When you park, straighten your front wheels!

[sameh]

I’m fed up with those who park head in and leave their front wheels not just a little bit turned but sometimes fully turned. I’m always afraid to park next to them and have them scratch or even hit my car on their way backing up.
This morning in the gym’s lot I picked a spot to park (which is not an easy task, it’s a retirement community and average age of gym members is high 70s and I believe it’s a requirement to have a large sized white car, you really need to be careful), didn’t work because of the car next to it had the wheels all the way right, next spot, same thing then the third spot as well. And today isn't an unusal day, I have same problem almost everywhere, I don’t get it; my thoughts are these people are:
1) Procrastinators, will straighten it on my way back.
2) Unorganized at home, cloths or work.
3) Really really bad drivers.
4) All of the above?
Vented, Thanks

[Gkap]

if its a retirement community id park down the street lol

[mkoesel]

I am curious - have you ever had damage to your car that you can attribute to this for certain?

Not saying it doesn't happen, I just don't find it something I would be concerned with in general. People that park right way to the side of a sport and right on my door are the ones that irk me.

[BayBayBay]

+1

Happened to my old car at a shopping mall. I didn't find out until I parked back in my garage and found a large dent in my driver's side front quarter panel. I feel for you, especially when bastards are to inconsiderate to leave a note or something.

[sameh]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

I am curious - have you ever had damage to your car that you can attribute to this for certain?

Not saying it doesn't happen, I just don't find it something I would be concerned with in general. People that park right way to the side of a sport and right on my door are the ones that irk me.

Back in 1999 my driver's side got a nasty hit from one of those people. She was talking to the passenger as she was backing up. The sad thing is that I watched the whole thing from my office window (talk about PTSD )
But to be honest, it's not only the risk of getting hit that annoys me in this issue, it's the whole concept, feels a little reckless and haphazard to leave your front wheels turned 50 degrees.

[asw19]

Only slightly related, at my gym I frequently score a good parking spot that has no parking spot next to it (50% less likely for door dings) but is a high foot traffic spot.

There is big concrete pole on the non parking side and I found that when I back into the space and cut the wheel all the way to the left (pole is on the right and ) I can get the back of the wheel to touch the pole which seals off the likelyhood of people trying to squeeze in between my car and the pole.

[Edward]

Agreed. People who can't be bothered to straighten their wheel after pulling into a spot are careless. end of story. It's not so different from forgetting to lock your doors. When I see the turned wheel thing, I imagine some douchebag getting into that car, leaving wheels turned full lock and proceeding to back out while only looking behind them, not knowing that their front fender is about to swing out and swipe the shit out the car next to it. I facepalm these people all year long.

[///My5UV]

In the old days you were supposed to leave your wheels turned so if the parking brake slipped the car wouldn't go very far. Some people still teach this.

[cmk227]

Originally Posted by ///My5UV

In the old days you were supposed to leave your wheels turned so if the parking brake slipped the car wouldn't go very far. Some people still teach this.

Agree. Might piss you off but it true...

[Lowest_Frequency]

I absolutely agree on all levels. However, since this issue has been posed, I would like to pose a question related to it.

This was something I think my dad told me growing up so either its an older car thing or just another urban legend.... but is it bad mechanically to keep your car parked like that a lot? I don't mean for months at a time, but I mean typical daily driving but doing it a lot. I never really understood why it would but just did it because I'm a little OCD. Possibly uneven pressure within the steering pump assembly? Bad for bushing? Who knows...

[jms_w]

Originally Posted by ///My5UV

In the old days you were supposed to leave your wheels turned so if the parking brake slipped the car wouldn't go very far. Some people still teach this.

I hear this for parallel parking only.

[vividracing]

Originally Posted by Gkap

if its a retirement community id park down the street lol

^^ I'm with you

Yeah, I'd certainly be concerned about whether the driver was aware that the steering was turned when they go to reverse/drive away.

Graeme

[bobbyd1961]

Originally Posted by sameh

I’m fed up with those who park head in and leave their front wheels not just a little bit turned but sometimes fully turned. I’m always afraid to park next to them and have them scratch or even hit my car on their way backing up.
This morning in the gym’s lot I picked a spot to park (which is not an easy task, it’s a retirement community and average age of gym members is high 70s and I believe it’s a requirement to have a large sized white car, you really need to be careful), didn’t work because of the car next to it had the wheels all the way right, next spot, same thing then the third spot as well. And today isn't an unusal day, I have same problem almost everywhere, I don’t get it; my thoughts are these people are:
1) Procrastinators, will straighten it on my way back.
2) Unorganized at home, cloths or work.
3) Really really bad drivers.
4) All of the above?
Vented, Thanks

you should wait for them and kick he crap out of them

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by ///My5UV

In the old days you were supposed to leave your wheels turned so if the parking brake slipped the car wouldn't go very far. Some people still teach this.

Only when parking on an incline. So if ur car would roll, it would be stopped by the curb. I see no reason if ur parallel parked on flat surface.


To the op, if I can't find a decent spot, I just leave, look for an alternative location, if I can't find one, go home and give it another try the next day. Most of the time I just have the wife sit in the car to guard it from idiot drivers while I go down to get what we need.

Think this is nuts? Well I'll tell u it was all worth it becuz 2 weeks ago right after I got the m, I went to pepboys around 845pm near closing time. Parking lot empty, wife in the car... Well some fucker decided to park 2 feet from my drivers side door while I was inside. There must have been 50 empty spaces and they had to park right next to me. Kinda like the dood that feels the need to piss right next to u when there are 10 other urinals open. Anyhow fine, park next to me ok it's a free country but do u have to park 2 feet from my door? I couldn't even get in. When my wife noticed a passenger was trying to get out of the f150 truck, she got out if the m and stood there watching them. The passenger closed the door and stayed in the car. That was a guaranteed door ding we prevented for sure.

[MysticBlue]

I never park next to other cars or anywhere other cars can park next to me. Problem solved. I will park 1/4 mile away before I would park next to someone.

[KIS]

As an observation, it's a car. When it gets damaged, you fix it. If you read my thread of 2 weeks ago you understand I say this, unfortunately, with recent experience.

[jmzoot]

I understand your frustration.. I would always park at the end of the row or a protected spot at the back of the gym parking lot to avoid door dings.... Lucky me rather then a door ding some jerk nailed my rear bumper.... Needless to say they never left a note and I was stuck paying for a new bumper!!

Even better is I called the police figuring they might catch the person so I don't have to pay $1,300 out of my pocket or go through insurance.. Well the cameras don't reach to the back of the gym and I was lucky enough to now show an accident on the Carfax for my car.. which only states that "this vehicle was involved in a collision with another motor vehicle"... there goes the resale value of my car !!!

Moral of the story is you might be better off with taking a chance at a door ding parking near everyone else rather then someone smashing in your entire bumper since you parked far away...

[eisenb11]

Originally Posted by KIS

As an observation, it's a car. When it gets damaged, you fix it. If you read my thread of 2 weeks ago you understand I say this, unfortunately, with recent experience.

While that's true, it's still best to avoid potential problems. I'd rather move to a different spot than lose my $500 deductible and go through all the repair hassles.

It's all math. The more you try to avoid trouble, the less likely you are statistically to have bad stuff happen to you.

[KIS]

Originally Posted by eisenb11

While that's true, it's still best to avoid potential problems. I'd rather move to a different spot than lose my $500 deductible and go through all the repair hassles.

It's all math. The more you try to avoid trouble, the less likely you are statistically to have bad stuff happen to you.

I certainly agree prudence is reasonable when parking your car, but in Houston the best way to avoid a problem is to leave your car at home. Having said that, I intend to drive my car, park it reasonably, and hope for the best. Over the years I've had the privilege of driving quite a few nice cars and shit really does just happen regardless of the precautions you take.

[richard313]

Originally Posted by Gkap

if its a retirement community id park down the street lol

+10000

[FruitCake]

u mad

[zhangzeyuandss]

Originally Posted by Gkap

if its a retirement community id park down the street lol

lol. You will have a better chance not get hit if you just park in the middle of the street.