Hello!

Just wondering where you all park when you're faced with limited parking in a small parking lot? I'm having that issue at work, and I really hate to get dings/scratches, but I'm not really sure where to park. Does anyone have any thoughts/suggestions? Obviously, I try to park way in the back, but do you think end spots are better than middle spots, etc?

Thanks!

Jeff

 

end spots are better if they are not next to a shopping cart corral, or under a tree of birds.

 

^^

Totally agree with that.

 

I would say taking an end spot where only 1 car is next to you would be ideal if it was a good end spot and what you can also do is place a big orange note on your window saying "please watch your doors, it's very much appreciate, thanks"

 

That note would draw negative attention where I live/work, unfortunately.

 

In the boonies!

 

If it's a small lot, I guess the only choices you have are whatever's left. Unfortunately, such is life. It doesn't matter where you park; it matters who parks next to you and how careful they are.

 

Park either in the end row as close to the curb as possible or beside the nicest car in the parking lot as I'm sure they wouldn't want the end of their door to hit yours.

 

Thats what I do... my wife hates it and doesn't understand why I'm so anal about parking

 

Parking on the end is better because you have 1 car to do damage next to you vs 2. however people are inconsiderate assholes and don't really care where you park they will still ding your doors if they're careless

 

I also try to avoid 2-door cars and cars with fat people.

 

x3
I try to avoid parking next to trucks and vans.

One other thing: I try to park on the passenger side-- most cars will have drivers, but not necessarily passengers, at work sites and train parking lots.

 

I'll add, park as close to the end as possible so the person that parks next to you has plenty of room. Only catch, can't open my door sometimes due to the curb, but other than that... ..

 

I'm assuming you work at a small workplace when your parking lot at work is small, suggesting most people know each other (?). Try to park beside coworkers who have similar attitudes towards their rides, or better yet, if they get along with you.

 

I park next to my two bosses. Our lot is cramped as well and we park in the back of it. Boss one has a Subaru Legacy and boss two has BMW 328xi. They both care about there rides so I feel safer parking there than anywhere in the lot. I'm less afraid of door dings than I am of getting a hit and run from some asshole customer with no insurance. I work in a supermarket in a kinda seedy area...when food stamps come out all the trashy people shop and I don't trust them to not hit my car and just take off.

 

 

I don't have that problem at work (and I won't have any work problems after next Wednesday), but if I did, I'd drive my Ranger pickup and leave my TL at home safe in my garage.

 

In a small lot, you have to really leave home early to get one of the end spots. So, that decision is up to you. Otherwise, park where you can, and hope nothing happens.

Just don't do this....

 

And don't go near SUV's.

You can also look for end spots where you park as far over away from the single spot, maybe so the tires are just over the "edge line". This should create a decent amount of room without looking like an asshole.

 

That still cracks me up

 

Same here.

 

Make a parking buddy at work. Park next to him/her. One of you backs in so that your passenger doors are next to each other. Park really close to make the gap to the other cars as large as possible.

That was my strategy back in the 90's when I parked at a big ass Sprint parking garage.