Big white door ding

[MickMc]

I'm parked in a major dinner resturant parking lot, way away form everyone, I come out to my Impala SS and there is a huge white door ding from the white Trailblazer parked next to me, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Could be a rental, golf bags in the rear of the blazer...

Mick

[Joey_H]

Wait for the mofo to return and confront him/her.

[Camaro_Kyle]

seconded

[shmoov69]

I have a friend that stands back and kicks the door in to the other car and then puts a nice note under the windshield wiper.
Me, I would prolly just rant and rave and drive away mad rather than waiting and get madder and end up getting in a fight when they come out.

[bigvegan]

What would I do?

Well, I bought my '96 Camaro with a few dings and scratches on it, and I don't plan to do anything about them, because as long as the sheetmetal is reasonably straight, it's still a good looking car, and I can save my frustration for all of the other annoyances that come with driving an 11 yr old domestic automobile. Me, I'd shrug it off and move on. It's not like the car's any slower now, or any less cool to those who know anything about cars, and now the next door ding will be that much less traumatizing.

You probably wouldn't get very far in small claims court, although it might be worth a shot depending on how much it costs to file.

And, what's a confrontation going to accomplish? The other driver's probably not going to offer to repaint the car, and you might end up getting mocked, "Oh, did the big tough car get a little bitty boo-boo?" And if that sets off a physical confrontation, then there's the potential for assault charges / hospital bills, both of which eat into the parts budget.

Passive aggression's no good, as there are usually witnesses/security cameras around, not to mention it's completely unproductive.

If it's that important though, you can always keep a camera in the glove box, take pictures of the offending vehicle, the damage to your car, and his license plate, track the owner through the DMV, and send a letter with the pictures requesting compensation.

Good luck.

[jeffandre]

I have a friend that stands back and kicks the door in to the other car and then puts a nice note under the windshield wiper.
Me, I would prolly just rant and rave and drive away mad rather than waiting and get madder and end up getting in a fight when they come out.

I have tried returning the favor a number of times, didn't fix my car but sure made me feel better! I would take pics and details, wait for the perp to show, then work the issue without letting my temper get the best of me. I have found that many people respond to respectful treatment, even if they are out of line I stay calm and rarely ever show disrespect. They generally chill and come around.

[CraigMBA]

I'm not advocating this.

I saw a buddy of mine who got pinched in a parking garage so close you couldn't slip a sandwich kick a car door in so hard you could see inside the jambs on both sides.

That'll teach 'em.

YMMV.

[ARAD RS]

Been there before many times.

No matter how far away I parked or if I took up 2 spaces far out away from everyone, there's always a vehicle parked very close or right next to my ride as to where they can't open their door fully, so they have to squeeze out of their vehicle which obviously meant they would ding my car. And yet there are countless parking spaces everywhere around me. WTF?
Interestingly when my ride was primered for 3 yrs and driven, I never had a problem.
It only started when the color was on.
And get this, it all began within the 1st hr of the first day driving in public, 1st time I calmly confronted the person of the other car and they tried to blow it off like it was nothing. This sent me into a rage. Didn't get anywhere but angrier.
2nd time they were an ****. And the same as above.
3rd time they were an ****. And the same as above.
4th time they were an ****.
5th time they were an ****.
6th and every time after that now, I conjure the largest, nastiest lugie from the depths within, and plant it on both their front drivers window and drivers side door window and or maby all the way around their vehicle, along with a frikin note asking how would they would feel if I damaged their precious frekin vehicle.
1 time I actually did kick in their door a bit. Should have seen the dent they applied to my vehicle.

It’s just a little dent or it will buff out or it’s just an old car anyway.
OhOhOh, here’s one, my car didn't do that. You must have done that somewhere else.

I know I’m wrong to have developed this attitude but every frekin time theirs no appreciation of all the hard work and detail put into my ride to make it look as nice as it once did. This just sends me through the roof. I stopped counting after 63 dents and scratches. To me there are 3 things in my life you don't mess with in this order. My Family, Car, and Money.

[MickMc]

I think it was four guys having dinner and most likely drinks after a round of golf. I hope they don't drink and drive without a license plate on the back of their Trailblazer...

Bigvegan
I hear what your saying but I have tried very hard for 11 years to keep my Impala ding free. Yes I park very far away and do everything in my power not to have a car full of dings. No it dosen't go any slower with dings, but sometimes the careless Fuks in this world should should be shot. This self centered, I don't give crap about you or your things world we live in, sometimes drives me to my Glock.
I used to carry a ballpeen hammer in my biker days, works great on side mirrors of Fuks who try and run you off the road. Their claim of "I didn't see you" equals attempted murder of a motorcyclist.
Mick

[zbugger]

I had that happen once. And there's a huge dent on the side of my Camaro too, so they thought I wouldn't notice. Thing is, it chipped the paint on their door and I saw that. My paint on their car, theirs on mine. It was kinda funny though. I was at a subway getting lunch and had my food with me. I noticed they were squeezed into a spot as on the other side the person didn't park between the lines. They probably failed preschool for bad coloring. Anyway, I got in my car, moved it closer to the car that dinged my car, and walked back in to sit and eat. Originally I was gonna go home, but I decided to watch a show. The driver came back about 10 minutes later and stood there scratching their head trying to figure out how to get in the car. They wound up coming in and getting a sandwich and eating while waiting to be able to get back in their car. Good thing they had time on their hands to wait me out.

[LowBuckX]

When I used to drive $300-$500 beaters (as resent as 6 months ago) so my Nova could remain safe If I saw a noticable new ding and it was obviously from the car next to me I just returned the favor X2.

Once in my 80 Malibu this lady in a caddy slammed the door open into my bu and then held her door against my car and proceeded to grind it up and down as she pryed her 400+ pound Arse out of her car. we where parked drivers door to drivers door. And I was staring her in the eye as she did it too.
As she huffed and puffed after her self exstraction from under her steering wheel and flopping to an upright state. I asked her calmnly WFT was that. These words came from her joules. "how else can I get out" I didnt answer I just smashed her door with my door about 5 or 6 times.. I yelled "OOOOOPS" and drove off.. lol /

[jeffandre]

Anyway, I got in my car, moved it closer to the car that dinged my car, and walked back in to sit and eat.

Memories...I have a red beater pickup and do not mind parking within my space and giving everyone else some room, but I do mind when someone has parked haphazardly and leaves me no other option (okay, maybe there are a few others...) but to park within an inch or two of their vehicle. I write down a brief vehicle description just in case and then go about my business. I need to relax sometimes, but it is nerve wracking the way some people park, as if the parking lot is theirs alone!!!

[Jim Nilsen]

Remember in "Fried Green Tomatoes" when Cathy Bates was going to pull into the stall and the girls in the VW pulled in quick and told her they were "younger and faster", she just rammed the heck out the VW and then told them she was " older and better insured"

I once knew a guy who kept toothpics in his car and would make sure the car was locked because a lot of people like that don't lock there cars and he would then shove one in there door lock keyhole and break it off. He was always certain that the inconvenience was costly and time consuming but really didn't do any damage that was visible or more than to his car. I think it would really get them to think about ever parking next to him again:scared: If he was really po'ed he would do both locks but he figured only doing the drivers side they would be too broke or cheap to get it fixed and they would always have to get in the passenger side !!!

[Midwest Performance]

Carry Dupli-color temprary paint in black and yellow depending on their car color. Paint I'm jerk off door dinger or something. He won't know it's not permanent and will cause him the same anguish you are in and if you are caught on tape you didn't cause any real damage.

later Kevin

[BA.]

Carry Dupli-color temprary paint in black and yellow depending on their car color. Paint I'm jerk off door dinger or something. He won't know it's not permanent and will cause him the same anguish you are in and if you are caught on tape you didn't cause any real damage.

later Kevin



I LIKE that!

[MickMc]

I did think about a quart of used motor oil poured on the winshield would make a statement without major damage. The motor oil should take alot of effort to clean up.

I still think a mule kick to the drivers door would be very satisfying.

Tooth picks in the door locks is a great idea, but today everyone seems to have a remote that they point at the car like a ray gun, and don't people know that you can turn off the horn chirp. (some people make me laugh)


Mick

[Blown353]

I've been known to kick in a door or 4 but I haven't done that in years.

I now like removing all 4 valve stems and chucking them into the nearest trash can or the bushes and leaving a note-- no permanent harm done but it sure as hell gives them plenty of time to think about what they did while waiting for a tow truck with a compressor.

On a more vindictive note, a friend of mine carries expanding foam with him for just such an occasion. That is bad, bad, BAD news. He's been known to empty several cans into a car via slightly rolled-down windows, or he'll stick the nozzle down between the window weatherstrip and the door so that when it cures it pops the inner door panel or buckles the outer door skin. I have seen the aftermath of this about 2 hours later when he foamed a new Dodge truck that put a large dent in his Infiniti G35 and it was just brutal. He actually saw the Dodge owner do it and confronted him, and the guy just shrugged it off and kept on walking-- and that just set him off. The truck was in pretty bad shape, both door panels popped in and there was foam all over the seats. The outer door skins were bubbled out a bit. Not content to stop there he even emptied a couple cans down into the cowl vents and foam made it all the way out the dash vents. Can you say completely new A/C & heater system?

[Steve68]

^^^ Wow

[Ralph LoGrasso]

No matter how far away I parked or if I took up 2 spaces far out away from everyone, there's always a vehicle parked very close or right next to my ride as to where they can't open their door fully, so they have to squeeze out of their vehicle which obviously meant they would ding my car. And yet there are countless parking spaces everywhere around me. WTF?

There are *******s out there that purposely park next to a car they've surmised was intentionally parked away from everyone. Especially if the car is in two spots.


Parking so as not to get door-dinged, keyed, shoping kart'd, etc. is really more of an art form than anything. You need to park far enough away that no one will be parking next to you, but still close enough that the aformentioned *******s will not immediately deem your car as purposely parked far away. It needs to look as though the lot may have been filled earlier, and now most people left, but your car is still out there, with a bunch of empty spots around it. Never take up two spots, that is paramount. That's when those people get the "oh, he's holier than thou" type impression and key your car. The 'vette guys (I'm dreading having to park mine anywhere when I purchase) are targeted most often. A 'vette parked in two spots is just begging to be keyed by some punk kid or some jerkoff who is envious. If I'm not going to be somewhere for that long (~1hr) and I know the lot isn't going to be rapidly filled, I usually park about 4 or 5 spots down from the nearest car. I hardly ever find someone parked next to me.

[qwik1320]

What about removing the inside of the valve stem(s) and leaving a note that they have a flat...no damage done, just a major inconvenience

[JohnLClark]

I was out to dinner with a friend, that just bought a new 2004 Mustang. He had the car for less than 3 hours. He had parked in a space in front of the window, so he could look at his car while he ate. A woman in a rusty Volvo came up and parked within inches of his passenger side door, even though there were many spaces closer to the door. He knew what was coming, and ran out to stop her from getting out of her car. She opened her door, and leaned on her door like she was trying to push in his door. Then she realized she couldn't get out and then backed up and took out his mirror, all while he was cursing her up and down. She tried to leave, but the cops showed up then. The restaurant owner saw all this go down and called the cops, because he figured my friend was going to kill this dimwit. My friend calmed down, told the cops the story, she tried to say he was taking two spaces, obvious lie, he never moved his car and he was always legally parked. She was arrested for attempted hit and run. He took her to court for damages and diminished value to his car. He won and with the money sold his fixed car and bought the Viper he always wanted.

[neki67]

a friend of mine carries expanding foam with him for just such an occasion. That is bad, bad, BAD news.

How 'bout the tailpipe(s)?? :naughty:

[jeffandre]

What about removing the inside of the valve stem(s) and leaving a note that they have a flat...no damage done, just a major inconvenience

I wonder what expanding foam would be like if sprayed into a tire valve stem???

When parking I try to find end spots so that there is only one side available for door dings.

[rlplive]

I am in the Air Guard, and there is a guy in my unit with a 96 Porsche 911, it is black and cherry as hell. At the time I had a 95 camry, I came out to my car and this dumbass had the door of his 911 resting against my camry. I was so pissed and I just started cussing under my breath and he shut his door real quick. How could someone with such a sweet car be such a moron.
Ryan

[ViperBlue68]

keep little bolt cutters with you and cut off all their valve stems...alot better than just tossing out the shrader(sp?) valves that way they HAVE to find a tire shop or gas station that mounts dismounts tires to fix it....very much a pain in the ass!

[MonzaRacer]

How 'bout the tailpipe(s)?? :naughty:

I like.
I had a buddy who had JUST picked car (like minutes before)up from body shop (Mustang Cobra) after being side swiped while sitting stopped for school bus,,, (he was sideswipped by school superintendant) well lady gets out of her freshly painted car,,, the superintendants wife(!!!) and she BASHES the door in on his car a good 3 inches.
Well he calls cops and asks them to come down as she IS drunk and staggering around (at first he thought she was sick till he got a whiff of her breath) well after she gets hauled away by cops the tow truck driver from body shop his car just came from shows up and its the painter who JUST FINISHED painting the Cobra and he pulls out a gallon of brake fluid and hads it to my buddy.
I dont really condone vandallism but man do some people deserve thier punishment or what.

[shmoov69]

drain-o is quicker.......Ahem......from what I have heard!!

[camaro608]

Been there before many times.


No matter how far away I parked or if I took up 2 spaces far out away from everyone, there's always a vehicle parked very close or right next to my ride as to where they can't open their door fully, so they have to squeeze out of their vehicle which obviously meant they would ding my car. And yet there are countless parking spaces everywhere around me. WTF?
Interestingly when my ride was primered for 3 yrs and driven, I never had a problem.
It only started when the color was on.
And get this, it all began within the 1st hr of the first day driving in public, 1st time I calmly confronted the person of the other car and they tried to blow it off like it was nothing. This sent me into a rage. Didn't get anywhere but angrier.
2nd time they were an ****. And the same as above.
3rd time they were an ****. And the same as above.
4th time they were an ****.
5th time they were an ****.
6th and every time after that now, I conjure the largest, nastiest lugie from the depths within, and plant it on both their front drivers window and drivers side door window and or maby all the way around their vehicle, along with a frikin note asking how would they would feel if I damaged their precious frekin vehicle.
1 time I actually did kick in their door a bit. Should have seen the dent they applied to my vehicle.

It’s just a little dent or it will buff out or it’s just an old car anyway.
OhOhOh, here’s one, my car didn't do that. You must have done that somewhere else.

I know I’m wrong to have developed this attitude but every frekin time theirs no appreciation of all the hard work and detail put into my ride to make it look as nice as it once did. This just sends me through the roof. I stopped counting after 63 dents and scratches. To me there are 3 things in my life you don't mess with in this order. My Family, Car, and Money.
:worship: amen

[camaro608]

keep little bolt cutters with you and cut off all their valve stems...alot better than just tossing out the shrader(sp?) valves that way they HAVE to find a tire shop or gas station that mounts dismounts tires to fix it....very much a pain in the ass!and if its a rwd chevy use those cutters to cut the cotterpin that holds the shift linkage to the trans. so thay have to call a tow truck!!! done that before

[Damn True]

Just be aware that many parking lots have security cameras. If you do something really heinous a judge will have a tough time seeing thousands in damage to the other guys car as justifiable retribution for a door ding.

[MickMc]

New things to add to my trunk.

1. wire cutters for valve stems. small bolt cutter on the shopping list.
2. spray foam (extra expanding type) for the really serious offenders. That has got to be the ugly-ist idea yet.
3. one quart of used motor oil. Maybe gear oil, that always smells nice. A perfect way dress up a windshield.
4. Drain-O just in case.

Mick

[ls427ss]

you guys are mean...lol

Krazy glue usually works on locks as many times a lower life form is the offender and has no remote to open the doors...(add toothpick for effect)

Another good one is if it's a 96 or newer vehicle, and you can get to the gas cap, loosen it and the OBD2 system will set an evap code so fast it'll make your head spin... and it's the kind of code that illuminates the service engine soon light and it won't go off until the cap gets tightened, or they spend $300 to find out nothing was wrong and the code gets removed manually.

A twist on the expanding foam idea, would be to seal up the gas inlet and reinstall the cap... so next time they are on E... they will be a pedestrian.

I have caved doors in too, but it isn't near as satisfying as the thought of them going to the dealer to get boned for a check eng light being on, or making them walk because they drive to E before getting gas, the tow to a shop for repairs, and a seemingly harmless way to cost them several hundred bucks

Or if you know they have been drinking, snip the loom to the taillights so an officer may enlighten them on their new temporary living quarters.

Last but not least... leave a note that simply says "what goes around, comes around" so they get the message upon discovering any of the above...

[cupcar]

Nail polish remover works ! I cannot say anymore. mike.