Aargh! My terrible parking is ruining my new car!

FutileBreadMachine · 2 Sep 2013 at 16:57

I've had my nearly new Ford C-Max (9 months old) for about a month now and I'm already ruining it! The other day I pulled in to a curb-side parking space on my left and drove too close to the curb and scraped the front left tyre rim :mad:

Then today I drove into an multistorey parking lot and decided to park next to the wall since I thought that would be a good way to avoid scratches, as I would only have someone parked on my right. Ironically, as I reversed out the space when I left I scraped the front left of the car on some wire mesh on the wall! :mad:

I thought I had more room there and someone was behind me waiting to drive in, so I felt pressured to get out of there

I've always been awful at parking

. The car was in as-new condition when I bought it. I am just hoping the scratches from the wire mesh will buff out when I get the car washed. I rubbed some of them with my finger and they seemed to disappear.

If I got front parking sensors fitted at a Ford dealer would that count as an add-on for insurance purposes? I already have the rear ones and maybe the front ones would be a good investment in light of my lady-like parking skills.

ScoobyDoo69 · 2 Sep 2013 at 16:59

Reverse in.

Problem solved.

FutileBreadMachine · 2 Sep 2013 at 17:03

ScoobyDoo69 said:
Reverse in.

Problem solved.

lol, that's some outside the box thinking

I could have actually done that too since I parked directly in front of the ramp leading up to the 2nd level of the car park. What a muppet.

Hades · 2 Sep 2013 at 17:11

The only car I've ever bought new was a mk1 TT in 2003. It was a beautiful midnight blue and immaculate as it was reversed off the back of the Audi delivery lorry.

5 miles later I'd kerbed it.

I was mildly angry with myself to say the least

GravyMonster · 2 Sep 2013 at 17:20

FutileBreadMachine said:
If I got front parking sensors fitted at a Ford dealer would that count as an add-on for insurance purposes?

No. May even end up costing you more if they put it down as an aftermarket modification.

happy_2008 · 2 Sep 2013 at 17:22

Sounds like you need more lessons in parking

geekman · 2 Sep 2013 at 17:22

I recommend buying an old volvo 850. They're huge, FWD, and have the worst turning circle I've ever seen. Once you've bought it, take it to a multi storey carpark and practice parking it. I can guarantee once you can park that, you can park anything, and any scrapes you put on it won't matter as you can pick up another one for about £300

FutileBreadMachine · 2 Sep 2013 at 17:23

Spunkey said:
No. May even end up costing you more if they put it down as an aftermarket modification.

That's what I mean, I read on the insurance we got that there is a section for aftermarket mods, and I didn't know if stuff done at a dealer counts the same as stuff done yourself/at some garage. I guess anything not done at the factory counts as you messing with the car.

monkeys · 2 Sep 2013 at 17:25

I doubt it would affect insurance.

GravyMonster · 2 Sep 2013 at 17:26

Ah, I get what you meant now. I thought you were asking if having front sensors fitted would reduce your insurance costs.

My Mondeo has aftermarket rear sensors which were put on there by the previous owner. I have them declared and don't think it added anything to the quote.

rodenal · 2 Sep 2013 at 18:20

There is zero chance i would be declaring parking sensors to insurance ( I doubt they would even care tbh), I'd love to see them decline a claim because of it.

Op this happens with new cars all the time, luckily mine have all been company cars but every one got a stupid, tiny mark somewhere - that said it sounds like some parking practice in quiet locations may be needed

FutileBreadMachine · 2 Sep 2013 at 18:27

rodenal said:
There is zero chance i would be declaring parking sensors to insurance ( I doubt they would even care tbh), I'd love to see them decline a claim because of it.

Op this happens with new cars all the time, luckily mine have all been company cars but every one got a stupid, tiny mark somewhere - that said it sounds like some parking practice in quiet locations may be needed

Yeah I should really sort it out, I've been driving for over 4 years. The thing is I used to drive a Ford Focus and the C-Max is a bit bigger, so it's harder to judge where the front bonnet ends. I think I need to play around in it a bit near something non-damaging like bushes and see how close I really am versus the model in my head.

Skynet-T800 · 2 Sep 2013 at 19:19

geekman said:
I recommend buying an old volvo 850. They're huge, FWD, and have the worst turning circle I've ever seen. Once you've bought it, take it to a multi storey carpark and practice parking it. I can guarantee once you can park that, you can park anything, and any scrapes you put on it won't matter as you can pick up another one for about £300

lol I was a pro at parking my 850, get in my wife's little Ford Ka and I can't park it to save my life, I turn to quickly in it and always forget there no boot

So I'm a mile off where it should be parked!

mattyfez · 2 Sep 2013 at 19:49

Get a fork lift licence, costs less than respraying a panel, and it's rear wheel steering, you'll never struggle to park again!

Pete19s · 3 Sep 2013 at 10:55

Don't feel too bad, my now ex picked up an immaculate MK4 Fiesta (properly clean, no rust, no dints, nothing) and smashed it up while trying to park it when she got it home. Caught it on the corner of a brick wall & trashed the O/S rear quarter panel

Must have owned it for an hour at the most. Find a nice quiet place to get some practice in & it's easier said than done but try not to get worked up if anyone is waiting. If they want the space they can wait.

Sasso · 3 Sep 2013 at 11:34

don't rush

rushing will lead to mistakes! why do you think learner drivers are told to reverse park at the fastest an "old mans walking pace"

ok party for safety too so you can have a good look out... but that's exactly what ya want, lookin out for those pesky curbs!!!!

so take your time and just say thanks for waiting after

because what's better... taking a little extra time to park nicely and not hit anything? or rushing, risking damaging your lovely car and also possibly screwing it up and having to pull out (lol) and start all over again, which could end up taking even longer

and who would look more of a boob? the guy parking up nice and slow or the guy jutting in and out hitting his car as he goes xD

I like to think I'm pretty good at parking with reasonable speed and efficiency, but we all make mistakes, never really hit the paintwork except for maybe a small bumper nudge if i reverse back that inch too far. Bu I do occasionally curb and it's usually because I was silly and rushed.... luckily I've got good ol' steels with plastic trim on so hardly the end of the world.... when I eventually find/buy my audi A4 you can bet ya bottom dollar that I'm going to be parking slower than a snail so I don't hit anything!!!! haha xD

also parking sensors would be a nice help if there's a lower wall behind that you may not be able to clearly see. lord knows i used the sensors when I took an A4 for a test drive and that was to park with it's back towards a hedge haha!

FutileBreadMachine · 3 Sep 2013 at 11:39

Pete19s said:
Don't feel too bad, my now ex picked up an immaculate MK4 Fiesta (properly clean, no rust, no dints, nothing) and smashed it up while trying to park it when she got it home. Caught it on the corner of a brick wall & trashed the O/S rear quarter panel Must have owned it for an hour at the most. Find a nice quiet place to get some practice in & it's easier said than done but try not to get worked up if anyone is waiting. If they want the space they can wait.

Ouch! Reminds me of my bro's brand new Toyota Yaris. He and his wife had only had it for 2/3 months and one day after visiting us she reversed it at high speed into a sign outside our flat! We just heard a "BANG! Fsssss" sound as the rear right tyre popped since the body work had been crushed into it. Apparently she meant to hit the brakes when doing a 3 point turn and hit the accelerator instead whilst in reverse.

I had to help him change the tyre to the spare donut in the pouring rain (first time I'd done that).

They pay like £1200 pa insurance now! I'm sure he's being ripped off though.

d_brennen · 3 Sep 2013 at 11:45

If someone is waiting behind you, remember that you have to wait for others to park too. So **** them, park in your own time. If you need to pull back out and try again, do so. Let them wait.