Valet Parking

As my vehicle ownership has been progressing with my age, I have found that valet parking has become more of an issue now, more than ever and just thought it would be interesting to discuss it since many of you guys have probably been going through this for a lot longer than I have. I am not a fan of valet parking, but living in socal there isn't much of an alternative. I used to drive a daily car that I didn't mind others driving, but now with a 2006 M5 and a 2006 F430 I really don't like the idea of anyone I don't know handling my cars (especially the Ferrari). Sure, most of the time nothing is going to happen, but you never really know when some idiot is going to do something that could ruin more than just your day/night.

So here's the issue: When I need to park the 430 I have no problem giving extra to leave it in front, etc. but many of the valet guys ask for the keys. I find it kind of hard not to worry about my car with the keys in the hands of someone that could be quitting their job tomorrow, drinking on the job, girlfriend just cheated on them, etc. Most valets are young, and I know what I might have done at that age if someone gave me the keys to a Ferrari with nothing to lose. At the same time, I dont like to come off as that typical Ferrari owner ******* every night that when I park my car. It kind of throws a monkey wrench into the gameplan when you have to get in an arguement with 2-3 valet guys in a night when you are on a date, business meeting, etc. I try to be nice, but some people just dont seem to understand, or care that this is a special vehicle. A perfect example of my paranoia was last week when I went to dinner, some valet opened the door for my passenger right into the curb (luckily no damage). I wanted to flick him in the forehead with my index finger, but instead I just asked him to be more careful next time. What this guy doesn't realize is that if he scratches my door and I have to repaint it, the value of my car takes a **** when I go to sell it since the buyer will assume its been in an accident - all avoidable by removing the idiot from the equation. I could only imagine if he parked it and ripped off the front bumper on a parking stall stop or worse... Another time I watched a valet at a 5 star hotel take a friend's BMW 545 with active steering and run his HRE wheels right into the curb in the valet round-about. Of course the hotel payed for it, but that isn't the point.

What do you guys do?

 

Lucky you. Last night I went out to dinner and the valet demanded the keys. I gave him $20 and had to tell him I would be back in half an hour before I just walked into the place. Then we went out for a drink after and the valet at the hotel wouldn't let me park on site w/o leaving the key (actually told me they would tow me). Not that this part is relevant (but humorous), but after all that, at the end of the night I had to park my car infront of what appeared to be a condemned garage and this morning I woke up to a flatbed trying to tow me at 7am for "blocking" it. If the window hadn't been open where I was sleeping I never would have heard the tow truck and would have had a bad day.

 

This actually happens to me frequently when I drive my M5 with the keyless-go system, b/c I always forget to take the key out of my pocket and give it to the valet

 

Ya that really sucks. I remember seeing a great pic of a GT2 that got flipped upsidedown and spiked by a fire hydrant through the roof infront of a boston market. I heard that some mechanic at the dealer took it for a "test" drive. But who knows, Deitrich could have been behind the wheel again.

Its pretty crazy... most people who drive fast are going way beyond their skill level, and all it takes is one of them to destroy something you have waited so long for.

 

yes. in the BMW whats interesting is that sometimes when you get out with the key in your pocket (car still running), a key icon flashes on the info computer screen and wont allow you to move the car until you are in proximity of the sensor... and other times it will let you move it for a short distance.