You scratch my car, I keeel you!

ColinM

Most people who make use of the motors forum are probably passionate about vehicles in some way. That means that to you, a car is not just a method of transport or simply a way of "getting from A to B".

For me, a car is almost like a living, breathing entity with a soul. It's not just a collection of various mechanical parts with a frame and seats. It can be a thing of beauty, of power, of grace, and of exhiliration. Driving a car is not just a way of transporting myself from place to place. It is an activity I very much enjoy in and of itself, although the sense of freedom that comes with being able to go anywhere you like once you get in your car is very real.

So - now that you know how I feel about cars, see how you gague my reaction to what I discovered recently.

I take good care of my car and keep it clean. I wash it regularly, but hadn't washed it in a little over two weeks. When washing it over the weekend, I noticed to my horror that there is now a dent in my passenger door, about the size of a golf ball, and this has a scratch about 3cm long and 5mm wide in it. There was not a blemish on the whole passenger side of the car the last time I washed the car. This damage was clearly caused by someone throwing open their driver's door and slamming the bottom corner of it into my passenger door.

Now any of you who see a car as purely a method of transportation and don't see the point in washing your car, I wonder do you think I am over-reacting by saying what I am about to say:

I have a really good telescopic wheel brace. If I ever find the person responsible for this, I will do as much damage to him or her as was done to my car.

I anticipate that people who are passionate about cars will empathise, but the A-to-B people won't see what all the fuss is about.

raphaelS

Originally posted by ColinM
...about the size of a golf ball, and this has a scratch about 3cm long and 5mm wide in it.
...
I have a really good telescopic wheel brace. If I ever find the person responsible for this, I will do as much damage to him or her as was done to my car.

If this is that small (at your car scale!)... he (or she) won't be hurt that much then!
You don't ned the wheel brace, your finger nails will be enough

Raphael

Victor

Now you know what it's like to be a pedestrian or cyclist who has been "tipped" by a car / truck.

mike65

Colin,



You wont find the clumsy tosser and
retaliating is plain stupid as if you get spotted or caught the circumstances of your anger wont count for a damn...
its just life....:(

Mike.

ColinM

Thanks Mike! Empathy is all I wanted.
I love that scouser picture. Feeling cheerier already!

Raphael - If I equate paint to skin, and bare metal to bone, then I will need more than my fingernails. Plus - I need to leave a dent as well!

Victor - I don't know what it is like to be tipped, but I can assure you, that I am most aware and accomodating of other road users. Just because I drive a car doesn't mean that I'm not also a part time pedestrian or cyclist!

red_ice

I totally understand what you mean. Id hate for my car to be tarnished in anyway what so ever!

My dads very fond of his car, and spent alot of money on it and its very, very fast... (360bhp) 0-60 in 4.2 afaik. If i so much as look at his car in any way that he doesnt see befitting, we have a fall out.

Its only natural to take care of something that you love using or being around. Im very protective of... my computer - how sad is that, but its the fact that i saved up alot of money to make it what it is. So i dont want my Mothers cousins half sisters brothers son lookin at porn on my machine because they might do something to it that i dont want them to.

I also take alot of interest in cars, and i did do till friday... when it was stolen. Slap that in your pipe and smoke it.

ColinM

Wow, Red Ice - well they do say there's always someone worse off than you, don't they?

Sorry about what happened mate. Where was it stolen from? What kind of car did you have? Will you get what it was worth from insurance or if you use insurance, will you lose your NCD?
You seem to be in remarkably good humour so soon after it was stolen. You must be pretty upset though?

What kind of car does your dad have out of interest? I'm guessing from the BHP and 0 to 60 time that it might be a TVR Cerbera maybe?

Hey, thanks for the sympathy too - and the computer porno humour - funny cos it's true!

Emboss

that was probably one of my cult....we tend to slide a key across a door if some flash arsehole has parked his car across two spaces in a very busy car park thus leaving us with no where to park


so when people start to realise everytime they do this there will be a 4-5 inch scratch along your passanger maybe you'll stop doing it.....

other offences can be cutting across someone on a motorbike especially a courier in the rain....your going to get 'key'd' at the next set of lights....or if your window is open a lighten ciggy thrown in...

just some possible answers to how this could have happened

rofl (not a troll)

Silvera

Emboss,
not saying i agree with it, but maybe the "flash arsehole" parked their car across two spaces to stop other people parking so close as to put dents in his/her car !?


Most car parking spaces in this country are too small anyway - only a few car parks have double white lines between spaces (which is slightly helpful).

I see, in this weeks AutoExpress, that there are now plastic 'dividers' available (for car parks) to stop car doors hitting the vehicle next to them.
Unlikely that we will see them used in many car parks in Ireland

echomadman

but maybe the "flash arsehole" parked their car across two spaces to stop other people parking so close as to put dents in his/her car !?

all the more reason to teach him a lesson, I drive a relatively nice car (audi a4) and i dont do this, I have often spend up to half an hour trying to find a parking space, and this is in ennis ffs, when i see **** parked across two spaces it makes my blood boil.
i agree with the sentiment of emboss's post, if not the actual actions described, but that ciggarette in the window sounds funny

Emboss

Originally posted by Silvera
Emboss,
not saying i agree with it, but maybe the "flash arsehole" parked their car across two spaces to stop other people parking so close as to put dents in his/her car !?


Most car parking spaces in this country are too small anyway - only a few car parks have double white lines between spaces (which is slightly helpful).

I see, in this weeks AutoExpress, that there are now plastic 'dividers' available (for car parks) to stop car doors hitting the vehicle next to them.
Unlikely that we will see them used in many car parks in Ireland

In any of the shopping centers i frequent you could get a jcb in the space...it's rarley joe soap who do this it's always the flash arsehole....

ando

Colin when your parking your car in a busy area, never park beside a people carrier. Its more than likely a dumb women driver with kids (especially on weekends) that don't give a $hit about slamming their doors against your car. I usually try park beside a nice car/modified car, you know the person has a similar interest as you

I also usually memorise the number plates beside my car as I have 'contacts' in the Garda that can give me the address of the car owner :ninja:

BrianD3

I also usually memorise the number plates beside my car

LOL, I thought I was the only one who did that

BrianD3

Lord Nikon

I have no time for people who don't care about their cars. People who take up 2 spaces are so annoying, they need to get their asses removed. Like it's bad enough that they do it when I'm away from the car, but it's happened while I'm sitting in the car. Complete disrespect for peoples property and their own.

(Women with MPV's and kids are one of the worst, oh and jeep drivers)

My fiends are the culprits too sometimes, they leave all their **** in the car, wrappers, empty bottle, crisp packets and half eaten bars. One of my friends can be a right f***** sometimes. He'll be in the front passenger seat with a Snackbox, then he gets out of the car, he leaves his **** there. Complete ignorance and has a habbit of doing it. AAAGGGHHHHHH

Emboss

Originally posted by ando
Colin when your parking your car in a busy area, never park beside a people carrier. Its more than likely a dumb women driver with kids (especially on weekends) that don't give a $hit about slamming their doors against your car. I usually try park beside a nice car/modified car, you know the person has a similar interest as you

I also usually memorise the number plates beside my car as I have 'contacts' in the Garda that can give me the address of the car owner :ninja:

and then what ? "you hit my car" "no i didn't "yes u did" "no i didn't" you hit my car" "no i didn't "yes u did" "no i didn't"you hit my car" "no i didn't "yes u did" "no i didn't"you hit my car" "no i didn't "yes u did" "no i didn't"you hit my car" "no i didn't "yes u did" "no i didn't"you hit my car" "no i didn't "yes u did" "no i didn't"

ColinM

I am very concientious and considerate of others, both when driving and otherwise. I never park on narrow streets or elsewhere where in doing so I may cause an obstruction or inconvenience to others. I never park across two spaces or leave insufficient room for someone else to park or get out of a space.

I have rarely been in a car parking area where the allocated spaces are wide enough. The ones with the double white lines to deliniate the margin are helpful. The others with the plastic dividers sound interesting but I have never seen them.

When parking in an area where the spaces are marked out I either park dead centre or slightly to the right, banking on the probability that there will only be a driver's door opened in the adjacent cars.

I was wondering Emboss, if the person has to be driving a flash car and have parked thoughtlessly for you to key it or whether either event will justify it. I don't think keying a car is warranted ever.

As for getting the reg of the car, you can at least contact the owner's insurance company and let them know the type of person the insured is.

I can be sure that the damage to my car was caused by someone carelessly flinging open their car door into mine. I would say it is more likely to have been a woman (possibly with the kids in the people carrier scenario). I'm sure there may be people who would like to defend women drivers (and parkers) after that statement, so I'd like to just preempt any defence with a whatever.

Not too long ago I was actually sitting in my car in a car park and a woman driver parked very close to me. I assumed that she would realise she that had parked so close that she would have to park better in the space before opening the door. I was genuinely surprised to see her fling open her door and hit my passenger door with some force.

She looked over at me, then at her husband in the passenger seat, then back at me again and smiled, shrugged her shoulders and just got out and began to walk away. I invited her and her husband to come back to inspect my car to see if she had done any damage. Lucky for her, she had only made contact with the centre rubber divide. Her brazen attitude astounded me though.

I can't be there all the time when this happens.

Silvera

I agree ColinM, keying a car is never warranted - its a pretty low thing to do.

I too always try to be considerate to others, on the road or otherwise - its just good manners really (something which a lot of people lack nowadays).

Those plastic divider 'thingies' are on page 47 of this week's Auto Express magazine (29 Oct-4 Nov).

I too hate when people bang against your car (I have at least 5 little dents/marks on my car) not to mention the time when some dope pushed in the front wheelarch on my cars wing :mad:
I reckon it was a builder in a jeep who was parked beside me earlier - I can just imagine him reversing out, locking too hard, hitting my car and probably didn't even notice

(Luckily it pushed out and is not too noticable).

Or the time I was resting in the car (waiting for herself don't ya know:rolleyes: ) and an old guy pulled alongside in a Golf van banged my car as he go out - then banged it again as he got in 10 mins later :eek: - talk about inconsiderate !

BrianD3

that was probably one of my cult....we tend to slide a key across a door

Scumbag. How'd you like it if someone vandalised your property like that? Maybe when you trade in your scooter for a car you'll have a different attitude.

:rolleyes:

BrianD3

ColinM

Yeah Silvera, I'm afraid politeness, courteousness and consideration are very lacking on our roads and in our society in general these days.

If you've ever driven in the UK, you will notice that most drivers are very courteous. People will actually let you into the line of traffic. People will observe hatched crossings. People will let you switch lanes if you need to. People will pull into the correct lane after overtaking on a motorway. People rarely speed up to block a maneuver you need to make. Once you get used to it and then start driving in Ireland again, you notice the difference immediately. A taste of the friendly Irish, you might say.

By the way, do you or did you own a Nissan Silvera? If it's the car I'm thinking of, I always admired them, but I just googled for it and I got no matches! Maybe it was known as something else in the rest of the world?

ColinM

Hmm - I think it was the Nissan Silvia (200SX) I was thinking of!

Nice pic of a late 80's model I think here.

And Emboss - do you not own a car? I guess you would change your opinion if you did!

Calibos

Have had many similar experiences to you Colin like the woman just shrugging her shoulders when her kid opened the passenger door into my car or the woman reversing her car into a parked car outside my shop, such a wallop and she just drove off without even checking for damage.

Reminds me of the time I saw a driver coming up the wrong way up a one way street. Rather then let them pass I always pull over to the right to block them and force them to do a u-turn whether it delays me or not. Twas a woman and I flashed my lights and stuck a single finger up to indicate a oneway street (rather than a middle finger salute which in hindsight she deserved)

She ignored me and came to a stop just in front. I then pulled up alongside and tried to get her attention but she just looked away and refused to look at me. I mean I'm doing her a favour, the entrance to the local garda station is only 20metres up the road. She refused to make eye contact with a disgusted look on her face. F her I said to myself and drove off. This is the best bit......I stopped at the next junction and in my rear view mirror saw her continue on up the oneway street.....only to hit a garda car as it pulled out of the station.......AND.........she kept going!!!! with the squad car doing a quick u turn and tearing after her!! I met a Garda friend the next day and asked him if he heard of the incident and he said "too right, I was in that squad car." Turns out it was daddies beemer, she wasn't insured in it, failed a breadth test, as well as being done for driving up a one way street, dangerous driving for hitting the squad car and leaving the scene off a crime.
Brilliant!!

Anyway back to the scratches and dents. Every panel of my Audi A3 has shopping trolley dents. Each one was a killer ie "Ah FFS not another one!" The worst dents however were caused by the poxy weather. Last year when we had galeforce winds I awoke to find pieces of cement roof tiles all over the car with scratches down to the undercoat and loads of little dents. There was a big chunk about 10x6 inches sitting on my windscreen. Only for it must have landed flat side onto the windscreen rather then corner on, it would have gone through and I would have had a flooded car as well as a pockmarked one!!

Can anyone recommend a good dent remover/paint re-toucher BTW?? :D

sceptre

Originally posted by ColinM
Her brazen attitude astounded me though.

I can't be there all the time when this happens.

I was sitting in my GF's car one day in the middle of Limerick. Felt a bit of a thump from behind. Felt another thump. Looked out. Some daft bird (sex isn't important but she was obviously daft and she happened to be a bird) had only a two foot clearance in front and about the same behind so, given her obvious myopia, was basically banging her way out of the space. Anyone who's met me can picture the rather dry "<knock knock> <window comes down> Hi, would you mind not banging the **** out of the car in front while we're still in it"

No damage done luckily. Not even by me with my foot.

I haven't had a mystery dent on my car in some time. Lately I've been parking in a relatively unknown mostly empty car park near UL though, so that's probably something to do with it.

Emboss

Originally posted by BrianD3
Scumbag. How'd you like it if someone vandalised your property like that? Maybe when you trade in your scooter for a car you'll have a different attitude.

:rolleyes:

BrianD3

I can drive....i don't cut across muppets....or cyclist's....or nearly kill people on motorbikes......I drive a car moron.....why do you think i do be looking for a parking space ?

keep up twat

Emboss

Originally posted by ColinM
Yeah Silvera, I'm afraid politeness, courteousness and consideration are very lacking on our roads and in our society in general these days.

If you've ever driven in the UK, you will notice that most drivers are very courteous. People will actually let you into the line of traffic. People will observe hatched crossings. People will let you switch lanes if you need to. People will pull into the correct lane after overtaking on a motorway. People rarely speed up to block a maneuver you need to make. Once you get used to it and then start driving in Ireland again, you notice the difference immediately. A taste of the friendly Irish, you might say.

By the way, do you or did you own a Nissan Silvera? If it's the car I'm thinking of, I always admired them, but I just googled for it and I got no matches! Maybe it was known as something else in the rest of the world?

Colin I'm far too old to be going around scratching peoples car for being ignorant arseholes when driving....

the smoke thing was something i seen in town and like echo said it sounded funny....it was funny....considering the guy had nearly killed your man....a lightening smoke on the back seat of his new merc seemed tame for nearly taken someones life....


and for brian

padraigmyers

Originally posted by sceptre
relatively unknown mostly empty car park near UL

Now, where exactly would this car park be.....just purely out of intrest!

Silvera

No ColinM , I have never owned a Nissan Silvia. Not a bad looking car though - were rare enough in Ireland.

Zascar

some basitd scratched my car a few months back. Started on the bonnet, on to the front quarter panel accross the door, and on to the rear quarter panel. I think he used a screwdriver, its down to the metal.

The car is manky, and I just took these pics now, but you get the idea...

ando

jesus :eek: He had some go at your car alright

Silvera

Jeez, whoever did that is just an out-and-out scumbag :mad:

My car was slightly vandalised once - a guy sprayed the bootlid with an aerosol - he thought it was a co-workers car. (He was borderline psychotic, so I said nothing. It cleaned off pretty easily)
I was annoyed when my car was vandalised, so I can imagine how you must have felt when you saw all that

I'm afraid it will be a fairly big job to sort that lot out. (I used to be a spray painter).

I wonder if the guy who did that knew how much work (and money!) it will take to sort out, would they think twice about doing it ? - then again, probably not.

I hope you catch the lowlife, Zascar.

Calibos

My fathers car had paint stripper or battery acid poured over every panel. Another 6 cars on the same road had the same and another 2 or 3 cars had 1 or 2 panels done. Scumbags were never caught. The 'oul lad' had to have the whole car resprayed @ €3000. Assuming the other 6 cars paid similar and the other 2 or 3 had €1000 worth of Damage. The cost of 'de bhoys' havin' a laugh?? €20000

****ing lowlife scum of the earth.

MadsL

My car was burnt out one night along with three others in the area, not nicked - 'just' burnt out.

Four months later my 'new' car had a concrete block thrown through the back window...

...I moved.