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So, again, what do you do when the place you are going is valet only, and there is no self park option, and they turn down your offer of $50 tip to park it yourself?
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- Thread starter shawn110975
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So, again, what do you do when the place you are going is valet only, and there is no self park option, and they turn down your offer of $50 tip to park it yourself?
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Go somewhere else
(I'm a little old for the club scene dude - you better be courting some smokin hot babe to be droppin $50 just to park your car. even still. hang on to your $)
Not just clubs. I've been to hotels, restaurants, etc., that have valet only parking with no self parking on site, and no street parking nearby. Pretty common in large cities, I think. Sometimes going somewhere else isn't an option if you have a function or business meal to go to, or that hotel is where your company is putting you up.
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I have a commercial parking permit for my vehicle(s). This allows me to park in passenger zones, loading zones and alleys. Most of the high end hotels/restaurants in Vancouver have a 'passenger' zone in front that the valets commandeer for moving vehicles. I just roll up and park; throw the commercial plate on my dash while the valet is telling me I can't park here. I just look at him and say "It that so.. and walk away." Worth every penny
LOL, I understand the importance of it being out front since I was once that age but yes I'm about 20 years past it. Priorities change I guess.David, I am assuming that you, like me, are about 20 years past the "club scene" and therefore you don't understand the importance of the NSX parked out front
While I feel sorry for your situation, you will have difficulty proving that the valet service caused any damage. Especially, when you have a post about two weeks earlier when you were racing your friends CTS and claimed that you had problems then.
I was a valet part-time while getting in the door of securities trading immediately after college. I still maintain a managerial position at that same firm part-time.
99% of the time you will have zero issues, no matter what car you bring in. The greater the value of the car, the greater the liability on the part of the valet firm. I don't tell my captains to keep Lambo's up front because they tip well, I tell them to keep them up front so the firm doesn't end up with a $15k claim from scraping the front lip. Astons are usually more reasonable in this department.
Sometimes you cannot keep your keys, it's against city regulations in most large cities because it can be a safety hazard in the case of an emergency. Trust me, the valet is not pulling a fast one by not accepting a large tip in conjuction for letting you keep your keys. Less work/liability/things to keep up with for him if he could.
Here's a few tips from an insider-
a) Kindly ask where they park the cars. If they park it closeby, just act like you are on your cell phone and verify that they are doing what they said they are doing. If they don't, call management and they will deal with it. They are required to have this number on your receipt in most cases.
b) If you live an area that requires caution when driving your car due to its height, don't valet unless you can verify they don't need to go up and down slopes (most garages). They park hundreds of cars a night and cannot know exactly how far every car is off the ground.
b) Ask whoever is in charge for the most experienced valet to drive your car. It's a high turn over business and any and all accidents/mishaps usually result in being terminated. I'd guess 99.9% of stories like these, especially the true ones, are due to a guy brand new on the job. A good valet can probably park and drive your car in a downtown area better than you can.
c) Even a couple dollars up front (if you are paying when you pick the car up) goes a long ways.
Most valets are indeed either still in college or work valet so they don't have to wake up until 2pm and can get exercise while working. Not all of them are broke and I had some multi-thousand dollar days while still valeting. It was amusing to hear people speak down to valets on the job when most fall into the $30,000 millionaire catagory.
FWIW, I would not valet an NSX if I didn't have all of the above variables sorted out.
99% of the time you will have zero issues, no matter what car you bring in. The greater the value of the car, the greater the liability on the part of the valet firm. I don't tell my captains to keep Lambo's up front because they tip well, I tell them to keep them up front so the firm doesn't end up with a $15k claim from scraping the front lip. Astons are usually more reasonable in this department.
Sometimes you cannot keep your keys, it's against city regulations in most large cities because it can be a safety hazard in the case of an emergency. Trust me, the valet is not pulling a fast one by not accepting a large tip in conjuction for letting you keep your keys. Less work/liability/things to keep up with for him if he could.
Here's a few tips from an insider-
a) Kindly ask where they park the cars. If they park it closeby, just act like you are on your cell phone and verify that they are doing what they said they are doing. If they don't, call management and they will deal with it. They are required to have this number on your receipt in most cases.
b) If you live an area that requires caution when driving your car due to its height, don't valet unless you can verify they don't need to go up and down slopes (most garages). They park hundreds of cars a night and cannot know exactly how far every car is off the ground.
b) Ask whoever is in charge for the most experienced valet to drive your car. It's a high turn over business and any and all accidents/mishaps usually result in being terminated. I'd guess 99.9% of stories like these, especially the true ones, are due to a guy brand new on the job. A good valet can probably park and drive your car in a downtown area better than you can.
c) Even a couple dollars up front (if you are paying when you pick the car up) goes a long ways.
Most valets are indeed either still in college or work valet so they don't have to wake up until 2pm and can get exercise while working. Not all of them are broke and I had some multi-thousand dollar days while still valeting. It was amusing to hear people speak down to valets on the job when most fall into the $30,000 millionaire catagory.
FWIW, I would not valet an NSX if I didn't have all of the above variables sorted out.
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shawn110975
Suspended
that CTS thing was dumb YES,, but that was a fews weeks ago,, and was the last time I did any racing with it, I drive it like a 80 year old man now,,, so from then till that asZ joyrided my car,, not one drop of anything on my driveway,,well not enough to yell out "MEDICCCC"
Weeks ago! I can't believe someone would even bring that up! Shame on them
BTW, What changed so that you drive like an old man now?
* Install a hidden ignition kill switch.
I have valet parked my NSX at hotels a couple times, but I have had the manager volunteer to go around the car with me to catalog flaws and make official note of the miles.
I like the idea of the Kill switch or keeping the remote with yourself and leaving him the key so it cannot be disarmed. Too bad there is not a replacement ignition system for the NSX so you can just give him the valet key which is restricted on rpms and hp, etc. Anyone know of one? Either way, I would valet up front and just keep the key fob with me.
Best tip here is what I do too - pay them to let you park your car. Most of the time - almost all the time your car is parked in a parking space in an area marked for Valet use - it's no different than parking in any regular space - so there is no liability if that's the case. If that's not the case don't go there in your NSX - being a big shot is stupid - when you get to be my age you don't worry about silly stuff like that and you sure don't throw someone the keys to a Lambo or any other exotic so why the NSX.
That sucks though about your car - I'd call a lawyer. Sad to say, unless you talk with the company that has the valet guys and they offer up something - otherwise sue em. I would have had some understanding with the company before I left or the restaraunts rep.
Sorry it happened - live and learn - shouldn't be like that.
That sucks though about your car - I'd call a lawyer. Sad to say, unless you talk with the company that has the valet guys and they offer up something - otherwise sue em. I would have had some understanding with the company before I left or the restaraunts rep.
Sorry it happened - live and learn - shouldn't be like that.
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Sometimes going somewhere else isn't an option if you have a function or business meal to go to, or that hotel is where your company is putting you up, etc.
Okay, so how does this work? You let the guy park your car and then you go over and flip some switch or do you have a remote kill?
Way back in the 70's, my sister's boyfriend had an El Camino that he loved and he'd pull some part out when he parked it, or disconnected something.
I forget what it was he did, but it couldn't be started. I'd like to be able to do that with my car when I park it at a hotel over night but what could I do? There isn't a distributor cap on these babies.
It is a lot easier now since everything is electronic. You put a hidden switch on the line that powers the fuel pump, or something similar.
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if you have an aftermarket ecu, hook up ur laptop and lower the rev limit to 2krpm or lower before giving the keys to the valet.
just a thougt:tongue:
just a thougt:tongue:
I'll have to ask Ramon, my NSX wizard, at Niguel Motors if he can put something in for me. I wash and wax my baby but leave the nuts and bolts to him. (I did get the Science of Speed antenna dealy put on by myself, though. 
)
)
Very easy solution....If you already knew that this is the case (valet only) prior to going, then I would drive my other car.
It just goes back to what I said...DRIVE YOUR OTHER CAR! And if that's not an option, then car pool with one of your co-workers in their car. Better yet take a cab. It's probably cheaper then having to repair your valet damaged car if it were to happen.
Yeah no kidding, I totally argree. I guess if you must be seen as the cool cat with their ride out front to impress others, then you must also understand and accept that there are possible negative consequences that may occur. Bottom line is you got to pay to play.LOL, I understand the importance of it being out front since I was once that age but yes I'm about 20 years past it. Priorities change I guess.
Shawn: I live in north Tampa and have a black 2000 NSX. I purchased it in 2004. I use it as a daily driver. I can assure you, it was not my car screeming down the street last week. I have a GPS Viper alarm on my NSX. With a phone call, I can have the car ignition killed. When it's parked, it can't be moved unless it is towed or pushed. A simple 800 call to the alarm company turns the ignition on again. Even if you have the keys, the car will not start. I believe the other posts about valet services being for the most part honest, but like anything else, there is always an idiot out there that slips through the cracks and gets hired. If you want some info on the GPS system, PM me. Jerry
Valet parked the car at 2 different spots last weekend with no issues. Good luck?
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Haha, I don't even like to valet my other car! :tongue:
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