Interesting replies as it lends a clue to what others (at least S2K owners) are thinking. I agree with the majority who consider the taking of two spaces as "asking for trouble." However, my previous car (`03 Mustang SVT) was highly prized and cared for so I tended to part in the least populated areas of parking lots; typically corner spaces. For some reason it attracted every POS vehicle in the universe and after getting dings I decided to park even further away. That only brought vandals seeking to rip off the stereo as it was virtually out of sight from passersby. Seeing no way to prevent the facts of life, I moved it back to the regular lot and just parked where ever a space was available. Result - no dings. I park my `06 S2000 with care and avoid places certain to add dings (i.e., any place where spaces are limited and people are in a hurry like a football game) but know it's going to happen. What have I learned? How to pull out small dings/dents and how to master touch painting,

 

Sorry, while you CAN be ticketed, the ticket can not be enforced on private property without the express permission of the property owner.

I don't know if this is just in VA or what, but I was told that by a cop. This means that on private property you can take up as many spots as you please, park in handicap parking, or even in a fire lane.

I agree that it is asking for trouble, and I tend not to do it. I do once in a while, but no where near the front especially when it's busy.

I remember once I was looking for a spot(in my last car) and found 3/4 of a spot, a BMW had parked with his driver's side a little over the line (to about the wheel) and I squeezed right in and was centered. He had less than an inch between our cars. I saw an NSX take up two spots at a busy golf course, every other spot was taken.... I would think golfers, especially at this course ($200+ for a round), would not ding a $90k sports car.

Two spots is disrespectful when it's in a busy area, but when you are parking far away who should care? Life is too short.

 

Hahaha, the lab where I sometimes worked on the base had a huge parking lot, but it was always packed, and finding a spot was always difficult, and sometimes impossible. One day we had two vans full of people, looking for a parking place, having carpooled so we wouldn't need a dozen parking places, and the only two parking places that were available were being straddled by a Vette, that we recognized as belonging to another contractor. We reasoned that he'd be leaving within the hour, and knowing that we were going to be there all day, we squeezed in on each side of his car with the two vans, parking so close that there was no way he was going to be able to get in the car on either side. The only way for the guy to find out who owned the vans was to call the base security police, and apparently he didn't think that was a good idea, so he waited, about four hours, for us to come out and move our vans. I almost felt sorry for the guy.
Almost.

 

Good for him for sending the message, and good for you for learning the lesson.

 

So... true I park in the back and the auto afficionados always park by me at least a space or so away. Benz, 350Z, G35, and so.. on. Not to mention all of them reverse into their spots too . I think it is an unspoken code.

 

I only take up one spot. I park in the empty part of the lot if possible, but I always find an end spot. They tend to be a little wider to allow for the concrete apron that comes off the curb. I put my outside wheels on that apron, which usually gives me a good two feet between the inside door and the line.

So far, so good!

 

What kind of idiot mentality and upbringing does it take to mentally justify keying or generally messing with anyone else's property just because you don't like the way they park? Next it will be, the color of their car or the color of their skin - oh wait, that's been done already. Where do you draw the line?

I've read people say they think the double parkers think they are better than you just because they try to take care of their belongings. In this instance I am going to have to agree, they are better than you. Everyone is created equal, it is your actions that determine your place in the heap and it appears that most who have responded are talking from the bottom of the heap. Do any of you have Mamas? Did none of you go to Sunday School? Didn't anyone try to teach you right from wrong?

We are talking about some very basic right and wrong issues here and the double parkers aren't wrong, they could be misguided if they do it to the detriment of others, but they aren't wrong. They guy throwing the taco or keying the car is WRONG!!!

It doesn't matter what kind of car it is Bentley, Kia, Lambo, Mercedes, S2000, etc. it is their car and they have the right to take care of it anyway they see fit as long as it doesn't infringe upon your rights. This might be the first (new) car the person with the Kia has ever had. It might be more important than gold to them. Are you sneering at them because they feel that way or because they have pride in ownership. Now who thinks they are better than everyone else?

I don't think anyone has said they pull up close to a store and purposefully take up 2 spaces, they all talk about parking off and taking up 2 spaces to prevent a$$holes like most of the posts on this list

As far as being against the law, I don't think so. Double parking which IS against the law refers to parking 2 deep on a PUBLIC street. In other words parking out in the traffic lane. As others have mentioned we are talking about private parking lots and the police have no jurisdiction there (for traffic violations, public safety is another issue altogether) unless they are invited on by the owner. If the owner doesn't want you visiting their establishment unless you park a certain way it is their right to post a sign or to ask you to leave. It is never the right of another guest (you).

While we are talking about breaking the law, anyone who keys or other wise messes with someone else's property IS breaking the law. I wonder why that is, could it be that the law recognizes the soverign rights of the property owner?

Lighten up and use a little common sense in your life. But then again based upon this thread maybe it is UNcommon sense.

 

What are you trying to prove??

Its more likely your car will get keyed if you double park, simple as that! Yeah, its against the law and people who vandalize cars are the worst, but it happens and if you double park, your chances of getting your car messed with increases. I don't know about you, but I'll take a ding or two rather than a keyed car, slashed top, etc. It may not happen to you yet, but it will happen sooner or later. When it happens, are you going to keep double parking?

 

I shouldn't have to be trying to prove anything.

Right is right, wrong is wrong, decent is decent, etc.

It is no wonder our jails are full to overflowing. I can't even fathom the mindset it takes to accept as OK this type of thought processes. We are still in America aren't we, you know the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Where's Superman when you need him - fighting for truth, justice and the American way.

Stop and think about what some of you are saying. Does that make you feel good about yourself? Do you have no personal pride or personal standards?

Has anyone ever heard of ethics?

 

Sorry, this isn't a perfect world. If it was, there will be no door dings, collisions, or the need for insurance.

I don't think its a matter of lack of pride or personal standards for those that replied here but rather the SMARTER thing to do. And the smarter thing is to take a couple of door dings than have the car vandalized and pay the deductible (which can cost way more than fixing a couple of dings.)