How can you leave your Viper parked without worrying all the time?

[SF Final 286]

Everytime I take the car out I am very nervous that people will door ding it or scratch it or something. If in a parking lot, I always park it far away from other cars. If parking on the street, there is nothing I can do.
What are your thoughts?

 

[YouWish]

The only time I leave my Viper unattended is at work where they have high security. Plus I park off by myself that way nobody door dings or scratches the Viper. I never leave it unattended in a parking lot say at the Mall or the movies.

 

[sbkim]

It's a real pain the rear... I hate leaving the car behind but what do you do??? I guess you can install a perimeter alarm with pager so you know if someone is getting too close to you.

 

[MR VENOM]

NO, IMO it is not safe to park "out of sight". Read the posts about stolen emblems, valve caps, and just down-right malicious, envy damage. A "secure" area is OK.....but do you want to give the keys to a 18 yr. old valet?

 

[GraphiteGTS]

I am totally paranoid. At work I park so my assistant can watch the car from her desk. I would never leave my car unattended. If my car were keyed, it would be like scratching my own arm. But I am a little car crazy, I guess. I even keep my Honda lawnmower clean.

 

[Firecat F7 Viper]

I am paranoid also,
Even when I go into a convenience store I am in a real big rush to get back out. These snakes are not safe by them selves. Too many jealous, spiteful people in this world that would love nothing better then to ruin your day.

 

[Gottaviper]

I was talking to a Ferrari owner the other day and he said he was downtown Boston when some drunk guy came out a bar and started punching and spiting on this guys F355, what a dick

 

[Firecat F7 Viper]

Hey,
I see you are from San Fran,
Any chance you were on Embarcardero dr.(I think that is the name of the road) last saturday? Right near the bay a little ways up from fishermans warf around 6:30.
I saw a final edition then when I was out your way on vacation last week.

 

[2000GTS]

I live in Miami. When I go out, say to South Beach, I valet. However I pull up to the club, resturant, etc. and just park it up front. When the valet comes to take the keys I just ask to keep them. This works 50% of the time, however they never move it, even when they have to hold the keys.

If you have a nice car they want it parked outside their establishment.

Bill

 

[Donzi]

When I had my Lamborghini and the Valet insisted on "holding the keys" I had a set of keys on a Lambo key ring that did not fit the car!!! No one ever said anything so either they never tried the keys or were too smart to admit they did.

I thought it was a good idea

 

[TacDoc]

Hmm, lets see. Take it to the track and let a few marbles bounce off it. Get the first scratch, realize its a car to be driven and enjoyed, then relax and have fun.

 

[ViperJohn]

It takes time to get more comfortable leaving the car un-attended. I have begun to realize that if something is going to happen, its gonna happen.

I agree to some degree with TacDoc, but if its just a car, why do Vipers draw so much attention?

 

[S-JC]

I don't worry at all. I park on an end spot if possible or very far away if not. I park at the mall, at the grocery store, at the bowling alley, at work, and have never had any trouble. I almost always am able to find a spot where it can't possibly get dinged. I am aware of places where the spots are too narrow or the entrance curb is too steep and I don't park there. No dings or scratches yet!

Yeah yeah, I know I'm askin' for it, but I certainly am enjoying ownership!

 

[Firecat F7 Viper]

Hmm, lets see. Take it to the track and let a few marbles bounce off it. Get the first scratch, realize its a car to be driven and enjoyed, then relax and have fun.

Yeah...you're probably right.
I just haven't gotten to that point yet.
Still scratch free other than a couple stone chips.
That is what usually happens to me once I get my first good scratch on a car.
I start to worry less about it... but with this car you are constantly reminded everywhere you go how nice the car is..the looks ...the attention this car draws makes you want to keep it flawless for as long as possible which in turn makes you worry more about it. The first scratch or door ding is inevitable if you drive it but I am holding out as long as possible on getting that first scratch.

 

[GTS1998]

Parking or even driving your Viper in SF! That is taking a gamble. I won't go north of San Bruno with mine. Too many nuts out there.

 

[REDSLED]

Hmm, lets see. Take it to the track and let a few marbles bounce off it. Get the first scratch, realize its a car to be driven and enjoyed, then relax and have fun.

AGREED!
It's just a Car. Nothing more, nothing less. Drive it and have fun.

 

[YouWish]

Hmm, lets see. Take it to the track and let a few marbles bounce off it. Get the first scratch, realize its a car to be driven and enjoyed, then relax and have fun.

AGREED!
It's just a Car. Nothing more, nothing less. Drive it and have fun.

If the Viper was "just a car" most of us here wouldn't spend so much time talking about the one thing we love so much Vipers!!!

 

[REDSLED]

Hmm, lets see. Take it to the track and let a few marbles bounce off it. Get the first scratch, realize its a car to be driven and enjoyed, then relax and have fun.

AGREED!
It's just a Car. Nothing more, nothing less. Drive it and have fun.

If the Viper was "just a car" most of us here wouldn't spend so much time talking about the one thing we love so much Vipers!!!

That's why I post on the Pinto, Gremlin & Yugo boards as well. They're all just cars

 

[DChan415]

Hey SF Final 286, What part of the city do you live in? I lived in Chinatown and used to park my car on the street. Moved to richmond district and I still park on the street most of the time. Lifes too short to worry about things that "can happen". Let the insurance companies worry about it and just enjoy life with the car. Otherwise you might end up living in Hillsborough and not have enough nerve to drive up to the city and enjoy your cars once in a while. =)

 

[elanderholm]

It is the same everywhere. The guys who drive their cars hard are never the ones who worry about how they look. You will never hear a track ***** complaining about paint chips.

 

[MichaelP]

oh hell I drive mine to walmart, the movies etc etc and park it in whatever spot happens to be available, you guys are paranoid.

 

[TacDoc]

I will tell you how to let the new wear off fast. I got to see my 04 in the shop today with the whole darn front pulled off the motor. Once you see a 1/3 of the under the hood parts laying around you know the cherry's gone.

 

[ViperJoe]

When it's in MY garage

 

[V10 MOJO]

never bothered me. i figure worst case scenario, thats what insurance is for

 

[GraphiteGTS]

I differ w/you guys.
I like to drive my car but I get pleasure from washing her; feeling her sensuous, unblemished lines; and rubbing her down with a good carnuba.
To me a paintchip or door ding is like a wart on the nose of Claudia Schiffer. She's fine anyway, but should have the wart removed.
I have a ****** to take to Walmart and McD's.
Sometimes I park my GTS in the drive and just admire her perfect paint and spotless fenderwells and engine.
I have neighbors who feel that a car is similar to a refrigerator; just an appliance and nothing else.
I simply enjoy a clean, unblemished, attractive, beautiful, and well-kept Viper. I was that way about my first car and my 56th car that I got in April.

 

[Andy 98 RT/10]

I got the lockable gas cap from AutoZone. That gives me a little more peace of mind while leaving it parked.

 

[Sam 01 RT10]

I guess I'm in the middle ground. I wash/wax/maintain the car religiously, and hate to see a stone chip or when I inadvertantly scrape the bottom of the fascia. I also realize that it is a high performance car, meant to be driven. So on that note, if I'm not working, I'll drive the car damn near everywhere. Its gone to the movies, Wal-Mart, etc. If someone keys or vandalizes it, I'd be pissed, but that's why I pay State Farm $1800/year for the damn thing. Having the locking gas cap helps a bit, too.
I hate NOT driving it too much to worry about the minor things.

Valet here is not a big issue, any of the casino or night club valets will gladly take $15-$20 and keep the car 10ft from the door. I wait 'till they park it, and then have fun.

 

[GraphiteGTS]

I understand you guys who don't fear parking anywhere because you have insurance. However, in my no-fault insurance state, you do two or three claims in a three year period and you will pay in a big way. More claims and you are cancelled. Between claims and tickets, they have you over a barrel.
Besides, if someone keys across my painted stripes there is a chance that the painter can't match exactly.
There again, I get a great deal of pleasure from driving a really sharp car and also a lot of satisfaction from babying her, as well.
One more thing, and I know you hate to hear it, but when I go to sell, I'd rather get 30% of my investment back rather than 20%.

 

[Donzi]

GraphiteGTS, I think we must be related.
I feel exactly the same way!!

 

[Jeff Lemke]

I am with Sam. I love maintaining my car and keeping it as nice as possible so it always looks as new and shiney as it can be. That is PART of the enjoyment. However, I decided a long time ago that I was going to own this car and it was not going to own me. If I want to take it to dinner, the movies, a trip up north, whatever, I'm going to do it and enjoy it. Worry free. That is what the car is for and to ONLY keep it in the garage as shiny as a new penny is throwing away much of the viper ownership experience.