect you or **** you off, but generally it's clueless, herd behavior.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,642
Likes: 450
From: Texarkana Texas
Been there before. Even parked on an end lot once....came back out, a pos old Ford Bronco was parked so close to me I could not get in the car. Had to get in on the passenger side and crawl over the console. No one else in the parking lot.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,104
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I park right in the same spots that I would with any other car. Given a choice, I look for a spot that easy to get out of when I leave. When you park in with the herd, you don't have the appearance of being special. I find that most people respect that and treat you as an equal.
When your stay will be short, parking between two others has the advantage of you returning to leave before either of the others do.
When your stay will be short, parking between two others has the advantage of you returning to leave before either of the others do.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2013
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From: Colorado
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Pro
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 669
Likes: 31
From: Webster NY
Maybe it's just where I live but in the 3 years of owning a Yellow C5 and now my Red C6 I have yet to run into this problem. The couple of times it has happened it's always been another vette or other sports car parked next to me so I don't mind.