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My C8 is on order, and we are planning to take delivery next fall on the east coast, and drive back to home in Oregon.
I am planning the overnight stops at my favorite Hampton hotel. For each one, I look it up on Google maps to make sure there is a big parking lot with large parking spaces.
When I arrive, I always look for an end spot, or extra wide, or parallel park so the doors are not exposed to other car doors.
I'm sure that's typical for most Corvette owners to find the safest parking space. I want to stop in Aspen Colorado for a few days, but looking at Google maps, I don't see hardly any parking spaces at the hotels.
Some have underground parking, but usually those are really tight. There are a few other cities we want to stop at with the same parking situation.
What ideas do you have to protect your new car when you park it overnight? Stick on or strap on side bumpers, a traffic cone, a large dog chained to your wheels?
What does everyone else do.
Picture is our midwest to Oregon trip in 2014, in a low mile C6 we just bought. Gotta love Colorado.
I'm new to Corvette ownership, but I have yet to see anyone post a picture of a door ding on their Corvette. Does the composite material ding? Now, if someone really opened their door hard, I suppose it could crack the composite, but would your average door swing that could slightly dent a metal door do anything to a Corvette? Paint damage? I'm curious.
I'm new to Corvette ownership, but I have yet to see anyone post a picture of a door ding on their Corvette. Does the composite material ding? Now, if someone really opened their door hard, I suppose it could crack the composite, but would your average door swing that could slightly dent a metal door do anything to a Corvette? Paint damage? I'm curious.
Although the OP mentioned “dings”, pretty sure he meant to say paint chips. When I think of a ding, I think of a small dent. Can’t dent SMC, but you can chip the paint.
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While the door may not ding in the traditional sense, the paint can certainly be chipped/scratched by a door hitting your car and I would suppose if it was a hard enough hit it could damage the panel itself.
Like you, I just try and find a spot that at least has some protection on one side of the car and hopefully is a large enough space that some distance can be maintained between other vehicles.
For general parking during your trip it's best to park in the right end parking spot whenever possible to avoid door dings.
This because only one side of your car is exposed and second since most everyone pulls in to park and most vehicles only have a driver this greatly reduces your change of anyone striking your exposed door.
As far as parking overnight, a nice fleece lined car cover will absorb much shock and reduce chance of paint damage from someone hitting their door against yours. However, having a car cover on your car can possibly
increase risk of damage from vandalism.
In general, risk of your new C8 getting door dings during your trip is quite low when using good old common sense. I wouldn't let worrying reduce your pleasure of driving your amazing new C8 home.
Personally, I'd be more concerned with road debris damaging the front end of your C8 during your long trip and there's solutions for that as well, like a bra or using protective tape or even getting Xpel/PPF installed at the dealer prior to picking up your C8.
Last edited by Kevin A Jones; Dec 11, 2021 at 08:46 AM.
I used to worry about parking all the time...but then quit. It seems the more effort you put in "Murphy's Law" plays a roll. I had my C5 parked by herself in a lot and came out to see a shopping cart rolling and crashing into her as I watched.
I was lucky and it was just a scuff that came out, but after that I stopped. Years later...nothing. I had my C7 after for 2 years 20k miles daily driver and never worried a bit about it at all and never had a chip anywhere. My C8 comes next month or so and will be a daily and I'm not worried at all about some ding or chip. **** happens...or it doesn't. It's a car...enjoy it and stop worrying...it never helps.
Nice thing about Corvettes being plastic/composites is they really do not "ding".
Over the past 32 years, I have driven Corvettes over 500,000 miles and never gotten so much as a chip, parking in a lot. I've left 'em at airport parking lots for weeks on end, overnight on more hotel lots than I care to remember, and not always in the best parts of town. Some resort towns, you are right, sliver small spaces. But Never an issue. Your mileage may vary. Good luck.
Car covers for road trips suck. Get one good rain and you have a soppy mess to transport with you the rest of the trip.
As stated by others, find an end space possible. On the end space park with the driver’s door toward the most open area to allow your easiest entry/exit. Be aware that on the end space you are subject to irrigation on the side of your car all the way front to back.
Otherwise center your car in the space and there’s nothing else you can do.
This year we did a 30 day road trip involving over 20 different hotels/ motels across the country. Had zero issues with parking damage.
Even though, just a car, to many it represents much more as it's hobby, their favorite pastime, and some have been dreaming and saving most of their life to own a Corvette. So should be no concern or surprise as to the lengths they will go to keep their Corvettes as immaculate and damage free as possible.
Anyone else tired of these people who say "Don't worry it. It's just a car." Either their cars look like cr@p, they have a lot of money to replace them all the time, or they don't drive them.
Car covers are your best bet for door ding protection. I have a 21 year old C5 with no door dings. I double covered it with two thick car covers. The nice thing about Corvettes is they won't dent if someone opens a door into it. The car covers protect the paint from chips.
Your challenge will be putting them on over a dirty car. That can micro scratch the paint. If you can find a spray car wash before parking, then you are good to go. If it is just light dust, I wouldn't worry about it, especially if the bottom cover is flannel. I've never used them, but there are not waterless car wash products, too.
I carry a garbage bag to put the cover in if it rained on the cover. At the next dry stop, the cover would completely dry out.
Also be sure to get a cable lock for the covers. Covers are expensive these days, and I have had them stolen before using cable locks.
The other nice thing about covers is they do provide a small amount of theft prevention. Thieves typically want to steal a car quickly, so they don't want to deal with car covers that would slow them down or draw attention.
Last edited by Michael A; Dec 11, 2021 at 01:00 PM.
Anyone else tired of these people who say "Don't worry it. It's just a car." Either their cars look like cr@p, they have a lot of money to replace them all the time, or they don't drive them.
Car covers are your best bet for door ding protection. I have a 21 year old C5 with no door dings. I double covered it with two thick car covers. The nice thing about Corvettes is they won't dent if someone opens a door into it. The car covers protect the paint from chips.
Your challenge will be putting them on over a dirty car. That can micro scratch the paint. If you can find a spray car wash before parking, then you are good to go. If it is just light dust, I wouldn't worry about it, especially if the bottom cover is flannel. I've never used them, but there are not waterless car wash products, too.
I carry a garbage bag to put the cover in if it rained on the cover. At the next dry stop, the cover would completely dry out.
Also be sure to get a cable lock for the covers. Covers are expensive these days, and I have had them stolen before using cable locks.
The other nice thing about covers is they do provide a small amount of theft prevention. Thieves typically want to steal a car quickly, so they don't want to deal with car covers that would slow them down or draw attention.
Personal point if view. If there’s anything you don’t need to carry on a road trip in a C8 it’s MORE CRAP.
If you feel the need for a car cover go for it. My blessing and my sympathy.
My C8 had someone’s door fly open and hit my door. I have XPEL Ultimate PPF and there was some scuffing that was visible. I went home and used a blow drier on the PPF. Now the ding/scuff is nearly invisible. If you know where to look, you’ll find a small spec, but it’s no where as bad as it looked after it happened.
I had a daily driver 1985 C4 for about 15 years. For the first year I was really really careful. The next year I was very busy and no time to be careful. One day I saw a person open the door and no doubt there was contact but no mark. Turns out car was plastic (not really) so no ding. Not even a "ding" sound. The next 13 years I didn't really treat the car special and it had no dings/scrapes etc. It was keyed once and body shop repaired just as they would my Accord.
Don't forget to bring a tow hook, and 2qts of mobile 1 0W-40 ESP oil. (hard to find in most stores). Check the oil with the engine running every time you gas it up.
If you bring a car cover and it gets wet, putting it in the trunk might lead to some pretty foul smelling stuff since it gets over 110F in there (not hot enough to kill mold or fungus), and it is somewhat sealed up.
Would probably be better to place it in the frunk where it is cooler. Maybe the hotel has a dryer and you can just toss it in there before you run.
Even though, just a car, to many it represents much more as it's hobby, their favorite pastime, and some have been dreaming and saving most of their life to own a Corvette. So should be no concern or surprise as to the lengths they will go to keep their Corvettes as immaculate and damage free as possible.
I would agree with that, it is way more than just a car, it is a very special, beautiful and fast car, I really enjoy the smooth stylish shape, without paint chips. I also have to agree, stop worrying about, drive it.
We were really careful with the C6 to not tailgate, stay clear of trucks etc to avoid rock chips in the front. That worked, with 22K on it now, only one chip in the front.
For the C8, no worries about the front. I have owned 5 Corvettes, this is the first new one, and we are going to drive the hell out of it. Let it chip.
It can always be repainted after a few years. Thanks to everyone for confirming / contributing.
Any new ideas are welcome.
My wife and I are super excited about buying a C8, and driving it across the USA. What could be more fun. See the USA in a new Corvette. If the timing is right, we plan to see Aspen, then Yellowstone.
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Door Ding Protection ?
