Would You Valet Your Viper??? Y/N???

Tomer

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Absolutely no *****'in way...Nope, notta, end of dicussion...

After pulling my RX-7 into a classy restaurant (nothing special in the RX-7, very nice, clean black car) the valet while opening the door for my wife said, in a low voice "I can't believe your husband valets a nice car like this"...

When the valet himself indicates I am nuts for doing it, thats it for me...I know, statistically this sample is meaningless, but my gut tells me otherwise...

Tomer
 

Makara

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There are a few places that I like to go that I don't mind valeting the viper. There is one that stands out where when I show up and the lot is full and other people are getting turned away, my car gets parked up front, I am greeted by the manager and/or doorguy by name, walk past the line and proceed to have a good time. I got treated just as well before I started showing up in the viper but the whole experience is just a little more fun when the viper is involved.
 

MiamiJeff

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Sure, go ahead and valet it if you aren't bothered by chipped and/or smashed up front fascia and lots of nasty wheel rubs from hitting curbs. Sure, do it if a few door dings are cool with you. And if you're really lucky, maybe the valet can flat spot your tires too if he gets to park out of ear/eye-shot.

If you're like the other 90% of Viper owners:

When in say, Kansas, pay $5 for good spot and take your keys. If in South Florida and most major metropolitan areas, expect to pay $10-20 for a nice spot in front of the restaurant where you park it yourself (and don't surrender your keys).

I'm just waiting to read of the Viper owner getting sued for merely allowing his Viper to get parked by an overzealous valet who hurts himself and sues you, the owner, for not warning him of the car's potential.

N.F.W. !!!!!!!!! I can't believe that this thread even exists.
 

xSaleen

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I would like to share my valet experience. About a year ago, I went to a club in LA, and the only available parking I saw was valet. I was a bit apprehensive, but I decided to do it, and I tipped the guy a $20. This was the 1st time I had ever left a car with a valet, and I got burnt BIG time.

So I come out around 1:30, and everyone is getting their car. They bring mine up, and the guy hands me the keys, and bolts. I look it over, and find a huge gash in the front bumper, along with a scrape up the side of the front fender. This was in no way a scratch or some small ding, it cracked the fiberglass bumper, left a huge hole, and bent the front fender on that side. I had 2 friends with me, and they both witnessed the damage to my car. I first talked to the closest employee, some security guard who tried to ignore me, until I about screamed in his face. He told me to wait while he called someone. 5 min goes bye, nothing. I go speak to him again, same story. I then go back in the club, and find someone behind the bar, who calls to get someone for me. Then I get some joker to come outside and he says I need to pull around to the front, and the manager will come out and look at it. I do as they say, and wait for 10 min, nothing. So I pull around to the exit again, and told the security guard about the BS that was going on, and that I was calling the police. I’m told again, pull around to the front, and the manager will look at it. I grudgingly obey, another 10 min, and some guy comes out. He looks at it, hands me some insurance paper, writes down a phone number of the parking company, says their club has nothing to do with the parking, and that I can just call them on Monday. I asked him to admit they caused the damage, and he agreed, in the presence of my 2 friends.

So, Monday comes around, and I call the number he gave me, it’s some dude’s cell phone, and I get his voice mail. I just leave my name and number and just ask me to call me. I get a call from some guy who sounds like he’s driving 80 on the freeway holding the phone out the windows. I try to explain the situation, and he just cuts me off and say, “NO, no, we had no accidents on Saturday, no way.” We exchange some unkind words and he hangs up on me. I call back a few times, and he tells me to call the office number. I call some dude there, same story. I’m pretty pissed now, and basically tell them I’m calling a lawyer, and that this if far from over.

Then I get a call back from some nice lady, apologizing for the matter, saying they found the guy who damaged the car, and that he lied about it and we fired him, yada yada… I’m like fine, what about the car. She says I can just get an estimate and they will pay for it.

Long story short, I get 3 estimates, they guy I first spoke to calls me after I faxed them over, and tells me in an irate tone, that there is no way they are paying for any of these, they are way too high, and that I need to bring it to their body shop (yeah right!)

So in the end, I wasted lots of time and energy, went without my car for 3 weeks, paid my $500 deductible, plus ~$300 for a rental, and my insurance company is currently perusing collection from the parking company with all the tenacity of an egg plant.

Say NO to valet.
 

Flexx91

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Tried the valet thing with my '96 RT/10 at a popular restaurant in Houston when I first got it. The valet couldn't figure out how the open the door even with the windows off!!! Never trusted a valet to park my car again.
 

Steve 00RT/10

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I have never used a valet parking service for anything. For one, they have none where we live, but if there was, there is absolutely no way any parking attendant would drive my car. I don't think I would take my car to any place where it would be crammed in a parking lot regardless of paying someone to watch it.

Steve
 

Richard K

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I valet a lot..

1) I always give the guy $10 or $15 bucks and insist on parking it myself

2) I always keep the keys

3) I usually get asked if I want to park it up front, and if need be they sometimes move another car for me.

Last week I met friends late at Bahama Breeze. When I got there I noticed my buddy's 2 day old new Mustang was parked in the first valet spot next to the entry. The valet asked me if I wanted to park right up front by the door to which I said sure. He then moved the Mustang to the back of the lot and I took that spot. The best part was that my friends watched the whole thing from the restaurant's patio... I'm still hearing about it.
 

silverviper

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I don't think so. I don't loan the car out for joyrides to my friends and family, why would I give it to a total stranger? To save walking one block? It *might* get vandalized anytime I park it anywhere, but I'm not going to invite a random person to get in and drive, park, scrape, or crash....
 

Chuck 98 RT/10

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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Richard K:
He then moved the Mustang to the back of the lot and I took that spot.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

laugh.gif
Sometimes it's fun to be a ***** aint it? I'll point to a Porsche and ask them to move the Volkswagon so I can park there. It always gets a laugh out of the Valet.
 

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