This is what I normally do to avoid parking near other vehicles and to avoid getting door dings. Unless the weather is bad (which I probably wouldn't have been out in the first place).Abraham wrote:Another thought regarding getting spooked by proximity...park far away from the madding crowd.
I see people circle in parking lots until a space opens up as close to the store as is humanly possible.
Then, they are tightly confined with vehicles left/right/fore and aft, but, but, but they're closer to the store...
Boloney.
Park farther away so you're not so confined and be prepared to walk a few extra steps. And, it IS just a few extra steps you lazy American...
My truck is 8 years old without nary a ding or scratch on it as is my parking policy is to follow the above approach to parking in big lots. Farther away is generally/plenty roomy. Is this always possible? No, but when it is (and it usually is...) it's generally easier to park and to leave too. No back-filling or extra maneuvering to leave your space. I also park so that when I leave all I have to do is go forward and bingo I'm gone.
My wife on the other hand would (if allowed) drive directly into the store and park.
So when we go somewhere together, she never fails to complain that she has to put in 100/250' of walking to get to the store.
I say nothing, just shake my head and laugh.
One of the other pluses in parking like this is you can see before you get to your vehicle if anyone is lurking near it.
One thing I do when coming up to my vehicle and someone is loading/unloading right next to me is unlock the doors with my remote. Almost all vehicles have remotes now. And normally this gets the attention of whoever is next to me without being to intrusive or startling them.