Would you park your "good" car at a train station?

[OzJavelin]

This morning my wife had to go to a conference in Melbourne and was going by train. I told her last night that I was riding one of my motorbikes to work, so she could take my old '03 SV8 and leave it in the train station carpark. This morning she got up early and left and when I checked which car she had taken her '09 XR6 was gone.

If someone gave you the option of not leaving your "much loved" vehicle (my wife is always ready to defend her XR6 against my taunts about it's rattles and squeaks, etc) in a train station car park wouldn't you take up the offer .. even if you had to drive a Holden??!!

[rancidpunx]

Wont leave my car at a train station. To be honest though there is so much disrespect for others property these days I dont think it matters if its a good car or a bad. Whether it be bored kids or that fact that places like train station car parks have narrow bays to squeeze more people in, so dings and dents from other cars and careless people are inevitable.

[T3ts50]

Ive been parking my XR at a train station for the past 4 years and have never had an issue. It also depends on what station you park at also. I know a lot of train stations where a lot of people like to hang out. i wouldn't trust my car at those stations.

[Ben73]

Do they have CCTV cameras in the car park? I have been in at a country station at 3am and basically seconds after stepping across the yellow line a pre recorded message played about not stepping across the line. Clearly someone somwhere was watching on that camera. But I doubt cameras cover their car parks.

[sgt_doofey]

Been leaving my EL there now each day for the last 6 years. Unfortunately, it's still there when I get back to it each night, and that's in one of the lower socio-economic regions in Adelaide too!

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by Ben73

Do they have CCTV cameras in the car park? I have been in at a country station at 3am and basically seconds after stepping across the yellow line a pre recorded message played about not stepping across the line. Clearly someone somwhere was watching on that camera. But I doubt cameras cover their car parks.

CCTV, even in the parking would be useless to you. You will not be shown any footage by 99% of the people with access to the footage due to 'Privacy'.

Re the yellow line, probably tripped a sensor.....

Would I leave a new car at the station. Only if I had no other option, and even then, I would park in the street away from everyone else.

I got a near new car with immaculate bodywork 2 years ago and in the first 3 outings in the first 3 days of ownership I got 3 very distinctive dings in my door from people opening onto my car.

I just got the wife a new Focus. That is locked away in the garage and we drive her 10 year old Mirage to school (we work together as teachers). It is FULL of dents and scrapes. Guess where she got them?

[iCat]

there's another reason not to park at railway stations - check your duco if you park parallel with the lines. the train brakes emit showers of droplets of carbon when slowing down or being released and these stick to duco like glue. you cannot buff them off as they smear. each dot must be picked off individually with a clay bar. been there done that and it sux!

and no, would never park my good car at the station. too many people with no respect.

[CODSASR]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

CCTV, even in the parking would be useless to you. You will not be shown any footage by 99% of the people with access to the footage due to 'Privacy'.

Re the yellow line, probably tripped a sensor.....

Would I leave a new car at the station. Only if I had no other option, and even then, I would park in the street away from everyone else.

I got a near new car with immaculate bodywork 2 years ago and in the first 3 outings in the first 3 days of ownership I got 3 very distinctive dings in my door from people opening onto my car.

I just got the wife a new Focus. That is locked away in the garage and we drive her 10 year old Mirage to school (we work together as teachers). It is FULL of dents and scrapes. Guess where she got them?

Smart idea I remember back in high school a group of kids got expelled. One lunch time they went around and debadged every teachers car the auto teacher just happend to drive his xy gt in that day every badge was gone
lucky he got them back but from what I heard the parents of the kids had to pay for all the scratches to be fixed as they where using screwdrivers

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by CODSASR

Smart idea I remember back in high school a group of kids got expelled. One lunch time they went around and debadged every teachers car the auto teacher just happend to drive his xy gt in that day every badge was gone
lucky he got them back but from what I heard the parents of the kids had to pay for all the scratches to be fixed as they where using screwdrivers

I work in a primary school. The kids don't know about brake fluid and keys on paintwork and thoughts of revenge till towards the end of yr 6.

The damage is from parents actually. The car park is shared and it is a brothel every morning and afternoon.

I'm very glad I don't teach at a high school. Know many a teacher that has returned to find slashed tyres or worse. The boss at the high school campus that's connected to our campus gets the train now for the same reason from what I hear.

[Feathers]

Originally Posted by CODSASR

Smart idea I remember back in high school a group of kids got expelled. One lunch time they went around and debadged every teachers car the auto teacher just happend to drive his xy gt in that day every badge was gone
lucky he got them back but from what I heard the parents of the kids had to pay for all the scratches to be fixed as they where using screwdrivers

I vaguely recall in high school a couple of girls had a grudge against a math teacher, and decided the smart thing to do would be slash the soft top on his old Jag during lunch one day.

Someone dobbed them in not long after. She got a reward, and the other two girls were cautioned by Police and suspended. Their parents also had to pay for repairs.

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by Feathers

I vaguely recall in high school a couple of girls had a grudge against a math teacher, and decided the smart thing to do would be slash the soft top on his old Jag during lunch one day.

Someone dobbed them in not long after. She got a reward, and the other two girls were cautioned by Police and suspended. Their parents also had to pay for repairs.

At least it's just a car. A few low life students at my school went to a teachers house at night time and smashed multiple windows on the house with bricks. They were in Yr 12 at the time.
The teacher was a *****, but that is just too far.

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Re the yellow line, probably tripped a sensor.....

Nah Otherwise it would be going off every time a train was there. Plus I stood in an area were the camera couldn't see me and got no message.

But yeah a camera probably wouldn't do much anyway. They they really want to damage or steal your car they will be able to do it.

At Singo station one morning at about 3am, a drunk teen was there and he started talking to us. When he found out we were getting on the train and driving it back to Newcastle he immediately said "So your going to leave your car parked over there all night are you?" And pointed to our work car in the car park.

[Charliewool]

Methinks the 03 SV8 would be a far greater target than a 09 XR6 to the lowlifes haunting station carparks?

[LTDHO]

I wouldn't leave my 'pride n joy' at a train station or major shopping centre, both of these a theft/break-in hot spots.

In saying that, at my station there is a FG G6, F6 ute and Jaguar!

[EFFalcon]

Originally Posted by LTDHO

I wouldn't leave my 'pride n joy' at a train station or major shopping centre, both of these a theft/break-in hot spots.

In saying that, at my station there is a FG G6, F6 ute and Jaguar!

its a G6ET wayne :P

and don't forget that crazily modified wagon thats in the carpark most days.

[dannyxm]

Have left all my cars at stations with little issue, however we had a ratty XF ute we used to use and park anywhere.

Came back from a wonderful day at an air show only to find the rear quarter window smashed whilst being parked at the station all day.

Idiots didnt even break in, just smashed the window.

Ruined that day really.....

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

No never, not a chance in hell.

But if it was an XR6 I would have no real issues leaving it at the station.

[Coyote mk3]

No I would not. Never have, never want to.
Unfortunately I only have the one car at the moment, so my good car is my only car.

I would prefer to walk to the station 20 mins away in pouring rain.
(Although I hate public transport anyway, so catching the train is extremely rare)

[Wretched]

I catch the train to work every day and there is NO WAY i leave my car at the station (station isn't a bad one but never take the chance).
I leave the car locked in the garage and catch the bus to and from the station (a 5 min bus ride).

[charles_wif_xf]

Which is why I am looking at a little buzz box for a daily thrash pig (think late 90's Starlet that runs on the smell of an oily rag). My XR is still spotless and I would like to keep it that way.

[TZENU]

Nope no way!

I don't even like parking the XR6 at the station and that is a company car!!!

[kaniSS]

Never.

[LowEL2XR8]

You would have no dramas at a train station or anywhere else parking next to me.
I always hold my door and when I get my kids out of the back I hold the rear door so the door can't be pushed into the car next to me. Doesn't matter if the car next to me is a $500 POS or a GT.
I treat others cars how I treat mine. I don't want mine dinged so I don't hit others.

I don't get the same courtesy though. My beloved EL XR8 has had a couple of door hits.
I'd love to have a $500 POS to take to the shops but they just aren't reliable.

[Coyote mk3]

Originally Posted by LowEL2XR8

You would have no dramas at a train station or anywhere else parking next to me.
I always hold my door and when I get my kids out of the back I hold the rear door so the door can't be pushed into the car next to me. Doesn't matter if the car next to me is a $500 POS or a GT.
I treat others cars how I treat mine. I don't want mine dinged so I don't hit others.

I don't get the same courtesy though. My beloved EL XR8 has had a couple of door hits.
I'd love to have a $500 POS to take to the shops but they just aren't reliable.

Good on you mate, wish more people did.
I don't have a $500 POS only because i can't afford $500 haha.

My car has been hit with doors twice when I have been in it. Once was yesterday and once a Month and a half ago.

The first time was the day after the area around me flooded, and the guy who hit it was an old SES worker who looked like he just finished a long night.

And yesterday was a young guy on Crutches, and the breeze caught the door and swung it out of his grip...he was at least very apologetic and looked for any damage (without me saying anything.)

But both of these people I would feel to bad about talking sternly to about respecting others' property -More talking about the the SES guy, as he was in a land rover and just swung the door straight out without giving a damn right into my wing mirror.
I would be the bad guy for saying something.

Both times were in shopping centre carparks, and both times I had the car as close to the gutter beside me as possible.

[TheZHLANE]

Originally Posted by LowEL2XR8

I always hold my door and when I get my kids out of the back I hold the rear door so the door can't be pushed into the car next to me. Doesn't matter if the car next to me is a $500 POS or a GT.
I treat others cars how I treat mine. I don't want mine dinged so I don't hit others.

100 %

[vibe_xr6]

i dont think it matters if it was a train station or a shopping mall, ive had my bad experience from a old bloke, hit my car door once, i put my window down and told him to get his door of my car, then he tried again, bang hit my car but this time he was trying to squeeze through while hes door was resting on my car as he parked to close to me, i started getting very cranky, he hopped in, attempted to move his car more to the left hand side, but he parked strraight in the same spot, bang he hit my car door again, i flipped right out and told him to close his door and i took off to another park, the silly bugger just looked at me smiling, that was enough for me, now my car is lucky to get parked next to another car, or in a mall or anywhere !

[big_landau]

the only reason id park at a train station was if i wanted a car to disapear.

[XRGhia]

the EF has been parked at the trainstation a few times, never any damage when we get back...

one night when the EF was taken to work at redfern, some teenagers tried to break into it to steal it, and that was in secure parking (RTANSW head building)


moral of story, i trust the EF at a trainstation more than i do at a workplace in the middle of redfern/eveleigh in the middle of the night, but my trainstation has cameras and security guards doing the rounds up and down the carpark

[Ford_The_Win]

I am very particular about where I park my car. At night I always park in a very well lit spot, where the car is clearly visible to others. At shopping centres I would rather park miles away and next to nobody/the gutter than park next to careless soccer mums in their Rav 4s and geriatric oldies. If I am forced to park next to somebody, I always choose the newest/cleanest/most expensive cars to park next to. As for train stations, never, I have secure parking nearby so I don't bother taking the risk.

[Feathers]

I have never needed to park at a railway station, as my Dad owns a couple of apartments in a building which is a short walk from it's local station. So I park in the garage there and walk.
I also used to park there when I worked in the shopping centre opposite the building.

If that isn't possible, or I'm going on a night out somewhere, then I try as much as possible to get a lift with friends who don't care about their cars, and leave mine in their driveway. If it's totally unavoidable and I have to drive, then I pick my spots carefully.

If I go to my local shopping centre, I park around the far side of the building in spots most people forget about. It's rare that there is ever anyone parked nearby when I come back.
While I'm at work, it's parked in the yard, which isn't visible from the street.

It might 'only' be an XR6, but it's my baby, and I don't want it damaged or gone when I get back.