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Running boards save SSR from door dent!

3956 Views 35 Replies 14 Participants Last post by pherrley, Apr 4, 2005

JimGnitecki

Discussion Starter · Apr 1, 2005

Well, it appears that running boards have purposes beyond being things to step on, and keeping mud and stones off the rear fenders.

Because my "normal" spot in the "first come first served" parking ramp was taken the other day, I parked my SSR in ANOTHER "end" spot. As usual, I parked it so that its drivers side wheels were over the white line into the travel lane of the parking ramp, leaving a VERY wide parking slot for whoever parked beside me on the passenger side.

That did not deter someone from an act of gross, and almost appearing deliberate, stupidity.

When I got back to my SSR after work, there was a dirty, cluttered and generally unimpressive piece of crap cheap compact car parked OVER the white line separating our 2 spaces, with his/her driver door literally 11 inches from my SSR! It was SO close, I couldn't figure out how he/she got out of their car!

I immediately looked for the dreaded door dent in my SSR, but there was none!

This cretin had not even bothered to lock his/her/its car, so I gently opened it towards my SSR. That showed me what happened: The car's door ran into my RUNNING BOARD before its upper art could hit my door! In fact, there WAS a dent in HIS door, where it eno****ered my running board (Justice!!)

Miraculously, there was also NO apparent rubbing of the twit's clothing along the rear fender of my SSR, probably only because he/she IS careful about not getting their work clothing dirty, because that costs THEM money to remedy.

I figure I dodged a costly door dent repair (ever tried to PROVE that someone's stupidity caused your door dent?)

The running boards earned their cost in one incident alone.

Jim G

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JimGnitecki

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 2, 2005

I get as angry as the rest of you, and am tempted to "leave a calling card", BUT if you do so at a lot where you park regularly, the next time you park there, the cretin will take revenge on you by deliberately vandalizing your car. From there, it's a downward slippery slope where no one wins.

The most effective response is to just park far away from where that guy parks.

When in a very crowded lot with few spaces available, and no "safe" ones (end spots, or wider than normal spots, etc), I try to park beside someone with a desirable sports or trophy car that shows no evidence of door dings or lack of concern. That maximizes the odds that the owner is one who will open his/her doors carefully, and who will also eneter and leave the space carefully.

Jim G

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JimGnitecki

Discussion Starter · #27 · Apr 3, 2005

Yeah, diplomacy is not one of my strong points. However, was one-upped years ago by a Minnesota businessman (Jeno Pallucci).

He was unhappy with an adverse decision that the governor of Minnesota had made that would affect his business. So, he sent a personal emissary, via his corporate jet, with a gift for the governor, to the governor's office.

The emissary presented the gift to the governor personally. It was a large goldplated finger in the time honored posture.

It was accompanied by a handwritten note that said simply:

"More strongly worded letter to follow".

I know that Jeno meant it too. I used to work as a VP for one of the companies he owned, and he was an absolute animal when it came to both diplomacy and business values. Not a nice man.

Jim G

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