Happens all too often. As said above, get a shitter for work and leave the nice one @ home. I use a little Cinquecento for work now. Can park it in any space I want, if someone knocks it, it ain't too much of a problem, etc...

One of the bumpers on my 4be alone would cost more to replace and paint than buying and insuring the little Fiat in the first place. That, and the fuel saving I make during the year more than pays for the MOT, tax and insurance on the little pile of Fiat.

Even so far, it has saved me damage. Had some prat in a company van decide that he wanted the same bit of road as me once @ a set of lights and proceeded to try and push me off the road, literally. His van was scraped to buggery and my Fiat had the door mirror pushed shut to the car, which it is designed to do anyway. The 4be would have needed new wing, doors, mirror, etc. and probably a full-side respray.