NYC Parking woes

["Anne O" <marinefuel@domain.elided>]

The Si is down again, so Alfa was pressed into use as the daily 
driver.
Off to the grocery store, I park at the furthest end of an empty
parking lot,in a corner,nose in for protection. Upon my return 5
minutes later,nesteled alongside Alfa is a Expedition. With 150
empty spots, why next to me?

On to the Honda dealership for parts. Hallelejula, a legal spot
right in front of the parts counter. As I am waiting for a
counterman, TWO Navigators pull up and double park alongside.

The third stop of the day was the dreaded local mall to pick up
a card. Twice burned, I stop to fetch my husband first to be on
Alfa guard duty. He laughed off my concerns,but was a sport and
came along for the ride. The sixth floor of the parking lot was
totally empty,so again I parked it in the furthest corner,and
left him to guard the car.

Five minutes later,I'm back out but the car is not there. I hear
the growl of an Alfa engine revving high, he pulls up. He's
besides himself,enraged. As soon as I entered the mall an
Escalade parked alongside and the disembarking children would
have decapitated Alfa, throwing the doors wide,if he had not
backed out. He's no longer doubting my sanity.

This car is a SUV magnet. Does it make them feel bigger?

Friday I had to make a meeting in midtown,not somewhere I would
normally take Alfa,but this was imperative. I found a lot with a
vacancy 2 blocks away (an accomplishment in NYC) and was SO
happy to be parked between two Z3's. Until I returned 2 hours
later.

There is a sign at the cashier of the garage that "Rolls Royce,
Ferrari,Lamborghini,Maserati,Jaguar and other exotic cars as
well as all SUV's will be charged a $5.00 surcharge for
parking". One of the Z3's was checking out ahead of me, he paid
the regular parking fee. When I went to pay,they tacked on a
$5.00 exotic car parking fee. Of course,I am
infuriated,protesting,calling for a manager to solve this
injustice. A 20 something manager appeared, his answer "I never
saw one of these,so it is an exotic". A 84 Spider,not even a red
one!

Since this list seems to have members versed in every possible
expertise,I will throw out an odd request. Do we have anyone
with expertise in Honda Civic transmissions or know a source of
expertise? I am rebuilding it and have come across an
irrecocilable problem. Until I finish rebuilding it,Alfa has to
be daily driver,taxi,lorry. Help!

Finally back after catching up on 4+ months of digest.

Anne O
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