Dallas007

Ok I’m a self admitted clean freak and own a garage queen that’s never been in the rain and averages 25 miles a month usage, so no need to flame me. I know I have issues. But I’m not getting any younger and would like to take a long road trip this summer but immediately feel a knot in my gut when I think about parking in motel parking lots (not cheap motels either) and restaurants etc etc that my car will be vandalized or trashed in some way. For those of you fine folks that are normal and take road trips and enjoy your car do you generally have issues with these type of situations. I realize there are exceptions and one can’t predict the future but generally speaking have you had issues or learned things the hard way to reduce your exposure to problems. Again please don’t hammer me as I know I’m a knucklehead. Thank you in advance.

lancekl

Have taken it on multiple road trips over the years with no issues. Drive it, you will love it.
Park it under lights at hotels.

Skid Row Joe

All your fears are real. My experience is having owned two new Corvettes. Both have been vandalized for no apparent reason when parked. Corvettes are an object of haters going off on them. Not much you can do about that ever changing.

krwunlv

Some hotels will let you park under the covered area in the front of their door if they have a valet service, especially with a nicer car. You could always slip the person some cash to help. Or tell them you were unloading the car and accidentally locked the keys in there (fob is dead) and you will get the spare set in the AM? :0) You could also purchase a batter operated LED light scanner bar to simulate a "better than stock" alarm system.

I wonder what a blow up doll in the driver seat as a deterrent would look like?

Zymurgy

Your Corvette was "in the rain" at the factory. Last stop on the production floor is the water intrusion booth where it is hit from all directions by high flow, high intensity water jets.

I agree with a previous poster, park you car in the hotel parking lot under bright lighting, preferably where you can see it out your window. Also check out the area of town that the hotel is in. There are certainly high and low crime areas within almost any town. If nearby businesses have burglar bars, find someplace else. Iv'e put thousands of miles on my Corvettes doing cross country trips and never had a problem.

You cant eliminate the risk, but you can minimize it.

crawfish333

I have been driving Corvettes for years on road trips. So far I have never had any problem. We love to do road trips and we can't let this kind of thing to dissuade us.

Hints:

• Park in well lit areas
• Don't straddle parking spots or park over 2 lines. (no reason to aggravate the haters)
• Don't leave any valuables in plain sight
• If there are other Vettes in the same lot, park next to them. (leave plenty of room between cars though)

ricks327

I have driven my 67 and 2017 all over the country w/o one issue but I don't think anything all of us say is going to calm your fears.

dvilin

I know this is easier said than done but you have to put all these fears aside. Take your trip, stay at the nicer hotels, park at ends spots if possible, enjoy your trip.

gve

I drove our new 2016 Z06 convertible from Wisconsin up through Canada and into Nova Scotia and back down through the USA back to Wisconsin. Like you I was concerned about damage, but I never had any. I always watch were I park anyway and will walk farther to get a good parking spot. On our trip I always look for a end parking spot and park close to the end curb or a spot away by itself in the motel or restaurant parking lot. And if the motel isn’t full they will usually accommodate you as far as a room that will give you a view of your car. We were gone for 2 weeks and I also brought some old towels along to dry the car after a car wash. I would find a car wash where you drive in and the spray goes around the car, also make sure its the kind where you don’t have to drive over any metal ramps etc that might hit the underside or skirts. We put on over 4000 miles and never had any damage. If you find a restaurant or motel that doesn’t have the kind of parking spot that your satisfied with look for a different place. Once you do the first trip the next one will be easier for you.

Walt White Coupe

That's why you have insurance.

Dallas007

Good insight by all! Thanks I appreciate it.

4thC4at60

PM sent

TXshaggy

If you are staying in urban areas research ahead of time to find controlled, secure, and locked garages...few extra dollars but worth the peace of mind.

defaria

Consider there are litterally thousands of C7s out there and add on C6s, 5s etc. Many many people park in motel parking lots, even cheap ones and other places with 99.99999999% of them literally having no problems whatsoever. The answer is "No, we don't have issues with this - you have issues with this" and I say this because even you admit it. What you are obessing over are essentially extermely rare events.

And I have no idea why you mention shopping carts. It's only in your title and you don't even refer to it.

KenHorse

Been on 2 NCCs and several road trips in 3 different 'vettes and not a single problem anywhere. Going on a 4th this August as part of the 2019 NCC and don't expect issues either

mschuyler

22K miles on mostly road trips. One tip I learned. I had just washed the car at a no-touch car wash before going to the motel for the night. Next morning half the car was spotted. I had parked next to an automatic sprinkler that came on in the middle of the night and soaked the car. Worth watching out for.

Vetteman Jack

Good points. I always try and park on an end space and get as close as safely possible to the side that no one can part on - that leaves a little more room between your car and the next one. The suggestion to park where you can see your car out your hotel window is good also.

FormerBiker

Sell vette. Buy civic. Problem solved.

Skid Row Joe

If everywhere you eat and overnight at while caravaning across the Country, with dozens of other Corvettes, why wouldn't you think you'll never have a problem? When yours is the only Corvette at a motel or restaurant? That's when you're at risk. You just haven't been out there enough to be a victim.

robertbruce

We make road trips in our Corvette every year. We always stay in Motels and park our car right in front of our room which also makes it easy when taking out the luggage.