Reference was made above to drivers of expensive cars like BMWs...etc... who seem to graft the value of their car to their personality. They are problem enough trying to dodge ( no pun intended) them in traffic, but one seldom actually meets one. I had that dubious pleasure in a parking lot.

I used to have a Dodge van... one of the very large 15 passenger type.

like this


Before that I had driven VW vans for years, and had become very good at parking vehicles with a snub nose. I pulled into a grocery store lot and found a parking space. As I entered, I noticed a woman standing beside the drivers door of the car opposite me. I eased up closer, as my van needed to be well into its space so as to not stick out in the rear. The lady waved her arms and looked agitated. When I got out (having parked 'about' 8 inches from her newish black sedan (it may have been a BMW...or a Cadillac...or a Lexus... I wasn't paying attention), she said "I thought you were going to hit me!"

I said mildly, "No I'm careful..."

She glared and replied, "Well it worried me... this car is worth $45,000! What's yours worth... about $8000?"

I'll swear that's almost an exact quote.... I couldn't think of a thing to say. I just shook my head and went into the store, wondering whether IF I'd had an expensive vehicle to match hers, it would have been OK to bump her a bit... Later I wondered whether she thought that ALL drivers of older 'cheap' vehicles thought that she was fair game....