mgoug

After 6 months of using my dream car as my daily driver I have realized that I have put far fewer miles on it than what I did with my previous auto (which was a truck).

I find that if I am unfamiliar with the area or unlikely to find a safe place to park, I simply don't go, hitch a ride, or ride my motorcycle. I can't bear the thought of shopping carts, malls, street parking, etc.

Have I lost my mind?

franman69

common problem.. you have to remember, IT'S ONLY A CAR... driving it is the best part... so take it out and go somewhere. Deal with the parking when you get there. You have insuranace and it can be fixed. Don't leave the vette at home for fear of parking it.. Live to drive and drive to live... really!

Gerdia

But with all that said, I would not take it to the mall during the Christmas shopping season. Other than that, you can always find the far away from the door spot.

laconiajack

To answer your question, no, you haven't lost your mind, but you suffer from an anxiety syndrom common among Corvette owners. You finally own your dream car, and don't want to have it damaged or threatened by "real world" conditions. In effect you desire immortality for yourself, and your lifetime achievement, owning a Vette. So you are not about to listen to those of us who advise you "it's just a car". or "it's only a Chevrolet". To you it is much, much more. Like many you will hide your baby away in a garage, apply numerous coats of some "superior wax" to it, and never, never drive it in the rain.

doubledime

If I must park in a lot I put this on. It helps protect against door dings. They just use suction cups. They look like sh*t but I have never yet got a door dent.

CyberBullet

The above in bold is the key. DO NOT take it to a parking lot and go in somewhere. Take it out and drive it. If you take it to a mall or WalMart parking lot to leave it you are inviting bad things to happen. They were made to drive, not leave in a parking lot to be beat to hell by the general public. Yes they are "just cars" as some say but why invite damage, insurance claims, etc. Drive it don,t park it in a parking lot.

RO55

I have these too, they're great!

Nice Ride

A Corvette is not "only a car". Take it out and drive it sure but being careful where you park it to avoid door dings etc. and keeping it in the garage (if you can) when there is salt and sand on the road is a smart move. Different strokes but never quite got the only a car thing. Anything in which you have $ invested in is worth protecting.

HighPro

Hee, hee, I feel your pain. I suffer from the same affliction. But, if I want to go to WalMart, I do. I might park in the space that is furthest from the door, but, I do it. I live close to Huntsville, Al and here the WalMart fills the lot, but, not all the way to the end. I am also not past taking-up two parking spaces out in the middle of nowhere in the lot. I would never park my car in the middle of others - call me paranoid.

MKenM

Wyndridge3

No.

jackhall99

I drive mine, and park in at malls, even during Christmas!

I'm careful where I park, e.g. away from the beaten path. No guarantees, but as others have said it is a car. A very nice car, but still just a car.

A footnote on Christmas. There are some major malls that are zoos; I avoid them. I go to a mall out in Bolingbrook that is open air and sprawls over a humongous area. Parking there is safer than at other major enclosed malls. Also, I found that malls, even during Christmas rush, are lightly trafficked on Monday mornings. Keep that in mind.

Just Buy It

I hate parking mine anywhere. Too many jerks out there that just dont care what they do to someones car. If I have to park it I park far away and if possible next to the end of the lot so only one idiot can park near me. Its really not "just a car". Its what we paid for to keep nice and enjoy. I would suggest NOT taking up 2 spots. Thats just an invitation to some jerk doing some damage. I also look for another sports car to park near as they will "get it".

michaelinmech

By driving mine more, I find myself walking more (which is a good thing). No jockeying for the close parking space - rather tucking it in at the far end of the lot away from most trouble.

EVRose

For the last year and a half I've parked at strip malls, walmart, sears, numerous restaurants, at least 20 casino self parking lots, in front of friends houses and the airport. Never had had the slightest scratch anywhere.

Gary '09 C6

LucaBrasiAZ

wow, i actually agree with you for once....and amazed you didnt find a way to rip the grand sport. Well done!

Knob Jockey

I've always had 'parking lot anxiety' through the years with my sports cars.

I exercised all the common methods of prevention, and for the most part my cars didn't get too many door dings.

With the Vette I now have a different method, unfortunately (or fortunately as the case may be) it's not available to most owners.

It's a disabled driver parking permit.

The car is up front where I can keep an eye on it (restaurants) and the spaces are so wide nobody can park close enough to ding it.

I still avoid Wall Mart though.

StanNH

Two weeks ago I took a trip down to NYC with my brand new 2012 Volvo 60 T6 R-Design. It had 1800 miles on it when I started the trip.

I made only one stop at a rest area in Connecticut. The place was jammed and I had to park at the first open spot I could find. When I got to NY I took a walk around the car and saw that some moron had crushed my right front fender; obviously done at the rest area.

Upset? Very! My body shop will replace the fender panel and match the paint. Still, this idiocy will not keep me from driving my car. Same with my Vette. I'm as careful as I can be, but stuff happens.

BTW, my Vette got damaged while sitting in my garage ... by a hawk flying through a garage window and spraying broken glass all over the car.

el es tu

No, you are just taking care of a nice car