Do you over analyze your parking strategy?

In reply to 1988RedT2 :

Secret agent stuff. :) 

No, for Radwood, I show it with period New York plates front and rear. 

Purple Frog said:

Sometimes he pretends to be a New York yankee.   

New York shall always be home. :) 

Some might call mine anal-ized parking. 

Scored tonight!

David S. Wallens said:

Scored tonight!

You left way too much room next to you. Later on, someone will be able to squeeze in into the space next to the space between you and the next parking space. Does that make sense? 

In reply to VolvoHeretic :

Ah, I see, gotta run a little defense. :)

Fortunately no one parked next to me.

Whew. 

It doesn't matter how well you park, eventually somebody will place a sheetrock blade angle wedged up against your BF Goodrich 295/50R15 tire at the local McDonalds so that when you back out, it makes a 2" slit through the tread just because you have a nice car.  And then your 4 way X shaped lug wrench twists in half because the last time you had your wheels installed, the shop had their impact wrench set at Semi Truck wheel lug nut setting and you have to buy a hand chisel from some guy in the parking lot so that you can chisel 3 closed end acorn lug nuts off of your wheel.

I guess this counts: We parked at the closed gas station next to Waffle House as their lot was rather full. 

Parking carefully still did not stop somebody from putting a huge dent in the passenger door of my Abarth. I drive what is possibly the second smallest modern car sold in the US and somebody still managed to put not a ding, but an outright dent in my door. Not even in the middle of the door where most people hit, but down low, so obviously the lower corner of their door got my car, which means they just flung their door open and it got my Abarth at the very end of it's travel.

In reply to mad_machine :

Ugh. Stuff like that keeps me up at night. 

In reply to Purple Frog :

Nice!

And recently while in Orlando. Did okay, right? 

From the other day at Orlando’s iconic Beefy King. Got a corner spot, so to speak. 

For inconsiderate parking habits,  I'll submit the careless trailer hitch. And what a cludge of a hitch it is. 

David S. Wallens said:

Not me but a kindred spirit:

David, if you aren't familiar with the Asian restaurant in the background there,  they are awesome. Pat and I went to lunch there this week and we saw the driver of that S2000. An elderly lady, probably at least 80 years "young". 

In reply to TJL (Forum Supporter) :

Asian Pacific Bistro? She knows my usual. :) 

TJL (Forum Supporter) said:

For inconsiderate parking habits,  I'll submit the careless trailer hitch. And what a cludge of a hitch it is. 

Younger me would flip a shopping cart and hang it over that hitch. Older me wishes he was younger.

remember, kids, always keep sidewalk chalk in your car.

Do I over analyze my parking strategy? I don't think so. My wife, however, may have a different opinion of my approach. :) I give consideration to things like shade, a curb to favor, quick exit, am I loading anything, weather, theft risk, etc. More often that not, I'm parked in the back 40. I much prefer a walk to circling and hunting for a closer spot.

If I'm in one of my E36 M3boxes, it's a little victory to find an egregious example of selfish parking (two spots, etc.). I really enjoy placing my passenger door an inch from their driver side door. Petty, I know. 

Pet Peeve: In the morning there's always someone sitting near the prime spots in the garage waiting for a spot to open up at shift change. The problem is that they back up traffic 10 or more cars deep while they're waiting. They're either oblivious or incredibly self-centered. Or both. It happens nearly every day. I park elsewhere as a result. 

I always try to find an end spot, if there is shade its a big bonus. Driving an EV now has changed how I park on road trips always looking for if there is a spot to charge while we are doing something we already had planned, so I guess that's my biggest over analyzing of parking. 

I don't have to over-analyze my parking.  My wife does it for me.  Her war cry, when I'm pulling into a parking spot, usually when I'm at least 3/4 of the way parked is "THERES A SPOT OVER THERE!!!!!!".  Too late. 

Hell, I can't even leave the exit row of a parking lot without her asking "Why'd you go this way, the other way was so much faster."  She can't help it, it's inherited from her father.  He's the type that will ask you the route you took to his house so he can tell you how dumb you are for going that way.  

Even if it’s not my car, I feel compelled to park on the end. 

Over analyze? No.  I use just the right amount of analysis taking into account all of the relevant factors including, but not limited too, the vehicle I'm driving, exposure to passing vehicles, ease of egress for myself and any passengers, exposure to potential door dings, access to the trunk, truck bed or trailer doors as needed, ease of access to the parking spot and ease of exit from the parking lot.  Doesn't everyone?

This isnt how to "protect" your vehicle, this is how to attract the eye of spiteful vandals who will mess with your vehicle just because you parked like a douche.