We do with my wife's car, but it is an automatic and I don't have to worry about the clutch, or someone finding the wrong gear. I've never let a valet park any of my cars (all manuals) and one time, that meant we didn't go to where we were going because they said valet or no parking at all. I went somewhere else for lunch.

 

"Ferris Bueller's Day Off"

I'm just sayin.

 

The 1961 Ferrari 250GT California...

 

Never had a problem so far with any of my vehicles.

As a matter of fact, when I had my jeep wrangler (jacked up, manual) and took it to the casino, they would park it in front of the building with the Mercedes and such. Took very good care of it. Only had a slight problem once where a valet went to get my car and came back a few minutes later to tell his boss "I don't know how to drive stick, someone else needs to get the car."

I would trust my mini to valet also. It is an automatic '05 MCS that's been pretty modified (not done yet, but who ever is "done"?)... there's places I go that not parking with a valet just isn't reasonable. Some hotels in downtown Chicago for example. Same with some restaurants down there.

Guess I'm just more trusting. Plus I am a pretty big guy, maybe I scare the valets into being nice with my cars. LOL

 

I would only use a valet if i wanted some dings and burnt up clutch and pay $10 for it.

I've personally watched a valet at the hospital I work at parallel park a car and curb the living hell out of the back wheel. He then walked out like nothing ever happened. I gave him the stare down of my life.

 

+1

 

The only time I used a valet with my Mini was at 2010 MTTS and 2012 MTTS.
A couple of the hotels had covered secure parking, valet only, and so we did.

There were no issues, I swear Mini USA taught them how to drive, in any of my valet uses at MTTS events.

We stayed 3 days in Manhattan prior to the 2012 MITTS kickoff and again we used the Hotel Valet Service
that was contracted to a parking company. Again no issues at all. No scratches dings or extra miles.

I also pre tip, and generously. It hasn't seemed to hurt.

Hope this helps...

 

Personally, I prefer to park it myself, no matter what I'm driving.

 

I figured out how much I despise Valet parking yesterday.

We had an old minivan that we just donated. We were cleaning it out and found a $100 gift cert from our realtor from 2010 when we purchased this house. I thought "wow! free meal. How did we miss this?"

My wife reminded me that it was a particular restaurant that mandated valet parking and that I didn't want to use it. There was no way not to use valet without parking about a half a mile away and walking.

In the trash the gift cert went.

 

No.

I am a bit fussy about my car. I had better be careful here. I work for a large company that manages parking.

They are legally responsible for damage. Here is the key:

Care
Custody
Control

The car is in their control, if we damage any car we pay the claims. Valets are certified. I have watched them at the symphony park very expensive cars and they do a wonderful job. Not all companies the same!

My work is financial with the company. CPA/CGMA.

No sign posted can avoid responsibility. Once you hand over the keys they are responsible.

Take a few pictures before you park. By all means take some pictures before you leave. Notify them of damage before you leave. Get a police report if they play hardball.

Drive your car a few feet and pull over to inspect it.

Just my two cents.

 

Should have taken the old mini van to the valet..


BTW, I valet parket Piper with 100 miles on it.

 

here in San Antonio as well. Have never had any problems with valet, though we only use it a few times a year. San Antonio just ain't that fancy. Only had the Mini valeted once and no problems. Watched them park it and no grinding gears, very smooth in 1st (which we know can be hard if you don't know the Mini clutch).

 

After seeing how many valet's treat cars, hell know. Not even my wife's 10 year old Murano.

And remember this, the vast majority of cars sold in the USA are automatics. That means that the number of people who are compentent with a manual transmission is getter lower all the time.

 

Well, don't valet park your car at the airport. The TSA will search it.

 

Never have, never will.

If it's the only parking option, I will go somewhere else.

This is from a guy who has almost missed departing flights due to endless circling in the parking ramp for the optimum, lowest risk spot.

 

No Valet Parking period!