Leaving your GT in public places
- Thread starter Cybalist
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davy83
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i had my bumper destroyed by a young lady in a supermarket car park got her friend to take a picture of her sitting on the front of my car. I saw this from a distance too far to really stop it happening. unfortunately the lady in question was clearly fond of pies, or chocolates because she managed to wreck the bumper, breaking the mounting screws where it attaches to the body and distorting the plastic, and cracking the paint. had to remove the whole front bumper and whole bunch of spray work.
However despite this i often leave my car out in public places i think owning it becomes too much like hard work if you have to hide it away. it often gets admired and i have never had any willful damage, i don't think Maserati's generate that sort of reaction? my old 3200 is not worth as much as some of your cars but i would be pretty distressed if it got keyed or other damage (as i was when my bumper got sat on). I have only had that one incident in 10 years of ownership.
However despite this i often leave my car out in public places i think owning it becomes too much like hard work if you have to hide it away. it often gets admired and i have never had any willful damage, i don't think Maserati's generate that sort of reaction? my old 3200 is not worth as much as some of your cars but i would be pretty distressed if it got keyed or other damage (as i was when my bumper got sat on). I have only had that one incident in 10 years of ownership.
Swedish Paul
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Now, I take up 2 parking bays deliberately. I hate doing it because it is so anti social, but the first day I had the car, someone opened their door, left a dint, and didn't leave any details....
CatmanV2
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It's a car. One of its functions is to take me to Supermarkets and similar, then wait for me to return and take me home. Just like any other.
Like Allan I try and find a decent slot (not least because the GT is a large thing) but I park it and get on with my life. This is why I have insurance.
Not to say I wouldn't be hugely ****** off to come back and find it damaged, but I don't think I'd be any more ****** than if it had been any of my other cars.
You can read the story of my parking 'ding' some 19 ish days after ownership last year if you want
C
Like Allan I try and find a decent slot (not least because the GT is a large thing) but I park it and get on with my life. This is why I have insurance.
Not to say I wouldn't be hugely ****** off to come back and find it damaged, but I don't think I'd be any more ****** than if it had been any of my other cars.
You can read the story of my parking 'ding' some 19 ish days after ownership last year if you want
C
I know of a guy with a 66 plate GT. He parks it on a main road in London and uses it like you would use any other car and has had no problems with it. He doesn't have a garage so has no choice.
I've always been a bit dubious about parking this sort of car just anywhere. Saying that, and as said above, I don't think Maseratis have the same sort of image problem that some other marques do.
That said, there is still a possibility and it is annoying to come back to a damaged car. My first car was keyed so I know how it feels albeit in the early 90s. Although, I've parked all manner of fast German stuff in all sorts of places over the years and not had any problems.
If I should buy a GT, I really am in two minds to just use it as a daily driver anyway, but still just use it like I would any other car. I think you can mitigate to an extent by parking away from other cars but there is always a risk. As davy83 states - it is hard work hiding it away.
As I've got older, I am finding it increasingly easier to be at ease about parking nice cars in various places. If you had a second car (which I have considered), you would have to consciously ensure you were in it whenever you needed to potentially park somewhere public.
Also the additional cost of a second car, unless you needed one anyway, would repair a fair amount of damage to a GT if it came to it - although you are insured anyway.
I've always been a bit dubious about parking this sort of car just anywhere. Saying that, and as said above, I don't think Maseratis have the same sort of image problem that some other marques do.
That said, there is still a possibility and it is annoying to come back to a damaged car. My first car was keyed so I know how it feels albeit in the early 90s. Although, I've parked all manner of fast German stuff in all sorts of places over the years and not had any problems.
If I should buy a GT, I really am in two minds to just use it as a daily driver anyway, but still just use it like I would any other car. I think you can mitigate to an extent by parking away from other cars but there is always a risk. As davy83 states - it is hard work hiding it away.
As I've got older, I am finding it increasingly easier to be at ease about parking nice cars in various places. If you had a second car (which I have considered), you would have to consciously ensure you were in it whenever you needed to potentially park somewhere public.
Also the additional cost of a second car, unless you needed one anyway, would repair a fair amount of damage to a GT if it came to it - although you are insured anyway.
I understand why people would do this but I can't help thinking it is a red rag to a bull with some of the mindless idiots who walk the Earth!
CatmanV2
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Why? Genuinely curious. Do you know anyone that hangs around car parks waiting for a Maserati / Ferrari / Porsche / $exoctic to turn up just so they can key / scratch / whatever.
I mean I accept it happens, and the marque can be a factor but otherwise I just don't get it.
Naturally I don't want anyone to hit it because it's ballache, but I just don't get the idea that someone might *deliberately* hit it, except under very sad and lonely circumstances.
The woman who hit mine was totally terrified. That had something to do with *where* but she was far *far* more upset than I was
C
+1. In addition I avoid parking in the middle of town on a Fri or Sat night. Otherwise I use it when I choose. I would not want it to be my only car mind.
Why would you not want it to be your only car? I'm curious because if I get a GT it would be my daily driver and yes, my only car.
StuartW
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Agreed
I'm not sure where you got the idea about people "deliberately hitting it" from nor "if I know people who hang around car parks" waiting to scratch it?
My concerns are the same as anyone else who look after their cars in terms of what is likely to happen as I explained in my previous post.
I'm dubious because I know it can happen and it's hassle to sort it out should that be the case.
Like many on here I have a few cars so am probably conditioned to that thought. Nothing wrong with it being your only vehicle but it depends on mileage and what you are carrying. I live rurally, do a lot of distance and have kids so other cars keep the miles down and have bigger boots!
Wack61
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Since my 4200 was resprayed I'm paranoid about where I park it but only because the bodywork is perfect, I came back to my xk8 not long after I'd got it and somebody opened a door on it
The only car park I'd leave it in is costco , normal supermarket spaces just aren't big enough for wide coupes with massive doors
The only car park I'd leave it in is costco , normal supermarket spaces just aren't big enough for wide coupes with massive doors
Classico
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I try to avoid the chance of dings/bumps etc by parking in a single car space or next to a wall.
Vandalism is unavoidable so if it happens, it happens.
What I usually find is that regardless of how many car spaces there may be in a shopping mall etc, someone will inevitably decide to park right up next to me when I return to the car.
Vandalism is unavoidable so if it happens, it happens.
What I usually find is that regardless of how many car spaces there may be in a shopping mall etc, someone will inevitably decide to park right up next to me when I return to the car.
hoyin
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It is a car. Yes it is a beautiful car.
But it is still a car. You can't protect it forever. Plus in London there are a lot more expensive cars that are parked in the street than my GTS.
Mine is parked everywhere and anywhere. I have never had a problem with malicious damage.
You just have to realise some people just aren't careful. Prime example my own wife!! She has even reversed her own car into mine (not the GTS).
If I worried that much I would never take it out and I wouldn't be able to drive it which is the most enjoyable aspect!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
But it is still a car. You can't protect it forever. Plus in London there are a lot more expensive cars that are parked in the street than my GTS.
Mine is parked everywhere and anywhere. I have never had a problem with malicious damage.
You just have to realise some people just aren't careful. Prime example my own wife!! She has even reversed her own car into mine (not the GTS).
If I worried that much I would never take it out and I wouldn't be able to drive it which is the most enjoyable aspect!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
CatmanV2
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Sorry there seems to be some kind of thing that says 'I'm not parking my Maserati because it might get hit' But it's got the same chance of getting hit as any other car (unless the deliberate vandals exist)
And when they get hit, getting them fixed is not really any different to getting any other car fixed. In my experience.
C