Keeping your "nice" car "nice" in the DFW area (Dallas: insurance, home)

[Mr. Chad]

I was wondering what you long time residents have observed or noticed when it comes to the general populations attitudes and behavior towards people with nice cars, whether it be a luxury or sport car, or just a new car that just came off the showroom floor.

I ask this because I have seen many nice new cars, especially dark colored ones get keyed from front to back, parked on the street, or at the mall. I have heard horror stories of people coming out to the parking lot of a mall only to find that someone has purposely out of spite rammed their shopping cart into the side of a new car.

Another scenario is someone is driving down the blvd in their car and someone comes up along side and spits at your car, or flicks a cigarette into your vehicle, leaving stains or burn marks on your seat.

Granted that the vast majority of people drive here, and parking spots are plentiful and wide, do people generally respect other peoples vehicles?

[compSciGuy]

A couple of years ago when I parked outside of the Asian supermarket, I left my car to get groceries. About a minute or so later I went back to my car to get some reusable bags for the groceries. So, I get the bags and go back into the store. When I return to my car after getting groceries I find my car has been keyed. All that being said, the demographic of the store isn't what I would call typical of the demographic of Texas. Also, while my car may be considered "luxury" it was over 10 years old at the time of the keying.

[Mr. Chad]

Originally Posted by compSciGuy

A couple of years ago when I parked outside of the Asian supermarket, I left my car to get groceries. About a minute or so later I went back to my car to get some reusable bags for the groceries. So, I get the bags and go back into the store. When I return to my car after getting groceries I find my car has been keyed. All that being said, the demographic of the store isn't what I would call typical of the demographic of Texas. Also, while my car may be considered "luxury" it was over 10 years old at the time of the keying.

Interesting. I know of the risks of parking at the mall or the grocery store, but what really gets me upset is that I have seen people with supposedly nice cars purposely take up more than one spot in the parking lot. People that park this way are asking to get their cars keyed.

The craziest thing I have seen was at a Lowes parking lot where somewhere towards the back of the lot there were a few BMW 5 series, and Lexus sedans parked in a way where the car literally took up 3 parking slots

[kenshi]

The only way to keep it nice is to leave it at home and take public transit. It's pretty much a given that eventually, some idiotic drunkard with no insurance is going to hit you. Better to just drive a beater so you don't cry when it happens.

[xS☺B☺s]

My Pet peeve is "door dings". That's when you're car is in a parking lot, and some parks next to you too close, and when they sling their door open it hits your car door leaving a one inch ding. If someone pulls up next to me while I'm still in the car I stop wait and glare to make sure they don't my car. Seems to work.

That and those weird people who have stuff flying out of the back of their trucks the whole way down the highway.

[mami2emily]

Yay another reason I am thankful to drive a modest car!

I am surprised this happens so much because Dallas seems very much into fancy cars...and fancy purses...and fancy "rags.". Seems like everyone has a nice car.

My only advice is what my husband did 6 years ago when his "nice" car was new: park at an end where there is only 1 car next to you; if you must park between 2 cars make sure it's somewhere with very wide parking spaces; if you're stuck in a parking lot where spaces are not very wide, park far far away!

[mami2emily]

Originally Posted by xS☺Be

My Pet peeve is "door dings". That's when you're car is in a parking lot, and some parks next to you too close, and when they sling their door open it hits your car door leaving a one inch ding. If someone pulls up next to me while I'm still in the car I stop wait and glare to make sure they don't my car. Seems to work.

That and those weird people who have stuff flying out of the back of their trucks the whole way down the highway.

They are practically inevitable inside 635. Never have I seen such narrow parking spaces as in Dallas! So annoying! Even with my small car it's hard not to feel like I've invaded the next car's space...

[TXNGL]

I don't think it's a "nice car" deal. I noticed the other day that my car, a Subaru Forester (in an area with Mercedes, Hummers, luxury SUVs) has been keyed. I don't know what possesses people to be destructive towards other people's property. Just rude.

[xS☺B☺s]

Originally Posted by Mr. Chad

Interesting. I know of the risks of parking at the mall or the grocery store, but what really gets me upset is that I have seen people with supposedly nice cars purposely take up more than one spot in the parking lot. People that park this way are asking to get their cars keyed.

The craziest thing I have seen was at a Lowes parking lot where somewhere towards the back of the lot there were a few BMW 5 series, and Lexus sedans parked in a way where the car literally took up 3 parking slots

I entirely agree. Totally begging for it.

Moderator cut: Off-Topic

[txgolfer130]

Originally Posted by xS☺Be

My Pet peeve is "door dings". That's when you're car is in a parking lot, and some parks next to you too close, and when they sling their door open it hits your car door leaving a one inch ding. If someone pulls up next to me while I'm still in the car I stop wait and glare to make sure they don't my car. Seems to work.

That and those weird people who have stuff flying out of the back of their trucks the whole way down the highway.

I've come out of a place of business and noticed a nice big door ding in my "luxury" car with paint sample left for me and all...that coincidentally matched exactly the car still parked next to me that had nice black paint on the edge of their door.

I simply repaid the "complement", with a nice long "engraved" message with my divot tool from my golf bag...bumper to bumper on theirs. Something to the effect of them maybe paying attention next time, so that the etiquette police don't have to come and discuss their behavior with them again.