Who else besides me is afraid of valet parking? I guess after witnessing one of them literary fry the clutch on my brother's Audi S4 back in 2000 would make me paranoid. I have to attened a wedding on Sunday and the establishment has valet parking. Not looking forward to taking my MINI there. I took my Miata there a couple of years ago and I noticed a scratch on my prestine bumper I remember I only had two singles and a five on me at the time. So, I gave the attendant the two singles and he said the minimum tip was something like $3 . Whiskey Tango Foxtrot . So I gave him the $5 and he gave a back change .

My friend had her brother's engagement party there and mysteriously all the gifts suddenly disapeared. If I remember correctly, the gifts "magically" re-appeared when the police were about to be called.

I'm really not looking forward to Sunday. I think I'm gonna park in the residential area nearby and hoof it. I hope I can find a house with a MINI parked in the driveway . Anyone in the Ft. Lee area of NJ, on Lemoine ave./Palisades ave.(67) area would be kind enough to let me park in front of their house? I think I'm gonna take the minivan I use for work instead

 

Well, not a Mini encouner, but a few years ago I had a brand new Volvo C70 coupe that was about 3 months old. Now, you should know that I'm in a wheelchair and use hand controls, but that DOES NOT affect the use of the foot pedals. I went to a show on the Sunset Strip in Holywood and about 10 minutes into the opening band the valet next door taps me on the shoulder. Hampered by my pathetic midwestern upbringing which brings me no secondary language ability, I think that, perhaps, they are having problems with the alarm or something. I come to find that the valet decided to give the hand controls a try, found the accelerator - but not the brake - and drove my brand new car into a brick wall at a speed enough to incur 15 thousand dollars damage and months of headaches (not to mention the fact that, in spite of insurance, these things are never free - at the end of the day it cost me about $2k).

Suffice to say, I rarely valet and when I have to, I make extra, extra sure the valet understands not to try the hand controls and that feet work just fine.

 

Never, and I mean never let a valet have your keys. Its akin to giving them to that 18 year old down the block that you never met they keys for 2, 3, 4 or more hours. O'yea dont forget that he gave you a small piece of paper that said if he f's it up its not his responsibility.

Just refuse and go park it your self. If they have a hissy fit I always tell them that I have 10 grand worth of equipment in the back. I ask them if they want to be responsible. If you feel bad give him a tip. Give him a big enough tip and he will let you park it next to that Ferrari.

 

Well, that's total BS. Tips are, by definition, optional. Too bad you had to pay up or else risk him inflicting intentional damage on your clutch while bringing it back to you.

 

After my dad told me the story of a family friend who got his Lambo destroyed by sme valet who took it on a joy ride, i never valeted my car again. Il pay for the cost of the valet and park it myself.

 

Unless your in VEGAS. ... What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas

Valet Parking is one of the Hugest and Best benefits of being in Vegas. Toss them the keys, tip a few dollars and no need to walk a mile in from the self-park

Of course, thats for RENTAL CARS!!!

 

Two excellent options...do one of these.

 

No way they are getting into a high performance stick! I have seen some scary stuff.
I am lucky enough to have a POS company car that looks and drives like an airport rental to give them!


regards,
Red

 

In all likelyhood that would not be legally binding. There is no consideration in that contract, the same is true for the parking tickets when you self park.

Also for the most part, no contract can generally make up for their own negligence (ie if they crash your car it is their responsibility regardless).

I will valet in my MINI, but it depends on where.

 

I have one single exception to not allowing any valet parking - the Buckeye Roadhouse restaurant. They only park your car within the confines of the small restaurant parking lot and you can watch them and the car the whole time. They have been great with all cars over the years, and park many very nice ones, and I'm happy that I can watch the whole thing and peek out at my car at any time. But that is it, no valet for any of my cars otherwise, just too much can happen and result in a big ol headache for me.

Take the van :smile:

 

Who would of thunk. I bit the bullet and decide to take my Cooper S with a plan to park it in the residential area. As I drove up to the front to drop off my folks, I noticed that only a section of the parking garage was set aside for valet parking. So, I just drove in parked it myself. :smile:

 

Just say "no" to valet parking. remember the Seinfeld B.O. episode? sorry but I'm not risking a steenky meenee

 

Hey I am a valet myself, and wouldn't valet with anyone after doing it for a year. I love the job, but sometimes when you have so many cars in a small area, things tend to happen, especially with new guys. I don't recommend valet parking to anyone unless you are valeting with me, I will take care of any MINIS.

 

nope... I'd rather use that money for my food/drinks... I can park my own damn car...

 

I've valeted the Subaru (in Vegas) and the MCS in Phoenix a bunch of times. Sure we were a little hesitant, but everytime we've valeted there have been Porsches/Mercedes in the same lot. If those guys are going to valet then why not let them drive the mini.
At the end of the day its only a car, and no matter what they say they're responsible for any negligent behaviour.

 

I will pay the valet, then park Wanda myself. The valets never complain! Alternatively, we park the MINI or the Corvette on a street and hike to our destination. :smile:

Back in the day I had a boyfriend who valeted for the famous Troubadour music club in West Hollywood. I'd go to work with him once in a while and help. We parked everything from VeeDubs to Bentleys and babied the vehicles like they were our own. He got FABULOUS tips and free pasta meals from Dan Tana's... Ah, the early 70s were fun!


Clover

 

Your boyfriend was a good man. I know a guy at college with me who is one of the reasons why Funk_Flex won't take the MINI.

Myself, no valet is going to touch my MINI... especially since it's a stick. Even with a "valet mode" on an ecu upgrade, they'd still probably find a way to trash the clutch and tranny.

 

There is one place where i will valet (if i had the money) and that is at a local mall with several mid-upper priced restaurants. The only reason i will do it there is because i know a couple of the valets there through another local car club!

 

Just can't do it... valet parking is just too stressful. Paranoia will set in over what is happening to Mini...:impatient ... Where did they park it? Is it getting dented? Are the keys going to someone else? If valet is a must then someone else will simply have to drive.

 

No valet will ever lay a hand on one of my vehicles. Your fear is well founded. Too many horror stories of the Ferris Bueller variety. At valet parking functions, I'll commonly drop off my passengers then drive my vehicle to the next lot (non-valet) available. I won't even park in the same lot as that bunch of yahoos for fear of idiot driving.

 

"Uh, you fellas have nothing to worry about. I'm a professional."
"A professional what?"

I valeted at a high-end restaurant for a couple of years in college, and I basically echo what others with such experience are saying. I can drive a stick and I treated cars right, but there are plenty who don't. Unless you know the valet by first name (and maybe know their mother by first name as well), I wouldn't recommend leaving your car in their possession.

As far as asking valets if you can park your car in their lot by yourself, it depends. I remember a guy showed up in a prsitine 1970's Ferrari Dino one time, and we let him park it himself right in front. I'm not sure the same breathless respect would be shown to a MINI.

 

I don't even like to give them my 'well used' car. The whole concept of handing a complete stranger my keys just doesn't work for me. I leave too much stuff in my car that I'm not going to inventory, nor trust to the whim of the valet.
I worked in San Francisco for a while - all the parking lots there require you to leave your keys. So I took the train!

 

I would NEVER give some stranger my keys. Have you ever seen the hidden video cam in some Nice valet parking lots? They rip people off all the time of anything they can find in the car. Not all do it but it just takes one.

Earl

 

I'll never let one touch one of my cars again. I was in the Jacksonville Hyatt last Thursday night in the Audi that I trade for my Mini. When I got to the Mini dealer there was a scratch on the drivers door that was so new that it had paint from the other car stuck in the scratch, like a ribbon. I KNOW that it was done by the Hyatt valet but there is no way I could prove it. It cost $15 PLUS the tip!!! I love the Hyatt but they won't get to touch my car again.

 

Not all of them, lots of them (no pun intended) are self park in all parts of SF. I'd never use those types where you leave your keys either.

Oh well, taking the train prob saved you money anyway
:smile: