General Car Conversation
CL Community Team
Joined: Oct 2011
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From: US
CL Community Team
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: IL
Thats a fine policy in concept, but when you have a car full of people and you're going to lunch or to a meeting or you're meeting clients for dinner you just don't have time to drive around forever and find a place to park, nor do you want to deal with the harassment that comes from others being trapped in your car while you do so. So sometimes, I have no choice but to use a valet. Case in point the story above when I went to the Four Seasons, I was running late for breakfast with the president of my company and I simply had no choice but to pull in and give the car to the valet. Could I have found a spot on the street 5 blocks away and walked? Sure, but I think the car was at least as safe in the hands of the valets at the Four Seasons.
The reality of it is, as long as you're at a high end place they park a lot of nice cars, and they really don't have any interest in anything we drive to where they would want to goof off in it.
The reality of it is, as long as you're at a high end place they park a lot of nice cars, and they really don't have any interest in anything we drive to where they would want to goof off in it.
My own experience was at probably the highest-end sushi restaurant in Chicago (dinner for the 6 of us was $1100, and this was 21 years ago, so $1900 today?). That dinner wound up costing me about 5 grand, all told, my insurance company another 12--about half the car's value--and I was without a car for 8 weeks.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
That just shows you how much the numbers of stick-shift vehicles on the road have dwindled in recent years....and its effect on the valet-buisness.
Even though I have not owned one for many years, I can, personally, still get into a three-pedal car today and, with maybe a minute or two to get used to the feel/actions/engagement of the clutch pedal and the shift-linkage, zoom off and drive it practically anywhere. But that is not the case with those who either never learned to drive a stick or who are too young to have had any significant experience with one. And, as us older folks are dying off, more and more younger people are getting hired to do this kind of work shuffling vehicles around. So, it is not with any great surprise that many of them simply don't know how to drive one....and businesses and restaurants don't want to assume the liability.
I might also add that having a three-pedal car, today, probably makes it less-likely to be stolen.....a lot of thieves (and potential thieves) can't drive a stick either LOL.
Stick-shift or automatic, I don't trust my own vehicle to valets (IMO too risky)...but I understand where you are coming from in your comments about not having time to waste during lunch hours with friends/clients, and I respect that view.
Even though I have not owned one for many years, I can, personally, still get into a three-pedal car today and, with maybe a minute or two to get used to the feel/actions/engagement of the clutch pedal and the shift-linkage, zoom off and drive it practically anywhere. But that is not the case with those who either never learned to drive a stick or who are too young to have had any significant experience with one. And, as us older folks are dying off, more and more younger people are getting hired to do this kind of work shuffling vehicles around. So, it is not with any great surprise that many of them simply don't know how to drive one....and businesses and restaurants don't want to assume the liability.
I might also add that having a three-pedal car, today, probably makes it less-likely to be stolen.....a lot of thieves (and potential thieves) can't drive a stick either LOL.
Stick-shift or automatic, I don't trust my own vehicle to valets (IMO too risky)...but I understand where you are coming from in your comments about not having time to waste during lunch hours with friends/clients, and I respect that view.
Last edited by mmarshall; Oct 18, 2022 at 06:52 PM.
Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
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From: Maryland
Yes, you're probably ok at the Four Seasons. They're probably also employed by the hotel and parking on their own property, so doesn't run afoul of my rule.
My own experience was at probably the highest-end sushi restaurant in Chicago (dinner for the 6 of us was $1100, and this was 21 years ago, so $1900 today?). That dinner wound up costing me about 5 grand, all told, my insurance company another 12--about half the car's value--and I was without a car for 8 weeks.
My own experience was at probably the highest-end sushi restaurant in Chicago (dinner for the 6 of us was $1100, and this was 21 years ago, so $1900 today?). That dinner wound up costing me about 5 grand, all told, my insurance company another 12--about half the car's value--and I was without a car for 8 weeks.
Even though I have not owned one for many years, I can, personally, still get into a three-pedal car today and, with maybe a minute or two to get used to the feel/actions/engagement of the clutch pedal and the shift-linkage, zoom off and drive it practically anywhere. But that is not the case with those who either never learned to drive a stick or who are too young to have had any significant experience with one. And, as us older folks are dying off, more and more younger people are getting hired to do this kind of work shuffling vehicles around. So, it is not with any great surprise that many of them simply don't know how to drive one....and businesses and restaurants don't want to assume the liability.
I've found a lot of places don't even have valets anymore, which is fine with me. Lots of restaurants no longer have them, lots of hotels no longer have them.
Friend of mine bought a manual Miata because his wife and daughters couldn't drive a stick and that way they couldn't drive it lol
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Knoxville, TN
I would be fine with Valet at any high end place. There aren't gonna be kids racing around guests' cars at high end hotels and restaurants, no way.
I have used valet at the hospital over the last couple of years and no issues at all.
I have used valet at the hospital over the last couple of years and no issues at all.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
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From: Ohio
You would be shocked.....I take different cars into the city in the first place so if someone crashes into my car I won't care. Same would apply with valets
CL Community Team
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,343
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From: IL
Anyway, let's move on....
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Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
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From: Maryland
My concern isn't with people racing around, its just bumping the car into stuff, scuffing the chin of the bumper, etc. Parking lot mishaps.
Moderator
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From: GA
With my recent mishap of having my wheels damaged, I am less and less trusting of having other people drive my car.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Originally Posted by geko29
$300/pp not including drinks
The aftermath lasted about 18 months, but in the end neither the restaurant nor the valet company bore any legal responsibility.
Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
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From: Maryland
Good! I had a feeling they would have to replace them. Good news is they will now put a flag in your account not to wash since it cost them a ton, and they will NEVER wash it. Same thing happened to me one time and it wound up costing them $1,500 to have my GS polished out and re ceramic coated. Automatically from that time on my tickets had huge NO WASH EVERYWHERE automatically.
Oh, I guarantee they have and much more. $300 PP for a meal is certainly not an every day thing but there are many very special meals that cost that and more. I mean hell, a good steak in a good steakhouse is $70+ with no sides.
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Joined: Nov 2016
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From: GA
Good! I had a feeling they would have to replace them. Good news is they will now put a flag in your account not to wash since it cost them a ton, and they will NEVER wash it. Same thing happened to me one time and it wound up costing them $1,500 to have my GS polished out and re ceramic coated. Automatically from that time on my tickets had huge NO WASH EVERYWHERE automatically.
But also, Iridium hides imperfections pretty well because someone dumped a little extra metallic flake into it.