GR86 IT'S OFFICIAL: The GR86 is a 'park next to me in an otherwise deserted car park' magnet

Silver Fox

Silver Fox

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I appreciate I've not had my car long, but every single time I've parked it in an extra quiet area of an already quiet car park, I've come back to a car in one (or both) neighbouring spaces.

I know we've had tangential discussions about this in other parts of this fine forum, but I think we need (no - DESERVE) a dedicated area for sharing, venting, discussion, and catharsis purposes.

Today I parked a long way from any sign of life, and returned to see some sort of little Hyundai thing right next to me. It wasn't even one of those blue-tac coloured sporty ones that hot hatch fans that read EVO buy rather than the underachieving overpriced VW/Audi equivalents.

So far I've experienced this in the car parks of service stations, pubs, restaurants, a train station, a cinema, and a general coastal town centre car park.

Come on, share - you'll definitely feel better*.

We can even discuss possible hypotheses for why this is happening in the first place; and we may even come up with some ideas to prevent it...


*Not guaranteed
 
I've started to think some people need a car to aim for as they can't see the lines from their drivers seat, had someone park next to me while I was in the car, they then moved their car twice until they had enough room to get out
 
I sometimes wonder if people like to park next to a car that looks like it's something a bit special and looked after, as your're more likely to be careful not to open you door against their car. I also wonder if they do it just to annoy people like us - why should we have all the fun, when they've ended up having to drive around in what ever they have?
 
Park under a tree until your car is covered in bird shit. Never wash it. Problem solved
 
Many years ago I was taking an exam and I decided to get there really early in case there was bad traffic and I didn't want to be late and it also gave me a chance to sit in the car and do some last minute cramming. So I was first on the car park, it was actually just a piece of rough ground next to the exam hall, no bays marked out. After about 20 minutes I heard a car enter the car park, a young female driver with the choice of the rest of the empty car park to park in, no she parked right next to me, and it wasn't because she was in the same class as me or anything or knew me, I didn't know her from Adam.
 
Swizzle said:
I've started to think some people need a car to aim for as they can't see the lines from their drivers seat, had someone park next to me while I was in the car, they then moved their car twice until they had enough room to get out
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Nick said:
I sometimes wonder if people like to park next to a car that looks like it's something a bit special and looked after, as your're more likely to be careful not to open you door against their car. I also wonder if they do it just to annoy people like us - why should we have all the fun, when they've ended up having to drive around in what ever they have?
Click to expand...

I think it's a mix of those.

My solution is to assume that someone is always gonna park next to me in public places and anticipate the course of minimising the risk of any potential damage that may occur.

So I park in corner plots where possible with only the passenger side of the car next to me (bad drivers always forward park so it's easy to gauge which side that will be).

Never park next to any vans, MPVs, SUVs, or 5 year old cars that look like they've just escaped a scrapyard.

Also stay away from pedestrian paths, more chance of some mouthbreather scratching the car with their bag/keys/issho toy when walking past.

And look out for kids/child seats. Those always spell out trouble, as parents care very little with them around, and the kids are even more oblivious.

In conclusion, just keep your car garaged and never leave it unattended otherwise.
 
Swizzle said:
I've started to think some people need a car to aim for as they can't see the lines from their drivers seat, had someone park next to me while I was in the car, they then moved their car twice until they had enough room to get out
Click to expand...
Someone took "aim for" a bit too literally on our family wagon just before Xmas. Fortunately my wife was still sitting in the car and got the other woman to accept liability!

(And yes, ours is an Audi, so we probably deserved it etc 🤪 Hit by a Honda Jazz for even more of a stereotype!)

PXL_20221207_174647108.webp
 
I find this immensely annoying not only does it make me worry someone will dink my car but as a tall bloke I need room to swing the door open or it's really hard to get in and out.

I've seen people park so close I wonder how they possibly opened there door without resting it on mine. It makes me cross and a bit anxious.

I love driving it so much it's absolutely filthy and I'm just trying to accept the risk and not let it affect my enjoyment.

Worst case it's a painless dent removal right?
 
I think it’s so they have something to line up against rather than looking at lines.

For me though if I see someone whose made an effort to park away from civilisation the. I join them as I know how triggered people get about it.
 
doogle83 said:
Someone took "aim for" a bit too literally on our family wagon just before Xmas. Fortunately my wife was still sitting in the car and got the other woman to accept liability!

(And yes, ours is an Audi, so we probably deserved it etc 🤪 Hit by a Honda Jazz for even more of a stereotype!)

View attachment 12485
Click to expand...
Ouch. Across two panels too - how considerate
 
Good to see I have so many fellow brethren here. I thought I was the only one suffering panic attacks trying to find the ideal spot in public car parks...

... and yes, despite your best efforts, someone will always seek you out. :rolleyes:
 
Silver Fox said:
I appreciate I've not had my car long, but every single time I've parked it in an extra quiet area of an already quiet car park, I've come back to a car in one (or both) neighbouring spaces.

I know we've had tangential discussions about this in other parts of this fine forum, but I think we need (no - DESERVE) a dedicated area for sharing, venting, discussion, and catharsis purposes.

Today I parked a long way from any sign of life, and returned to see some sort of little Hyundai thing right next to me. It wasn't even one of those blue-tac coloured sporty ones that hot hatch fans that read EVO buy rather than the underachieving overpriced VW/Audi equivalents.

So far I've experienced this in the car parks of service stations, pubs, restaurants, a train station, a cinema, and a general coastal town centre car park.

Come on, share - you'll definitely feel better*.

We can even discuss possible hypotheses for why this is happening in the first place; and we may even come up with some ideas to prevent it...


*Not guaranteed
Click to expand...
I resent that sir 😂😂
A50B7AB8-B522-43E0-881B-DCE51A525614.webp
 
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