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sickening and so stupid

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Drove my new, two week to the day Miata out for lunch today. Beautiful weather - 60 degrees - top down. I'm friends with the restaurant owner. He and several of the other guys that work there are really into cars. I parked on the end where the car guys park. I parked in the end space and left as much space as I could on the opposite side - which was a lot - nice wide spaces. Watched a truck pull in close beside of my car and noticed the driver glanced down at my little Miata after he exited his vehicle. Nah, I thought. He had all the room in the world. I'm now the proud owner of a gorgeous little new Miata - with a tiny ding on the passenger door.
 
No I was so certain it didn't happen I didn't even look until after we left. The kicker - I think I recognized this guy and he is friends with the guys that work there. I'm planning on making a trip back this eve and see if it was the guy I think it was.

The owner has a black Supra (two actually, one black and one white) that takes a trophy home from every show. His relatives that work there have Mustangs, an immaculate black 350Z, a Probe and a couple of other jap tuners - all of them always cleaned and waxed to perfection. I was parked in the row that they all park in. So I was sure it didn't happen. Until I noticed two little specs the size of pin heads on the door after we left and then looked down the bodywork and I can see the tiny crease. It's not noticeable unless you look down the side of the car. But its there. And I guess it forever will be as long as I own the car. Lesson learned. I should have parked out out on the far corner with Tony's White Supra where nobody would park unless they are trying to protect their car. I'll see if it can be removed by the PDR folks but I think its probably too small.

It's such a tiny thing in the scheme of life but when you have a perfect car from the dealer - not the tiniest scratch - it hurts so bad.
 
Now that's a pain in the neck.
 
<span style="text-decoration: underline">Real</span> Annoying!

My Miata was less than six months old when it got one of those. It *still* bugs me (and like you, I'm sure I know who did it....but I can't really prove it)

We bought a new Accord 6 months ago. Within 2 months it took a $700 hit while she was at the dentist's. No message on the windshield or anything like that. $500 deductable, of course.

My brother-in-law bought a new Civic in '98. Within 2 months, it took a rear-end hit that cost $6000+ to fix. He was standing still at a red light when it happened (it went on to last 280,000 miles).
He just bought a new, '08 Civic 2 months ago.
Guess what happened while he was standing at a red light last weekend? Yep...same thing!

In eight years since I got it, that ding was the only one my Miata has gotten. Let's hope the same for you!
 
Another source of pain...wind blew a limb off a "street" tree in front of the house. (tree planted in the grassy space between the sidewalk & curb). Now, this is a city tree by definition, so the 3 creases in my 4-runner that will cost about 825. to fix are awaiting the city legal department to do their "investigation" and decide whether or not to compensate me. Wonder if it will happen in 09???
 
Dale - so far I've never had to file an auto claim (knock wood!).

I assume your own car insurance will pay for the tree damage repair, right? They're the ones who argue with the city, not you - I hope!

Tom
 
I twice was hit by falling branches in a storm. One landed on the sun roof of my former Contour SVT while parked across the street from my office a few years back. The other time was a branch broke off of an overhanging tree while I was driving home and smashed the hood of my Explorer since I hit the brakes and kept it from hitting the windshield. My normal car insurance is with Erie, and they immediately accepted the first estimate and paid. I have stayed with Erie for car and home ever since.
 
I had a VERY bad spell a few years ago involving the demise of more than one vehicle. My wife had taken our minivan up to her brother's for him to fix it. We had it back MAYBE 2 weeks and I drove it up to Wisconsin to meet my wife at a camp. I arrived about 1:45 in the morning. 20 minutes later, there is a sound like rushing water or snow sliding off a roof. We went outside to check out the noise and there it was.....a pine tree had fallen over and landed - you guessed it! - ON the recently repaired minivan!!! Ackkkkkkkkk
 
My recent mishap with my new MINI Cooper may make you feel better . . .

In an icy parking lot last week, I came to a dead stop behind an old truck just be be sure I wouldn't slide.

Then, without warning, my (completely stopped) car started to slide sideways (parking lot slightly sloped), and in S L O W M O T I O N, my MINI (perfect paint job, not a scratch) slid into the truck bumper.

Nice dent in the bonnet, bent driving lamp, scratched bumper.

Cost: $1,020. Getting it fixed today (not an insurance claim - cash out of pocket!!) :eeek:.

Did not make my day, I'll tell you. :cryin: :madder:
 


All this damage was done in parking lots (except rust). The driver's side front wing was also pushed in. It started with a single 'little' chip in the passenger side door on a $3000, 1979 paint job only two months old. I parked it in 1988 when the transmission blew.
 
So far I have not contacted GEICO about the fallen tree limb. I believe I am better off trying to work this out with the city myself and using my insurance as a last gasp. I have never had a claim in the last 10+ years and believe I'm going to pay less if I can maintain this record. But then again, maybe I'm thinking like a caveman.
 
I have a 1990 Olds Cutlass Wagon that looks the worse for wear thanks to parking lots. Not sure what got it started, but it took three big hits during the time I lived in an apt. in Tullahoma, TN. Once one of the dents was there, it became a magnet for them. I suspected who caused them, but had no proof. That car's looking pretty horrid now, but from a drivetrain standpoint, it's been one of the best cars my family has ever owned.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]It's such a tiny thing in the scheme of life but when you have a perfect car from the dealer - not the tiniest scratch - it hurts so bad.[/QUOTE]

Allen,

You are correct, it is annoying as can be to think that people are that stupid and rude to their fellow drivers.

I used to let these things really get to me until I was driving my "near perfect" TR6 this summer after 2 months of engine rebuilding. It was a beautiful top down summer day and as we sat stopped at an intersection, I watched in horror as a truck pulled in front of a car coming in my direction, knowing full well that the impact would push the truck into my car. That was bad enough, but when I saw the loose pallets come out of the truck and head for our windshield, I had visions of my wife being scarred for life or maimed if she got hit in the face with glass or flying wood. Luckily, neither of us were hurt as the pallets hit the hood and lower windshield and bounced off to the sides of the car.

When I saw that my wife was not hurt in any way, the grave importance of the car being damaged just did seem quite so great anymore. I said a little prayer and from that day on, things like that just don't seem to bother me like they used to.

later this fall, I took delivery of a new 2009 Taurus in October and within a week had two creases from parking lot idiots. I just shrugged and drove away because they were long gone, but this time I didn't let it eat at me like it used to.
 
I was the lucky receipient of an "OVER HAUL" from a fabulous body & paint artist. She made April in our calender & and to be honest it was the most amazing job ....all I ask for was a dust up paint job - she was getting alittle shabby. Now & before there was no where I could park that she wasn't surrounded by cars & interested people while I was at the grocery store or where ever- the thing is people are going to be careless. The first scratch is the one that will break my heart, but I refuse to let it sit or trailer her & yes Maggie sits outside some days (but I bought a really good cover) but it's to be able to jump in and enjoy that we all have these treasures. So may their own Karma take care of the rotten eggs that carelessly diminish their sparkle. Spring is here in Louisiana and she's going where I go- Fools be damned!! :driving:
 
I nearly forgot. My first scratch on the brand new TR6 paint job happened with 24 hours of taking it out of the body shop (after nearly 7 weeks inside) by someone leaning over the fender admiring the engine. What could I say?

Life goes on. I'm still here and the car is still in the garage awaiting spring.

Like Randi said, I'm going to drive it and show it and stuff might happen when I do.
 
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