Never mind the issues with scratches and damage... A few years ago, I was getting back from the Porsche dealer after signing some paperwork for the purchase of a Cayenne. I stuck everything in the glovebox and valet'ed the car at a restaurant. When I got back, I noticed the Cayenne brochure had been gone through (I had left a piece of paper on the page I was looking at as a bookmark, it was moved to a different part of the book). This particular valet just wanted to see the Cayenne hardcover brochure, but it got me thinking: My car is full of personal stuff, my garage door opener, my address, sometimes keys, sometimes paperwork from work. If someone wanted to do some identity theft, there's usually something in your car that will help them along. You wouldn't leave your car open for just anyone to rummage through; what makes the valet trustworthy enough to give him access to do just that? After that, I try not to valet, or if I do, I try to take anything personal out of the car. Since that is probably more complicated than parking myself, I prefer to self park. The only time I encourage valet is for my teenage daughter, so she doesn't have to walk across a deserted mall parking lot on her own. But for me, it's probably safer to just self park.
For those of you that have no issue with valets, Im happy for you. I actually envy you. I wish I could let go and trust. I unfortunately have had horrible experiences with idiotic valets. I hate to generalize, because the actions of a few dumb ****s should not reflect on a valet with a good head on his shoulders. I live in Los Angeles where many hard working valet guys are used to high end cars, but I just will not let anyone park my Ferrari. They can park my Range Rover or CLS55 antime and I wont be too concerned. My Shelby, I would only let them park if I know them. If some valet messed up my car even in a minor way it would be a very dangerous situation for me. Look me straight in the eye and call me whatever you want and I'll laugh my ass off. Be disrespectful of my property that I paid hard earned money for????? I dont think so...... So, I will park my Ferrari and have the peace of mind that no one will get their head split open by an out of control APE!!!!!
For me, it is a judgement call based on where I am and what the parking situation is. In downtown SF when taking my 360 to work, I used to often leave it with a valet in a building garage that I trust. I had used them many times before with other cars, watched them with the other clients nice cars, etc. At restaurants - it also depends. If they can put it someplace better than I can, I'll use them.
fellas I have the answer to all your problems my friend has a 996 TT he has some sort of switch that came with his stage 3 box, it has a valet mode on it that you put on and the car only goes 15 mph I tried it hit the gas the car dose not move beyond 15 mph how great is that. Ferrarijoe
The switch is on a flash loader that one can plug into the car (under the steering wheel on 996tt's). The loader compliments a chip in the ecu that will accommodate any of those modes (100 octane, valet, etc).
Wow, I can't believe that happened at the Royal Palms. I've been there several times and always find it discouraging that there is no self-park, only valet (at T Cook's at least).
Great thread. I think that this one boils down to personal preferrence and the area/venues that you valet park. Here in Scottsdale, almost everything is Valet, including the mall. I feel safer valeting the 360 Spider, where all they do is back it 30ft. into an upfront spot between the Murcielago and the SLR, than parking it way out in the far lot where the haters can have their way with it unattended. There have been similar threads on the corvetteforum about the same exact subject. Most of those guys say they would never valet either.
Its wierd. The *ONLY* valet problems Ive ever had have been at really nice hotels. The Valets at the Phoenician nicked the bumper of my BMW X5. I didnt realise until I got home and it was too late to do anything. I've been pretty much forced to use Valet a few times with a Ferrari. I've braved the experience only twice last year. I insist on parking it myself and handing them the keys.
One time I discussed with a Valet in front of club in Paris, he was actually the son of a rich person and personnaly owned a 999R (thanks daddy, or the boy was bullshi**ing) and got that job due to his familiarity with high end car. He told me that many times, "low end" sport car owner were the "worst" in terms of stress management. He had a guy with an Audi TT making a lot of fuse about the fact the car had a V6, and that he was not sure it was a good idea to let him drive, and that he should be very carefull because it had so much power and could spin the car without noticing (hihihihihihihihihii) I think everything is relative....
I just remembered my worst valet story! I was driving a Lexus LX 460, I didn't think twice about letting the guys valet it. I was at a the Mondrian Hotel in L.A. on Sunset Blvd They have a well oiled valet machine, with all valets in white suits. I left the hotel, drove about 10 miles to my house and LUCKILY parked in my well lit garage and even luckier I went around to the passanger side to grab something out of the back. I was BLOWN AWAY, those @#$@$ wrapped my truck around a pole and somehow forgot to tell me. At least $4000 in damage!! I lost my ****, drove straight back to the hotel and to make a long story short.....They came to my house the next day, took the car, ten days later the car was in perfect shape. The only reason the valet manager didn't question that it was their fault was, that I had some nice words with him when arrived at the hotel. It just goes to show, be nice to people and generally they will be nice to you.
I have pulled up to the front of restaurants and ritzy hotels several times in my 360. When I come back out after dinner, the car is always in the exact same spot I left it. The valet's are always scared $hitless to touch it.
Most nice hotels and restaurants leave their nice cars upfront to showoff anyways. So just give a decent tip and it will most probably still be sitting there when u come back.
I think you can do both. As for the thread topic, I agree with the guy who said he wouldn't let a valet park one of his shop trucks. I can count on one hand the number of people I've let drive my Ferrari. Of course, I have an advantage when it comes to parking. C.
When we got married I hired Jay's Valet to park the cars because they know how to park Ferraris. Invited lots of friends with Ferraris. None of them would let them park their cars. Not one. I am skeptical that valets know how to deal with an F1 transmission. I park it myself. They ususally like to have the car where everyone can see it when they come in. If they don't let me park my car, I don't stay. If there is a question about whether I can park the Fcar myself, I call before I go. They have never said I can't park my own car yet. But if they did I would take another car or go somewhere else.
Who drives a Ferrari and dose not like to park it where everyone can see it. I went out with my girl to a NYC club the other night, around 60 people in line bouncers come out to the curb take out the cones, move a Bentley up while one stops traffic and back me up right in the front of the club, I walk right in no lines no stories, but offcource it cost me $60 no biggie, front parking no lines well worth it. Ferrarijoe
