I’d rather park far and walk than risk it.
That’s my move, too. Here’s my step-by-step: 1) Circle the lot for a spot no one else wants (bonus points if it’s next to a curb or a tree). 2) Take a photo of where you parked because, let’s be honest, I never remember. 3) Double-check the doors, then triple-check. I’d rather hike a mile than stress about someone joyriding in my car. Valet’s nice in theory… but my trust issues say otherwise.
I get it—valet always feels like rolling the dice. I usually park way out too, but sometimes those “hidden” spots end up next to a shopping cart corral or under a tree full of birds... not ideal either. I do the photo trick, but half the time my camera roll is just blurry license plates. Still beats worrying about dings or sticky fingers, though.
- Been there with the “hidden” spots—last time I parked under a tree, I came back to a Jackson Pollock of bird droppings.
- Valet’s a gamble, but at least you don’t have to play Tetris with shopping carts.
- My phone’s full of blurry license plates too. At this point, I just hope the car’s still there and not wearing a new scratch.
- Honestly, sometimes you just gotta pick your battles. Dings or bird bombs... neither’s great, but hey, at least it’s not both (yet).
Honestly, I’ve seen more claims from “safe” parking at shows than you’d think. People get way too close, or some kid with a soda leans in for a selfie… next thing you know, sticky streak down the door. I get wanting to trust the crowd, but I’d rather deal with a bird than a dented fender. At least bird stuff washes off—usually.
I totally get where you’re coming from—there’s just no way to predict what’ll happen once the doors open to the public. I’ve had folks brush up against my car with backpacks or jackets, and while it’s rarely malicious, it’s still frustrating. I’m curious, have you tried using those rope stanchions or display signs to keep people a few feet away? I’ve seen some owners swear by them, but I always worry it makes the car seem “untouchable” and less inviting. Do you think it’s worth the trade-off for peace of mind, or does it just draw more attention and curiosity? I always wonder if there’s a middle ground between being approachable and keeping the paint safe...
