zax

I'm on the hunt for a new place to live. For various reasons I'm not in the market for anything massive, a flat would be fine, but I'm having trouble finding something with a garage.

I'm lucky enough to have a lockup garage next to my current flat, and I don't think I would have bought my scooby without somewhere to put it away from my light-fingered brethren.

I refuse to sell the car (enjoy it too much) so can anyone put my mind at rest? Do you park your car in the street, and are you happy doing so? Am I being too paranoid?

SB

Myself and my neighbour both leave our scoobys on the pavement outside our homes in London, At xmas 2000 someone decided to drive down one side of the car overnight and leave me with a £1000 bill most of which was picked up the insurance company, obvious the ***** who did this did not stop and leave their details.
However a lot of this could be due to living in a built up area where parking is difficult and roads are narrow so I can't say this only happened because its a scooby!
In 14 years of having a car parked outside the house in London I have only had the minor incidents like dust caps and badges being stolen.
Incidentally I have a lockup where I keep my Hot Rod and it gets broken in to on a regular basis, so as far as I am concerned the Scooby is safer out in the street!

ScoobyDoo555

Had an alarmed garage at my old house (insurance also specified it!!!) and Scoob went in it as soon as I was doen with the car.

My new place, much better area (countryside), just parking it on the drive. Difference in insurance cost is cancelled out by the move in area (plus I think the additional premium for no garage was about £20!!)

Dan

stephen30

I park mine in London and it's been fine for the few months I had it and I don't live in the best part of the city, although my street is a fairly quiet cul de sac. Initially I parked it outside the front door where I could see it and there were no kids playing footbal but I'm quite happy parking it round the back now in a little coutyard thing we have. Less obvious there. No problem with insurance either.

Steve

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

Most of my mates know that I bought a garage that just happenned to have a 1 bedroom flat on the side...

Before that I lived in a flat in a private estate with off street parking. I think it really depends on the street you'll be parking it in - a narrow busy road is more risky than a culdesac. If the street is next to a pub expect some 'wrong place at wrong time' damage. Insurance wise its great to put it in a garage, if not then on a driveway.

Getting the car out of sight obviously reduces the risk of opportunist crime / accidental damage but at the end of the day if they really want the car and all that....

Justin

Scooby-Doo

I wouldn't buy a house without a garage. Estate agents got really pissed with me "Hi I'm looking for a garage with a house attached !!!! or "Did you like the property" "No, the house was OK but not happy with the garage", no way would an RB5WR survive in my road, little sh!tty kids have no respect.

stephen30

All depends on the model you have. I wouldn't park RB5WR on the street either.

chiark

Depends on what makes you happy. For instance, I insisted on having a garage and use it religiously.

Neighbours, on the other hand, use the garage to store old sofas, golf trolleys, and what is known as "other assorted crap".

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

Chiark

You should tell the nieghbours to get the **** out of your garage

stephen30

lol

TonyG

Never been without a garage, wouldn't like to leave mine on the road where I live. Friend of mine parks his MY01 on the street (not in my neighbourhood though), and he's not yet had any trouble. One more thing, let your insurance company know if you do have a garage - it can bring the premium down a bit as they think it's more secure if your car's locked up at night.

chiark

<fx: desperately trying to think of witty follow-up line>
<fx: gives up>

LOL!

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

Suppose the 'assorted crap' could be a deterrent to potential car thieves if they have to shift it to get to the car...LOL

darlodge

I'd love a garage to put the car in. Looking at moving out soon so I will try and get a flat with one.

Darren

zax

Thanks for the replies, sounds like garages get the vote.

Had a look at a couple of places without garage but with "secure parking" today. The meaning of this seems to vary between an underground car park with automatic security door to a bit of flat land behind the building with a three foot wall around it. I spend a lot of time keeping my car's doors away from busy supermarket car parks, so perhaps this isn't such a great idea anyway.

I've had a £400 quid Sierra stolen from outside the house (why?) and two other cars broken into so I don't think I'll ever be happy with street parking.

So a garage it is, or move to the countryside. Of course now I've got to start measuring the garages...

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

In reply to 'why do they steal £400 cars' its because 15 year old joyriders or older scum that can't be arsed to walk home from the pub can easily break in and start 20 year old cars and drive them. They've also practised on fiestas, minis novas and the like because you don't get cat1 alarms on them. They don't nick these cars for its value, just for the laff I'm afraid.

Nate-old

I own a garage door company , and I would say 60% - 70% of people don't park their car in their garage (usually used as utility rooms etc) , I have a garage at home which the doors are falling off of , and so don't use a garage either , Though I am going away in mid March and the Scoob will be hidden away in garage then , away from scum and other risks ( i.e. younger brother ) . When I stay at my girlfriends , I leave the car on the road (under street light) in a built up area (road is one way) , and cars park either side of that road , but I can't say I am particularly worried , though as being in built up areas it does attract 'valve cap nickers' .
Coming back to being in my line of work ........ I also find that 'sometimes' , by adding more visible locks or even having a new door , raises suspicions as to 'what is of value in that garage' , many occasions I have repaired a door which has been broken into which has extra security (to keep all the crap inside safe ), but the neighbours garage hasn't been broken into (obviously without extra security) .
Another example was a big house with a double garage fitted with 2 single doors in Ramsden Bellhouse , a thief KNEW the occupants weren't home , broke in through one garage door , went into the house for the keys to the Porsche , couldn't find them , stood on the roof of said Porsche and tried to pull their GDO from the ceiling (failed !!) , gave up on the car , went back into the house and stole cash and jewelry .........

Moral is ................. If you own a performance car , be prepared for scum to take it off your hands !!

Nate.

scooby_si

well i pay £25 a month 4 my garage & eases my paranoi so money well spent, although if i scrape sides kuz its a tight fit then i may well change my mind!
Si

pele

I park in the car park opposite my house - mind you there is a bit of a fight to get one of the 4 front spaces, which requires us to play musical cars alot, but i'd rather park it there than outside my house as there is a bus stop there. I've had no probs so far, and hope it stays that way - it also helps knowing a few of the right people ie, they know all the theiving gits & would break their legs if they touched my car.

zax

It's the opportunist vandal and thief I want to avoid. I know if somebody really does want the car then they'll take it, but I'm all for minimising the risk. Also I tend to work away from home for a week or two at a time, so I like to have the car tucked away.

Regarding garage doors, funnily enough mine is covered in graffiti and looks very tatty. No new shiny locks either, and I'm sure it helps. I've also got a spider living in the gaps between the metal panels who covers it in webs to add to the effect. Wouldn't dream of hurting the little guy, despite requests from the Mrs to evict him!

Nate-old

Zax,

You're right , the tatty old graffiti'd up garage doors are less likely to be broken into .

Nate.

zip106

Couldn't live without my garage either.I wouldn't like to leave me Scoob on the road but when it's in the garage I park it in such a way (VERY close to the side wall) that the missus can't reverse it out and therefore can't drive!!!! WAHEYYY......
My next door neighbour has got a new BMW Alpina 3.3 which he leaves on his drive all the time and up to now no ones touched it.

Nate-old

best thing to do if you have an integral garage and have access from the rear , fit locks INSIDE , no-one sees them from outside , and if they try to get in ..... Good luck , but again , if they want it , they'll get it!!

Nate

Jza

Way i see it is this...

If you havent got a garage - anyone can see your car. you may be lucky and no "professional" sees it so the cat1 and tracker means it only get the odd bit of vandelism.......

In a garage - no one knows its there

I NEVER leave it on the street - always put it straight in and have a decent lock.

IVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM

Get a garage and a good lock....

Jza

BaldyMan

Can't get one with - get a place without - build a carport - jobs a good un

Goldfinger

Got a flat with allocated parking. Would love a garage but just isn't a possibility (at the moment at least) ... at the end of the day you can only do so much, the car has got an immobiliser, Cat 1 alarm and an RAC Trackstar 24-hour Guradian - the extra £23.50 a month for the latter does give peace of mind! Well worth the money IMHO ....

Phil

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

PTMW! has a lair

So does wife's Mini

It was something that I insisted on when we moved to the countryside. Neighbours think I'm barmy the amount of time I spend putting cars in & out the garage

Vectra stays outside (blocking the double doors )

Boarded out the roof-space for the cr@p...

pmortlock

I think it all depends on the surrounding area. Im happy leaving scooby outside my house where i can see it on the road. The garages at the back of my house are all occupied and are very safe, as there's no through-route or need for anyone to go up there except for the garages. But the garages 50 yards up the hill are often vandalised and broken into as theres a route through the garages for pedestrians. Id rather leave my car in the road than put it in the garages up the hill, and for the added inconvenience of putting it away and getting it out, its all dependant on many factors to say one way or another.

Scooby

Hi I've got a RB5WR had it from new and it has always been parked in the street outside, only ever have one incident with a scratch and I can't guarantee that didn't happen elsewhere!

Same for previous MY96 bought from new too, no probs with that.

I would suggest that if you can't find a suitable garage to move to a quieter part of London, where they respect the scoob!

Colour may also be a factor!

pslewis

A garage gets my vote!! I have a double garage and a double width driveway which butts onto a nice leafy Hampshire back road.

Whats IN the garage??? a very smart £1200 Escort Cabriolet and a £3600 Folding Camper!!!!!! the tumble drier, freezer, and workshop/cupboards too of course!!

And whats on the DRIVE??? a £22,000 Subaru Impreza Turbo and the Wifes Wagon too!!!! am I COMPLETELY mad???

But YES to a garage!!

Pete