To valet, or not to valet
 

Headed to Vegas today and Im torn between whether or not to park the car myself or have the valet park it.

I dont want to park in self parking and have joe blow smackin' doors up against it but at the same time I dont want valet to not realize how low the car is and bang up the front splitter or under the car. Im sure they see a lot of cars that are better than mine so hopefully they respect them... just wondering if any of you fine gentlemen had any input.

Thanks!

Never

NO VALET -- I never valet any car of mine- last time I did was years ago with a T-Bird Super Coupe ... returned with 17 more miles on the O.D., the seat leaning all the way back and stereo tuned to rap at full blast ... confirmed everything I figured about valet parking. There was also a theft ring here in Houston that had the valet make a copy of your key, then his buddy take the new key and drive your car off...when you return they act innocent.."here are your keys, we don't know what happened". I'm sure some CF folks have used valets with no problems, I just think the odds are against you when you turn the keys over to some guy you've never even met.

Park it yourself and take your chances.

I let them all the time, I tell them turn the bottle on if you spray it:yesnod:

such a rhetorical question. faced this myself in AC. didnt want someone else driving my ride so opted for the self park. parked between a bimmer and a benz and inherited my very own scratched quarter panel. only prize i won in ac!

I read your post... thats what got me thinking. Thats the type of situation I am trying to avoid. I wouldnt mind valet expect for a few considerations with turning the car off properly and it being so low.... that and maybe having a lead foot or making a couple trips around the block :ack:

I think Ill do what has been recommended.... self park somewhere and take my chances. Thanks for the input as always gents!

I use their services all the time but with a hitch. The one place I use the services at is a high end steak house. They drive the car up 30 feet, back it in next to something equally beautiful and then back it up to me when I'm ready to leave. They are extremely professional and reached an agreement with me a long time ago when they opened up. My car NEVER goes in general population. I don't care what they have to move to make this happen. Fact is, there's many places I could go that afford me the same service. In those cases, they allow me to park my car myself,wherever I want. I pay them the same as if they parked it and am always very generous with the tip. Sometimes when trying a new place, I will stop by the day before in my dd and cover what my expectations are. More than one very high end car has been moved to accommodate me. They don't move the other really cool stuff for you when you left them 2 bucks on your last visit.

Took my car to Goodyear for new tires Saturday, I backed the car in so all they had to do was pull it into the bay straight ahead.

My wife picks me up and we go next door to put gas in her car.

I'm pumping gas and I hear a, ROOOoaaarrr of a car coming around the back of the Goodyear building, and i say to my self, wow, some body is having some fun in a great sounding car.

I look up and its MY CAR :willy:, I went back to Goodyear, the manager apologized and the kid told the manager that the accelerator was sensitive and he did nothing wrong. :eek:

So, its 50/50, they might drive it OK or they might not

If I cannot park the car myself in a spot I consider safe, I do not take my Vette.

Just came back from a casino and parked valet, however(!), I drove the car myself. :yesnod:

I usually ask if they can sit next to me and I drive the car to the valet spot. In this case I took a little spin with the cute valet girl from the casino and she told me I made her year :rock:

This post makes me want to gamble:cheers:

Sounds like either way self park or Valet you are going to be concerned. So I would go with the Valet at least if something goes wrong you know who to blame and collect from. Beats a hit and run whether it be a door scratch or something more serious with no one taking responsibility.

those folks have parked HUNDREDS of them. if you still don't feel right there are PLENTY of spots UP in the garages. just park AWAY FROM OTHERS.

I've never used a valet. I've parked in just about every hotel self parking lot in this city and never had so much as a ding in any of my cars for nearly 10 years.

:iagree:

:withstupid: Learned my lesson with my last Corvette. :yesnod:

I won't let the wife drive it so there is no way in hell I'll let a stranger drive it!!! I have never done and never will do valet parking with any vehicle.

I'd valet it. That's just me. My '65 Malibu, never ever...

Don't watch Ferris Bueller, though...:D

if it's stick shift---no valet.

if it's automatic---no valet.

;)