How to park a Ferrari...

Good question... you'll get a few varying opinions here.

Mine is simple... I drive my cars (the Gallardo and F430) all the time, but often choose where I go (with these cars) based on available parking.

I NEVER let a valet drive my cars... far too many horror stories told by people here. If you have to valet the car, let him sit in the passenger seat and you drive it and park it where you want it... you'll still pay/tip him for the honor, but at least he's not driving your car.

I take customers out to dinner all the time. I've found some really good restaurants where the valets have gotten to know me. I drive up, park it right in front, toss them the keys (in case they MUST move it...) and tip them generously for watching out for the car.

I never bring my car to the grocery store or mall... just asking for trouble. There are too many people coming/going, kicking doors open etc etc. It's not worth it.

I have other cars for running errands like this.

So... I park selectively and carefully. If (when) I get a door ding, there are some incredible dent-repair guys who'll make it all better.

Frank

 

I park it out in left field. I would not let a valet drive it.

 

I remember asking my dealer the same question when I got the car.....

Basically, parking is something that crosses your mind before you take the car out. Like said above, you don't take it to buy groceries or run errands, but be selective with where you take it.

Certain places with valet, at least in LA, know how to deal with exotics and you can feel comfrortable giving them your car (these are the places that bascially dont move your car in/out of a lot, and just keep it at or close to where you gave it to them). Other places, you just give a nice tip before hand and ask them nicely to keep it in front.

As far as street parking, there are certain streets where you feel fine leaving it unattended for a short period, and others that aren't.

You will find yourself learning where you can take it and where you can't very quickly.....but it's much less of an issue than you initailly thought.....

Enjoy the car!

 

Honestly, a lot of cars get so few miles on them (unfortunately) that they don't get much of a chance to get damaged.

I use valets all the time. I park the car in places that chances are won't get a nick or ding but it happens. When it does, it's easy to fix. It's a great car, but it's just a car made of metal and plastic. It's not like it's someone's face you're talking about.

Stuff can be fixed just as well as new. It just takes a little time and money.

I'd rather spend more time trying to figure out where next to drive it than what could happen to it once I get there.

 

I watched a guy fix a couple of door dings on my 993... it was fascinating. They have a bunch of specialized tools which pushes the dent out from the inside. They'll typically slide the tool between the window and the inner lining of your door to gain access. Then they hammer the dent back in, from the outside and continue this process of metal-working until there's nothing of the ding left.

When the guy came to my house to work on my 993, he had just come from another job where the owner was on a ladder in his garage and fell off... right onto the roof of his Ferrari. Ouch... he'd been working on that one for a few days, but predicted a full recovery (for the car). The guys ego, not so much :-(

 

In my experience I think the best way to avoid everyday aches and pains of paint chips/dings: try and foresee what could happen...

Avoid valets at all costs. As previously stated by other responses, if you must valet INSIST on parking it yourself. If they refuse, find a new restaurant/club. Tip generously so they will babysit it for you. Ask their name(s) so they know that you know who was supposed to watch!

If parking in a parking lot, I NEVER park anywhere near anyone else. Even if I need to walk an extra hundred yards. If running errands with the wife, I will sit and wait or ask (very nicely) that she wait in the car; however, there is always some moron that sees it is a Ferrari and insists on parking next to it-if only to take a closer look. You cannot avoid door dings completely-the same way you cannot avoid stone chips, etc...

End result, get to know a good repair person, ask around at local clubs and referrals from other Ferrari owners in your area. Eventually you will need to remove stone chips, minor door dings, and most likely, fixing the front end from speed bumps and driveways. Whatever happens, it is fixable.

 

+1000

 

Simply put.....the first and only time I get out of my car after getting into it to drive is when I am back in my garage! I never leave it anywhere!

 

I see you too are in Scottsdale. Do not valet.

Here in Phoenix I have several problems over the years. Here are my top 2.

I parked my 355 at the Ritz Carlton at valet on Camelback Rd. As I was sitting eating at their cafe, I watched a woman drive her rental Mustang straight into my Ferrari. Then she continued on to check into the hotel as if nothing happened. Yes, I had a little chat with her.

The other incident was at the Royal Palms Resort on Camelback Road. I dropped off my brand new (less than 20 miles driven) SL55 at valet to go to dinner. The valet took the MB around the corner and did a huge burnout. I could not see it, but hear him go through at least 3 gears.

...and these are valets and top resorts.

 

Dear God I would have debreasted that b*tch ... I admire your self restraint my friend ...

 

Steve:

The real answer is common sense.... and don't valet!! Enjoy the car, be careful and try to keep the neurosis to a minimum. The longer you have them, the easier it gets.

I have daily driven everything from a 308 to an F40..... trips, mall, work, supermarket, etc. I always park far away, take 1 spot and throw the cover on the car. I have never had a problem.

 

I really can't believe how anal some owners are.

You won't VALET because your afraid your precious baby might be damaged in that 100 yards the guy is going to drive it?

You'd leave your kids alone with a teenage sitter all night but handing the keys to a valet is something unthinkable.

Come on guys! The sooner you get the idea that it's "just a car", then maybe you'll start to enjoy it a bit more and worry about it a bit less.

 

My response to this is that a valets job is to just park the car, you didn't ask him to take a spin for you to keep it warm, you did not give him permission to take your car for a quick spin around the block. It's about respect as well, for one, I do not own a nice car per say, nor do I own a Ferrari, so my opinion is mine, I understand the, it's just a car idea, but I don't like the idea of someone driving my car that I do not know, that may be an inexperienced driver that might wreck in the 100 yards. I really have no room to talk here but that is just my opinion.

 

It's not about valet's. Its the attitude about the cars we own that is the real point here.

I'm not going to let the idea that someone "may" take my car for spin around the block stop me from ENJOYING the car and taking it wherever I want. Some may want to restrict their lifestyle for this sense of peace of mind. I can't see the point.

For me, it's not worth the worry.

 

As my track record goes, I have parked a Ferrari in a parking lot off in some corner for years..no decades. Must be hundreds and hundreds of time with out incident. I've used valet maybe 6-7 times with a sports car and get one car gets hit, and another get's raced. Not to mention I've had at least one door ding and missing valve caps..all at valet. Sorry. I'd rather take my car and park it in the real world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjG8OIieOOw <- what valets can do in less than 100 yards.

 

Sometimes you just can't avoid valet parking...but be sure it's not with a sketchy guy like the greasy, long haired "professional" in Ferris Bueller. I seriously think about every place I am going with my Ferrari...definitely not the grocery store...the mall is ok at certain times of day on weekdays...I usually take to my gym in West L.A. because there is a perfect double space that I can park in the middle of which is totally isolated from all other cars. You will learn to have "perfect spaces". And don't be afraid to park in two spaces...I always think that is is socially acceptable to hog two spaces if you have a Ferrari...Good luck !

 

Ah... the "perfect space". You are 100% correct. At any place I frequent, I scope out the killer spots and have backup incase the primary is unavailable.

You'll also learn to scope on-the-fly as you enter a place new to you. You'll develop a special eye for the right spot. If you think I'm kidding, wait a few months and you'll see.

 

That I will disagree with you, unless you are far far away from everyone else, people just love to hate, regardless of what car you are.

 

I've never had a door ding in my Ferrari, but my wife has had her fair share with hauling kids around in her car. There are numerous paintless dent removal shops out there, but do your homework first. Talk to your dealer and get a recommendation from them, as they hire these guys to handle the cars in service when they get the occasional (or not occasional) door ding.

 

Rule one: YOU park the car and do NOT give keys to Valet.
Rule two: Do not park where another car can be parked next to you.
Rule three: If you cannot follow Rule #1 or #2, take a different car.


I own several cars such as a BMW 7 and Mercedes SL 55 which I drive everywhere. Not trying to tempt fate but not worrying. It seems to me a Ferrari should be one of several cars for this if no other reason.

It makes no sense to own a car you cannot drive and enjoy.



Best

 

I carry a Ferrari key chain ($5 from ebay) and a bogus key around. When the valet insists on the key I hand him the fake one. No discussion.

 

thats it

 

Brilliant!