OT: To DC Area Listers

Would you take your p-car to (is it safe to)drive and park around "The Mall" area(Museum of Natural History, Capitol, Smithsonian, Lincoln Memorial etc)?? Thanks

Yeah, I do but if you're asking you probably shouldn't.

Personally? No. Although I'm sure it's ok. To me, driving within DC city limits has lost all of its appeal over the last few years. Not sure if its the crappy streets, the un-synchronized traffic lights or the crime. Andreas

I wouldn't. I really don't like to get out of the car anywhere but my own garage. :-) Bill

Lots of garages around that area......slip the parking attendent some $ (think ferris beuller) & you'd probably be OK. That said, I hate driving in DC period.

I live in DC and I took my 2 boys to the Museum of Natural History yesterday (Sunday). It was a beautiful day and I prked right across the street from the Museum. If I can't do things like that in my car--I don't need the car.

yeah I live in dc too and it is easy to park on the street in a good spot if you get there in the morning on a weekend

I would never park my P. in dc, I dont even like taking my Girlfriends Corolla...

Garages are fine....street is risky...just look at the bumpers on cars with DC plates.... If you're only going to be at a location for a few hours some garages will let you park your car where you drop off...or in front of the hotel.

Are you guys kidding? 996s are really nothing special in DC. I drive mine in DC every day, rain, snow or shine. I would park it anywhere I would actually go. If I am unwilling to park somewhere, then why would I go there? With respect to bumpers, the rule, for the most part is easy: if you have a nice car and your bumpers are unscathed, people really do not want to hit it. If you have one scratch on your bumper, all bets are off and people feel absolutely no guilt in giving your car "love bumps." So, maintain your car, and it wil be fine. That said, given the choice between parking on the street and parking in a garage, I choose the garage. Finally, life is too short to avoid driving your Porsche out of fear that it will be damaged. Take the car, be smart, and fix it if it does get damaged. Life will go on . . .

Way to go TD, drive your car that is why we pay for insurance! I have had people tell me do not drive your car to Poland, Czech etc... but it has never stopped me the worst case is someone steals it and I take a train back home and the insurance covers it, again life is too short!

I don't know about during the day, but I don't mind parking along Constitution/Independence Ave. at night... Not much traffic there. The day? Can't say... What about parking out in the 'burbs and Metro'ing in? Justin

hmmmm . . . riding in the metro next to some fat woman who is clipping her fingernails and allowing the detrius to land on your arm or riding into town in a sweet Porsche . . . life is full of hard decisions. BTW, that is a true story. I used to live in Bethesda and one morning on the way in to work, a fat lady came in, sat down next to me, whipped out her nail clippers and started clipping her nails. When the third nail clipping landed on my arm, I lost it. I stood up, brushed off my arm and said "You disgust me . . . what makes you think that you can turn a public place that others are forced to share with you into your bathroom? How would you like it if others threw their nail clippings on you?" The other people in the metro car started applauding. Apart from embarassing the lady that day, I bet it did nothing to change her behaviour . . .

I personally don't drive my car into DC but I if I where to, I would park it in a garage. Thankfully I have a Jeep that I drive into the city when necessary. The mall area is very low on crime as it is heavily patrolled so that isn't really a concern, it is more betting bumped by careless drivers (hence I recommend finding a garage). The other concern is the road quality of DC is very inconsistent. In certain areas, the roads are fine but drive a few blocks down and there are stretches that you think you'd need a 4x4. With that said, I am happy I work just outside DC and don't have to venture in. It was a joy driving my car into work today and I'm itching to drive it home in this nice weather. Pete

I am actually very happy to live in DC, Georgetown to be precise. When you live here, you learn the good and the bad roads. Let's hope that Fenty is better than his predecessors. Again, though, life is too short to avoid driving your car for just about any reason. TD

I've parked my 996 under the Key Bridge in NW to an alley off of Halley Terrace in SE. To me, parking in Waldorf is more scary. But like I said, those who have to ask should probably just leave the car at home.

I second TD. Live in DC, drive everyday, and feel perfectly comfortable parking on the street, usually with the top down, almost everywhere I would bother to go.

Hey, you gotta come out my way soon, a friend of mine wants to show off his new GT3 to me and put me in my place.

Sounds good. 997 GT3?

The neighborhood around the mall is fine. Especially during the day. Come summertime late at night, if we have a crime wave like we did last year. You might look like a target. I drive my 911 to work from time to time, my 996 (assuming I get one) will be my DD. I try and use self park garages if at all possible. Tip vallets both arriving and departing otherwise. Just a few $ goes a long way to say thanks. The only thing bad about driving in DC is the traffic, idiots and potholes/man hole covers. Beyond that, its no different than any other major world city.

Park at the Ronald Reagan Building. Very secure, lots of camears and only a short walk.

Ha! He wishes it was a 997.. 996

The Reagan Building doesn't count, you have to go thru metal detectors just to walk in to get lunch... lol! But if you're really paranoid that's the place to be.

Thanks Gents!! Good points TD! I really would like to take the P car.. and the garage sounds like a sfae idea. Any recommendation on which one/location? I've been to The Mall several times but in my truck and park near Museum of Natural History, in front of Smithsonian and by the river to see Lincoln Memorial. No scratches or dings.