Forgive me if this thread has appeared before... I'm still new to the site... since we are on the subject of parking what do you do to get assurance that your car will come back from the valet without scratches, dings, etc.? I try to avoid using a valet at all by parking on a neighborhood street or in the non-valet section, but some restaurants in Atlanta only have that option, and I always worry until I get the car back.

 

Give them a tip when dropping it off and tell them to be careful with the car.

 

I would never valet my car. If I were in Atlanta and there was no safe parking within walking distance of the restaurant, I'd find a good spot as close I could and then take a taxi the rest of the way.

 

I work down on South Beach and have seen numerous Valet peeling out and ragging out cars. They have to park the vehicles blocks away from the restaurants, hotels, etc. so they have the opportunity to do it. I have also seen numerous valet car accidents due to careless driving. I rather park it myself!

 

We have the same thing in Houston and Dallas area. Sometimes you'll find restaurants in shopping centers with acres of free parking, yet they will 'cone off' the area in front of the restaurant and use it for valet parking. This is BS. I'll park at the outer edge and walk in to the restaurant. Atlanta is not Manhattan, ie, a shortage of space. I never let them valet my car as they will disavow any responsibility for any damage to your car.

 

If there is no other choice but to valet, I won't bring my IS...I'll drive my old car or ask somebody else to drive. There is no way I'll let them "play" with my IS.

 

since imtoo poor to afford a velt (and rarely use them anyways) it isnt really a problem for me.

but i do plan on using a switch or relay that when activated, will cut the right O2 sensor (or some other vital ecm sensor, havent decided yet, still toying with the idea) which would cause the motor to be in a constant "limp home" mode.

would be hidden switch of course.

 

I hear where you are coming from man. EVERYTHING in Atlanta is valet now, and it's hard to trust someone else with your car. Not sure how to make sure they take good care of it though.

I was out to dinner with a friend a while ago and we valet-ed his 9-3 and it was in one of the first spaces, and the guy HIT the valet sign when he pulled out, right in front of us. Unbelievable. Just dropped the car off like nothing was wrong or had happened, and we were standing twenty feet away the entire time.

 

I try to avoid valet whenever possible and park on the street, but if I have to use valet I ask to speak to the manager in charge. I pay him a little extra to self park in valet lot and keep my keys. No one's refused my request yet.

 

Wow man, that's nuts. If I ever saw someone damaging my car, o.m.g., the wrath that would immediately befall upon his head.

One time, a tow truck tried to tow my car (for no apparent reason either, I was actually parked where I was supposed to be, paid and all) I heard my horn go and came outside to find my car hoisted up onto the truck (FRONT WHEELS UP, IS300 = rear wheel drive moron). Wow did I ever scream at him, all the while hes trying to tell me he knows what he's doing and that my 'infiniti' is front wheel dirve, you're supposed to tow them this way. I gave him so much ***** he didn't know what to say. I ended up having to sit on the winch where it met my front bumper (pants got totally nasty from the grease) because he was actually going to take my car. It was deffinately one of my better tantrums I've ever thrown. In the end he put my car down, but the a-hole wanted me to pay him, I told him what he could do with that concept.

But on topic, no a valet may not drive my car. I'll park and walk thx, or get some1 else to drive.

 

In the past I would have let valets park my car... but since getting my Lexus and reading some of the horror stories on here, NO WAY that will ever happen again, regardless of the car I am driving!

 

A valet parking attendant in Manhattan nicked one of my rear wheels on my x3 a few months back I had no idea that it was nicked until i got home to wash the car. Inspect your car including wheels with attendant before and after you park. Lesson learned

 

Easy. Take the wife's car out. I could care less what they do to a 2000 Grand Am!!!

 

I used to valet as one of my first jobs in high school. NEVER do it. Knowing what I used to do back then, I never valet my car, even if it is a 14 year old SC. If you must, however, give them a tip up front. I recall I used to actually try to be more careful with people who gave me a tip... "try" being the word here. If you drive up in a $70k+ car, though, don't expect the teenage attendant to stop his hormones from flowing, even if you do give hime a tip. S classes, bimmers, vettes, and anything remotely exotic got worked.