| Author |
Message |
cbruce348
| | Posted on Monday, January 08, 2001 - 10:53 pm: | |
Mondial man, ....
never forget, the price of the car is irrelevant, the value however isn't. |
Mondial Man
| | Posted on Monday, January 08, 2001 - 12:44 pm: | |
With valet parking I ask to do it myself and usually they seem very happy to let me. I like the tip idea when arriving; I only tip when I leave which is too late isn't it! But I admit I did let a valet park it once or twice when I first got it (4* hotel & a restraunt) and had no problems although now I realize I wasn't too smart...even though they park $50,000 + Mercedes, BMW's etc, my sub $30k '85 Mondial seems more likely to be "abused", even though it shouldn't be. |
Bret M
| | Posted on Sunday, January 07, 2001 - 7:46 pm: | |
I know the young kid feeling, I'll be 18 in like twenty days. Like half the people I know think I deal coke now. What a great get away vehicle a bright red car Ferrari would make anyway, right? You could really just blend into the crowd. |
'75 308 GT4 (Peter)
| | Posted on Sunday, January 07, 2001 - 7:42 pm: | |
Toll windows were not designed for Ferraris. Especially border crossings. Heading from Vancouver to Seattle in my GT4, I've never felt more intimidated in my life! Border police look way down from their tall booths very suspiciously at a young fellow like myself. They think I'm running good B.C. gange down south! Young kid and a Ferrari? Hmmm... |
Bret M
| | Posted on Sunday, January 07, 2001 - 1:15 pm: | |
I learned once from my dad's business partner that if you tip someone, regardless of the amount, who no one else tips that guy will always take care of you. Like you guys have all said, five bucks may not be much, but to a young person you asking them to keep an eye on a car that they'll have their eyes on all night anyway and then tipping them is great. Not only will that kid probably be happy that someone wants him to "take car" of such a cool car, but he'll also know that when you come out you'll know who he is if anything is wrong. Tipping a little will make both the driver and the valet both happy.
Even after saying this, I don't know if I would let the kid drive, I'd probably park it in a good spot and then ask the kid to keep an eye on it. I'm still a kid, I know how they think.
Also the window thing, my favorite is going up to toll booths where you have to start putting the window down like a mile away (maybe not quite a mile). And then throwing the coins up into the big bin that hangs above you. |
vala
| | Posted on Sunday, January 07, 2001 - 12:59 pm: | |
I am in the unique position of having been a valet parker (when I was 18), and now a Ferrari owner (at 40). I would not let a valet near my Ferrari. The suggestion earlier was the best, give the guy a $20 and park in the front. If the guy wants your keys, give him a fake set. Frankly I enjoy my Ferrari but not when it is time to park it. I would even go as far as hiring someone at $5 an hour to keep an eye on it while I am dinning, dancing, etc. It may sound silly or going too far but one ding on the door or any vandalism and $5 sounds like good insurance. |
Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
| | Posted on Sunday, January 07, 2001 - 12:07 pm: | |
I haven't been to sonic yet, but I have been through the McDonald's drive through. I have long arms, but still had problems paying and getting my food. I think our final technique was to go 1... 2... 3... and she dropped it from 4 ft. up and I caught it. The money I had to toss out the GTS roof. |
irfgt
| | Posted on Sunday, January 07, 2001 - 6:51 am: | |
I wish we had a place in our town with fine dining to even have a valet parking. Fine dining in a small town is a vacant space at the Sonic. The Ferrari does look impressive there. Which leads to this question, Should you let the tray hang on the window of a Ferrari? |
Wang
| | Posted on Sunday, January 07, 2001 - 4:42 am: | |
None taken cbruce348. I actually agree with you where Ferrari's are concerned. I still think the technology is cool. Right now I do what Peter does park it real close where I can see it. I worry about vandals. |
'75 308 GT4 (Peter)
| | Posted on Saturday, January 06, 2001 - 10:30 pm: | |
But Tarik, isn't that the point of Ferrari ownership? In reality, there is absolutely no real good reason to own a Ferrari, but for pure enjoyment. And this is why we have them! Yes we have daily drivers this is their purpose. So what you're saying is that it is a beautiful night and you want to take your beautiful girlfriend (or wife) to an exquisite restaurant in your beater? No way! Yes, we all show off with our cars even though we're quite modest. It's fun! Did you see that Mitsubishi commercial on TV where the guy talks about being a gracious winner, but on the inside he's saying: "I'm better than you are". That's me! We all take precautions though as it is listed here. If we leave the Ferrari in the garage, what's the point? |
Tarik
| | Posted on Saturday, January 06, 2001 - 4:11 pm: | |
How about leaving the Ferrari at home? Anyone who owns a Ferrari surely has a second car as an everyday driver or for backup.. I would think anyone who insists on driving a Ferrari to a restaurant to have it parked out front in prime real estate is either trying to impress the other patrons, or their dinner guests. |
Bret M
| | Posted on Saturday, January 06, 2001 - 3:38 pm: | |
I'm two years younger than that kid and I can see the stupidity of taking a car for a joyride, especially a Ferrari. My dog is smart enough to not try and drive any of my cars, you would think that the kid would be as smart as him at least (ok. maybe my dog doesn't drive because he can't reach the door handle to get in, but nevertheless you get the point). I don't like to drive anyone's car even if they are with me because things like this can happen. This is definitely a sign of why everyone should raise their kids well, hey we don't want America to be run by people like this in twenty years. That poor little car will never be the same even if they can fix it, it is tainted. Well I'm sure that kid will regret his ill thought action so I guess I'll stop picking on him. |
cbruce348
| | Posted on Saturday, January 06, 2001 - 12:01 pm: | |
Just a second note to those unaware.
After you park yourself, keep a second set of keys in your Ferrari that fit nothing, except maybe your exgirlfriends house. That way when the valet says they have to have your keys, in case a fire (which happens) you throw them the worthless keys. Believe me, if a fire happens, you'll know. |
cbruce
| | Posted on Saturday, January 06, 2001 - 11:55 am: | |
thats the only way to do it rob. I always drop a 20 to the valet and park it myself and ive never been rejected from 'front and center',. My wife used to question the amount until I explained what just one ding would cost to repair. ' A STITCH IN TIME' my friends..... |
Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
| | Posted on Saturday, January 06, 2001 - 11:30 am: | |
Don't report me to the F.P.S. (Ferrari Protective Services), but after owning my baby for 4 months I actually parked between two other cars for the first time.
At least I was driving it though. Anyone that lets a valet park their Ferrari will be reported to the F.P.S. and I'm on probabtion because I parked it in a full parking lot.
Anyone ever pay the valet to park up front, but park it yourself? |
CraigFL
| | Posted on Saturday, January 06, 2001 - 9:59 am: | |
All I can think about is the movie "Ferris Buelers Day Off" where he drops off the 250 to be parked and two "valets" are driving it out the back door for their 200 mile cruise.... |
cbruce348
| | Posted on Saturday, January 06, 2001 - 12:54 am: | |
no offense WANG, but I dont think Ferrari should look to chevy for anything. Any Ferrari owner who allows a valet in his car, will get whats comming. Lets not all be punished with corvette engineering. |
'75 308 GT4 (Peter)
| | Posted on Saturday, January 06, 2001 - 12:53 am: | |
Are you kidding? Whenever I go to a restaurant, I always ask for a table near the front window to "keep an eye on it". No, I never let the valet take it, I PARK THE CAR. And I only have a GT4! Never mind a 355! |
wang
| | Posted on Friday, January 05, 2001 - 12:07 am: | |
Thats why corvette has a valet control mechanism where you can limit the cars engine to run on 4 cylinders only when it is being valet parked. Heh heh. Cool idea. Ferrari should consider it. |
Chris in Chicago
| | Posted on Thursday, January 04, 2001 - 10:12 pm: | |
Saturday, December 23, 2000
Home Edition
Section: Metro
Page: B-1
Hotel Valet Checks Guest's $175,000 Ferrari Into a Tree
By: JACK LEONARD and RICHARD MAROSI
TIMES STAFF WRITERS
You don't see a $175,000 Ferrari 355 GTS every day. Apparently neither had a parking valet at the posh Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel.
After parking the car for a hotel guest, the 20-year-old was evidently overcome by the urge to drive the sports car. About 1 a.m. Friday he hopped in for a joy ride--and smashed the car into a palm tree only 30 feet from the hotel entrance, sheriff's investigators said.
The car may prove to be a total loss.
The two-seater is so powerful that it can accelerate to 60 mph in less than five seconds and reach a top speed of 183 mph, according to Ferrari.
"If you're not familiar with the power, it's going to get away from you," said Garry Roberts, who repairs Ferraris in Costa Mesa. "It can become uncontrollable."
Neither the valet nor a co-worker who went along for the brief ride was injured.
The car's owner, a San Diego resident, would not comment.
Roberts said that "every few years" he is called on to repair a Ferrari damaged by a valet.
Officials at the Dana Point hotel, however, said they believe that this is the first such accident in the resort's 16-year history.
"We park hundreds of thousands of cars each year without a problem," said Bryan Austin, an executive assistant manager.
Austin said the hotel is investigating the accident before considering disciplinary action. He would not say whether the hotel will pay for the damage.
Investigators did not arrest the valet but referred the case to the district attorney's office.
"I always suspected that these guys' mouths water when they see a Ferrari or another nice car," said Gary Chiate, a Ritz-Carlton guest who had just had his Infiniti sport utility vehicle valet-parked. "I'm going to go out and check to see if he's drag-racing right now." |
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