Parking at the train station...

simonm · Jul 4, 2006

With a 'prized' 997, would you park at the train station?

I don't like to avoid attracting door/wing/qtr panel 'dings' and always try to avoid them using several strategies:

Avoiding parallel parking with other cars
Avoiding multi-story car parks
Preferring ordinary roadside parking where possible
Parking away from other vehicles at the supermarket

I always assume the worst, if its possible to get a ding, then its going to happen.

I was out for a meal a couple of weeks ago and an 06 Boxster parked in a line of 'tight' parking places. After a while the people in the next space arrived and struggled to get back into their own car so a meeting of metal was inevitable and I hate to imagine the consequence - I was parked only about 40 yards away in absolute isolation.

Current car (XJ) is quite wide - too wide for train station parking spaces? Will new car (997 2CS) be much better in this respect? The quoted width at 1808mm seems very narrow especially if it includes the mirrors.

Any tips for selecting the best of the worst at the train station as leaving the car at home and buying a banger for the station would seem to defeat the object of having a car but not using it (and leaving the other one at home for extended periods might attract the wrong attention during the day)?

THX911 · Jul 4, 2006

>> Parking away from other vehicles at the supermarket

Never works as even if the whole car park is empty some idiot will come and park right next to you, probably to check out your car or maybe it some sort of a safety assurance that, given a choice, a thief will nick your car first?

Anyway, I aways try and park next to another expensive or a band new car as then he/she has just as much to lose as you when making contact. Failing that, I try and find a space at the either ends and park it as close as possible to the open side and hope for the best...

BLONDELAWMAN · Jul 4, 2006

I have no tips, but I know just where your head's at.

I'm getting a new 4s next year & at this point at least, i'm determined that i'm going to have to hang onto my current 04 BM to drive daily in an attempt to avoid any kind of stomach-sickening incidents.

NIL98 · Jul 4, 2006

I find if you park in an isolated spot, white van van will find you within minutes. I look for a good sized space between two existing parked cars, preferably well looked after. That way you dont leave to chance the gap your 'neighbours' leave between their cars and yours AND you dont draw attention to yourself by leaving it in an isolated spot.

Taking 2 spaces just attracts further unwanted attention!

Guest · Jul 5, 2006

I think it depends on the location. There are some areas i would definatley avoid. Subject to that, my view is it's not worth worrying about, otherwise it only impinges on the fun of having the car. I drive 5miles to the train station every day and leave the car there from 6am till 6pm+. I've been doing that for years, and never had any problems/dents etc. (now i've said that, i'll return to it tonight and find someone's redesigned my front wing!). The risk of dents in a station c/park are minimal comp to others, because the cars tend to be static, without the coming/going.... and ladies going shopping, like my wife in her 4X4 parking next to you!

The primary risk of leaving an expensive car in one place for so long is that it gets stolen.

Like most things in life, you have to do whatever you're most comfortable doing.

rgds
Nick

sidicks · Jul 5, 2006

ORIGINAL: simonm

With a 'prized' 997, would you park at the train station?

I don't like to avoid attracting door/wing/qtr panel 'dings' and always try to avoid them using several strategies:

Avoiding parallel parking with other cars

Avoiding multi-story car parks

Preferring ordinary roadside parking where possible

Parking away from other vehicles at the supermarket

I always assume the worst, if its possible to get a ding, then its going to happen.

Any tips for selecting the best of the worst at the train station as leaving the car at home and buying a banger for the station would seem to defeat the object of having a car but not using it (and leaving the other one at home for extended periods might attract the wrong attention during the day)?

Kind regards,
Simon

I always knew that if I bought a 911 it would be my only car, and would have to be left at the station during the day, normally for 14 hours+. For me there were two distinct issues to be concerned about:

1) careless owners opening their doors into my car
2) deliberate vandalism

Because I arrive at the station early (pre 6am), I am able to choose where I park and am able to use the row of 'bumper to boot' spaces, thereby avoiding any incidents from other people opening their doors into my car, As the 911 is relatively short, there is plenty of room behind and in-front of the car to minimise the chances of being hit on the bumper when other people are manoeuvring into place.

At other times, I simply avoid using multistorey car parks (as well as the parking dent concerns, the ones near me are very tight, and I fear for the rear alloys on every corner !) and at supermarkets tend to park well away from other cars leaving a slightly longer walk.

To some extent, there isn't much that can be done to prevent vandalism - if someone is that way inclined you will find a large scratch down the side of your car, whatever precautions you take . I think having a car in a subtle colour helps to reduce the risk - Guards Red, Speed Yellow etc will attract the eye more, as will convertibles - potentially this might be seen as 'showing off' and 'deserving to be taught a lesson' by the vandals (although assuming that these bast*rds have any common sense or logic is probably pushing things a bit far). Personal number plates are probably another thing that might attract unwanted attention.

So far, in the 4 months I've owned the car, I've had no problems. Let's hope things stay that way !!

Rest assured, the car IS worth this type of stress !!

Sidicks

graham m · Jul 5, 2006

As THX911, it's amazing how parking in isloation has a magnetic effect on other car park users. I've even used the overflow carparks so as to avoid the 'cram' and still some idiot parallel parks leaving a gnats whisker. When my children were younger I'd always head for the 'Parent & Toddler' spaces - but they're just a bit too big these days to pass for 'junior'! If I have to leave the car in an open car park I'll always try and find the end of a line if poss, and next to a 'smart/clean' car. Theory being if they're proud of their car and look after it - should be ok.
NB - I did all this recently in an underground CP in Manchester in my BMW, found a great spot, alongside a support pillar leaving a nice gap, one side and adjacent to A6.
Next day no problem at all, no marks on the sides etc, but there was what looked like a couple of large bird droppings on the roof. When i got home i rinsed off the offending sh1t and wiped over with chamois. What I was left with was two white circles etched into the paint - I then realised that it wasn't bird do's but concentrated lime water from the car park ceiling that had dripped onto the car roof. B..stard. Thank goodness it wasn't the 997, as even after intensive applications of T-Cut and polish there are still two blemishes left. Were the car park operatives interested? Read the sign mate - the Management take no responsibility!
G

THX911 · Jul 5, 2006

ORIGINAL: graham m

Next day no problem at all, no marks on the sides etc, but there was what looked like a couple of large bird droppings on the roof. When i got home i rinsed off the offending sh1t and wiped over with chamois. What I was left with was two white circles etched into the paint - I then realised that it wasn't bird do's but concentrated lime water from the car park ceiling that had dripped onto the car roof. B..stard.

Snap! but with a better ending: We had the same thing on my wife's Toyota at a car park of a newly built apartment in Fulham. No questions were asked; they simply told us to get two independent quotes and they wrote us a cheque for the amount equivalent of the lesser quote... I am sure they would have paid up if you would have threaten legal action as lime water is not something you would accept as a risk you would accept before parking somewhere...

Dapster · Jul 7, 2006

Anyway, I aways try and park next to another expensive or a band new car as then he/she has just as much to lose as you when making contact.

Not necessarily! You and I may have scraped together all our hard earned for a car, but there are plenty of people out there for whom £50k is not a big deal, or have had their car given to them by some generous husband/wife/employer etc and has no appreciation of value or consideration for others.

Just look at the type of metalwork in the car parks of Canary Wharf, Heatherow Pink Elephant or in Central London or wherever and see how badly some of them are looked after.

Robin M · Jul 9, 2006

I am sad to see what I thought was my paranoia is a fact of life. Everywhere I park away from other vehicles it is a certainty someone will park next to me within minutes.

simonm · Jul 11, 2006

Thanks for the replies. It does appear that I'm not the first to have given it some thought! All the replies are helpful: do your best but don't worry, look for a decent gap between existing cars, avoid the open space (white van man will be along shortly), park bumper to bumper etc.

Have also taken some precautions: not too flash a colour (Atlas Grey), not a convertible (tempting to some), not on a personal plate (but will be '56 plate), and not too wide (current car is far too wide in this respect - but no dings in three years!), not going to work on the train (my current contract doesn't require this) and VTS will help track it when it's nicked!