To valet or not to valet... | FerrariChat

To valet or not to valet...

Discussion in 'Maserati' started by Cambiorati, Dec 29, 2003.

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  1. Cambiorati

    Cambiorati Rookie

    Nov 6, 2003
    4
    Hey guys, I'm really excited to say that my 04 Maserati Coupe is coming in one week. I just was wondering how you guys deal with valeting your cars. I'm getting the cambiocorsa and I was wondering if some of these valet guys (even at nice places) would know how to work it. I just am kinda worried about giving the keys to someone who has never worked an F1 tranny. But some places require valet, so I guess I'm pretty much stuck. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
     
  2. allanlambo

    allanlambo F1 Rookie

    Jun 9, 2002
    4,363
    Maui
    Full Name:
    Allan
    Pay the valet, park yourself.
     
  3. carguy

    carguy F1 Rookie

    Oct 30, 2002
    3,402
    Alabama (was Mich.)
    Full Name:
    Jeff
    Allanlambo is right on the money. Pay the valet to watch over your car, but park it yourself. Most valets are probably okay, but I've heard horror stories from other Italian car owners about joy rides, smoking clutches, and body damage. Even though the odds are high that nothing will happen, I don't want to test the theory.
     
  4. andrew911

    andrew911 F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 8, 2003
    2,887
    Northern NJ
    I hate valet parking. We went to a restarunt this summer where they had to drive the car around the block to park it, and I stood there and watched the kid gun my car pretty hard. He probably thought I went inside already.

    Pissed me off- then when we were leaving I actually heard them then talking about the fast M5 to each other when I told them I owned the "stickshift 5 series" & two of them left to get it. Its not even an M, it just has the M logo on the stickshift.

    With an F1 style tranny I would just ask to park it yourself- it may feel weird asking to park it yourself, but if you just leave the keys the worry you'll have (especially when your baby is brand new) will be worse. I agree with the others- slip them a couple of bucks and just say you'd like to park it yourself.
     
  5. gtr

    gtr Rookie

    Dec 24, 2003
    5
    ...and keep the keys.


    Coupla months back so this valet try to manuever this black 360 F1. Guy was fiddling with the shifter and blipping the gas pedal and the car suddenly lurched rearwards and nudged a 'reserve' sign post. Nobody yelled so obviously the owner wasn't there.
     
  6. alanhenson

    alanhenson Formula 3

    Dec 2, 2003
    1,357
    Absolutely right fellas. I let no one park my 355 F1. I also pay extra to park up front away from other cars. The one night I didn't do that, someone hit my M3 and cost me $350. Valet was nowhere to be found and the parking lot claimed no responsibility because the valet service was just renting the lot from them. I could not get a hold of the valet service the next week. They had no address. Only a phone answering machine. Always inpsect your car when coming back. If you frequent some places, get to know the valets by name. Good luck.
     
  7. AEHaas

    AEHaas Formula 3

    May 9, 2003
    1,458
    Osprey, Florida
    Full Name:
    Ali E. Haas
    I don't even let my wife drive my Maranello.

    Of course she doesn't let me drive her Murcielago.

    I guess we're even.

    aehaas
     
  8. icars

    icars Formula Junior

    Mar 28, 2002
    855
    Plano Texas
    Full Name:
    Rodney Haas
    Most valets will let cooler cars park themselves. I normally tip the valet anyhow. I have very rarely had a problem with this. The only time I can think of is in West Palm Beach.
     
  9. Casey_A

    Casey_A Rookie

    Dec 31, 2003
    27
    Texas
    I would have to agree with everyone else.

    Pay and park it yourself.

    Luckily, I have a valet key code so the boost is turned down to 1psi if I HAVE to valet. No joy riding because there would be no "joy" in it. :D

    Fortunately I know most of the places I frequent really well and I know the valets. I always make sure to leave the baseball bat in plain site in the car. :D
     
  10. Maximo_Tifoso

    Maximo_Tifoso Karting

    Jan 8, 2004
    223
    Houston TX
    I am a valet myself....If you have any concerns about the valet knowing how to drive your cambio corsa or F1 transmission....just ask him/her to explain to you the process. Always ask for the head/manager of the valets. At fine establishments, valets are use to dealing with high end and exotics. Of course, there will always be horror stories. But at the place I work at, we treat exotics like gold...and we always park them up front in plain view of the customers.
     
  11. jimpo1

    jimpo1 Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jul 30, 2001
    24,510
    Dallas, TX
    Full Name:
    Jim E
    I tell the Valet where I want to park it, then pay them anyway. I've never had a problem.
     
  12. sparta49

    sparta49 F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Mar 3, 2001
    7,802
    LA
    Full Name:
    Frank

    unless you know the valet do not do it. I had the valets at the Ritz in New Orleans not put the 308 in gear and it went into the back of a limo. the only valet who touches my car is one at a rest. that has been parking my cars for years he has been there over 10 years never a problem. but he is the only one who will touch my 308 or 348
     
  13. ralfabco

    ralfabco Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Mar 1, 2002
    28,029
    Dixie
    Full Name:
    Itamar Ben-Gvir
    Car sitter !!
     
  14. G-force

    G-force F1 Rookie

    Aug 4, 2002
    3,053
    so california
    Full Name:
    wayne skiles
    On my 996TT I had a GAIC programmable key fob.
    1 position for factory ECU settings 91 oct,1 position
    for 93 oct,1 position for race fuel, 1 position for VALET!
    Car would not go over 35 MPH in this mode and Valet
    didn't have this keyfob!! I had a lot of fun with this mode.
    Even used for freinds who weanted to drive my car when
    I wasn't with them!!!
     
  15. tifosi69

    tifosi69 Formula 3

    Dec 23, 2003
    1,678
    Atlanta, Ga.
    Full Name:
    Al-Al Cool J
    I agree with Allanlambo (perish the thought !!!) you really should park your car yourself. My dad has had his wheels scuffed like clockwork on: new Jag XJR, XJR convertible, 2004 Carrerra 4s, 2001 911C2 and his OZ wheels on his '01 Lotus TT V8 all at a very exclusive yacht club. Usually, these are nothing but kids and it does not matter how many high-line or exotic cars frequent the establishment, these kids cannot resist the temptation to play Michael Schumacher when they get behind the wheel of an exotic. I won't even let a valet park my wife's '01 MB E sport model. Usually these valets are familiar with the liability rules and they know there are so many loopholes, since most valet "companies" merely sub-let the "right" to park the cars and give the establishment a percentage. The best testimony to this is when I was in high school in the late '80s a friend of mine was the valet at THE MOST EXCLUSIVE restaurant in Tampa, Florida, Burn's Steak House, and he was constantly ragging Testarossas, Porsches, et al. In addition, many times things would mysteriously go "missing" from owners glove boxes etc. One night he "commandiered" a patron's bag of mary j from their glove box in a M635CSI (a hot car back then). What were they going to do, call the cops?
     
  16. paulie_b

    paulie_b F1 Veteran
    Consultant Owner

    Jan 13, 2003
    6,823
    Jupiter, FL
    Full Name:
    Paul Bianco
    its real simple.............NO VALET parking. park it yourself or leave it home. I have heard too many horror stories. as the saying goes.........it's better to be safe than sorry.
     
  17. Cambiorati

    Cambiorati Rookie

    Nov 6, 2003
    4
    Thanks to all who have replied--- I just picked up my 04 Maserati Coupe and I absolutely love it. I've never driven an F1 style tranny let alone a manual tranny, so I'm still getting used to it--btw, if any of you have any tips on what proper rpm is for easy driving (least gas mileage) and if it's ok to be in 6th gear at like 50 or 60 mph, it would be greatly appreciated. Back to the ubject--I still am very nervous about valeting, but the problem is that this is my only car and there are places where I absolutely have to valet. So I'm guessing that I just tip the guy $5 (is $10 too much?) and tell him to let me park it myself and he will tell me where? Thanks a lot to everyone on this board, you guys are a great help.
     

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