Hey everyone, I would like to know more from you who have lived all your lives in Ireland and know more about this. A co worker told me last week people damaged her car for no reason. Is it common for people to damage somebody's car just for the heck of it? Or that was an odd situation? I got my bicycle stolen in Cork already so it got me thinking about all this...

Was almost in a scrap with my neighbour because a girl at his party thought it was funny to try and rip my wing mirror off. My mates have had there wing mirrors kicked off and foot prints up there bonnet and roof in belfast. So yea it common. Some people cantcontrol there demons.

Now that sucks and makes me not want to own a car over here.

There is a heavy drink culture over here and when people drink they sometimes loose inhibitions. For what it's worth I have not had any one vandalize any car I have owned in Ireland but it happened to me twice in Australia. If your car is parked in a heavy foot traffic area then I think you're more likely to fall foul of the stupid pricks of the world.

Yeah I agree with Quandry. You can go to any country or city in the world and there are always good and bad areas, places you shouldnt go at night and places you shouldnt park your car. Use your savvy and you should be fine. I have lived here all my life and never had any vandilism but I have always been careful about where I leave my cars.
I would also recommend a shotgun, they are handy.

Now I'm understanding better the situation. I agree that depending on where you park your car, people might damage or steal it. I just thought it was VERY common so I guess it is not that bad?

It really depends on where you live and what kind of scum lives on your road, my mother had her car door kicked in once or twice and also a bottle of beer thrown at the car window, parked my car on her road when i went on holidays and when I got back my sister had spotted two lads trying to nick it, so needed a new door, believe some lads at the end of the street were pure scum and when they got kicked off the road they came back and did nearly every car that was out on the road. I'd put it all down to drink, especially as my car at the time was a 92 nissan sunny! Oh and her neighbours car was set on fire last year, but i believe it was a banger that was left on the road, all the neighbours wanted it moved because it was prime for vandalism because it had 4 flat tyres moss growing on it etc etc, the neighbour was too scabby to pay for it to be taken away, another neighbour got charged for calling the fire brigade to get the fire put out!! Generally you should try keep it in your driveway, stops kids acidently hitting it with balls, cycling into it and wing mirrors being knocked off etc

The other thing that annoys me about damaging peoples cars is those d**kheads who rub against your car in car parks and just feck off! Just happened to my 2, 2 days ago! Am raging! spending the day with t cut and polish! The damage is not that bad just such a scabby thing to do! chances are i'd have taked €50 for the inconvienence of it all and repair it myself if even that! I'd have probably taken a very sincere apoplogy.

I lived in Limerick for 9 years, was working in a pub in the city centre, one night 2 scumbags who were either drunk or high or both decided to attack my car with empty beer kegs, broke all my windows, and kicked my doors in, they left the 2 kegs embedded in the front and back windscreens, I had a few mates in the pub and we caught them and held them until the guards arrived, after a year and 3 court dates later I got awarded 250 euros, fuckin joke, was also threatened a couple of times on the street after that by the 2 same scumbags, great country we live in!

+1 on the good and bad areas and parking outside pubs etc

During summers, I've had T-bar off on my last 2 and meaning to go out again and forgot and left t-bar off overnight. Done this loads of times and never any problems.
Probably down to me living in a fairly residential family type area.

As said, the drink culture doesn't help - recession is here and pepole have problems - with some drink and someone not having a job, it can lead to stealing, damaga through jealousy etc

If you catch some one at your car, cops are not a great help. Court not great, you dont get the money back that you are due. I have had a couple of people bump into me and piss off with no note etc. Before the M3 I had a lovely jeep. Parked it outside my mothers one night to go into town and the next morning found that someone had reversed into the driver door, and sped off. Needed a new door. The day before it was due to be repaired (luckily not the day after) an old lady reversed straight into the same door in a car park in Newry. She had never heard of mirrors and should in now way be allowed to drive at 109 million years old. How come young people are considered dangerous and a risk when we can actually see and respond to situations in the same hour? We remember to turn on our lights at night. Two weeks ago I noticed a good rubbing on the wheel arch of the M3. I have actually SEEN people whack their doors off my car without looking or thinking twice. It boils my blood. Im so sick of inconsiderate people. Next time, they get found in a bush a week later!

It happens a lot I find out of Jealousy!!! I always make sure I can park my car under the eyes of a camera and if it takes a little longer to find a spot in sight of a camera in a shopping centre car park then so be it, that's piece of mind in my eyes! Try and get a camera to fit on the side or front of ur house or a hidden in a window in your house. I'd never just park my car anywhere cos I feel people in General are spiteful when you've got a nice well looked after car!! It's not just the Irish, every nationality has a Jealous person so it's unfair to blame or Presume that it's just an Irish thing! Get a good surround alarm, I have one and it's a Clifford, if u walk to close to my car it will scream at them the same as when u might drive too close to it and that's enough for people to sit up and be more cautious!! If u need help with a good surround alarm where your Fob will let u know when someone is at a certain part of your car gimme a shout!

Shopping centre car parks are the worst, ive had many a run in wit assholes swinggin der doors open and wackin me car.. Now i park in a wheelchair spot, (i knw its wrong) but tesco's hav 12 spots allocated so ders always room and security dnt do anytin, spots are larger so no more door bangin, or heads 4 dat fact If i go 2 town, i always try get an end spot and keep her close 2 the wall, which givs plenty of room on other side.. But like most hav already said, normal day 2 day parking damage is due 2 jealous bastards...