|
|
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 195
Member
|
Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 195 |
I don't even let my husband drive the Contour. So, I certainly wouldn't let a stranger take the keys.... 
-----------------------
2000 Ford Contour SE
Toreador Red
4cyl. / ATX.
(no mods..can't afford to void warranty)
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 191
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 191 |
Ah.. the fun with Valets.... The one time a Valet managed to talk the keys out of my hands, he can't start the damn car. It was my little 99 Cutlass, and it has several child safety features. One of them is, if you get in, and turn the key, the car won't even begin to crank unless you have your foot on the brake as well. Brake MUST be depressed in order to start. I told him that, he started it, and I heard him chirping the tires as he drove off with my car. I let it slide, until he rounded the turn with all 4 tires squealing in protest. When he came running back, I dropped him with a shot to the throat, and told him if he ever touched my car again, I'd slit it. Told the valet manager, that my car was not going to be touched by any more of his valets. Considering I had a rather large knife in the door of the car, and rather visible, (enough so that he commented on it) I think he was a bit spooked. When I left the hotel, the valet manager had to walk with me out to my car, because I was not going to allow anyone else to touch it. The valet I'd dropped was very apolegetic, and more than a bit scared. (I have a thing for wearing all black, and happened to have my trenchcoat on as well. Security has a thing for harassing me, but I enjoy the look. Almost like the matrix, but long hair.) Since then, no valet has driven my car. Ever. I drive it, the valet rides, or I park elsewhere, and walk to the building. Especially with my late Town Car, and current Eldorado.
Words of wisdom...
-I'm too old for this sh*t.
-Dirty jews have well laundered money.
My car: Alyssa
1997 Cadillac Eldorado
Silver w/ Black half top
Ravin mufflers
Modified airbox and MAF
Rockford Fosgate 258 Watt multi channel Amp
Rockford Fosgate 9300X Punch Headunit, MP3 disc, with 8 CD changer.
Pair of 12" Boss 250W speakers in an oversized box
14.730 sec @ 95.79 mph in overdrive.
DYNO! 236.2 FW STD Horsepower
292.8 FW STD torque
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 463
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 463 |
I don't let any valet park my car. If the place only has valet parking... then I'm not going there.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 316
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 316 |
When ever there is valet parking ride with the valet and arm the car alarm when exiting the vehicle. When you go to pick it up, ask that you walk to you vehicle with the valet. They should not refuse you doing this. If they do, go elsewhere.
All the valets really want to do is get paid. So I tip them $5 and make sure I am in the car when they drive it. No one drives the 'Tour without me in it. I would rather park the car in front and get a ticket than have damage to my car.
98 T-Red Contour LX V6 Mtx 106k miles
9" K&N, Aussie Pipe, Dual Mode Damper, 19lb. injectors, SHM MAFterburner, Ford 9mm Wires, Mystery Mod, ShoShop Off-road Y pipe, Dynomax Resonator and Muffler, 2.5" custom cat-back.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 304
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 304 |
Two words: RENTAL CAR!  Yep, I know it shouldn't be necessary but it might be cheaper in the long run. Plus, you'll be able to relax and enjoy your outing. My 2 cents. A number of eateries in the area I work have valet parking. It gets me out of driving because everyone knows I won't go to them if I have to use my car. Karl
*** It's all about consistency! ***
98 SVT Contour
86 Ranger GT
69 Fiat 850 Sport Spider
67 Formula-S Barracuda
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 221
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 221 |
As a former valet, I just have to say, DON'T valet your car. We beat the **** out of anything that looks fast. I don't remember ever doing anything too bad myself. I think I tried to see just how well a civic could do compared to my car. I got to drive a Mercedes S600 around Fenway park a bit. I punched the gas to see what It'd do, but I wasn't all that impressed. I expected more from a V-12. :rolleyes:
Darren '98 Mystique LS -Duratec, MTX Nakamichi CD-40z, Knauberized, K&N drop-in...what else could you want?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 303
Member
|
|
OP
Member
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 303 |
Geez, so the valet stereotypes may be true.
Glad to see there are others who know not to leave their cars with valets. Never again for me either.
Kerry
99 SVT Contour Silver Frost, #365/2760
91 Isuzu Impulse XS Kammback, Handling By Lotus
Victoria, BC, Canada
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 283
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 283 |
Valets are EVIL. No two ways about it. I will go to great lengths to avoid having a valet park my car.
The one (and only) time a valet has bespoiled the driver's seat of my SVT, after he brought the car back he gets out and tells me, "Man, that car has some power!" I was so upset that I couldn't respond. I even gave the guy a tip. :rolleyes:
Yes, it's paranoia, yes, it's a product of the strong bond we have with our cars, but when you read the fine print on your claim check, you wonder why anyone ever uses a valet. I guess it's the next level of snobbery, as if to say "it doesn't matter if he wrecks my car; I can afford another one (or have one like it at home)."
//> //> //> //> //> Garrick Silver E0, #3895 of 6535, built 10/2/97 She's stock. Why mess with a good thing?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4,528
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4,528 |
Originally posted by RoadRunner:
I used to have a Blue 1972 Mustang Fastback.
Had a Cleveland 351 Engine and a three speed ATX.
I kept this car IMMACULATE.
Went to Crab Shanty, way out on the end of City Island, one night, with my mother for dinner.
Mind you, this was 20 years ago, and I was a teenager not to be reckoned with.
Gave the car up to the valet, across the street from the restuarant, and walked across the street with my mother.
As we walk up to the restuarant door, I hear the squeal of rubber, and turn to see my car doing burnouts in the middle of the parking lot.
I walk back over to the parking lot, where I am stopped by another attendant,
and he tells me that I can't walk into the lot.
I tell him to get out of my way or he won't be walking home tonight.
I walk up to my car, and meet the attendant as he is getting out of my car.
I broke his nose, and knocked him unconscious.
Took the car and parked it right in the front of the lot, next to the attendants office, and locked it up.
Walked back to the restuarant and asked to speak to the Restuarant Manager.
Explained to the Restuarant Manager what I witnessed, and what I did,
and suggested that he call an ambulance for the guy laying in the middle of his lot.
The Manager apologized profusely for the incident,
and my mom and I enjoyed a dinner on the house.
I never went back there again. Now that is a story! Never had my car valeted or ever will. I bet some of the problem of the 911's getting into accidents is the stiff clutch. Still if you know how to drive a manual you should be ok. None of that screaming out of the gate. Wreckless driving was the culprit there.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 5,037
Administrator
|
|
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 5,037 |
I've had my front bumper smashed to hell and the rear bumper scuffed up by the valets in my high-rise. And I had my radar detector stolen. That's the only way I can park here. They have yet to do anything to the Lincoln except listen to their gangsta rap, but we got that guy fired. The LS has two tripometers and we always reset the second one, and put it back to the first one so they don't know. The guys here do this for their living and they're not like the punks at the clubs or restaurants that have the job to support their crack habit. Having a special valet key is cool, too. They can't get in the trunk or the glovebox.
|
|
|
|
|
