Is your paranoia ruining your enjoyment of your car?
Discussion
My brother in law runs three newish, nice cars. An X3, 330D Touring and a 997 Gen 2 S. He rarely cleans any of them and doesn't stress about parking them anywhere. When the wheels are kerbed or doors dinged he similarly doesn't stress or care. He is into nice cars though.
I own an old 993 that I am quite precious about. I don't like taking it into large car parks at shopping centres or supermarkets as typically other people aren't fussy about olympic door opening and touch parking. Id rather avoid the grief. Scraping a wheel would also really bother me.
You have to find a balance. Otherwise your nice car ends up owning you.
I own an old 993 that I am quite precious about. I don't like taking it into large car parks at shopping centres or supermarkets as typically other people aren't fussy about olympic door opening and touch parking. Id rather avoid the grief. Scraping a wheel would also really bother me.
You have to find a balance. Otherwise your nice car ends up owning you.
Not so much with damage, because I have rarely had any inflicted, but definitely paranoid with regard to mechanical failures.
My last car had a series of expensive failures when I was totally skint and stopped me getting to work for a week, just to rub salt in the wound!
I decided to chop it in for whatever I could get rather than fix another fault then decided to finance up and buy a non- cheapo car to see if that has been the root of my problems. That went well for a while but then started leaking coolant constantly.
I've decided to pack in the whole idea of used cars as my daily driver and try the only route I haven't tried before - brand new car under manufacturer warranty. At least if something breaks its not my problem. Watch this space...
My last car had a series of expensive failures when I was totally skint and stopped me getting to work for a week, just to rub salt in the wound!
I decided to chop it in for whatever I could get rather than fix another fault then decided to finance up and buy a non- cheapo car to see if that has been the root of my problems. That went well for a while but then started leaking coolant constantly.
I've decided to pack in the whole idea of used cars as my daily driver and try the only route I haven't tried before - brand new car under manufacturer warranty. At least if something breaks its not my problem. Watch this space...
f1nn said:
OP, what do you drive?
But, no, company cars get dumped wherever they need to be dumped without a care in the world.
You see this is where I differ. I drive a company car and still go through what the OP has outlined. But, no, company cars get dumped wherever they need to be dumped without a care in the world.
Even though it is not mine, I don't want to drive around in a dented to f
k banger. I drive my partner mad as I cruise around car parks ignoring parking spaces that are free in search of something where there is less chance of some idiot, who has no consideration of the property of others, bashing the bejesus out of my car as she loads little Jayden into the car seat of her very council like 4x4. I seek out the end spaces where the chance of being dinged are reduced by 50%, or a space next to a 2 door car that of course will not have rear doors with high sculpted edges that do not align with any bump strips. I especially like the bays that are sideways on, so bumper to bumper.I too sit in the car at times rather than go around the shops or rush back to check the car is still OK. I wish I wasn't like this with a car that is not mine, but I guess it is just the way I am. Nothing riles me more than some idiot who doesn't give a f
k about their property and therefore doesn't give a fk about mine either.BTW I have pointed out to my partner that my 3 year old car has absolutely no dings, scratches or dents, whilst hers looks like she has been through Baghdad. She was recently reversed into by some old dear who got out and said, "Don't worry, it's only a car"
Centurion07 said:
RGambo said:
No, to be honest I don't worry about my car. I bought it to enjoy it, which I do, but it's only a bloody car! It can be fixed, or replaced. Either way what's the purpose in worrying? It will not change what is going to happen.
A lorry drove into my last car, [bI was more pissed off at the aggravation it caused to get it fixed than the damage done[/b].
Isn't that the whole point? Of course pretty much ANY amount of damage can be fixed, it's the time/hassle/aggravation in having to do it because of someone else's incompetence that's the issue.A lorry drove into my last car, [bI was more pissed off at the aggravation it caused to get it fixed than the damage done[/b].
At a slight tangent, it's also the reason why those ads on tv annoy the crap out of me. I think they were for an insurance co. or ambulance-chasing solicitors or something, and they tried to point out people's reactions to getting bumped as pedestrians vs drivers. Of course I'm going to be more pissed off if someone drives into the side of my car rather than just bumps into me as a pedestrian; another pedestrian bumping into me isn't going to cost me time, money and hassle to put me back in the position I was before you walked into me, whereas bumping into my car with your car is!!
But hey, I might have miss read and misunderstood the first post.
I do agree with your ambulance chaser point though !
OwenK said:
Not so much with damage, because I have rarely had any inflicted, but definitely paranoid with regard to mechanical failures.
My last car had a series of expensive failures when I was totally skint and stopped me getting to work for a week, just to rub salt in the wound!
I decided to chop it in for whatever I could get rather than fix another fault then decided to finance up and buy a non- cheapo car to see if that has been the root of my problems. That went well for a while but then started leaking coolant constantly.
I've decided to pack in the whole idea of used cars as my daily driver and try the only route I haven't tried before - brand new car under manufacturer warranty. At least if something breaks its not my problem. Watch this space...
The reality is you miss work anyway because they take weeks to fix your car under warranty and refuse to give you a courtesy car "because they don't have one".My last car had a series of expensive failures when I was totally skint and stopped me getting to work for a week, just to rub salt in the wound!
I decided to chop it in for whatever I could get rather than fix another fault then decided to finance up and buy a non- cheapo car to see if that has been the root of my problems. That went well for a while but then started leaking coolant constantly.
I've decided to pack in the whole idea of used cars as my daily driver and try the only route I haven't tried before - brand new car under manufacturer warranty. At least if something breaks its not my problem. Watch this space...
s said:
And having the Clio keyed didn't bother you? £350 of my own money to rectify some assholes idiocy would have me blow a gasket. Infact I have, had my Alfa keyed on both sides, got it painted on one side only to have the other side keyed 2 days later, the wing mirror kicked off from my Laguna etc. Made me get a private garage at some expense.
I was annoyed. Very annoyed. But I don't obsessively worry about my car being damaged again.I waited until I moved house before I got it repaired though!
To answer the thread, yes it's annoying to have my car damaged but it's not enough to worry constantly over it.
I know this is a slightly old thread but it rings so many bells with me it’s uncanny
In recent years I have noticed becoming more and more concerned and upset by any sort of damage or dirt on my car
I park away from other people, know where the wider spaces are, hand was the car regularly, etc, etc
When I find a scratch, chip or even if a bird does its thing in a big way on it I find myself needing to resolve/repair/clean straight away or it nags at me
I didn’t used to be like this and in the past had (for example) a brand new Golf GTI and a couple of year old Jag that had marks and dents on that I just shrugged off as things that happen. I don’t seem to be able to do that now and end up (overly?) worried about these things
I don’t want to buy a cheaper or older car to try and get round this as, in my experience, this doesn’t help me and I still have the same issues
So, my question is, has anyone got any tips to try and avoid this worry and stress?
In recent years I have noticed becoming more and more concerned and upset by any sort of damage or dirt on my car
I park away from other people, know where the wider spaces are, hand was the car regularly, etc, etc
When I find a scratch, chip or even if a bird does its thing in a big way on it I find myself needing to resolve/repair/clean straight away or it nags at me
I didn’t used to be like this and in the past had (for example) a brand new Golf GTI and a couple of year old Jag that had marks and dents on that I just shrugged off as things that happen. I don’t seem to be able to do that now and end up (overly?) worried about these things
I don’t want to buy a cheaper or older car to try and get round this as, in my experience, this doesn’t help me and I still have the same issues
So, my question is, has anyone got any tips to try and avoid this worry and stress?
Honeywell said:
Nobody has ever vandalised any of my flash cars. But that's because I live in the countryside not the urban hell of modern Britain.
The wild life must be well behaved in your part of the countryside though. Those are the things we don't have to worry about in the urban hell of London like driving into a stray deer at night time 
R8 V10 spyder. I just park it where there is more space, usually farthest from the shop entrance. Where I can't do that, like at Aldi, I always park either in an end bay, and go right on the outer line, or, up by a kerb - halving my chance of damage.
To be honest, when I do see people parking next to it, they are usually clearly being super careful when they get in/out (without knowing I can see).
I don't live in London mind you.
I used to be paranoid about my 1st "nice" car - 996 C4s, but now I just accept it "may happen" and get on with enjoying the supercar experience.
To be honest, when I do see people parking next to it, they are usually clearly being super careful when they get in/out (without knowing I can see).
I don't live in London mind you.
I used to be paranoid about my 1st "nice" car - 996 C4s, but now I just accept it "may happen" and get on with enjoying the supercar experience.
Whatever it is I get a bit paranoid, even cheapies. Am as fussy about my Fiesta ST as I am my M135i and was going to get an M4 so would be even more paranoid.
Something liberating about driving a car thats already battered, but one thats not got any dents and is very shiny is always a concern as it can only get worse.
Can mitigate it with strategic (but considerate) parking, also the size of the car helps, the Fiesta is pretty small relative to a parking space but having had much bigger cars int he past they seem to pick up dinks easier.
Best to try not to get too freaky about it, if anything happens I will get it sorted, the car is insured and has additional security.
It really is worth doing some work on the security angle up front, so many up the security after a theft, do it now !
Something liberating about driving a car thats already battered, but one thats not got any dents and is very shiny is always a concern as it can only get worse.
Can mitigate it with strategic (but considerate) parking, also the size of the car helps, the Fiesta is pretty small relative to a parking space but having had much bigger cars int he past they seem to pick up dinks easier.
Best to try not to get too freaky about it, if anything happens I will get it sorted, the car is insured and has additional security.
It really is worth doing some work on the security angle up front, so many up the security after a theft, do it now !
Even parking the other end of the car park away from everyone seems to attract people parking next to me. With masses of parking surrounding. Some people are simply sheep.
Dash cam front and rear with parking sensors. Sadly it’s only the way forwards nowadays and only half a chance of protecting the car from dings.
Dash cam front and rear with parking sensors. Sadly it’s only the way forwards nowadays and only half a chance of protecting the car from dings.
Hoofy said:
Jaguar99 said:
So, my question is, has anyone got any tips to try and avoid this worry and stress?
Just let the chips and dents stay there. You will soon get over it. Just don't enter the car in any concourse events. 
If you tend toward being precious about your car and that's making you worried and stressed then the solution is right there.
It could be expensive shiny cars that need a level of involvement and commitment just aren't for you. So just get rid. There's no shame or loss of face whatsoever in that at all and the sense of liberation that arrives the moment you become aware that's the case and walk away is overwhelming.
It's not forever - you can always go back anytime, but the chances are if doing so will start keeping you awake at night worrying again then you won't simply because nobody with any sense would inflict that on themselves once they realise they don't have too.
Jaguar steve said:
^ This
If you tend toward being precious about your car and that's making you worried and stressed then the solution is right there.
It could be expensive shiny cars that need a level of involvement and commitment just aren't for you. So just get rid. There's no shame or loss of face whatsoever in that at all and the sense of liberation that arrives the moment you become aware that's the case and walk away is overwhelming.
It's not forever - you can always go back anytime, but the chances are if doing so will start keeping you awake at night worrying again then you won't simply because nobody with any sense would inflict that on themselves once they realise they don't have too.
I know I said worry and stress but maybe that’s overstating it a bit. It’s certainly not keeping me awake! I just wondered if there were any tips for not giving so much of a damn?If you tend toward being precious about your car and that's making you worried and stressed then the solution is right there.
It could be expensive shiny cars that need a level of involvement and commitment just aren't for you. So just get rid. There's no shame or loss of face whatsoever in that at all and the sense of liberation that arrives the moment you become aware that's the case and walk away is overwhelming.
It's not forever - you can always go back anytime, but the chances are if doing so will start keeping you awake at night worrying again then you won't simply because nobody with any sense would inflict that on themselves once they realise they don't have too.
It niggles at me and I feel a bit unsettled until I can clean or repair whatever it is
I have considered and have owned less expensive older cars in the past and have been the same with them. The weird thing is that it’s the last few years but before that it wasn’t such an issue even though the cars were similar shininess
Jaguar99 said:
I just wondered if there were any tips for not giving so much of a damn?
I've owned pretty much right across the whole spectrum of cars from almost brand new to obsessively polished Garage Queen classics to performance modified ones and have discovered I'm never happier with a car than when I don't have to give a fkuck about it.
Naturally as this is PH everybody will accuse you of loosing at the Game of Life when you do that but everybody should at least give it a try.
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