Discussion
Pan Pan Pan said:
scherzkeks said:
Pan Pan Pan said:
It is possible that quite a few people here, care more about their cars, than the `average' driver, and this brings me to the issue of avoiding door dings.
I have seen quite a few really nice cars even Astons and other exotics, spoiled with tell tale vertical dents in their sides, caused by some clot who has opened their door without thinking, taking care, or taking no steps to prevent their car door from striking the vehicle parked next to them.(In some cases it may even be deliberately caused by individuals, jealous that some one else has a better car than they do?)
It seems as though the only protection against this, is to park as far away as possible from other cars in a car park (and even this does not seem to work, as one can park as far away from other cars as possible, only to come back to find an isolated cluster of cars parked around your vehicle, even in a largely empty car park)
Another option is to try to park next to nice / well kept vehicles, as then there is a reasonable chance that their owners will be equally as careful with their car, as you will be about yours, but these are not always in evidence.
I wondered if it would be possible to have a quickly inflatable fender that could be inflated and then hung from the tops of the door windows used when forced to park in less than ideal situations, But even this may be counter productive, encouraging adjacent drivers to take even less care when parking/getting outing out of their cars?
Attaching bizzare contraptions to your vehicle is likely to rather encourage mouthbreathers to damage it. I have seen quite a few really nice cars even Astons and other exotics, spoiled with tell tale vertical dents in their sides, caused by some clot who has opened their door without thinking, taking care, or taking no steps to prevent their car door from striking the vehicle parked next to them.(In some cases it may even be deliberately caused by individuals, jealous that some one else has a better car than they do?)
It seems as though the only protection against this, is to park as far away as possible from other cars in a car park (and even this does not seem to work, as one can park as far away from other cars as possible, only to come back to find an isolated cluster of cars parked around your vehicle, even in a largely empty car park)
Another option is to try to park next to nice / well kept vehicles, as then there is a reasonable chance that their owners will be equally as careful with their car, as you will be about yours, but these are not always in evidence.
I wondered if it would be possible to have a quickly inflatable fender that could be inflated and then hung from the tops of the door windows used when forced to park in less than ideal situations, But even this may be counter productive, encouraging adjacent drivers to take even less care when parking/getting outing out of their cars?
Just accept that you will get dings if you leave your vehicle in public.
scherzkeks said:
Pan Pan Pan said:
scherzkeks said:
Pan Pan Pan said:
It is possible that quite a few people here, care more about their cars, than the `average' driver, and this brings me to the issue of avoiding door dings.
I have seen quite a few really nice cars even Astons and other exotics, spoiled with tell tale vertical dents in their sides, caused by some clot who has opened their door without thinking, taking care, or taking no steps to prevent their car door from striking the vehicle parked next to them.(In some cases it may even be deliberately caused by individuals, jealous that some one else has a better car than they do?)
It seems as though the only protection against this, is to park as far away as possible from other cars in a car park (and even this does not seem to work, as one can park as far away from other cars as possible, only to come back to find an isolated cluster of cars parked around your vehicle, even in a largely empty car park)
Another option is to try to park next to nice / well kept vehicles, as then there is a reasonable chance that their owners will be equally as careful with their car, as you will be about yours, but these are not always in evidence.
I wondered if it would be possible to have a quickly inflatable fender that could be inflated and then hung from the tops of the door windows used when forced to park in less than ideal situations, But even this may be counter productive, encouraging adjacent drivers to take even less care when parking/getting outing out of their cars?
Attaching bizzare contraptions to your vehicle is likely to rather encourage mouthbreathers to damage it. I have seen quite a few really nice cars even Astons and other exotics, spoiled with tell tale vertical dents in their sides, caused by some clot who has opened their door without thinking, taking care, or taking no steps to prevent their car door from striking the vehicle parked next to them.(In some cases it may even be deliberately caused by individuals, jealous that some one else has a better car than they do?)
It seems as though the only protection against this, is to park as far away as possible from other cars in a car park (and even this does not seem to work, as one can park as far away from other cars as possible, only to come back to find an isolated cluster of cars parked around your vehicle, even in a largely empty car park)
Another option is to try to park next to nice / well kept vehicles, as then there is a reasonable chance that their owners will be equally as careful with their car, as you will be about yours, but these are not always in evidence.
I wondered if it would be possible to have a quickly inflatable fender that could be inflated and then hung from the tops of the door windows used when forced to park in less than ideal situations, But even this may be counter productive, encouraging adjacent drivers to take even less care when parking/getting outing out of their cars?
Just accept that you will get dings if you leave your vehicle in public.
As the saying goes sh*t happens, but that does not make it acceptable for someone to either accidently, deliberately, or even casually damage your property. The fact that doing something to protect ones car, makes it more likely that someone will deliberately try to damage it, makes it an even sadder indictment of todays society.
Conscript said:
A couple of years ago, I was thinking to myself that surely it couldn't be that hard to design a car door with a retractable door edge protector, mounted on a mechanism that extends it automatically when the doors opens. Then when it closes, it retracts out of sight inside the edge of the door, rather than keeping unsightly rubber bumpers on display.
Was pretty surprised to find out later that Ford had actually invented this and fitted it to some of their range. A simple idea, would be great if all new cars could come fitted with it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iib8F0XSg18
In the meantime, I just park defensively - back of car parks, on the end of rows, etc.
Funnily enough I was speaking to my brother about this, they have stopped doing the door protectors now, my Dad and brother both work doing PDR and have there own company. They work with most of the dealers inc Ford and my brother was saying that Ford have even started removing the factory pre fit holes for the fitting of the door protectors. He saw very few fitted with that option.Was pretty surprised to find out later that Ford had actually invented this and fitted it to some of their range. A simple idea, would be great if all new cars could come fitted with it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iib8F0XSg18
In the meantime, I just park defensively - back of car parks, on the end of rows, etc.
It made sense when he said people were less likely to pay £300 or whatever it was for the door protector or go for another option like a better stereo.
jatinder said:
Funnily enough I was speaking to my brother about this, they have stopped doing the door protectors now, my Dad and brother both work doing PDR and have there own company. They work with most of the dealers inc Ford and my brother was saying that Ford have even started removing the factory pre fit holes for the fitting of the door protectors. He saw very few fitted with that option.
It made sense when he said people were less likely to pay £300 or whatever it was for the door protector or go for another option like a better stereo.
The problem with those door protectors and in similar vein to the Airbumps on Cactusses/Cacti, is that it surely will make people less careful about opening their doors on to other cars. They are more likely to think "ah yes, my door will protected so I can let the doors touch!" when in reality, I don't really care how much bubble wrap and bits of plastic are on the doors, I still don't want my car being touched by other cars. It made sense when he said people were less likely to pay £300 or whatever it was for the door protector or go for another option like a better stereo.
It's a good idea but I think the psychology behind them in the real world could end up causing problems. Imagine you'd just taken delivery of your brand new Cactus, on the first trip out you're sat in the car when somebody opens their door into it. You'll still be pissed, because they've door dinged your car.
jatinder said:
Conscript said:
A couple of years ago, I was thinking to myself that surely it couldn't be that hard to design a car door with a retractable door edge protector, mounted on a mechanism that extends it automatically when the doors opens. Then when it closes, it retracts out of sight inside the edge of the door, rather than keeping unsightly rubber bumpers on display.
Was pretty surprised to find out later that Ford had actually invented this and fitted it to some of their range. A simple idea, would be great if all new cars could come fitted with it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iib8F0XSg18
In the meantime, I just park defensively - back of car parks, on the end of rows, etc.
Funnily enough I was speaking to my brother about this, they have stopped doing the door protectors now, my Dad and brother both work doing PDR and have there own company. They work with most of the dealers inc Ford and my brother was saying that Ford have even started removing the factory pre fit holes for the fitting of the door protectors. He saw very few fitted with that option.Was pretty surprised to find out later that Ford had actually invented this and fitted it to some of their range. A simple idea, would be great if all new cars could come fitted with it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iib8F0XSg18
In the meantime, I just park defensively - back of car parks, on the end of rows, etc.
It made sense when he said people were less likely to pay £300 or whatever it was for the door protector or go for another option like a better stereo.
Muddle238 said:
jatinder said:
Funnily enough I was speaking to my brother about this, they have stopped doing the door protectors now, my Dad and brother both work doing PDR and have there own company. They work with most of the dealers inc Ford and my brother was saying that Ford have even started removing the factory pre fit holes for the fitting of the door protectors. He saw very few fitted with that option.
It made sense when he said people were less likely to pay £300 or whatever it was for the door protector or go for another option like a better stereo.
The problem with those door protectors and in similar vein to the Airbumps on Cactusses/Cacti, is that it surely will make people less careful about opening their doors on to other cars. They are more likely to think "ah yes, my door will protected so I can let the doors touch!" when in reality, I don't really care how much bubble wrap and bits of plastic are on the doors, I still don't want my car being touched by other cars. It made sense when he said people were less likely to pay £300 or whatever it was for the door protector or go for another option like a better stereo.
It's a good idea but I think the psychology behind them in the real world could end up causing problems. Imagine you'd just taken delivery of your brand new Cactus, on the first trip out you're sat in the car when somebody opens their door into it. You'll still be pissed, because they've door dinged your car.
The main reason I chose them is because I park quite close to a wall at home, my old car had a couple of chips on the edge of the door where I had knocked it a few times.The trouble is, these don't really help protect your car from the disrespectful w
kers out there. The sort of person who specs something like this is the sort of person who respects other people's cars and so 99.9% of the time is not the problem. +1 to the earlier poster who said all cars should come with them as standard.Happened to my new to me (1 year old Civic EP3), came back to find a nice red line down the drivers door, someone must have given it one hell of a whack to leave so much paint! 2 weeks of ownership and a nice dint in the door crease.... what an absolute bell end.
It was quite obviously done on purpose
It was quite obviously done on purpose
jatinder said:
Funnily enough I was speaking to my brother about this, they have stopped doing the door protectors now, my Dad and brother both work doing PDR and have there own company. They work with most of the dealers inc Ford and my brother was saying that Ford have even started removing the factory pre fit holes for the fitting of the door protectors. He saw very few fitted with that option.
It made sense when he said people were less likely to pay £300 or whatever it was for the door protector or go for another option like a better stereo.
Not to mention that door protectors are only useful if everyone has them. It made sense when he said people were less likely to pay £300 or whatever it was for the door protector or go for another option like a better stereo.
It's a bit of a contradiction really because anyone speccing these is likely to be the sort of person who is already watchful of not hitting their doors into other people's cars, even if selfishly to avoid chips on their own car, so as options go it's a bit redundant for the people choosing it, and useless at actually preventing dings when 99% of other cars don't.
Dog Star said:
Whenever I park my brain is going like mad, little cogs spinning, working out shopping trolley trajectories, is the car parked on a direct line between the shop entrance/exit and a footpath/bus stop etc that may mean scrotes walking past?
Glad I'm not the only one...every single visit I make to a car park is accompanied by a risk assessment of where would be best to park 
Lifted 4x4 with a side protection crash bar. I have witnessed first hand the damage one of these things can do when some dozy twunt opens a door into it! It can involve a bent window frame and a lot of glass.
Can also turn minor bumper scuffs into lots of bksed bodywork when you also add in some steel offroading bumpers! I for one wish to thank the offroading community for their public services against these car park deviants
EDIT: Bonus points to those who leave their 4x4's caked in mud to give the folks who think its ok to drag handbags/jackets over parked cars well they navigate the car park on foot something to think about.
Can also turn minor bumper scuffs into lots of b
ksed bodywork when you also add in some steel offroading bumpers! I for one wish to thank the offroading community for their public services against these car park deviants EDIT: Bonus points to those who leave their 4x4's caked in mud to give the folks who think its ok to drag handbags/jackets over parked cars well they navigate the car park on foot something to think about.
Edited by caelite on Tuesday 21st March 22:14
My car is in mint condition for 8 years old and thankfully has never seen a dink partly because I have totally avoided car parks and use a battered old Primera as a second car that I chuck in a bay and invite anyone to improve it's looks with their door. My other half usually has our daughter with her so she uses the kid bays in her car but I have noticed the odd light dint in certain light and had to have one removed thanks to some dimwit. Sadly that has never stopped her destroying the diamond cut alloys that have many a meeting with a kerb!!
I saw one woman full on open her door into a brand new car once while sitting in my car at a super market.When the owner,another woman,returned I went over and informed her and she didn't seem to give a st. For some people a car is something they get a soap chucker to clean once a month and it ferries their stinking carcass around till it gets replaced after 3 years.
What i do love if sat in a car park waiting for the missis is when another car pulls up stupidly close next to me then watch the driver like a hawk as they do a comedy slidey out their car routine as they try to avoid door contact.
I saw one woman full on open her door into a brand new car once while sitting in my car at a super market.When the owner,another woman,returned I went over and informed her and she didn't seem to give a s
t. For some people a car is something they get a soap chucker to clean once a month and it ferries their stinking carcass around till it gets replaced after 3 years. What i do love if sat in a car park waiting for the missis is when another car pulls up stupidly close next to me then watch the driver like a hawk as they do a comedy slidey out their car routine as they try to avoid door contact.
I've been very very lucky with my cars and them not receiving door dings.
More luck than anything but I am stupidly fussy about parking even my old daily in any old place, I'll park at the back of the car park or find an end space I can really tuck the car away,
Sadly no way of stopping it happening if you have to use your car for normal trips out.
More luck than anything but I am stupidly fussy about parking even my old daily in any old place, I'll park at the back of the car park or find an end space I can really tuck the car away,
Sadly no way of stopping it happening if you have to use your car for normal trips out.
Muddle238 said:
The problem with those door protectors and in similar vein to the Airbumps on Cactusses/Cacti, is that it surely will make people less careful about opening their doors on to other cars. They are more likely to think "ah yes, my door will protected so I can let the doors touch!" when in reality, I don't really care how much bubble wrap and bits of plastic are on the doors, I still don't want my car being touched by other cars.
It's a good idea but I think the psychology behind them in the real world could end up causing problems. Imagine you'd just taken delivery of your brand new Cactus, on the first trip out you're sat in the car when somebody opens their door into it. You'll still be pissed, because they've door dinged your car.
See, back in the 80's everything had bits of rubber and plastic all over sills and doors. Rubbing strips they were called. (Apologies if yo do remember this.) You still had to be careful opening your doors because, although they helped, they didn't guarantee you wouldn't damage paintwork, but they did help.It's a good idea but I think the psychology behind them in the real world could end up causing problems. Imagine you'd just taken delivery of your brand new Cactus, on the first trip out you're sat in the car when somebody opens their door into it. You'll still be pissed, because they've door dinged your car.
Bumpers typically weren't painted either and were designed to be bumped, albeit gently.
Whoever thought it was a good idea to paint them was a bit of a numpty IMHO. It may look nicer, but it does make bumpers a bit pointless really.
caelite said:
Lifted 4x4 with a side protection crash bar. I have witnessed first hand the damage one of these things can do when some dozy twunt opens a door into it! It can involve a bent window frame and a lot of glass.
Can also turn minor bumper scuffs into lots of bksed bodywork when you also add in some steel offroading bumpers! I for one wish to thank the offroading community for their public services against these car park deviants
EDIT: Bonus points to those who leave their 4x4's caked in mud to give the folks who think its ok to drag handbags/jackets over parked cars well they navigate the car park on foot something to think about.
Mine's not lifted but it's still high enough Can also turn minor bumper scuffs into lots of b
ksed bodywork when you also add in some steel offroading bumpers! I for one wish to thank the offroading community for their public services against these car park deviants EDIT: Bonus points to those who leave their 4x4's caked in mud to give the folks who think its ok to drag handbags/jackets over parked cars well they navigate the car park on foot something to think about.
Edited by caelite on Tuesday 21st March 22:14
Defenders/110/90s also have very short and narrow doors so getting in or out with limited space is easy. That said the kids prefer to hop over the back seats and walk out of the back door
Winch bumpers also seem to cause serious concentration when others are manoeuvring nearby.
I regularly park up and come back to find a rammed carpark with an empty space either side of my 110
That said the icicles on the inside during winter aren't great when they thaw out enough to fall off and drop down the back of your neck
Sometimes it amazes me the nice cars parked as close to the supermarket as possible, sandwiched between two cars which look like the owners probably couldn't care less if their doors smash onto the nice car.
Park miles away in an end space.
I wouldn't park over two spaces, you're just asking for a key down the side. (people are aholes).
sometimes it would be nice to not like cars and be happy driving a POS!
Park miles away in an end space.
I wouldn't park over two spaces, you're just asking for a key down the side. (people are a
holes).sometimes it would be nice to not like cars and be happy driving a POS!
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