ejrail Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 Hi, I am wondering what people's experience has been taking their prized SGT on an overnight road trip and leaving it out of sight, unattended, in a parking lot. I know this sounds like an open invitation to lose your car or have it vandalized. We are going to a weekend cruise in Wendover, Nevada over Father's Day weekend. None of the hotel/casinos there have valet parking or a secure area. They do have well lit parking lots. I asked the security office where we're staying if they are doing anything different that weekend because of the valuable cars. The reply was the regular 24HR cameras and drive by rent-a-cops. Don't forget the waiver you have to sign when you check in. I also want to bring our 2007 SGT 2940 "home" to Vegas for our yearly trip to the AC Declo Nationals over Halloween weekend. I'm having trouble convincing my wife the hotel valet parking in Vegas handles more expensive cars daily. She also doesn't trust the drag strip parking lot across from SAI on race day. I work at the Canyons in Park City, UT, home to the 2008 MCA Grand National Show over Labor Day. I can't even convince my wife my own employer is secure enough to house the car for two nights in a gated parking structure. What say ye.......? No, I'm not geting rid of my wife so I'll need other suggestions! Erik Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShelbyGT/SC Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 Consider parking at the Wynn. We were okay for the Birthday Bash with no issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mywickedshelby Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 My Shelby was outside (covered) for 10 consecutive nights last Summer in Cape Cod, Mass. then Newport, Rhode Island then Warwick RI ........in hotel parking lots with no security or secured area. The worst thing that happened was someone pulled up the side of the cover one night to see what it was........I noticed wrinkles in the cover at that corner. The cover was not locked, just tied down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShelbyGT/SC Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 Michael you failed to mention that the people took one look at you and said I am not messing with that guys car especially since he's from NY. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mciarochi Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 +1 on the Wynn. They are very good, and do handle all kinds of exotic cars. I'm sure this is true for most of the Vegas resorts. On the overnight - I've parked mine in hotels and such. I look for a parking space (end space with the curb on the right) that's going to give me some protection from door dings. I try to get a space where I can see or hear the car from my room. Remember, in the grand scheme of things, this is just a car, and realistically is just a bit better than average value. There are a lot of cars worth more money that are a lot less conspicuous to take for a joyride. I don't think we're any more of a target for vandalism than any other car, unless you're a jerk and take up two spaces or something. Of course, I take all interesting stuff like GPS, bags, etc., out of the car to avoid the random rock-through-the-window smash and grab. I think if you exercise normal prudence, and stay out of questionable neighborhoods (of course, there are those who think the entire State of Nevada is questionable...) you're going to be okay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mywickedshelby Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 Michael you failed to mention that the people took one look at you and said I am not messing with that guys car especially since he's from NY. Every little bit helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old guy Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 I took my GT500 on a 2 1/2 week road trip last Aug from Denver to Atlanta and back, stopping in several cities along the way to "herf" with my cigar smoking buddies. The only thing I did before I left was to call the insurance co and ask what their policy was on a car like that. They said they would replace it... 'nuff said. I treated it like it was just another car and had a blast! Hope you enjoy yours just as much. BTW - I parked it in very conspicuous places under the lights. Parking your car out of the way and out of sight just gives thieves more privacy if they want to steal your car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGT/SC#0471 Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 Dude the car has an alarm...lock the doors. I am way more concerned with getting a door ding or a panel dent than getting the car boosted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGT/SC#0471 Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 Dude the car has an alarm...lock the doors. I am way more concerned with getting a door ding or a panel dent than getting the car boosted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old guy Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 Dude the car has an alarm...lock the doors. I am way more concerned with getting a door ding or a panel dent than getting the car boosted. I don't even worry too much about door dings or panel dents. They can be fixed pretty easily. Not saying I wouldn't be a little upset, but it isn't worth not enjoying the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGT2666 Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 I highly recommend the for all your automotive security needs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejrail Posted May 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 Thanks for all of your comments. I'm a big fan of the Trunk Monkey. It is on my "gotta get one" list. I wonder who has the Utah franchise? I understand it is a just machine to get you from point A to point B, but what a way the accomplish that! I am really not worried about going to an all weekend car show beacuse there will be lots of car people around who appreciate and respect whatever you drove there. My wife is the one who worries because she knows how passionate I am about owning an SGT. She's afraid of seeing me on the 11 o'clock news if I caught somebody messing with my car. Anybody coming to the Grand National show here in Park City over Labor Day, feel free to contact me if you have any questions about our area. Utah isn't as weird as it is sometimes presented on the news. Erik Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrfarmdog Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 The best guard is to park it in a good location. A friend of mine parked his in a parking deck in downtown Memphis and had his hood keyed along with three other cars parked in a row. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tko211 Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 +1 on the trunk monkey! It's a great security feature from Suburban Motors. LOL I have only had my SGT on one trip in Vegas. I was at the Hilton and I paid a better tip amount (20 bucks) to the Valet. They parked it real close in the "special exotic" area next to a Corvette Z06, Ferrari, and a couple others. It was well taken care of by the staff and I NEVER worried about it. The Staff knew it was a Shelby and that it was no run of the mill Mustang. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGT/SC#0471 Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 I don't even worry too much about door dings or panel dents. They can be fixed pretty easily. Not saying I wouldn't be a little upset, but it isn't worth not enjoying the car. Ok so how do dents and dings get fixed easily? I drive the heck out of my car but I choose my parking spots very carefully. Like I said the car has an alarm, but not a dentproof door. I live in a city however and all the spots are seriously packed in. A car is straight only once from new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrfarmdog Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 Ok so how do dents and dings get fixed easily? I drive the heck out of my car but I choose my parking spots very carefully. Like I said the car has an alarm, but not a dentproof door. I live in a city however and all the spots are seriously packed in. A car is straight only once from new. I know several people that have had good luck with the Dent Doctor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old guy Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 I know several people that have had good luck with the Dent Doctor. Exactly. There are lots of companies that specialize in removing dents and dings, the dent doctor being the biggest -- usually done in a couple of hours and no painting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGT/SC#0471 Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 Exactly. There are lots of companies that specialize in removing dents and dings, the dent doctor being the biggest -- usually done in a couple of hours and no painting. I have a friend who swears by this too. I am not quite a believer, metal is moved, it changes IMO. But it is a decent option. Here in Seattle doors fly open and the cars get dinged, the city building department has a skewed idea of what a parking space should be haha, My car will stay straight if I can help it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old guy Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 I've had it done a couple of times to my Volvo when it suffered major door nicks and I can't tell where they were. Metal will stretch, but it also has a memory and can be returned to its original condition fairly easily. I think it's actually much better than conventional paint and body techniques. As long as the paint is not damaged this is the way to go. Of course, the best way to handle the problem is to not get them in the first place. Usually walking an extra few feet can get you a parking space that will minimize the probability of somebody smacking your door. If you don't have a choice, keep in mind that most people drive by themselves, so there is a good probability that no one will be coming out of the passenger door. Also, most people pull head-in, so pick an appropriate end space whenever possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gofastguy Posted May 24, 2008 Report Share Posted May 24, 2008 There is definitely an art to choosing the proper parking space (for those of us who are fussy about door dings, scrapes, etc). I always go for the primo ones in the very front first and then head to the back of the lot if I strike out in the front. My new thing is to try for an uphill grade from where the carts congregate... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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