Ok... here'* the deal.

I was parking the car last night, with Jen, in our underground parkade.
Where I park there is a car on my drivers side, and on the passengers side there is a cement pillar at the front corner.

While we were getting out of the car, the red Grand Am, that parks on the passengers side of us came in the garage and tried to park.
We park on the right hand side, and the GA drove up on the right hand side and tried to drive into the space. Needless to say, with a car on the opposite side of her, she was unable to drive straight in. Her angle was too sharp.

Jen paused a minute, waiting to see if she could/would get in or not before opening her door and getting out of the Bonneville.

Anyways, this woman got dangerously close to the pole, almost taking her passenger sideview mirror off.... she didn't hit the sideview mirror.... but she then grinded 1/2 her car against the cement pillar. NASTY

She backed up and tried again.... again she hit the pillar. She wasn't drunk or anything, she looked super embarrassed. Jen and I walked away and went to the elevator.
We waited about 2mins for the elevator and the woman was still trying to park her car.

Now, of course I'm a bit concerned about the type of driver/car owner that parks next to my Bonneville. I'm pretty sure that GA has already ding'd Knight Fire once or twice (noticed it the last time I washed KF).

Before the giant scrap from the cement pillar, the car was actually inder pretty good condition. The scrap goes from 1/2 way across the front door, to the C pillar.... it'* pretty damn bad.... and it'* going to cost a lot to fix.

My question is, should I offer to show her a better/easier way to park her car or not?
She might get really offended, on the other hand, it might help her from further damaging her car.

Thoughts?

That'* a tough one. She'* damaging lots of things close to and including your car. If you are comfortable offering assistance I'd do it. She probably would be grateful.

There are some people in the world that bribbed their way through the drivers test and she sounds like one of them.

The way the parkade is layed out.... she'd have a much easier time backing her car in, and/or going wide and driving in, but again due to layout, backing out would be hard.

I never drive in.... I always back in.

If she can't drive in correctly front ways, she'll never make it backwards. Don't know how much liabilty you bring on yourself offering advice. Even if you preface it.

I think if I give advice.... since I'm not an official, or pretending to be one..... I can't be held liable for it. Not 100% sure..... but vaild point... something to check into.

I never pull into any spot. Always back in.. it'* easier 99% of the time to pull out. Specially in winter with a FWD.

Like mentioned though.. some people don't have any skill and in that case.. just offer to take the keys away.. Gotta treat them like an impaired driver.

Isn't our world in a sad condition if we have to consider legal repercussions before offering to help somebody? I'm not criticizing you, Travis; I'm just rather disgusted that there have been enough silly lawsuits in this day and age to make us think in terms of "liability" before we offer assistance. People look for every way possible to pass the blame for their mistakes, and it ends up making life unreasonable when interacting with others.

Having said that, I believe you should offer to help this woman. If you do it in a sensitive, gentlemanly way she won't be offended, even if she turns you down. You may be nervous before asking her, but afterward you'll feel good that you tried to help. If you are able to help, you'll be saving her a lot of future expense and humiliation. The fact that she "looked super embarrassed" shows that it bothers her that she couldn't park the car very well, so she may be receptive to some instruction. Be a good neighbor, and forget the liability risk.

The only thing I would have done to help would be to disable her car. I know those underground ramps are not exactly spacious, but a little sense would help. If you can't make it, don't do it. If you're in doubt, reposition to remove doubt.

you said that you park with another lady? I might suggest you talk to her, and see if she would be willing to give advice to the lady with the GA. She might be more accepting having a woman give advice. You wouldn't want her to take it as "degrading" even though you only want to help.

I do have to agree with sonoma_zr2 though. Chances are if she can't do it driving forward she wont be able to get in backwards. I know my dad can't back up worth a damn, she might be the same way.

you could always leave a note on her windshield with some advice. That way she won't feel stupid cuz she can't park. If you decide to talk to her I would suggest that your gf be there with you and just try to be nice.