Door Dings

[Boston_Runner]

I am about to pick up my 4Runner in 3 weeks. I am wonder if anyone on this forum have any problem with door dings on the 4Runner. My last SUV got 3 or 4 door dings before I put on the side moldings. I notice that the 4Runner does not come with the side moldings, but it does have cladding and running board. Do the cladding and the running borad help with door dings?

 

[Kenn]

Do what I do, park far. Very far. And if I know I cant park far, I take the wifes car or make her drive. She still does not understand.

 

[iamtwonice]

Parking far sometimes draws the attention of jelous ass wipes. Had a brand new 4runner in 2004 and some jerk keyed it. Park close and you get the door dings. People get really mean when they see nice cars.

 

[Kenn]

I agree that are some a**holes out there. DO NOT take up 2 spaces. That makes ppl really mad. I think maybe park 2-3 spaces away from the farthest car. Plus try to park close to a more expensive car 2-3 spaces away.

 

[jharris2]

I use a trick a customer taught me -- he parks where it's easy to leave, not easy to get to where you're going (malls, etc.). That is usually farther away, but not so far as to attract attention. I always try to have an empty space between the 4Runner and the next vehicle, get the end spot when possible.

 

[Techenigma]

My former Camry was always parked right up front in lots and I never had a door ding, scratch or anything. I still park my 4Runner right up front and have not gotten a single door ding, or scratch. I dont even think people have opened their door and let it rest against my car... just try to park next to bimmers, or merc's and you shouldn't have a problem.

 

[Offroader]

It's hard to believe, but my experience is that tight parking spaces produce less door dings than wide ones, because the door dings are produced when the door is open widely, which you can't in a tight space.

The worst scratch I have was produced by myself opening my wife car's rear door in our garage.

The door opened completely, producing a deep and long scratch.

I have to admit, though, that the 4Runner's paint sucks big time.

 

[Boston_Runner]

I actually do all of the things you guys mention above. I go to the last space at the mall and park another 5 space away, If I know I am going to a place where parking is limited, I make my wife drive, I stay away from junk cars and cars with inflants.

What I am trying to get a feel for is the quality of the paint and and the metal on the 4Runner. All cars are not alike, they have different paint and metal thinkness and density.

How many door dings you guys got on your 4Runner??

 

[gRunner3]

Absolutely do not take up two spaces. Anybody who does that is an a**hole and deserves to be keyed.

I just try to park next to other vehicles that are nice ($30K+) as they usually take pride in their own cars. Or if you see some jerk who is taking up two spaces, just park your car perpendicular in front of his so he can't get out. No door dings that way.

 

[jeober]

I believe most dings are caused by someone getting out of their car, not getting in. People sometimes just push or kick their doors to full open without hanging on to them (now I purposely didn't mention old or fat people).

So my theory is to park in an opening between two parked cars. However, one of those cars could leave and someone else pull in.

I got a good mark and through the paint from a door edge, luckily on the plastic molding behind the real wheel.

 

[iFORCE]

If your parked for a short while.. park in between existing cars and hope that you come out before the other person does. This way their doors won't open before yours and ding the oh so pretty 4Run.

Either that... or park in between some nice cars. They'll respect their own car therefore respect yours. If you park beside some POS.. then.. you'll get some you know what.. door dings!

 

[BenSD]

I usually take an end spot if possible. Sometimes they are wider than usual spots to allow you to back out easier. Also, don't park next to handicap areas. They are a real magnet for carless door openers. As others have stated, I usually park near the end of the parked cars, but not beyond where other cars are parked. I'll leave 2 or 3 spaces between myself and the other cars. Also, don't park near where shopping carts are returned. ;-)

 

[Jeff Kleb]

Avoid parking on "hilly" parking lots (Wal-Mart, Food Lion, etc.) where stray shopping carts will find their way to your vehicle.
:bash:

Don't take up two spaces, as this will only draw attention to your vehicle. The idea of parking at the end of the parking lot or next to other 'nice' vehicles is probably the best thing you can do to protect your car/truck.

I always look for an end spot and then pull in so close that my tires are about 6 inches from the curb or edge; thus leaving plenty of "door swing" room between myself and the car next to me. Maybe the 4Runner is at an advantage because of its height, but some soccer mom with a minivan might have one of those huge driver's doors that swings out rather wide. Chances are she'll be more concerned about her kids than your paint job - so please be careful out there!

 

[Boston_Runner]

So far I haven't heard anybody on this board with any door dings yet on their 4Runner, that is just amazing. Either the 4Runner has pretty thick sheet metal on the doors, or the cladding and the running boards protects the truck really well or you guys are the most careful drivers I have ever met.

 

[alpha]

I picked up a door ding on my mom's Honda Pilot once. It was mother's day too. I didn't think parking next to a $40k+ Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited, fairly newer, probably a 2004, would leae quite the door ding. I was parked fairly far from it too, but a nice deep door ding. You'd think the owner would have been more careful. Anyways, I do the same. I tend to park in between nicer vehicles, as people tend to care more for them.

 

[cruzmissile]

Answer?

I've only had my '05 for a month or so but have noticed that someone already opened their door and hit my running board. I know this cause they left some paint behind. I was able to brush the paint off with permanent damage whatsoever.

I don't really worry that a small car will leave a mark on either the board or plastic side panels.....I am worried about what will happen when a larger SUV's rear door hits above those plastic panels. I had a Durango rear door hit my front door on my Tundra and it left a good mark. Mainly due to the fact that the rear door comes to a point and not really protected in anyway.


So, to answer your question. No dings, no marks on mine.....yet.

 

[boston_kevin]

I have had my runner for a year now, and the paint is not the most durable... It's much better than most chryslers/dodge, but overall, the paint does chip with an average amount of force. Someone taking their runner through the brush would probably notice a lot of dings and scrapes. After a year, I only have 1 or 2 small chips, and that's on the front clip after getting stuck behind those horrid sand trucks last winter.

So far, parking in parking lots around here, I have had people hit the running boards, no one has hit the cladding yet, but I do try to park away from most people, on the end, next to a curb... Anything to give me some additional space from another car. If that doesn't work, park next to something that costs more than yours...

 

[sharp4runr]

So far I haven't heard anybody on this board with any door dings yet on their 4Runner, that is just amazing. Either the 4Runner has pretty thick sheet metal on the doors, or the cladding and the running boards protects the truck really well or you guys are the most careful drivers I have ever met.

I've got one on the driver door. annoys me to no end. :dammit:

 

[out4running]

You guys thought your paint chips and dings were bad, just the other day I was driving on the highway in california at night and came across a section of highway that was being repaved. There were no signs posted and I didn't know it until I was in that section. I knew I was in that section when I had what sounded like 40-50 small and a couple of bigger rocks thrown onto my 4 runner from all the cars around me. I couldn't tell the damage until the next day. I had a cracked windshield, three or four dime size chips in the hood, and several chips in the front bumper and grill. Now that sucks. I only had the 4 runner for a month and its an 05 SE with salsa red pearl paint, so those chips stand out lke nothing else.

 

[Bill42]

I do not park next to coupes. Their two doors are usually wider than the doors on sedans, etc.

Also, I look to park next to vehicles with a smaller footprint as opposed to a larger SUVs.

And I never park next to a vehicle where the driver has not straightened out his steering wheels. If they quickly pull out they just might sideswipe my vehicle.