A friend came by the house the other day to pick something up. I had the garage door halfway open and he asked if he can check out my NSX. I said of course.
After ogling at it for a while, and a few compliments, he casually mentioned that he used to valet park and he would randomly see NSXs and other expensive cars pull up.
So I probed about it a little and he gave me a few pointers I'd like to share:
1. Don't leave money in the car. Even if it is just change, it will be taken.
2. Expensive sportscars will be taken for a ride. Maybe not to the extent of abuse, but almost expect to have the car take an extra block or so around the corner before it gets parked.
3. Keep house keys with you at all times. Take them off the same key ring. If you hand them your car key along with your house key, they maybe so inclined to take a trip to the local locksmith to have a duplicate made. When they find your address, they will have full access to your home.
4. Do a quick walk-around inspection prior to giving him his tip. Inspect your car for scratches, damages, dents, etc. that may have been caused while you were dining. In most cases, when you do find damage, you only have a 24-hour window to report it to the valet company (not the restaurant manager). Their insurance company will refuse to fix anything thereafter. It's a safeguard for both parties. That way customers won't be able to claim any damages that occured days after and were not caused by the valets. Read the fine print in the back of your ticket!
5. Make note of the odometer reading. Keep a post-it handy and write the mileage of your car. Stick it on the steering wheel or anywhere in full view. Also, reset your trip odometer to read "zero." Keep a copy on you if you wish just to make sure that there is no misunderstanding of the exact mileage reading at the time the car was left.
6. Make note of where they park your car.Watch where they take it before you enter the restaurant. With an NSX, it will most likely be parked front and center. But if not, question the valet if they pull the car from a different parking spot from where it was in the beginning. It will most likely have been taken for a joyride.
7. If street parking is available, take it. Of course, make sure it's a relatively safe neighborhood.
Of course, many folks in here will advocate that the best way to go is to ask if you can park the car yourself with the promise of compensation for the valet afterwards. But in those instances where you do have the let the car go--or don't mind valet parking too much--these tips can help ease your mind a little.
[This message has been edited by Joel (edited 20 February 2003).]
After ogling at it for a while, and a few compliments, he casually mentioned that he used to valet park and he would randomly see NSXs and other expensive cars pull up.
So I probed about it a little and he gave me a few pointers I'd like to share:
1. Don't leave money in the car. Even if it is just change, it will be taken.
2. Expensive sportscars will be taken for a ride. Maybe not to the extent of abuse, but almost expect to have the car take an extra block or so around the corner before it gets parked.
3. Keep house keys with you at all times. Take them off the same key ring. If you hand them your car key along with your house key, they maybe so inclined to take a trip to the local locksmith to have a duplicate made. When they find your address, they will have full access to your home.
4. Do a quick walk-around inspection prior to giving him his tip. Inspect your car for scratches, damages, dents, etc. that may have been caused while you were dining. In most cases, when you do find damage, you only have a 24-hour window to report it to the valet company (not the restaurant manager). Their insurance company will refuse to fix anything thereafter. It's a safeguard for both parties. That way customers won't be able to claim any damages that occured days after and were not caused by the valets. Read the fine print in the back of your ticket!
5. Make note of the odometer reading. Keep a post-it handy and write the mileage of your car. Stick it on the steering wheel or anywhere in full view. Also, reset your trip odometer to read "zero." Keep a copy on you if you wish just to make sure that there is no misunderstanding of the exact mileage reading at the time the car was left.
6. Make note of where they park your car.Watch where they take it before you enter the restaurant. With an NSX, it will most likely be parked front and center. But if not, question the valet if they pull the car from a different parking spot from where it was in the beginning. It will most likely have been taken for a joyride.
7. If street parking is available, take it. Of course, make sure it's a relatively safe neighborhood.
Of course, many folks in here will advocate that the best way to go is to ask if you can park the car yourself with the promise of compensation for the valet afterwards. But in those instances where you do have the let the car go--or don't mind valet parking too much--these tips can help ease your mind a little.
[This message has been edited by Joel (edited 20 February 2003).]
