With delivery a scant two weeks away, I am starting to think how this flooding problem will impact me on a day to day basis. I'm used to throwing the keys to a hotel car park guy and bringing in my bags, and having him bring the car up in the morning. I'm thinking that this dog no longer hunts as most won't know that you can't turn the 8 on and off light a light bulb. It looks like nobody but me, my wife (under careful and watchful supervision), and a few car enthusiast friends are going to be driving this car. How do you explain to a car park valet that, "No I can't leave the keys because I don't trust you not to start it up and move it a few yards."?

This is a valid concern. Luckily I don't valet often, I haven't had to confront the problem yet. How often do they move cars around? I'm not sure what I will do when the situation arises...

One thing to remember is that the renesis stays hot for a long time. I valet park mine and at lunch time ( 4 hours later ) the engine is not 100% cold. Plus you can warn the valets not shut it down when she is cold or she will flood and will have to be towed. That will motivate them to be careful.

yea it's not a good situation. i find myself being extra careful now that there's snow on the ground that after i start my car my foot doesnt slip off the clutch until it's warmed up. it's just always on my mind every time i start the car. i even told the dealer when i brought it in for service to make sure it was warmed up. they said they already knew. after i went in to get my receipt then to my car it was running. as far as a valet at this point i would try to avoid them. hoping the hotter plugs will help but i guess you have yo flood it before they install them?

Screw the valets! I will never let them drive either of mine!

I'm picking my 8 up in the morning.

I'm picking my 8 up in the morning. Whats all this about flooding?

At Hotels I doubt they shuffle the cars much, and I can't remember the last time a valet brought me my car and didn't leave it running. Maybe I've just had different experiences from some of you though...

Yeah, basically I agree with Ike. I valet my car ocassionally up in New York, and basically, even if they shuffle the car during the day, it isn't on a cold engine so it isn't too much of a problem, and when they bring it up, I just tell them to be sure not to shut it off when it comes up. I've done it about five times, and I have no problems yet. Doesn't mean that I won't, but with a little sense I think that the car is valetable.

Originally posted by sweenytodd
I'm picking my 8 up in the morning. Whats all this about flooding?
Don't get too concerned, it's been blown a bit out of proportion.

Ask your dealer about it when you pick up your car. He will explain how to avoid it.

being a valet heres my advice.. slip the valet a 5 and do what Raptor said. Also if u do not leave the lot and something happens to ur car the valet is responsible.

I never valet park my cars - why pay someone I don't know $2 for the privilege of driving my car. They should be paying me!

Knowing a lot of valets, I'd have to be smoking a lot more pot to let a valet get near it. Sorry to the nice guys out there, but most of the ones I know are retards when it comes to respecting others peoples cars.

Atleast if you guyshave automatic you wont have to worry about the dumb valet stalling the car in addition to the flooding problem.

This unique car should not be driven by a valet or anybody else but you! The flooding issue is just ONE reason you shouldn't let a valet near your RX-8. And forget about them being responsible if it stalls and refuses to start. Their fault? Hahahahahahaha!

What's a valet

I will never trust a valet. Think about it, you are paying a complete stranger who has no liabilty to drive and park your car in a crowded parking lot.

My Dad has a Jaguar XJR and it was almost totaled by a valet driver who backed it into a restaurant wall. The valet didn't have a drivers license and was an illegal alien. Only after threatening to sue did the restaurant owner pay for the damage out of pocket since he didn't have insurance to cover this. Jaguar managed to straighten out the frame and did a good job with repairing the car. It took jaguar several months to repair the car, and repair bill was $30,000. The car was on lease so my dad will probably return it when the lease is up.

I never liked using valet drivers in the first place, but this experience just reinforces my distrust. I just don't see any benefits in valet service.

Hmm, I'm thinking if you tell the guy to make sure it's warmed up so it doesn't flood, you're going to get a re-enactment of the Ferris Bueller/Ferrari valet scene.

Hey, valet guy... yeah you. C'mere a second. You see this car? Ain't she a beauty? Just nod and listen, bud. You know what? If I see you within ten feet of this car, you know what's gonna happen? I'm gonna reach down your throat and pull your lungs out - that's what's gonna happen. And if anybody else gets near this car, I'm gonna do the same thing. So... do we understand eachother? Is this car gonna be safe in your parking lot?

With delivery a scant two weeks away, I am starting to think how this flooding problem will impact me on a day to day basis. I'm used to throwing the keys to a hotel car park guy and bringing in my bags, and having him bring the car up in the morning. I'm thinking that this dog no longer hunts as most won't know that you can't turn the 8 on and off light a light bulb. It looks like nobody but me, my wife (under careful and watchful supervision), and a few car enthusiast friends are going to be driving this car. How do you explain to a car park valet that, "No I can't leave the keys because I don't trust you not to start it up and move it a few yards."?


im a business traveler (but im also young and stupid) and have had to valet on numerous occasions, yet not in the winter yet.. this is what i did the firsttime. id take a picture of the mileage with a flash camera in front of the valet, of course id also slip him a dollar....later i would walk into the garage they use and see where my car is...front row against the wall, aint gonna be moved. definitely tip him before he parks your car and when he gets you the car and if you're there for a few days tipping each time, they will definitely respect your car and park it in easy access without even a spoken word. not so that they wont be moving it constantly, but moreso so that they can get the car out faster to a good tipper.

this is what i did the firsttime.
As much as I hate leaving it to a valet, there are some times when it's just unavoidable. Usually it's downtown(/midtown) New York City. I used Feras' approach, almost. I just wrote down the milage, while the guy was waiting for me to hand him the key. Then I give him the key and a couple bucks (potentially a $23 parking tab). A couple more when he gives it back. Oh, and if the guy has a little nametag on his shirt, I write that down too.

The only time I've ever left my baby in the hands of a valet I ended up waiting about an extra 10 minutes because he couldn't figure out how to put it in reverse. But he was cute so I just laughed and told him I understood before giving him a tip. (I had to whip out the manual to figure it out the first time so I cut him some slack.)