Just curious if you guys are hesitant to use valet parking. My older brother has a Boxter which took some serious damage on the passenger side between front and rear tire all along the area below the door. Looks like someone ran it up on a curb while taking a corner badly or something like that. He's pretty sure it was the valet who his wife had park the car 3 days ago. She was alone and they didn't notice it till yesterday morning.

I know a lot of people valet a lot of cars much nicer than the Z but given the nature of many of the folks around here I was wondering what their feelings were on the subject.

 

I don't even let my wife drive the car.... There is no way in hell I would let a valet drive it.......

 

If you do a seach on Valet, you will find many different opinions on this topic...some horror stories. No valet for me.

 

i wouldnt let a valet touch my car stock..let alone with the body kit on

even if they respect your car doesnt mean they know how to drive it

too risky

 

if we ever go out someplace nice that requires a valet, we take my wife's SUV. i dont know if i would feel comfortable with them driving my zr.

 

My roommate is a valet parker at one of the resorts here in vegas... The stories I here from him... Never ever valet.

 

never valet either for me...

always look for parking somewhere near the restaurant then walk to my car....and if no parking around and valet only, I am goin some place else....

 

I used to valet. We we honest and really never had any problems. Oh yeah, 150 mph across the parking lot in a Ferrari is NO PROBLEM. NEVER VALET.

 

Its funny when i go somewhere that has valet parking. I always tell the guy to let me park it and i will give him a tip. They ALWAYS say "no, its policy that i have to park it" i then say to him "no, i will park it" and i quickly drive it into a spot, lock the car, TAKE MY KEYS, and give him a tip. It always works.

 

quick rules about using a Valet service. only use Valet at upscale restaurants. their sevices are usually professional. at one place i used to work at, the valet service has a damage card they give you. if your car leaves with a new ding/scratch they pay for it. these guys know hat their doing since half of the clientel drive $80k+ cars.

if your worried about joyriding, check the milage before and after. be sure to tell the restaurant manager that you will check for any new miles on your car. I'm sure that will get him outside to remind the valets to do their job.

 

i goto "upscale" restaurants all the time, at least 2-3 times a week. The valets at those places are also idiots. One guy drove my bmw like schumacher, while i was still outside! Ever since then, i have never trusted any valets, even "upscale" valets.

 

This is exactly what I was thinking about... its hard to find a place to park near some of the nice restaurants in miami beach for example and it can be a several block walk to the restaurant from public parking.

 

If my Z was auto then MAYBE I might consider about giving it to valet, if I have to that is. But with my 6mt, I dont want them rolling back or fah king up my tranny so its a HELL NO for valet.

 

I valet. Even though sometimes I had to and not because I wanted to.

When ever I do valet, I ALWAYS tip the guy FIRST when dropping off the car. Then ask him to drive it with care and I would like him to be the only one driving it when I come pick it up.

This way, he should take extra care of the car because you have tipped him first.
2nd, he will be the only one driving it while you dinner, so if theres anything wrong with the car, he will be the only one responsible(this makes them drive carefully as well).
3rd, he will be glad that you requested him to drive the car back so he can get another tip when he gives you the car.(I usually just give another $2 at pickup).

I always gets my car back without a scratch, and yes, they drive very slow off the parking lot.

But some of them do b!tch about my Bride seat tho..."how can you fit in this thing?!"

 

one time the valet driver didn't know how to drive stick, he kept on stalling....I ended up parking the car myself.

 

As a part time valet I can tell you this much, it depends greatly upon the place of business and how you treat the valet. Phatmitzu is right, if you drop some $ up front, usually you will get faster service and your car will be parked in a better area with better care (ie. garage instead of outside). But if you go to a shady outfit, then expect shady service.
Reggi914, you're lucky you can pull the self parking bit. I work at the Ritz where it is all valet-all the time, absolutely no exceptions. If you try to park by yourself, great, but don't expect your car to be there when you return. Those guests who are really concerned about their cars can hit the doormen before and aft to get VIP treatment.

But again, it depends mostly on the quality of the establishment. Quality businesses are such because they have quality help.

 

Oh FYI, $2-$4 tip = it gets parked wherever
$5 tip = it gets parked in a better spot
$10 tip or more = it gets parked in a nice place close by, and you will be remembered and treated like royalty ever time you visit

 

no way I'm gonna valet my car, too many scary stories...