Vandalism! Are you afraid to leave your Smartie????!!!

[Steven79]

Hey everyone,

Its been a fun and interesting 900 miles of Smart ownership for me so far.

I must admit though I am still VERY VERY careful where I park my Smart. Almost to the point of paranoia. Everywhere I go the attention has been almost overwhelming at times.

I refuse to leave my smart parked at:

1. Any Walmart/target/big superstores.
2. Any movie theaters, concert venues, sporting venues, etc.
3. Any malls

4. Pretty much anywhere with mass parking where I cannot keep an eye on my smart.. airports, restaurants, friends apartment complexes, etc...

Am I crazy?

Do any of you worry about vandalism? tippings?

-Steven *full of paranoia*

[smartyPantz]

I feel your hesitation. However it is just another aspect of my OCD!! LOL i tell myself "its just a car...its just a car..."

But I still feel nervous.

[sensuellenhot]

I fully understand it, it is like leaving your child...hehehhe

[drmickeyer]

I have even set off the panic alram to chase away onlookers!!!!!!!

[aslusers]

Originally Posted by drmickeyer

I have even set off the panic alram to chase away onlookers!!!!!!!

That is hilarious!!

[mmmeat]

Originally Posted by Steven79

I must admit though I am still VERY VERY careful where I park my Smart. Almost to the point of paranoia. Everywhere I go the attention has been almost overwhelming at times.

I refuse to leave my smart parked at:

1. Any Walmart/target/big superstores.
2. Any movie theaters, concert venues, sporting venues, etc.
3. Any malls

4. Pretty much anywhere with mass parking where I cannot keep an eye on my smart.. airports, restaurants, friends apartment complexes, etc...

Am I crazy?

Yes. You're crazy. Nuts. Coo coo for Cocoa Puffs.

When I have my not-so-subtle car (427 Cobra) out for a run, I park it top-down everywhere. In front of restaurants, at the mall, at Home Depot (it's a Cobra, everything eventually shakes loose and needs tightening), at the movie theater, anywhere. It's not a difficult car - if someone were so inclined - to take something out of or steal. I did the same thing with my Lotus (okay, it's got a top), and my '65 Mustang Fastback (okay, it has door locks and a roof).

BUT ... and here's the thing: the Smart ain't no Toyota Camry with a $5,000 stereo in the dash. EVERYONE sees the car, EVERYONE looks at the car, EVERYONE checks out the car. It's the center of attention. Any thief is going to move on to a less visible target.

It's silly to worry about your car getting vandalized when there are so many eyes on it. And - furthermore - what are you going to do if you see someone vandalizing it? Stop them? oooOOOooh. Now that's a great way to get yourself killed. Over a $16K car. That's just a hunk of metal.

Being paranoid over possessions is stupid; they're possessions. They can be replaced. And - when you've got a rock star of a car that everyone notices - it's even more than stupid. Sure, you'll have extra handprints on the car, but ... so?

It's a car.

It's a car.

It's a car.

If you can't go to places in your car that you normally would, then you need to get rid of the car, it's not doing it's job - which, ultimately, is to drive you to places you want to go (and, certainly in the case of the Smart, drive you there in style).

Your pal,
Meat.

[Aerotaz]

My better half and I were sitting in a Ruby's Diner with a view of our smart in the parking lot. I know it is not original, but we would beep the alarm when someone looked in the car (which was about every 5 minutes). I guess it don't take much to amuse this old goat.

[smart teacher]

That sounds like fun!!!!

[xcrew229x]

My 35 year old Corvette doesn't leave my sight. That's because there aren't any more to replace it. The smart is great, but a replacement is just around the proverbial corner. As are body panels. That said, I catch someone screwing with it, they won't have to worry about seeing anything but the ER ceiling. They will trip, fall down, stumble, topple over, and generally have breathing problems. And in the grand tradition of witnesses, nobody will see nuthin'. Yea, I've got some repressed animosity. Enjoy.........

[mmmeat]

Originally Posted by Aerotaz

My better half and I were sitting in a Ruby's Diner with a view of our smart in the parking lot. I know it is not original, but we would beep the alarm when someone looked in the car (which was about every 5 minutes). I guess it don't take much to amuse this old goat.

Ah, the classics...

... I remember the time someone did that to the Boy and he spilled a whole chocolate shake in their car. Now THAT was funny!

Your pal,
Meat.