Lightning Bashers Strike Again!!!!
 

Some of you may remember the Lightning bashing incident that I had about a year or so ago where I drove my Lightning to work just weeks after purchasing it, and a women purposely swung her car door into my passenger side door to bash my Lightning for no reason other than jealousy (I was in the truck with the tinted windows up, which she didn't realize, and watched her do it!).

Therefore, you won't f'ing believe this! I drove my Lightning to work today. I parked in the garage inside our building, which has valet parking. I get my car myself when I leave, but have it parked when I get here in the morning. Well, the valet who parked my Lightning this morning hit a damn concrete poll with the front right ground effect and put a huge scrape all the way down it!!!!! (starting just after the fog light hole)

I just happen to take one of the guys up to show him the truck after lunch and discovered it. I went straight to the garage office only to discover that the valet told the garage manager (who was not there) about it, yet they didn't call me. Also, he is not there (off to some meeting) and I had to leave a message for him to contact me when he gets back. What a bunch of crap! You can't drive anything nice anywhere without some person smashing or wrecking it.

I'm just sick of this!

Dan, you have no luck with that truck. I remember last year when that lady hit your door. Now this! :mad:

It is so frustrating working hard for something and taking pride in ownership, and have incidents like this happen.

I hope you get a piece of that manager! MAKE those guys fix the damage to your truck.

STUPID RETARDS!!!:mad: I can't belive they didn't even tell you.

BTW, did you ever get any satisfaction from that fat *** that hit your truck with her door?

oh man, dan that suck's, everysince i wrecked, i drive like a gray hair now, oh yeah i do have a lot of gray hair, but really i am so careful where i park etc, man that is just bs, can you make them repair the damage?, i dont understand, why people dont realize what you have to pay for a vehicle now, & insurance,aaaahhhh. make them pay! good luck man, this new's sux.:mad:

WTF?!?!?!?! What the hell is wrong with people??? OMG.... I would've flown off the handle, F that "leave a message" Shiz. It's gotta be that "catch me" red, Dan. Must attract dings, dents, and idiots. :(

Is there any way you can buff the scratches out (I hope) ???

Man you have the luck don't you!?! You gotta get rid of that Lightning (and sell it to me). :D Man I hope you get justice with the parking attendant.

Ouch! Sorry to hear that. Hope you don't have too much trouble getting them to pay up.

Don't go postal on us now dan!! he did report it and and even if they didn't contact you right away it looks like they will do the right thing and take care of it. Are they a private company that is contracted or do they work for the building directly? hopefully they remember what happened with that lady and realize that your not going to rest untill it is fixed like new.

You my friend..
 

have NO luck at all. But geeze my car is nearly 10 years old and i still park it out away from people and it has crappy paint and dings in the doors but still im extra cautious with the stang and i would be especially cautious with the lightning.

mike

I'm with lx mike, the guy did report it so he's not completely spineless, mistakes do happen and if they're willing to fix it then no problem.
It does suck when it happens but sucks worse when noone owns up to it.

Roast HIS BALLS DAN! Thats such Bullshit. I guess its time for you to just forget about taking your nice truck or anything else like that down there. Time to get another beater car.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH, I think I would have lost it. U spend the time saving for a nice truck, get, and everyone just wants to bash it. The lady, she would have to buy a new car after I was done with it. I bet the parking attendent was hot rodding it and lost control, to hit the pole. It's not like u couldn't see it. And if he couldn't, he deservies not to drive again.

I would go ballistic. It is the valet's job not to wreck the vehicle when parking. I would have 2 questions for the garage manager.

1. Where's the video tape (if the garage has camera's)?

2. Whose responsibility is it to make sure the minimum-wage jerk-off knows how to drive?

Lightning bashed again!
 

Dan:

Sorry to hear about this 'accident'. I think the only thing worse than damaging your vehicle is when someone else damages it for you!
I hate valet parking - for obvious reasons.

I've come to the sad but realistic conclusion that we can hold down the chances of damage from parking lot dings and so on but if you drive your vehicle regularly in the 'real world' (ramps, garages, parking lots) then it will eventually get dented, dinged or scratched or even vandalized in the worst cases.

Sad but true and not much to do about it except be careful, have real good collision and comp insurance coverage and try to keep a philosophical outlook about it.

Contact the kid??? What the hell is that BS? It's not the kid's responsibility to pay for the damages, it's the valet service. What a screwed up bunch of idiots!

It's one of the reasons I hate to have a nice 2001 GT now. I practically have nightmares about getting it keyed. :mad:

I worked so hard for the car I just got, and it's not easy to go out and get a lightning even when you have some free'd up income, and to have somebody disrespect it like that. There needs to be some videotape of the event, and if that kid was goofin off at all, he should be fired and forced to pay the deductable back to the company.

You still shouldn't even be talking to the little idiot. I hate it when companies try to pass the buck.

Grrrr.... what idiots! :mad:

Lightning Damage Update
 

lx mike - yes, that's about the only good thing thus far I can say about the incident. At least somehow or another the word got back to the garage manager that a valet DID do the damage. However, me finding out about it on my own and being able to report it BEFORE I left was only a stroke of luck. I know that they did not call me on purpose, because their policy is that even if your vehicle is damaged, if you do not report it BEFORE you MOVE your vehicle they will not be held liable (so I'm told).

I also found out from various employees at the company that several other people have had their cars damaged by valet's there too, and gotten screwed out of being paid for it because they moved their vehicle before they noticed. One lady there it turns out is currently in a law suit with the company that owns the garage because they wouldn't pay for $900 worth of damage they did to her car! So, we'll just have to wait and see how they handle this in my case, and whether or not I have any problems with them over it.

Regardless, here is the damage photo and I've also attached a pic of the Lightning in the driveway...
http://www.danmcclain.com/photos/Lig...ing_garage.jpg

Btw: Here's also a link to a snapshot I took of my Mustang next to it... :D

whatever did happen with the fat lady swinging her door into your truck incident? You got us all following the story with interest, but I dont recall you ever posting the outcome.

Oh yeah.......she's still fat. :p ;)

Well, nothing ever became of it. As you'll recall the police acted with the attitude of "why would anyone just do that for no reason" and they also treated me like I must have done something in the situation. They would not pursue it, and basically just told me if I wanted to do anything I'd have to sue her. Well, even though the damage was $400 worth, to spend all the effort, time off work, and money to go after her unfortunately would just be more trouble than the $400. Therefore, I just ate it. I know - a total bunch of bull, but that's the short of it. My only comfort is that someday I'm sure she'll get what's coming to her in life...

That Sucks. I remember the whole fat lady incident too.

The valet company sure as hell better pick up the deductable and all costs for this mistake. That BS "if you move your car clause" sucks too. It is a good thing you saw it before hand.

Good Luck!

This reminds me of a valet type thing(not really an incedent) in early March when my girlfriend and I went to Chicago for a couple days for spring break. We took her car, since mine was still in storage. At the hotel we stayed at downtown, they had a valet service which you had to use to get your car parked. Her car isn't anything special, just a 1993 4-door Pontiac Sunbird with 100,000+ miles on it, but it is a reliable, albeit cheaply made car.

Anyway, she was even a little uncomfortable with the idea of someone else driving her car and said to me " What if we had taken your car?" I didn't even want to think about some valet driving my Mustang in downtown Chicago traffic. I don't even like it when my parents drive my car. I think my dad has only driven it 3 times, my mom twice, and my girlfriend twice(only once on her own), and all those times made me uncomfortable.

Add that to the fact that I asked the valets if we could get the car out for the day ourselves and they said, No. They explained they were the only ones with access to the secure parking garage underneath the John Hancock building and no one else was allowed in. WTF? I know you don't want the riff-raff wandering through, scoping out cars to steal, but if it's my damn car in there I want to be able to access it. Plus, it cost $32 per night just for parking. I'm never doing that again. From now on, I'll get a hotel in the burbs and drive to Chicago for the day.

Originally posted by MTU 50

That Sucks. I remember the whole fat lady incident too.

Sure does but sometimes it falls that way. Life isn't fair but as Dan mentioned, what goes around comes around and I believe that because I've seen it happen, only sometimes it takes years.

it cost $32 per night just for parking. I'm never doing that again. From now on, I'll get a hotel in the burbs and drive to Chicago for the day.

We live and learn. Get a hotel/motel outside of the city you're visiting and save big bucks on not only the hotel but the parking, too. I always do this when traveling unless someone else is picking up the tab (employer).

Yea i remember
 

dam that sucks,i remember that story .boy it never ends huh.
sorry to hear that. thats why my truck never anything but my garage. took it out tonight ,95 % out ..smoked everything that tried. and put it back in the garage.. gotta love them ;)

I know EXACTLY how you feel Dan!!!

Sorry to hear about it...

I've had the same problems with both my car and my truck, you can't own or drive anything nice without some idiot banging their flocking doors into your nice ride.

It's a shame...

People like that should be executed. That would eliminate that problem:D

later

Damage to your Vehicle
 

When someone bashes their dood into your car get their insurance, registration and license just like you got into an accident with the person. You in fact have. Their car hit yours and caused damage to your car. If they wont give it to you, gt the license number and call the police and get a police report done. If someone damages your car they should pay to get it fixed.

Now the valet parking garage is a different matter. When you hand your keys to a valet a "bailment" is created and they are responsible for all damage notwithstanding any language on the parking ticket about them not being responsible. Make them fix it and if they do not go to small claims court. You do not have to put up with people messing with you.

jeez man, it's stories like the ones in here that always make me think twice about where i park. i try to avoid mini-vans and "family" cars at all cost. i've witnessed a couple times when the little brats come running out of the store with their parents, swing the doors open and ding the heck out of the vehicle next to them, and the parents don't even care! that and those morons who just swing open the door and not really look how close the person beside them is, either because they're in a hurry or they're brain-dead.

that's why i'll park in the middle of nowhere once i get my new hood and touch-up this summer. i've got my share of dings as well. some people just don't care/realize how important these vehicles are to us.

my idea...
 

Dan, even though you had to eat the $400 caused by that biatch I would have definitely done something to get even.

One time I was sitting in my car (87GT) in the school parking lot doing some reading. When this guy and his apparent g/f, or as I like to refer to her; worthless gutterwhore, pulled into the spot next to me in a ~98 Celica (riced out of course). She proceeded to forcefully "fling" her car door open and into my door. My car shook from the impact which to me would cause even the most oblivious person to look up. My windows were down and I had music playing so it was ridiculously obvious that I was there. Neither she nor her boyfriend made any attempt to apologize, and in fact didn't even bother to look over at me or that car. So naturally I was highly irritated.

I waited for them to leave then I got out to examine my car to which there was only slightly noticeable paint scratching. I then went over to the car and pressed as hard as I could and dragged the biggest key I had from just behind his headlight to about halfway though the passenger door. It made the most atrocious sound I had ever heard and went straight down to the metal :) At this point I was satisfyed with my revenge and moved my car to a distant parking space.

People who have no respect for their own property, let alone yours, are all too common. I know it was actually the g/f that commited the act but I consider the b/f to be an accessory because of his lack of remorse and concern.

Its just a fact of life that cars will get dings and dented, scratches, etc...

If you choose to drive an expensive car, you are not exempt from this anymore than anybody else.

Such is life. Choose wisely

One thing I found out when I had my 96gt was no matter how far away and in the middle of no where I parked some jack *** would park near/next to me.........can someone explain that?? its one thing when its a nice car/truck another when its the family beat up mini van =\

Sorry to hear about your luck, Dan.
Speaking of trying to park AWAY from everyone. I don't think it does make that much of a difference. Sometime I think it's just destiny.
In the 96-97 time frame, I was working for Winn Dixie. I was a bagboy there and of course a shopping cart gatherer. LOL One day it was real windy (a storm was moving in), and way back in the very back of the parking lot set what looked to be a brand new Vette. Well believe it or not, I saw the shopping cart that was destined for that Vette and I tell you it wasn't pretty. The cart had to have gotten up to 15-20 mph LOL. It was moving, slammed right into the side of that Vette. I could just imagine the words that guys was spitting out his mouth when he saw the damage. It actually cracked the fiberglass on the right fender!
It seems to me the only way to prevent this stuff is to store your car in YOUR garage if your privaliged enough to have one.
Just 2 weeks ago, my car set outside looking beautiful like she always does. I went to school and a little storm moved in. It was just a bunch of rain at school so I didn't think nothing of it. Well I get home to pick my daughter up from the in-laws and she tells me "It just got done hailing over here, It came down for about 20 minutes non stop". She said that she looked outside and golf ball size hail was all over the ground, on the porch, everywhere. I was pissed because I already new what to expect when I got home. Well it wasn't till the next afternoon that I saw the damage. I got little dents everwhere now! I just hate this crap, between mother nature and stupid people, you just can't win.

Later James

I remember when that woman hit your truck, and to find out that it's got mess up again makes me sick!:mad: Hearing things like this reminds me why I NEVER let anyone drive my Mustang. I hope that you have better luck in the future, and that the people who screwed it up get whats coming to them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!