Door Dingers Should Be Publicly.....

How about magnetic thick foam bumpers, in the shape of a half moon or even a rectangle? Something ugly, but not overly noticeable.

Simply remove and put back into your car when you leave.

ZC1

 

You know, i have found out that if you simply park next to expensive cars
at work they are more careful.

At grocery stores I no longer try to find that perfect parking spot and just
pick one that has the normal amount of space. Basically I think that if you
park in the herd you have more protection ;-)

Shopping carts are also less likely to hit you when you park next to the
return cart thingy in the parking lot. Generally the farther you are away from
it the less likely people are to bring them back. We have all seen the dreaded
shopping cart being pushed by ghosts and boy that must suck when it hits
someone's car out there in the wide open back lot!

So in summary, don't try too hard to find that perfect spot because people
are less careful in wide open areas then they are in tighter spots. I don't know
what to say about the kids though. They are so unique and special :-|

 

Just today and almost every other day it seems, when I park one car space away from *anyone*, some jalopy or greasy rusty banged up 1980's van comes roaring thru the parking lot AT SPEED right through the empty space between me and the other car, then careen around until they find an exit.

I saw it twice this week alone and I was either in the car (just parked) or had just walked away from my spot.
In all cases, I had to pick my chin up off the ground.

Only if intent stares could turn into daggers.....!!

ZC1

 

Danny,

How easy are the door mouldings removed? In case of a bunch of dents.

ZC1

 

I oh so agree about the door dingers! I was a nervous wreck until we installed ours. They look great too! Here's a pic.

 

Dear Grocked.....Please sit down, take a deep breath & a big drink of your Cool Aid and relax. Your Prius is just a car.....very nice one and worthy of keeping it beautiful but to carry on about door dingers that way isn't good for your blood pressure. (BTW - do you assume from the reference surgical procedure that all door dingers are one gender?) HIPAA laws would prevent that procedure be a public event. I installed the door strips easily BUT.....my first ding happened last night...in my own garage....by my wife opening the rear passenger side door of a Jimmy.....
OUCH & she felt terrible.

I still love her!!! more than my 'Red Barron'

08 Barcelona Red Touring - 635 miles total

 

Hi Grocked, you might be interested in this thread, it has really helpful info on installing the side moldings, and what measurements seem to work best.

 

Well I used Boo's measurements along with Rokeby's instructions, you can find them in this post. If you use a batten like Rokeby recommended (I did and it really made installation much easier that trying to use tape) you would place it at 15-1/2 in. at the back and 14-1/2 in. at the front, and then install the moldings right above that.

 

I suggest paintless dent removal for minor dings where the paint has not been damaged. It is amazing how that process makes dings and dents disappear, for a relatively low price.

 

For Prius protection, and my health, I park as far away as I can from anyone then simply walk.

 

Some of this has been said, but here is a rundown to avoid dings:

1) Park far away around completely empty spots. (Obvious but not always possible in packed lots)

2) Park next to cart return, and the one furthest away from store door, if possible. Not only is one side protected, but as said, the closer you are to the return, the fewer loose carts there are around. (the further you are from store, the less likely #4 will happen). This is also good if you have kids - get bags and kids in car, then you can easily return cart.

3) Never park next to a two door (coupe) car, or a junk car that someone wouldn't care about. Also don't park next to Minivans if possible - not as important as coupe or junker. I drove a minivan and they are great cars, but for some reason many minivan drivers can't park straight in a spot. And while the rear doors slide and won't ding you, there are parents trying to juggle the kids back in the car and bags and just aren't paying attention to their door swing.

4) Never park next to an "elderly" car. This one takes judgment and a lucky guess, but for example Grand Marquis, Lucerne, Avalon, etc. are definitely on the list. The reason is more elderly persons tend to (and may need to) swing the doors out fully in order to get in out. I think this is the #1 cause of dings.

5) If the lot has parking spots around a curved bend, choose those. Curved spaces are trapezoidal shaped and leave huge amounts of room between the doors of cars.

6) If all else fails in a very packed lot and you need a space, hope for a spot between a BMW, Porsche, Audi, Prius, etc. These owners are much more likely to watch their own doors. Obviously they could leave first and someone else could park next to you, but its all about reducing chance.

I believe door dings happen by elderly and/or overweight persons throwing the doors open to laboriously exit the car, by teenagers with junkers who don't give a hoot, and by careless minded and oblivious....well I'll leave it at that.

I haven't had a door ding in years and years following these rules.

 

This angers me too, I am waiting to order the side moldings myself, for right now, I park my car in the parking lot at the train station and I try my hardest to park between cars in which one person has backed in and their drivers door is not on one side of my car and the other driver has pulled in and their driver door is not opening up to my car so nobody's doors are opening up into my Prius. This is usually what I do, as most people drive to the train station themselves and I can safely assume that only the driver's door will be open. So I always try and position my car in a way that nobodys doors will open toward my car. Then I also try very hard to park next to the new and expensive cars, the Jags, the BMW's and Mercedes. I am doing this for now until I can buy the side moldings.