Parking in Public?

I can understand both sides of the argument Eric. While I am very hesitant to park my car unattended at the grocery store, I do enjoy taking my wife out on a beautiful spring drive up into our local mountains for lunch, and as you mentioned, a nice stroll around town. That being said, I can't honestly say that the car isn't on my mind just a little while we go from shop to shop, but I have yet to be victimized. The town or neighborhood in question is of course, always going to be a factor. But I just park as responsibly as I can and then leave it up to Enzo watching over us all from up above.

Henry

 

I don't worry. It's insured.

 

But filing claims just plain sucks. Going through the hassle for repairs... yeah, that too.

 

Depends why you own the car, if you have the car as either a daily driver or a car you intend to use regularly in everyday situations then really you have no real choice - park it and pray, 9 times out of 10 it will be OK.

If like me its a Sunday special occasion car then it becomes on of personal choice, no I would not even consider any public bay car parking, fast food outlet or shopping centre, I'm pretty comfortable in good neighbourhoods parking on the street for short periods of time or in high end restaurants but definitely no valet parking.

 

Insurance won't replace my car in the state it is now.

I worry about parking all the time but I always park in front of restaurants, etc. even if that means parking illegally (except for tow away zones).

I've done one overnight stay for the Pocono's show last year. Bob and I stayed at the same hotel and park our cars next to each other near the front. The manager was going to let us park in the circle at the front door but we both thought that was a bad idea.

Knock on wood, no issues yet. But I am careful were I take it and were I park it.

 

I worry about someone denting or scratching my car. Yes its insured, but I don't want to replace it cause it is pretty clean and has no issues. My car being black shows everything.

 

I always just expect this:
[ame]http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyvyAAxVrL0[/ame]

 

My wife and I enjoy taking the 348 for a nice drive to a good restaurant. I am careful where I park it but, after all these years with nice cars, I am not paranoid about it. I park some distance away and I do not take up more than one space as I don't want someone to think I think I am an elitist. Good end parking spots are best.

And, everyone hold their breath, I have actually taken it to a Wal-Mart. If I am out and about and need something there, I follow the same practices as above. I have done this for years and have never had a problem. (Probably should not have made that statement!!!)

 

I drive mine quite a bit and park her a good respectful distance from others where I can to avoid dings and other hazards (carts maybe?) with the hope that a thief has a taste for a higher valued and less noticeable mark!

Can't say the thought of theft has not crossed my mind, but visited Laguna for dinner with my lovely wife last night and found my thoughts on the fact that she was parked with her top down and there were far too many seagulls in the air....yikes.

No incident to report, otherwise you may have seen me on the news taking out those rat-birds with some birdshot..

 

I'm with Jerry and Scot.
I don't lock the car. I usually leave the windows cracked or down. I don't leave anything of value in it. Seems most people believe I must have some kinda ridiculous expensive alarm on it.
Kinda "take what you want, just don't break a window or door lock" attitude.
Surprisingly, my 348 is replaceable. The tree just proved that to me. Fixable. Just pretty metal. Not my life. My ego isn't dependent on having a scratchless car. (It's big enough anyway!) Had it 10 years now. No thefts, only vandalism by that damned eucalyptus tree.

 

Parking? Depends on the place. If I go to a nice restaurant. ...I park where I can assure there will be no door dings. I will often times ask my friends to park next to me...but a lot of times I just park where I can see it from my table at the establishment. I really like to keep an eye on her...since she is a magnet for attention. I a am Always ready to hogtie anyone who attempt to mess with her...tho none so far. I am really choosey about where I leave her. To be straightforward. ..it depends a lot on the places you are visiting. ..and less on the parking spot.

 

knock on wood.. I haven't had any problems yet.
I've parked at Wal-mart, Home Depot, Costco (guy told me I brought the wrong vehicle to the $100 store). The restaurants I frequent know the car and I generally park right up front.

Had one woman who was walking in front of me one night at a restaurant and said "oh look the Ferrari thinks it needs a special parking place"... I laughed and said... "yes, she does think she's special".

Her husband busted out laughing and said that will teach you to make comments.

It's a car... it's insured. Do I worry about door dings? I worry more about me doing something stupid like I did today trying to touch up a stone chip. Like one other poster.. I don't take up two spaces. I park respectfully and usually try to get between a car and a curb and just get the passenger side close to the curb.

I do live in a more rural area so like myself.. people like to look at the car. It's been a great opportunity to let wide eyed kids sit in her and get pictures.

All that being said.. I do try and park where I can keep an eye on her to stop the 20 somethings from trying to lay on the hood. (watched a group do that in Austin to a Lambo and I yelled at them to get off the car)

 

+1

 

Sure it can...get and agreed value policy from Grundy Worldwide. Less than 10k miles? Get driving my friend! (62k+ miles...)

 

It must be nice to live in an area that's inundated with highly competent automotive artisans.

Around here, I wouldn't trust anyone to paint my mailbox let along a vehicle of any sort. Unless, of course, I enjoy having them repaint three times over.

 

Insurance won't make a near perfect car before the issue better after. Insurance won't pay for the hassle.

I prefer my car undamaged.

 

I drive where I want, park where I want. Never had an issue over the past 3 years of ownership. If people have a question about the car, I answer it...I don't care how many times I've answered it before.

It's really not that big of a deal. It's just a car.

 

This times 100

I have owned convertibles since I was 16. When I was 18 someone sliced the top of my MGB to get inside and take $2.55 of change. Had they simply pulled the top it would have unsnapped and they could have unlocked the door. Instead I got to replace a $400 top.

Now I never lock my convertible cars and leave nothing in the cabin. Cameras etc are in the trunk.

Maybe it's an age thing, but I don't care if it gets stolen. In fact if it does they damn well better never find it. It's insured for a fixed amount. I will buy another. Just a car.

Biggest issue is door dings, shopping carts, etc. I am the guy that parks all the way in the back or right out front at the restaurants. Yea, some slobs in mini vans will say things from time to time, but hey, they are driving a mini van what do I care?

Drive the cars!!! I have had my three years and just eclipsed 12,000 miles...and mine sits for 6 months for winter.

 

I try not to park stupid

Then again I'm insured well and don't give a rats ass if someone steals the car or I get jacked.
I have Zero emotional attachment to the car.

There is always a better toy to play with

 

My wife and I always park all of our cars some ways away from the business. Usually we can find a protected spot there. Since a high percentage of people are too lazy to walk more than 10 feet, usually no one parks near us. I can enter a parking lot the same time as another car who is searching for that spot as close as possible to the building. While they are looking, and sometimes waiting for that space, I have parked my car and have walked to the establishment before they get out of their car. Not to mention the extra walking is good for both of us.

 

I am careful where I park, and I admit I am always worried when I leave it unattended (not for theft but for damage)

This, however, does not deter me from taking my wife out and enjoying it

 

It's a good idea to cruise the park lot or street and find the best spot on the end. My worries are if I ever had to flatbed it with some tow operator who crunches the front splitter and does not care how it gets hauled away! 😱

 

I want to enjoy the car and we do take it on trips with us. sometimes it is unattended over night for 2-7 days. I try to be careful where I park it and hope for the best. So far i have had no issues. If I couldnt take the car out and enjoy it, I dont think i would own it. I had a trailer queen once with my MG. I spent a year and a half doing a frame apart restoration on it and for the first 2 years I owned it I couldnt enjoy it. To worried about the least little scratch or god forbid a dent. Thats not the way to enjoy your car and now I just use them both and I might worry a little but not a lot. When we took the Ferrari to Desert Concorso this year we just parlked it in parking lots and it was completely out of sight. The only damage to the car was caused by me. Our Car Club arranged an trip to England and we shipped the TC and drove it for a month through Britain. I want to be able to drive the cars and go places with them. Going to take the Ferrari to Carmel, Vandenburg and Camp Pendleton this year.

Mel

 

Hey bro was good to meet you at the spring rally. I was there with the blue 355!