Parking in Public?

Hey Brian! Yeah man that was fun! I just got back from vacation and ordered the same Nouvalari exhaust as your blue 355. It was a knuckle crusher to install since cats had to come off to fix leaks. Did you get the SS or sport? Good find and it sounds pretty crazy!
Dave

 

The only time I worry is if I parallel park it because the front is so low. I figure some moron in front is going to back into it. Hasn't happened ever. Either I am lucky or I overestimate peoples' incompetence.

It's a car and you can't sweat it or you wouldn't enjoy it. I sold my 348 Spider because I was too nervous about leaving it unattended. Don't care about the SS. I guess I am becoming less sensitive about it all.

Now if you want to talk about those F-ing idiots who transport patio furniture in the backs of their trucks with no tie downs...

 

Had a kid in his mom's new Camry not see me when reversing his way quickly back into the parking lot because a big truck was coming. Popped my 355's bumper and made a hairline crack a split second after I hit the horn. We were coming out of the shooting range lot and to say that he was scared would be an understatement because he was a gun renter and I was a gun owner. I was alright with it and made sure he would be more careful in the future. Didn't make a claim against the kid because he was nice, and my bumper was already a bit weathered and needed a refurb anyway. **** happens!

I've since learned to keep my thumb on the horn button anytime anyone is close in front of me. Those little buttons are really hard to find in a panic situation!

 

+1

 

I've only ever parked and left my 348 twice now (in just over a year)

Once at a Garden Centre (for about an hour) - I decided it was "low risk" (plus , no offence, old people with Kia's tend to park with wide gaps between cars so there was no chance of dings..)

And once at a sporting event, a rowing regatta, where people were coming and going all the time to the car park (again for about an hour) - I decided it was slightly higher risk, and chose my parking spot carefully so it wasnt between 2 big SUV's and concealed from view - ie end of row and where there were more passing pedestrians.


On both occasions, I activated all my immobilising devices (though I'd left the roof at home) and I have a shift lock locking it in reverse.

In the UK, there are that few for sale, that I am 100% convinced that if stolen to be sold I could uniquely identify my car from marks/scrapes etc, and things I've done etc. And am pretty sure I could uniquely identify many of the components etc, but my biggest fear is parts being stolen for sale.

But then, although both of those occasions felt uncomfortable, I relaxed a bit (about them) when I had the thought that I keep the car in a garage that contains all of the tools necessary to strip it - and so all of a sudden, a garden centre carpark didnt seem too bad after all!

 

I have parked my car overnight at many hotels.... from Atlantic City to the Poconos..
I've even left the car parked overnight on the street in downtown NYC with no issues.

I wouldnt leave it sitting alone in a dark ally and I wouldnt park it in the front spots at home depot or shop rite,
but as long as you are somewhat mindful of where you are the car will be just fine.

 

At hotels - I've gotten dents
on the street, I've had SUVs back into it
At Wendy's, a girl just backed up & didn't stop
At Home Depot - parked way far away - a shopping cart rolled down the lot & found the car.
I try & lock things like V1 & GPS in the trunk.

What are you going to do? Fix it & move on.

 

There is a guy who is a member of FCA and under misc for sale sells a top cover for your car when the top is down. Costs around $300 and covers everything so the out of sight out of mind is covered. Also covers the whole windshield, attaches around the mirrors and attaches to the rear wheel wells. Makes me "feel" better if everything is covered and keeps the sun off the interior pieces.

 

Geeze Cylde - please don't offer your car to me for sale

 

That is my 308. They were all minor, really. Thank god for the big bumpers & bumper struts. So far, the 355 has remained unscathed. But she has nowhere near the miles the 308 has.

 

Its a car. I drive where I want, when I want and I park it to suit my needs, not the needs of the car.

I've taken it overnight and parked outside - yeah its gonna get some dust on it or perhaps some pollen this time of year.

But I bought mine to drive, not look at.

 

I go everywhere, we only live once!

 

I got the sport exhaust. You heard it! I think it sounds incredible. ...but have only heard it from the drivers seat. Just installed Nouvalari manifolds too!

 

I did the craziest thing yesterday....

I took my wife to brunch. Parked the 355 in a jammed up parking lot with the top down,
and then left it there for 5 hours. When we came back... the car was still there and totally fine.

Whew..... lol