We were out to dinner with a group of friends, and afterwards all waiting for the valet to bring our cars out. My Mini was the first to come out, and everybody was checking it out and complementing it..

So I get in, put my right foot on the clutch, and turn the car on, and take my foot off, only to realize that the damn valet had left it in first gear. The car lurched forward, so I reached for the clutch again, and it started rolling, then i reached for the brake, it lurched again, and it stalled a few feet into the road.

I was so embarassed. The restaurant manager was outside and asked the people I was with if I was too drunk to drive ( I had one drink 4 hours earlier). Then the valet driver came up to my window and apologized for leaving it in first gear..

Note to self, make sure the damn thing is in neutral before turning. I hate it when people leave it in first! Happens most often in the car wash

 

I usually use my left foot for the clutch. .. .

 

good point, i was kinda just sitting there wanting to turn it on to show someone the nav screen.. haha! made for some good comedy though

 

I bet you that valet is glad there wasn't a car in front of you!

 

I always leave my car in gear when it’s in the off mode. First thing I do is to take it out of gear before starting it. I guess it’s what your use to.

 

Leaving your car in gear as opposed to e-brake... is better for your brakes... especially after driving in... let's say ... the canyons. The E-brake , after a good twistie run, can (possibly) warp your disc. So some people are used to gearing it when parked.

 

so when are u we gonna meet up..i wanna get into biking..and check out minis..hehe

 

Funny! :smile:

 

i personally am very tentative to valet my car. i'll do it if i gotta. i valet'd for the x-mas season at a luxurious 5 diamond hotel/resort. the boys over there fly the cars up and down and around the parking garage. they've probably tested out every car out there. in fact, i would say they probably have the most info on which cars perform the best, at least in cornering and handling. and i'm talking every car. bimmers, benz, jags, porsches, etc. of course, those really expensive ones get the VIP parking stall right in front, so there's no testing there.

surprisingly, i only saw one car, a pathfinder, damaged. unfortunately, i had to return it to the owner with its passenger side mirror hanging down. somehow, the driver didn't notice it. basically, the valets are boys. and boys will be boys, especially when enticed.

 

I used to always take my old car to the carwash, one of our Midwest style bunch of guys in a warehouse type carwashes, and inevitably the guys would always leave it parked in gear . Since I always expect it to be in neutral, I would always make it jump 10 feet and die upon starting.

I wash COOP myself, so no problems lately.

Also: I think that the whole "leaving it in gear" thing may be cultural, as in, people who learned to drive stick in other countries seem to have a serious proclivity toward leaving it in gear...anyone else have thoughts on this?

 

i always leave my car in 1st gear! i always make it a habbit to check that its in neutral before taking my foot off the clutch. i did however do that exact thing once and it was quite embarrassing!

 

Same thing happened to me the other night. The only reason to leave a car in gear is when it is really cold and wet and the parking brake lines could freeze up on you.

 

>>We were out to dinner with a group of friends, and afterwards all waiting for the valet to bring our cars out. My Mini was the first to come out, and everybody was checking it out and complementing it..
>>
>>So I get in, put my right foot on the clutch, and turn the car on, and take my foot off, only to realize that the damn valet had left it in first gear. The car lurched forward, so I reached for the clutch again, and it started rolling, then i reached for the brake, it lurched again, and it stalled a few feet into the road.
>>
>>I was so embarassed. The restaurant manager was outside and asked the people I was with if I was too drunk to drive ( I had one drink 4 hours earlier). Then the valet driver came up to my window and apologized for leaving it in first gear..
>>
>>Note to self, make sure the damn thing is in neutral before turning. I hate it when people leave it in first! Happens most often in the car wash

My hand goes on the shifter first thing--to take it out of gear where I expect it to be. And I use my left foot on the clutch. To each his/her own, I guess.

 

>>> And I use my left foot on the clutch. To each his/her own, I guess.

most people use the left foot on the clutch

 

>>Note to self, make sure the damn thing is in neutral before turning. I hate it when people leave it in first! Happens most often in the car wash >>


I ALWAYS leave MINI in first gear when parked and if I ever let anyone drive it (unlikely), I'd hope they left it in gear too! Like someone said, it's habit (a good one) and taking it out before starting is habit.

 

I always leave mine in gear when I park it--I didn't know people didn't. I do, however, start it while in gear, which I've not seen anyone else (on this board) do. Is this bad? It's just the way I was taught...

 

>>i always leave my car in 1st gear! i always make it a habbit to check that its in neutral before taking my foot off the clutch. i did however do that exact thing once and it was quite embarrassing!


I do the exact same thing. If it is parked in gear then it will not roll if something hits the hand brake.
If I were the valet I would have told you the car was parked in gear at the time of turning over the car to you.
That way you would know and take any action you want. Also, when I start the car I always engage the clutch.
Thanks for reminding us of this potential mishap.
I don't valet my MCS- never- against my religion. It's right up there next to "Automatic Car Wash-Just say NO".

_________________
ALOHA

 

Never valet a car. Unless you have to conform to some silly social or status expectation, always park the car yourself. It will save you a lot of headaches.

 

>>Never valet a car. Unless you have to conform to some silly social or status expectation, always park the car yourself. It will save you a lot of headaches.

I don't normally unless... Anybody from DC try parking near Tara Thai in Clarendon? After 30 minutes of hunting for a space with no luck, I turned the car (not the MINI, haven't been there with the MINI yet) over to the valet. I've been lucky and never had problems, and it was MUCH easier (and cheaper) than trying to find a parking space.

I did worry though when I did it. There was a stink a few years back here in DC about valets illegally parking cars, getting tickets, and tossing them. The owner would have no idea what had happened until the went to renew their registration. Some parking companies (they were contracted by the various establishments) would take responsibility, others were not....

 

On my 1993 Toyota truck the starter will not turn over unless the clutch is pressed, even if you are in neutral. I always thought it was a good feature. With all the fancy electronics and features on the MINI you would think they'd have that one.

 

>> I always leave my car in gear when it’s in the off mode. First thing I do is to take it out of gear before starting it. I guess it’s what your use to.

I do the exact same thing. One time I was in a parking lot at school and bunch of people were walking by and looking at my MINI and I forgot the car was in gear and it stalled too... it was very embarrassing.

 

I use valet parking whenever it’s offered. We went down to the Gas Lamp District in San Diego for dinner last night and if you do find a parking space its pure luck. Valet paring is the only way to go when parking is at a premium. What’s the big deal about someone else driving your car? I have never had a problem letting other people drive my cars in 40 years of driving. It is just a car!

 

it's just that if you ever saw in person how some valets drive the cars, particularly in the parking garage, you'd might change your mind. they say that they're trying to be timely for the tips, of course, but i think they're pushing it a little too far. i'm talking about tires screeching around the corners and rocking up and down the ramps. i'm glad you haven't had a problem yet, eg. side-swiped.

 

just to add...i've been a valet, so i've seen it. during the few months i worked as one, i only heard/saw 2 cars with damage, which is pretty good considering how many cars we valet'd during the holidays.

now, i admit, i will valet, but only if i have to. if parking is tight or if i'm late, then i reluctantly will. sometimes, i'll tip them in advance to take extra good care of my ride.

 

Speaking of valet parking, this was the cover story on LA Times last Thursday:
http://www.calendarlive.com/dining/c...r10jul10.story