Hi wise OzBargainers.
I just bought a new hatchback and as someone who loves camping I want to take it to campgrounds and trailheads. It's so new and shiny! My fear is leaving it there overnight exposed to vandals.
What do other people do? Take a push bike instead? Park someone safe in town and get an uber to the walk? Not take it?
Do insurance companies cover it when left in a these situations?
Cheers
But what if someone pops a bubble?
It will alert the neighbouring bears who will charge in and eat them?
Drop Bears?
You know we already have a pandemic with chlamydia.
Plus cotton wool.
Plastic wrap the seats too.
Dashcams!
And park the car in the tent and leave yourself outside.
Yep OP is not to be buying a new car
Wait till they go to a shopping centre and either have a trolley run into it or another shopper bang open their car door against it.
Poor OP.
Wont ever rest at night or during the day either.
So yes, bubble wrap is a great idea
Did anyone tell OP that new cars attract accidents with other cars????
you don't say, someone on the GR yaris forum actually did that for his GR Yaris rather than driving it :O
I think it's going to be pretty safe in the bush. You've got a much greater chance of someone damaging it at a supermarket IMO. Like anywhere just make sure no valuables are visible.
I see no reason why insurance wouldn't cover it.
But a twig or a leaf might fall on it.
Worse still a bird might poop on it.
And what about the possible stone chips and road tar from high speed travel
Such a worry for OP
One pro tip many people learn from OzBargain:
In order for insurance to cover it, you have to buy some first.
Whoa. What happens when you think about taking it to the Supermarket carpark or you don't do that as well. If you are using the car daily and leaving it out in the street it's going to possibly have the same issues. Make sure you have comprehensive insurance and just enjoy your new ride. Good luck
I generally parallel park in the street so no one "doors" it. Lol. I've never had a new car before so I feel like it needs extra care. I've seen people chasing run away trollies in the supermarket car park. Shudder.
Some don’t even bother to chase them
The number of people I’ve seen bumping into cars when parallel parking is staggering… not sure which I’d be more worried about
As soon as you get your first trolley dent when you come back from tne supermarket and after the initial profanity you can live life as normal. With a bit of luck your car should hopefully stay untouched from damage, but just driving it you can't control some numnut side swipping you.
True, worries me a lot now everyone is back on the road and driving in a risky hurried way.
@Vomo: If you dont want it damaged, with the car shortage, sell it and get some rest.
You will drive yourself crazy. The only way to truly protect it is to park it in a garage (and hope no plane crashes into the house).
I've tried parking in the furthest spots from the supermarket entrance, come back and while there are many vacant spots between my car and the shops, there next to me is a 4WD with baby car seats in the back.
You'll basically keep feeling this way until it gets its first couple of scratches and then you'll move on.
It's like watching parents with their first kid vs parents with 3+ kids. That first kid is treated like a delicate vase, but the parents who have a few will treat them like footballs once they get used to how resilient kids are.
Nothing you can do about it but use it. It's a car, it's a tool to get you around. If it gets scratched, so be it. If it gets damaged, that's why you have insurance.
Sounds like the car owns you rather than the other way round.
You’re going to have to accept that eventually it will get a scratch or a ding and feel okay with that.
get it vinyl wrapped. will protect the paint from twigs and dirt road stones that flick up. also full comp if you dont already.
rookie error, must have multiple cars
.
I wish!
The 'new feel' will wear off after your car gets its first dent. Been there more than once over the years.
It doesn't matter how careful you are there will always be someone who doesn't give a stuff, and worse, will drive off without leaving their details.
Thanks, yeah, I have had it 6 months, no dents yet. It's weird I just love it so much after having a Camry for 15 years. It's like a space ship in comparison.
The hatchback you have now is like a spaceship in comparison to a camry? which hatchback is this? I want too!
i30N
Is my guess
Someone keyed my new car 6 weeks after I got it. I felt violated.
sorry to hear. scumbags.
Just make sure you don't leave anything in it - in my city people who leave their cars to go on long walks/hikes get them broken into as they leave stuff in them.
Yes, happened to my folk's car once. They just smashed the window.
why would your folks smash the window?
I’ve heard that’s where all the best vandals hang out, at campgrounds and trailheads. There may be nothing you can do, as the elite, ninja like campground and trailhead vandals are known to thwart any defensive measure…
Just wait till I tell you about the work and shopping centre vandals. Those guys are ambush predators…
InB4: suggestions of “ceramic paint protection” and claims that any vandalism will just “wipe right off…”
My suggestion to add to all the others is, don’t park like a douche canoe and give people a reason to want to target your car.
PPF is an option, expensive but adds a decent layer of protection
What's a double canoe ? Haha. Actually I don't wanna know!
do u have a history of coming back to a damaged car at a camp ground?
No, and I don't often see broken glass on the ground so maybe I am being too cautious
Best starting point would be to ring your insurance company and ask them about any locations you wouldn't be covered in. Suggest a few places you like to visit and get an answer from them.
I can't see any reason why it wouldn't be covered unless you've driven into a road that's officially closed etc. I have heard of issues when people attempt to drive through closed roads (eg Cape York during the wet season) and come to grief. Some insurers won't cover them.
As others have said, if there's no reason for someone to break into your car (no valuables inside) you'd be pretty unlucky for someone to randomly damage it.
Thanks Wombat. I just rang AAMI and they said it will be ok so long as reasonable care is taken. I asked what that means and she said so long as it is locked and parked in a parking spot, i.e. a carpark.
So I am feeling better about leaving it at night in the sticks.
You listened to 'on hold' music for an hour to ask this common sense question?
They answer pretty quickly. I do like MS Paint though thanks
@MSpaint At least s/he rang the insurance company, unlike 90% of posters!
@Lastchancetosee: Yeah that's right. Also I don't even know if my common sense is even relevant any more. Have to check lol!
I'm not sure why you're criticising OP about this. They are much better off getting the info from their insurance company than from internet randos. At least they have peace of mind now.
This is why I don't buy new cars. What's the point of having something you don't want to use for it actual purpose.
Yeah I feel the same but used cars have been very expensive lately. It comes with a 5 year warranty which I like because I am tired of fixing cars and there’s a safety element too
Then just deal with it. Nothing stays perfect forever, what's the point of owning it if you don't use it.
Absolutely
FFS
Useful comment, but yes it is one of those FWP. First World Problems
No, it's an idiot problem.
says the problem idiot, ironic
First World Problems
Definitively not!
Third world might be. Worrying about scratches in a new car is pitiful and shows limited finances.
No, it's an idiot problem.
Spot ON!!!!
It’s more likely your car will be vandalised in town, than had it been parked at a remote campsite.
Yeah I had someone throw at VB stubby at my Falcon in the 90s in Collingwood . Then they stuck the label to the car.
Classic Collingwood.
Are you like afraid of bears dropping on your car or something?
More like sh1ting on it
Should have bought a Mitsubishi and mount a "donation box" on its side!
Easy! Leave your car at home and hire a cheap banger for your trip.
Grab a screwdriver. Scratch a panel. You’ll have less ‘new car issues’ to get over.
You can’t do anything to protect it. Just cross your fingers.
I think you’ll have more issues of vandalism at your local supermarket carpark .
Been 4wdriving for nearly 20 years and no vandalism or theft.
My Hilux was only a year old back then when i decked it out and you soon get over the scratches and light dents…
Cool, great to know! 20 years, lots of adventures
Yeah mate have done a lot of Dargo,Walhalla, Licola tracks. Nothing like camping, swimming in prestine rivers over summer with a nice fire at night…
All the best
Get a tent for your car. Or you can sleep outside.
Glamping is for you…
My fear is leaving it there overnight exposed to vandals.
Have you ever had or seen a car attached by vandals at these places you're going to leave it?
It's so new and shiny
Don't go to the supermarket then! New and shiny cars are magnets for trolleys!
This is a must for camping:
https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/sca-sca-4wd-camouflage-c…
Just don’t park near walkways as most people will walk straight into it!
You will always have a greater risk parking it anywhere in a town or city. You're more likely to hit a kangaroo, wallaby, echidna or wombat on the way to and from a bush location or a rock thrown up by a passing car than someone deliberately damaging your car. I' usually park my car Iin a car park with at least a dozen empty spaces around me and someone seems to always park beside me it's like they think my car will get lonely or someone. Note to others out if you don't need to park beside someone dont.
Why did you buy it? One minute you talk of all the things you can do, then in the next, you talk about Uber.
Use it, that is why they build such vehicles. The tracks are so well used now that essentially they are simply country dirt roads.
Maybe consider sell it.
Probably shouldn't have bought a new car.
You'll get over it
My fear is leaving it there overnight exposed to vandals.
Fear nothing … but I will be more concerned about getting there on rough roads, narrow passages lightly scratching sides and roof and weather exposure in general (hail?)
Vandals are everywhere. But mostly in big cities or urban areas. Too lazy to go bush.
Enjoy your car living the life of adventure it provides to you.
It will age but it will serve you well.
I don't think its your new car you should be worrying about when camping, but your kid daughter…. Wrap yourself around her so she can't be stolen, or if she does at least you can beat the crap out of the person who did since you'll go with her, assuming they'd carry two bodies….
Probably safer parked out in the bush than it is being driven on the roads
make sure not to leave your rolex in view of the windows or vandals will steal them
Why would vandals steal your windows?
Silica shortage. They are using it all to make the silicon!
/s
Just put dirty on it then shit on it and drive around
Or buying a large tent and put it over your car and paint bikies for lyf. So ppl will think hey must be a group of bikies camping better stay away.
Don't buy a brand new car. EVER. You just threw away 30-40% of your money. Congrats!
What are you doing on OzB?
I know right! But someone has to buy the new otherwise they'd never be second hand.
Not really. Most are sold through novated leases and salary sacrificing (which saves 10-15%). Only fools actually BUY new. Nice try at a humblebrag though…
Not in the current market. COVID-19 changed everything.
Last new car I bought, sold for profit
Wow that is cool! Cheaper than a new paint job too.
And with that pricing you could afford to redo it aftern12 months when it starts to crack and fade.
Or maybe you'll find someone has run into your new hatchback because they 'didnt see it'
I don't get it, all i see is a road.
Effective too
Well thanks for the varied responses, appreciate your thoughts and time.
I'm just going to get the most out of the car doing things I enjoy. Some good points about bush carparks probably being actually safer, and yes you don't want to be held back worried about such trivial things, I know. At the same time we love our cars we worked hard to buy and want to keep them nice where realistically possible.
Cheers!
Lol, you seem too worked mate, keep it in the garage.
the car owns you
This isn't mother Russia
wrap it in bubble wrap