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Old Oct 11, 2010 | 02:57 PM
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Default Valet parking question

When you C3 owners drive your car to an event, restaurant, country club, etc. that has valet parking, do let any individual jump in your car and take off to park it, or do you self park?
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Old Oct 11, 2010 | 03:11 PM
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I park in front, just out of their way,give them 5 bucks,and tell them thats were I am parking.If they will not let me I say adiose and leave. I also set the alarm. John
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Old Oct 11, 2010 | 03:12 PM
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For me it generally depends on how distant the valet lot is. There is one restaurant I go to where the valet lot is right at the entry, I usually self-park in this situation as (especially if I am with a date) it is convenient to do so. There are other places Ive gone where the parking is more distant (like in downtown San Diego where valet parking is often at a remote garage or lot) where I give it over to the valet.
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Old Oct 11, 2010 | 03:19 PM
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I'm not a fan of valet. I don't want to take the chance the valet guy can't drive a stick, or has trouble seeing over the fenders. Just my .02
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Old Oct 11, 2010 | 03:33 PM
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I dont let anyone drive it....
So what sucks is I don't take it to nice resturants or places I'm afraid to park it....
There's NO way I'm handing the keys to my Vette to some kid...

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Old Oct 11, 2010 | 03:38 PM
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Remember ferris buelers day off.....

Damn... cant find the picture of the guys smiling while abusing the car.
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Old Oct 11, 2010 | 04:03 PM
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Originally Posted by 71 Green 454
When you C3 owners drive your car to an event, restaurant, country club, etc. that has valet parking, do let any individual jump in your car and take off to park it, or do you self park?
I pull up order my Sonic burger sit there and eat it and drive home.
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Old Oct 11, 2010 | 04:42 PM
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Originally Posted by ragtag74
I park in front, just out of their way,give them 5 bucks,and tell them thats were I am parking.If they will not let me I say adiose and leave. I also set the alarm. John
so do i, but i usually ask them first to direct me to a spot they prefer IN FRONT where they can watch it. you'd be surprised how often they just want something like that in front to show off their place. down here it gets old with all the high end rolls royces, etc. they don't get too many C3's, lol. if they are smart enough to give me the "prime" spot, i always make certain to hand the guy at least a $5 bill for his "trouble". if he gives me a hard time (and i have yet to have that happen by the way), i would just leave and go elsewhere. been doing it that way for a long time.
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Old Oct 11, 2010 | 05:23 PM
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Originally Posted by srs244
so do i, but i usually ask them first to direct me to a spot they prefer IN FRONT where they can watch it. you'd be surprised how often they just want something like that in front to show off their place. down here it gets old with all the high end rolls royces, etc. they don't get too many C3's, lol. if they are smart enough to give me the "prime" spot, i always make certain to hand the guy at least a $5 bill for his "trouble". if he gives me a hard time (and i have yet to have that happen by the way), i would just leave and go elsewhere. been doing it that way for a long time.
I used to valet at a nice restaurant and this is exactly what I would do for people with nice cars that didnt want me to drive their car. Dont assume that all valets are joy riders... I always treated a car as if it was my own.
BTW- I always opened up spots up front for vettes. Whether they parked it or I did.
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Old Oct 11, 2010 | 05:34 PM
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Old Oct 11, 2010 | 07:01 PM
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Originally Posted by MrJlr
I dont let anyone drive it....
So what sucks is I don't take it to nice resturants or places I'm afraid to park it....
There's NO way I'm handing the keys to my Vette to some kid...

Well said!
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Old Oct 11, 2010 | 07:43 PM
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Let's see....it's important for me to drive my treasured C3 to pull up to a restaurant (max. of 30 seconds in the car at that point), then let some 'yayhoo' wheel away and have some 'fun' with my car? That doesn't sound like the perfect evening to me.

If you don't want the car damaged, don't do such things. On the other hand, if it's important [for your ego] to be seen getting out/in of a C3...and you have really good insurance coverage...have at it.
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Old Oct 11, 2010 | 08:24 PM
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Originally Posted by vette427-sbc
I used to valet at a nice restaurant and this is exactly what I would do for people with nice cars that didnt want me to drive their car. Dont assume that all valets are joy riders... I always treated a car as if it was my own.
BTW- I always opened up spots up front for vettes. Whether they parked it or I did.
I get the impression that most people are of the opinion that all valet lots are places to get your high performance car "Buellered" which I believe is total . the upshot for me is, If I want to drive my vette somewhere I dont let the fear of parking prevent me from doing that.

To be fair, I should state that the vast majority of the time I can self park because the Valet lot is right there. Otherwise, I figure thats what insurance is for.
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Old Oct 11, 2010 | 10:36 PM
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Whenever I go to a function that has valet parking, I tell the attendant "There's only 2 people in this world who can drive my car. One of them is me and the other one is not you." Then I say "Jump in and show me where you would like me to park her in the valet lot." Then I ascertain if the parking spot is good enough. If not, I pick out a MORE favorable spot. Never had any problems ....most of the valets understand...the rest, I really don't care.
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Old Oct 11, 2010 | 10:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Lon Wayne
I pull up order my Sonic burger sit there and eat it and drive home.
I am with you there Lynne and I love doing that. Valet parking we usually take her Pathfinder
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Old Oct 12, 2010 | 01:10 AM
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let someone else park it:r ofl:
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Old Oct 12, 2010 | 08:10 AM
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I just pull up and ASK (not TELL) the valet "where is a safe place I can park this?" Never had any problems with them finding a good spot and watching it for me. Usually I get the prime front and center spot. Plus a tip and a thank you afterward for my appreciation.
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Old Oct 12, 2010 | 08:13 AM
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Valet park my Big Block If I'm going to a restaurant I bring my pickup truck.
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Old Oct 12, 2010 | 08:58 AM
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Unless it's a rental, I avoid them.
Only used them once with my car and ended up with 1/4 tank, started with a full one.
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Old Oct 12, 2010 | 10:00 AM
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As Miles said, I just ask where I can park it.

Originally Posted by shrekviper
What a great picture.
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