Using your bumper to park...

[EnthusiastOwned]

What's peoples thoughts on this?

Last night I went to the supermarket, parked in a half decent space (end of the row, with a car in front). Came out after my shopping to see a different car in front of mine and think to myself that they've parked like a chump (diagonal in the space, literally chucked it in). Walk closer to the car and notice a very obvious and fresh line in the dirt and grime on my front bumper, yep; matching clean line in the dirt on their bumper. They had literally chucked their car in, used my bumper as a guide to stop and move forward a tad.

I raged, thought of my options and decided to leave rather than do something stupid. Judging by how they've parked the liklihood of them noticing what they've done or even caring was non existent, confrontation was pointless as they were probably the worse kind of person (it's only a car, right?), what the F*** is wrong with these people?

I'm still pissed about it today (brand new car and I REALLY hate inconsiderate people), it looks like it'll polish out but I still really regret not letting off some steam by inconveniencing and pissing them off in some way like they have me, letting two tyres down would have done it. Anyway, just wanted to vent.

Let's discuss!

[EnthusiastOwned]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Not much to discuss is there? Anybody who does that is a fkwit, end of story. (Unless they are Italian or French, in which case it's the norm & cultural )

Well, that's my opinion too, but there must be someone on here who thinks the opposite. I want to hear their thoughts on why they are an ahole.

[EnthusiastOwned]

phil_cardiff said:

I'd do it, in really tight parking situations. And I'd reverse so slowly that there wouldn't be any damage.

Surely if you need to touch someones bumper to park, the space isn't big enough for your car or skill?

I'd argue it's impossible to touch bumper to bumper without at least scuffing the lacquer. I'm sure the person who did mine last night would say there as no damage too. It's not for you to decide. Not cool man, not cool.

[EnthusiastOwned]

jjr1 said:

Thank God I can park in an underground in Marbella as over there they just batter cars out the way.

That's how they are at my parents place in Greece, even brand new cars are battle scarred from it. It's part and parcel of the culture there so forgiven to an extent - I would never, ever own a car I was precious about in a place like that.

[EnthusiastOwned]

Looks like I'm not alone. Thanks chaps.

What is peoples thoughts on the aftermath/retaliation? What would you have done/do? I wish I was a bigger man to chalk it up as one of those things and move on in life, but if i'm honest i'm not; I hate when someone inconveniences me or has little thought for their benefit. It eats at me.

[EnthusiastOwned]

PixelpeepS3 said:

Then you are part of the problem - how can you expect people to change if you don't educate them?

If you were prepared to walk away without any kind of compensation then you should have stayed to have a polite (non-confrontational) chat with the tt.

They may have taken notice, they may have not but you had nothing to lose by trying.

I agree with you, if they don't know what they've done, how can they change their behaviour.

I suppose confrontation might wake them up a little, I doubt it though as these kind of people just have a certain mindset, it's a non issue and not even on the radar. To be fair it's not the first time I've witnessed it and I know it won't be the last, I have confronted in the past and experience shows the kind of person who parks like they don't care, literally doesn't care; whether you tell them or not - They just look at you like you're mad. I didn't want to waste my time.

Honestly, I'm tempted to carry a valve core tool with me from now on, they'll have to change their tyre or wait for the AA which is a pain in the arse. At the best it'll inconvenience and piss them off as they have done me, at the least i'll feel a little happier that I've been a good Samaritan and returned their favour . Asshole move I know, but I'd be laughing today rather than sulking.

[EnthusiastOwned]

phil_cardiff said:

Yep.

You're a bit of a dick.

And the reason I decided not to confront. If I'd have been met with the attitude of "so what" (very likely) I would have gone from irritate to red mist.

[EnthusiastOwned]

phil_cardiff said:

So if I left no damage you'd confront me?

Well, if you left no damage i'd be non the wiser? Unless I witnessed it, then yeah I'd confront. But as I say, it's impossible not to mark the lacquer. Those who clean, detail and know their cars will notice in an instant what those with nob eyes wouldn't.

[EnthusiastOwned]

phil_cardiff said:

By way of context, I prefer not to touch another car with mine. But I can remember the last time I did it, it was about 3 years ago.

I was driving my wife to the maternity suite at the hospital in Cardiff. I dropped her off and went to park the car. The parking is unbelievably tight around there and I had to parallel park my car in-between 2 others.

It was a tight space and as I was reversing to straighten up I reversed at crawling speed until I touched the car behind. I checked for damage, there was none, as I was going so slowly. Had there been I would have left my details.

Normally I would not have parked there, I would have looked for another space, but I wanted to be with my wife who was in labour. I would not have welcomed a 'chat' at this point in my life.

That's fair enough and excusable in that situation to be fair. I suppose it highlights genuine reasons in peoples lives. In my situation shopping in Tesco isn't one of them.

[EnthusiastOwned]

Richard-390a0 said:

cluckcluck said:

I've done this a few times by mistake when I just started driving years ago.

IMO I think the real issue here is that cars are not fit for the purpose of parking in tight spots. A car really should be able to slowly 'bash & bump' other cars and both remain unharmed. I have clipped my bumper at 1-2 mph on a fence and it cost quite a lot to repair, which struck me as a huge design fault for the car. People make mistakes, people get distracted and car makers should allow for this.

The only issue here is your lack of spatial awareness!

I agree, you can't make the same excuse when running a child over - I got distracted. You're driving, 100% attention on that please, if you're incapable get the bus.

Car makers are allowing for this though, front impact systems as an example. The issue we have is the people who bump into other cars are the same people who wouldn't fork out for the option as it's an unnecessary expense.