shopping center car parks

[walkon]

You know I can take my 4wd patrol up the Bush to some *&%$#! scary dangerous places and I've managed to keep it straight in doing so. Yet had to take it to several big shopping centers today to have the car doored twice and one trolley dent (4in long). What's more dangerous. Sick of low life pricks

[gayet]

Know the feeling.

Scratch down passenger side, both doors and over the fuel cap, then reversed and had another go to get a bit more of the cap. At trolley handle height.

Fortunately the new vehicle is considerably lower but that hasn't saved it. First time at the supermarket and I have to get the cut and polish out!

[GPSGuided]

Bad memories. My last car when new was dented on both left and right front doors within a month of delivery from the showroom. Some people just don't care when opening their car doors. Quite pathetic.

[andrewa]

Best thing to do with a new 4wd is to get it dented. Then you don't care what happens in the bush. My 23 yo Nissan Patrol has dents in every panel. We just don't care now, and have so much fun!

A

[Strider]

Got a brand new car 3 weeks ago. It's now sporting a massive dent in the drivers door from the local shopping centre which happened in its first week. Pricks!

[Swampy460]

Pretty common these days, the wife got a new "Mistabshi" ASX last year and within a month dents on both sides . I think the tin they being built with is so much thinner on cars these days. The front guards on the ASX are plastic so why not make the door skins the same, less prone to dents.

Swampy

[icefest]

Personally, I usually get most of my shopping on the way home from work/uni/hospital by bike.

When I do large shops by car I usually park near the exit. 

• A little exercise doesn't hurt
• There's always free parks so not hunting around
• Less other people so less chances of dents
• Less people/cars in the way when you want to leave

[GPSGuided]

Btw, I found out the panel beaters don't have to repair and reprint the whole panel to remove these dens. They have specialised suction devices and can pull the dents back from the outside. Cheaper than whole panel work and quick.

[Strider]

Btw, I found out the panel beaters don't have to repair and reprint the whole panel to remove these dens. They have specialised suction devices and can pull the dents back from the outside. Cheaper than whole panel work and quick.

Depends on the location of the dent. As mine is low on the door it means they have to strip back the whole door to access the other side of the panel ($500). Either that or drill a 1/2" hole in the underside to get the tools in there ($250 - but there goes my rust warranty).

[walkon]

Thanks guys, one of the dents I will be able to push out the other is a panel shop job, the trolley is a crease. I won't get them done as it will happen again no doubt. I'm not really a car proud person it's just the lack of respect that others show that got my goat. Icefest if you have ever been to fountain gate s/c and the like you will know that you can't Park within miles so I don't even try. What I grin at, is a car load of kids who will run all game on a court/oval complain when they walk across a car park.

[Cauchs]

A small lift, bullbat and scrub bars and always reverse into a park.

Anyone who gets over zealous opening their door hits the step/scrub bar, anyone who can't judge the size of their hatchback gets te imprint of my bullbat on their side panels.

Yet to get a dint in the truck at a shopping centre, plenty from up the bush though.

[GPSGuided]

I curse the driver who put a big dent in the centre of my front number plate, one who likes to use his/her tow bar as a reverse assistant. Pathetic!

[mrpotter]

Unfortunately our culture seems to be promoting rude & self absorbed behaviours, as seen on TV and heard on current popular music. You can help by not being part of that

Your car park experience makes me think of the current politics and how some people are completely naive to whats been occurring in the country of over the past 10 years, but are unable to stop whining about the current budget on any detail they don't necessarily comprehend. It appears that education requires more funding.

[Strider]

Unfortunately our culture seems to be promoting rude & self absorbed behaviours, as seen on TV and heard on current popular music. You can help by not being part of that

Your car park experience makes me think of the current politics and how some people are completely naive to whats been occurring in the country of over the past 10 years, but are unable to stop whining about the current budget on any detail they don't necessarily comprehend. It appears that education requires more funding.

When we have an egotistical bigot like Abbott at the helm, it is little wonder so many Australians couldn't give a *&%$#! about others. Monkey see, monkey do. Managers and leaders are two very different things.

Oh and good luck getting more funding...for anything.

[mrpotter]

When we have an egotistical bigot like Abbott at the helm, it is little wonder so many Australians couldn't give a *&%$#! about others

I see your point but its still invalid because this attitude isn't new to the past 12 months, but has been in the works for decades, as per the point of my comment.

[matagi]

Personally, I usually get most of my shopping on the way home from work/uni/hospital by bike.

When I do large shops by car I usually park near the exit. 

• A little exercise doesn't hurt
• There's always free parks so not hunting around
• Less other people so less chances of dents
• Less people/cars in the way when you want to leave

My strategy is similar - I find the spot that is furthest from the entrance. Usually heaps of empty spaces and therefore less risk of picking up dents.
But have you ever parked in an empty expanse of parking spaces and come back to find a car parked next to you? That one always leaves me scratching my head.

[GPSGuided]

I find the spot that is furthest from the entrance. Usually heaps of empty spaces and therefore less risk of picking up dents...

This strategy doesn't quite work in a busy city, unfortunately.

[Walking_addict]

Folks, if you have dents where the paint isn't broken, PDR might be possible for many of those annoying dings.

PDR (Paintless Dent Removal) is getting pretty high tech now, and the results are usually as good as new.
Costs are generally up to 75% or so less than conventional panel / paint, and the other advantages are quick and convenient (onsite home / office), and you get to keep the original paint (no mismatched or patchy paint in a few years).

I've been doing it in Adelaide now for a bit over a year, including 5 trips to Brissy since last Nov for hail work.
Yes, there are glue tabs that can be used to pull out shallower dents / creases, but for most things it's generally better (and quicker) to access the back with a range of specially shaped bars / rods.
Access us usually easy via various points, though some drill holes and plug up later (in 12 months, I haven't had to drill one yet )
I even use PDR to pull out creases that need further panel / paint anyway (paint damaged), saves time and messing about with trim removal.

Just look it up on Google in your local area, you should find a few to contact and get someone close by.

[GPSGuided]

Thanks Walking_addict. I was really impressed with the result in my case. Can't see and residue.