I hate parking lots

[bigpoppa]

Eye for an eye right?

That's exactly how I feel. You ding me, I'll ding you right back. Luckily, around here people aren't gonna go out of their way to park inches from you if you park in the back of the lot or whatever just to be a d!ck. At Walmart (the few times a year I go there), any store, school, wherever, if you park in the back you really don't have anything to worry about (at least in my area, people just mind their own business).

 

[jaymz]

A few Wal-Mart parking warnings:

Never park next to:

1. minivans (bratty kids that slam their doors into your vehicle)

2. Cadillacs (old farts that think they own the roads and your vehicle is inferior to theirs)

3. Anyone changing their oil in the parking lot (a familiar sight in China-Marts South of KC).

4. Windy days: kids and women get their doors ripped out of their grasp and slammed into your vehicle)

5. Near any loose carts, especially on windy days

6. Any aisle where a Wally-World cart-Geek is collecting carts to bring inside

7. Any Dirt-Ball vehicles (where it looks like the driver LIVES and SLEEPS in the vehicle).

Jim

 

[imported_Flash Gordon]

(For those outside of the USA, "China Mart" is a not so affectionate term for Wal Mart as it seems everything there was made in China - IIRC, Wal Mart is China's biggest buyer of consumer goods.)

Regards,
GEWB

I have never heard that term. too funny :Innocent:

I will let you all in on my secret to parking at Wal-Mart. I ALWAYS park back by the automotive section (lube palace) not to many ppl park back there. You can eaisly double park without causing a rukuss :-B

 

[imported_zoraduntov]

Do those paintless ding removal companies work .
I have a few dings in my beater too that I want removed . What's the best way to get those dings out ?

 

[imported_RaskyR1]

Do those paintless ding removal companies work .
I have a few dings in my beater too that I want removed . What's the best way to get those dings out ?

PDR is great for removing dings as long as the paint has not been chipped. They work the dings out from the inside of the panel using various tools (long rods) and I've seen them do some amazing work on hail damaged cars. If the paint has been chipped they can still work out the ding but you will still have the chip to deal with.

Note that there are some limitations with PDR such and the size of the ding and location. Often hard to access areas requires the removal of lights, interior panels, or they may even drill a hole in the door jamb in order to access the ding (not something I agree with either). Be sure to ask the PDR guys questions on how they will access the ding before having them work on the car. Prices will vary, but ask around and you can usually get some decent deals. My guy charges me about $25 to pop one out, or $50 per panel if it has a couple on the same panel.

Rasky

 

[imported_TLMitchell]

PDR is great for removing dings as long as the paint has not been chipped. They work the dings out from the inside of the panel using various tools (long rods) and I've seen them do some amazing work on hail damaged cars. If the paint has been chipped they can still work out the ding but you will still have the chip to deal with.

I've seen some demos of the process but fortunately haven't had to use 'em firsthand. It appears on most interior panels they're leveraging the rod against the access hole. The theory seems to be the panel wants to return to it's original stamped shape, they're just helping it along by massaging it. Makes me wonder what the process is for single panels like hoods where there wouldn't be any thing to leverage against?

TL

 

[imported_RaskyR1]

I've seen some demos of the process but fortunately haven't had to use 'em firsthand. It appears on most interior panels they're leveraging the rod against the access hole. The theory seems to be the panel wants to return to it's original stamped shape, they're just helping it along by massaging it. Makes me wonder what the process is for single panels like hoods where there wouldn't be any thing to leverage against?

TL

I was actually managing a high volume shop back in the '90's and we had 3 brothers renting space from us to work on hail damaged cars. They traveled all over the US and basically followed the storms. Worked for about 3 months and they moved on. Took them about a day or two to do a whole car for $2000-$5000, which was far less then the body shop would charge.

Can't recall how they did panels like the hood though...I think they rig up some kind of a fixture/mount though...possibly with some clamps?

 

[imported_Flash Gordon]

Do those paintless ding removal companies work .
I have a few dings in my beater too that I want removed . What's the best way to get those dings out ?

Yes, they can provide amazing results :wizard:

There are also hacks in that industry also though. Call the Mercedes-Benz Dealer in your area, ask to speak with the service dept and ask them who they use

 

[BillE]

Have you ever noticed in ANY parking lot, when you park waaaay out in the boonies, no other vehicles within 100yds...ya come back and now all sorts of cars right next to ya?

Well, after exhaustive research and study it does appear the vehicles have a natural herding instinct. It has been shown that old, misused, mistreated are the worse for this behaviour. Further study shows that these poor neglected rides are just lonely and in want for some TLC.

This same phenomena shows up also on interstate highways. You are driving along, no one around, doing the speed limit just enjoying the trip. The, all of a sudden...cars, trucks, semis on every quarter. Herd instinct!

Sad but true. That's my story and I'm sticking by it.

Bill

 

[imported_gewb]

Have you ever noticed in ANY parking lot, when you park waaaay out in the boonies, no other vehicles within 100yds...ya come back and now all sorts of cars right next to ya?

Well, after exhaustive research and study it does appear the vehicles have a natural herding instinct. It has been shown that old, misused, mistreated are the worse for this behaviour. Further study shows that these poor neglected rides are just lonely and in want for some TLC.

This same phenomena shows up also on interstate highways. You are driving along, no one around, doing the speed limit just enjoying the trip. The, all of a sudden...cars, trucks, semis on every quarter. Herd instinct!

Sad but true. That's my story and I'm sticking by it.

Bill

Great research - and your observations are soooo true!

Regards,
GEWB

 

[BigAl3]

i feel your pain. last week the garage door came down on my bumper and left two pencil eraser size chips. unfortunately since it's satin silver metallic, it's not going to match no matter how well it gets touched up. it sucks, what do you do...