VALET PARKING

[daltron]

I'd imagine it depends on the area and the venue. For example, the last time I used the valet was at the Irvine Spectrum in Orange County. For those who don't know, 9/10 times my car isn't nice enough to be parked in the oval next to the valet stand. The guys are professional, as well.

I'm sure it's a lot different using the valet at a Beverly Hills restaurant with professional valets then say the local hole in the wall.

Sponsored

 

[Libertas]

I am going to Ft Worth next weekend, staying at the old hotel in the Stock Yards...it looks online, like Valet parking is pretty much the way it works, and the ONLY option...I'm not real happy about this, I guess I can do a My Key to limit things, but still, I don't want a banged up car, etc.

Any thoughts on this? I've always avoided valet parking, I try to keep my things nice, and if I screw it up, that's one thing...if some punk screws it up, totally different...wife doesn't understand the big deal, and really, this car is expensive, was sort of an ultimate dream car for 15 years, I finally have one, I don't want some idiot messing it up.

Follow these ten steps and you will be fine:

1) your Mustang is probably the nicest most expensive car that has ever been parked at that hotel and the most powerful car those valets have ever driven; be sure to explain that to everyone in earshot

2) get a four wheel alignment before and after your trip so you can compare the printout results and see what damage they have done to your suspension

3) reset the accelerometer so you can see what g forces were exerted

4) take several hundred HD (I cannot overemphasize HD quality) photos of the inside and outside of your vehicle before handing it over. DO NOT FORGET TO PHOTOGRAPH THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUNK FLOOR LINER. (Everyone forgets to photograph that.)

5) purchase and install a spare set of steel wheels to protect against any potential curb rash

6) remove all but one spark plug

7) remove the infotainment system (anybody can hack that Sync 3 Valet mode)

8) cover all seating surfaces with Dexter brand plastic sheeting - 5mm minimum

9) place your key inside a ziploc bag with an exploding dye pack, so you know they didn't actually touch your key

10) tip every valet working AT LEAST $100. Everyone makes the mistake of only tipping the guy who takes your keys. Be sure to tip everyone. Including upper management folks and anyone who is on a lunch break or might be off that day.

OR - and this is totally up to you -

realize that your car is neither special nor expensive and will be just fine.

 

[bumada]

Follow these ten steps and you will be fine:

1) your Mustang is probably the nicest most expensive car that has ever been parked at that hotel and the most powerful car those valets have ever driven; be sure to explain that to everyone in earshot

2) get a four wheel alignment before and after your trip so you can compare the printout results and see what damage they have done to your suspension

3) reset the accelerometer so you can see what g forces were exerted

4) take several hundred HD (I cannot overemphasize HD quality) photos of the inside and outside of your vehicle before handing it over. DO NOT FORGET TO PHOTOGRAPH THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUNK FLOOR LINER. (Everyone forgets to photograph that.)

5) purchase and install a spare set of steel wheels to protect against any potential curb rash

6) remove all but one spark plug

7) remove the infotainment system (anybody can hack that Sync 3 Valet mode)

8) cover all seating surfaces with Dexter brand plastic sheeting - 5mm minimum

9) place your key inside a ziploc bag with an exploding dye pack, so you know they didn't actually touch your key

10) tip every valet working AT LEAST $100. Everyone makes the mistake of only tipping the guy who takes your keys. Be sure to tip everyone. Including upper management folks and anyone who is on a lunch break or might be off that day.

OR - and this is totally up to you -

realize that your car is neither special nor expensive and will be just fine.

Haha! Yes, thank you.

 

[Hashbrownn]

plenty of $100K+ cars get valet
Our $40K Mustang will be fine.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

plenty of $100K+ cars get valet
Our $40K Mustang will be fine.

Plenty of people drive without seatbelts buckled and live to tell about it.

And some people have their cars damaged by valets. So nothing wrong with choosing to use a valet. And nothing wrong with choosing to minimize the risks by parking yourself.

 

[AGGT350]

Too bad you don't have the Sync 3, there is a valet mode on the touch screen.
Limits the car to 30 mph.

What he said.

 

[StoplightWarrior]

I can also add that we HATED when people came in with cars that only they would consider to be special (like Mustang owners or Boxster owners) and acted like huge D bags driving million dollar cars.

and even in those cases we didnt do anything to the cars!

I see a lot of people telling stories, but those who actually have experience as valets are all saying the same thing - they are not going to risk their jobs just to beat up on your $30,000 car. One that some of their teenage friends probably also own anyway.

get over yourselves - either travel with a different car, park your car on the street and take your chances, or slip the valet some cash to be extra certain your car gets pristine treatment. There are wayyyyyyyy bigger things in this world to stress about than leaving your mustang in the hands of a valet.

 

[AGGT350]

Dayum Geena!!

 

[Bartly]

Back when I was in college worked vallet at one of the big hotels in Reno. There was an ongoing fastest time gong from one floor to a couple above. Every fast looking car got raced in that garage until one of the guys wrecked a brand new 300Z. I'm sure they still do it to some degree.

Keep in mind the vallet drivers are pretty good and they get experience driving all kinds of cars. And the mustang being the (second) slowest production V8 makes it even less likely you have anything to worry about. Lol.

 

[Pnasty]

The beauty of having a car that is loud as hell, just stand outside and you can tell exactly what RPMs they are hitting.

 

[Waldo013]

Not sure if your hotel is nailed down, but I've been to the stock yards many times where the hotel we stayed at had a shuttle service that was willing to take people back in and forth.

 

[goldengooner]

Not sure if your hotel is nailed down, but I've been to the stock yards many times where the hotel we stayed at had a shuttle service that was willing to take people back in and forth.

with so many dash-cams about that pick up sound and vision from front and back, they would not just be risking their jobs but a visit from the fuzz
Its not like it was in the old days, cars with computers and dash-cams can easier be checked over and the mileage checked the revs the speed

 

[bumada]

I can also add that we HATED when people came in with cars that only they would consider to be special (like Mustang owners or Boxster owners) and acted like huge D bags driving million dollar cars.

and even in those cases we didnt do anything to the cars!

I see a lot of people telling stories, but those who actually have experience as valets are all saying the same thing - they are not going to risk their jobs just to beat up on your $30,000 car. One that some of their teenage friends probably also own anyway.

get over yourselves - either travel with a different car, park your car on the street and take your chances, or slip the valet some cash to be extra certain your car gets pristine treatment. There are wayyyyyyyy bigger things in this world to stress about than leaving your mustang in the hands of a valet.

Exactly. We had all of our fun with the golf cart we used to shuttle each other to and from the cars.

 

[JuRuKi]

Too bad you don't have the Sync 3, there is a valet mode on the touch screen.
Limits the car to 30 mph.

Really?
Can anyone confirm this?

 

[jasonstang]

Really?
Can anyone confirm this?

No it does not limit speed.

Sponsored