Granted I live in a terrible city for preventing door dings (Manhattan), but I took great pains to limit the threat by paying for a cozy spot in a managed parking garage. I've had my RX-8 for a month now and decided to take it out of the city for a day of romping in the catskills.

On my way back to the city I stopped at two different malls and recieved a dimple on the driver's door at the first and then a ding on the passenger's door at the next.

I know that our cars are built to be light weight, but has anyone else noticed that the skin seems to be very susceptible to careless door openers?

 

Don't know. I personally will park up to a quarter mile away from the entrance to a store in order to enjoy the priviledge of parking "alone". Seriously, I will deliberately seek the 'worst' parking space in the lot in hopes that nobody will park next to me. It works (maybe not in Manhattan, I grant you that); I had a Mustang for 3 years and have had the 8 since December and neither car has ever been dinged...

 

only way to guarentee noone dents your car is parking far away...even than u get ******** that touch it.

 

It works really well. I have had several dents removed from various cars and it works great if you find a reputable place to do. Cost should be around $100 per ding.

 

I've had good experience with paintless dent removal for previous cars. Whether $100 a ding, or a fixed charge per quarter panel (which has been my experience), it's worth it.

I've had good luck with my 8 so far, but here in L.A. it's bound to get nailed sooner or later. I don't think the doors of the 8 are any weaker or more susceptible to dings than any other car--but they may be more susceptible to having morons park next to them.

 

i double park. seems to fix the problem quite well.

 

double parking is the international sign for 'key the crap out of my car, please'

 

There are numerous threads on how and where to park to minimize damage. The 8 is going to be more susceptible because it is low and has no cladding whatsoever (but that's the style for most new cars) After pulling into a spot, most of the larger SUVs can't see the 8 at all so the doors go flying open and you get dinged.

Look for end spots and particularly wide spots, stay away from large SUVs, two door cars and pickup trucks and cart return areas. The further away from the store or building entrance the better your chances because the spaces have lower turnover - fewer comings and goings mean better odds. If you park in an office lot, park next to people you know.

 

The freestyle doors are aluminum and would be more susceptible to this than the main doors.

Extremely frustrating, isn't it?

Why can't others show some respect?

 

maybe in your city. nobody does that crap around here, EVER. nice people.

 

First, anyone who takes two stalls DESERVES to have their car keyed. Especially when parking's limited. No consideration for others.

I try to park next to the nicest, most expensive car I can find. THEY won't hit your car.

 

Main issue is that there aren't any protection trim strips on the body panels. I suppose this is to maintain a clean uncluttered look. Even just a thin body color strip at the widest-jutting sections of the body panels would be appreciated.

 

Hey all...

Had my 8 a week and....

1st day, get home,park outside (I live off a Golf course) run inside for literally 5 mins, come outside to find a golf ball sitting beside my 8!!! Ouch!!! Hood ding!!!

5th day, go see a movie, park on another continent and what do you know...a bloody door ding!!!

I took the car and had the ding's rmoved at a "paintless repair" shop in Dallas. They did a great job and only charged $40 a ding.

The bottom line is....people just don't have any respect for other peoples property. Not all people, but the average!!

Anyway...I'm ranting. Sorry about your ding's.

- Irish

 

out here for everything we have HUGE parking lots. nothing is ever filled. i go way out where nobody is and double-park. and if i am going to say, a restaraunt, i also find the nicest car to park next to. i only double-park when i can, i dont do it with other cars around me like an *******.

 

I'm with the "park far away" people! In my area people will still try and park right next to my car so I also try to park alone next to a curb so that way if someone just has to park next to me then they can only do so on one side! So far no dings. I also agree to parking next to other nice cars if I need to. I'm carefull opening my doors and hope they will do the same. The love that I have for cars I respect them all!

 

I always park as far as possible from stores but its the parking lot where I live that my car gets dinged and also keyed. As soon as my lease is up I will be moving.