Okay, so I am up in DC lastnight, taking a nice young lady out to eat. Parking is an absolute nightmare. There is NO parking anywhere to be found. The last thing I want to do is turn-over my 8 to some punk valet. If I were by myself, I would have walked many blocks in the cold wind before handing over the keys, but with the date in tow, I had no choice...

So I carefully explain to the valet that this car is very unique and can't just be moved a few feet and shut-off again after it cools down. I suggested they try to find a place where they wouldn't have to move it until I got back. The girl just looks at me like I am speaking swahili. She gets in and immediately proceeds to shut off the car and restart it - just to prove she could. At that point I should have just thrown her out of the car and gotten the hell out of there - making sure to run over her worthless neck on the way out. Remember that I was on a date, though :( I explained that if she pulled that stunt after the car had cooled down, she'd have to move a lot of those cars out of there to get the tow truck in!

Before I could even make it inside the joint, she stalled it out three times trying to park it. WTF! I guess driving a stick is not a prerequisit for working as a valet!

I always knew the best chance for flooding my car was going to be with valets, but wow. That was a close one. Through the whole meal, all I could do was think of my true love outside in the cold!

So any one else have similar experiences trying to explain the unique character of their car to a valet? Anyone have a valet actually flood their 8? Believe me, I only did the valet thing because I had no other choice under the circumstances. Gotta get that M flash....

Oh man! Next time drop her off at the front and then park? I bet you could have clobbered that valet! :(

Originally posted by poolsidenaz
Oh man! Next time drop her off at the front and then park?
I second that idea!

We are all obsessed if we sit in a restaurant with a date and only think of the 8! I'm not picking on you... I would have done the same thing. Just as I posted in another thread, I have left my hubby many times to go out in the parking and check his/my 8!! :D

So far no problems with Valets.... though I do worry once she goes around the building. Someone had posted they made a little card with "how to" instructions for valets on what to do.

A card...not a bad idea...

I was thinking if they did flood it, chances are they would just keep trying to start it without following the post-flood starting procedure. Probably ruining any chances of starting it. But a card might work in that situation. At least if they couldn't start it they might realize there was actually something to what you were saying and then read the card. I doubt they would pay much attention before then.

Ummm...I don't eat at places with valets....that's just me. But if it was me, the first time the valet stalled it, I would have grabbed the keys and driven somewhere else......

I thought the car had to be stone-cold for flooding to occur. If true you'd have to let the car sit for several hours before the possibility of a flood becomes an issue. Anybody ever have problems starting a warm car after a stall?

You've got to take good care of the 8. If the chick doesn't want to walk, may be she is not the right one to be on your passenger seat.....
An interim solution is to take her to places where self parking is available. That's a big issue for me in DC.

I use valets all the time, never have a problem. I don't even bother to tell them about the flooding.

I guess driving a stick is not a prerequisit for working as a valet!

It really isn't. My first job was as a valet at 16 years old. I knew how to drive a stick because I learned on one, but few of my valet friends knew how to drive them. I ended up teaching them on customer cars.

Be very careful with giving your 8 to a valet. If you get into a situation where you must use valet, I think the best thing to do is give the guy a 10 right away and tell him to take care of your car as if his life depended on it.

I just tell them not to move my car around, because they will stall the car out (and this is an auto) I make them scared, and I havent had a problem, when I see a car enthusiast, I will go out of my way to explain to the valet kid the importance etc... of not starting and shuttingdown etc... They like to listen, and do... If its really important to you, I suggest a pre-tip... Like 4-5 bucks will do, they will surely listen, and makes you look great in front of the date...

My only fear is that the valet drivers are going to use 6th gear as reverse...

i used to worry about my cars, the more i worried the more that actually happened.

I'm sure the valets dont want to break anything. Its not even worth worrying about. Dont stress =)

I've never had any problem with valet partking the 8 either. Starts like any other car cold or warm. Should not be a problem if you have the k or M flash.

Just move here to Alabama. I don't have a single restaurant in town that has a valet. ;-)

1) Drive to the front of the restaurant
2) Flick on the Hazard lights
3) Get out of the car
4) Open the Door for her
5) Open the Restaurant doors for her
6) Ask the waiter nicely to take her to your table
7) Go park your car in a safe place

I don't think I could handle a valet parking my car.
I mean, the wife and I went out to dinner last night and I parked the car myself, outta the way and within plain view from the dinner table. The whole night I was worried about the attention the car got and then was really nervous when someone parked beside it. I couldn' t wait to get outta there! It ruined a nice dinner, but I know how you feel with worrying about the car.

Why do you guys think they make DRIVE THRU'S ???? That way us obsessed owners never have to leave our cars. :)

I have used valet twice and I was so nervous
but it was fine

but it is cool to see what your car looks like when it pulls up

I just hand over the keys and go have a good time.

The last thing you want is your date talking to her friends about what a baby you were over valet parking your car as if you were to un-cool to have ever done it before.

"He was a nice guy but he didn't even know how to use a valet to get his car parked. I'm like never going out with him again"

Just hand them the keys and slip them a ten like you've been doing it your whole life. Be smooth and let your date think you own the place.

greese

That's what I do, except I make it look like im slipping them a $10 and slip them monopoly money instead..
Greese has seen my car.


Originally posted by greese
I just hand over the keys and go have a good time.

The last thing you want is your date talking to her friends about what a baby you were over valet parking your car as if you were to un-cool to have ever done it before.

"He was a nice guy but he didn't even know how to use a valet to get his car parked. I'm like never going out with him again"

Just hand them the keys and slip them a ten like you've been doing it your whole life. Be smooth and let your date think you own the place.

greese

Monopoly money - LMAO!

Yeah, the "play it cool" thought did come into mind...but when that chick stalled it out 3 times in a row before getting 10 feet away I wasn't the only one staring in disbelief! Even complete strangers were giving me sympathy glances.

My date definitely appreciates the car. She even gave it a once-over after dinner to check for door dings! :) Sounds like a keeper, huh?! Haha!

I have seen guy's car. You get that gash taken care of yet? I've got to get in for an oil change and the clip on the slidnig console thing broke on me. Hopefully they will warranty that.

Originally posted by MadDog
Yeah, the "play it cool" thought did come into mind...but when that chick stalled it out 3 times in a row before getting 10 feet away I wasn't the only one staring in disbelief! Even complete strangers were giving me sympathy glances.

My date definitely appreciates the car. She even gave it a once-over after dinner to check for door dings! :) Sounds like a keeper, huh?! Haha!

You probably scared that poor valet to death :eek:

You have got to appreciate a woman who knows her parking :)

I was on a date once, a first date at a restaurant I've never been to before. When i handed over the keys I gave the guy a pat on the back and told my date about how great the valets at this place are etc. The guys start in about how it's good to see me again and that one of the old cooks is back in the kitchen again. Talking to me like i've been coming there for years. My date was super impressed. Confidence will get you everywhere. A little monopoly money doesn't hurt either :cool:

I wouldn't worry much at a restaurant where the engine will not have a chance to get cold, in case the valet moves the car a short distance. I have never heard of problems restarting a fully warmed up car. My problem is at hotels where it is parked over night. The valet may need to move it to get other cars out. I am the one who made a sign especially for that purpose. I used it at a Marriott in Nashville and will have the same issue next month in Tampa at a hotel that does not offer self parking.

http://www.gingersrus.com/RX8/warning.jpg

At this time, I don't even want my wife to drive my 8. A valet parking lot is way out of the question.

^^lol

Originally posted by johnmyson
My first job was as a valet at 16 years old. I knew how to drive a stick because I learned on one, but few of my valet friends knew how to drive them. I ended up teaching them on customer cars.



I mentioned this on another thread -- we're waiting for my friend's brand new BMW 525i wagon at the LAX Renaissance and it's not coming around. Finally it shows up. My friend is then talking to the valet, laughing and joking. I asked what he said. She said he had apologized, "Sorry, I never tried to drive a stick before." No smell of burning rubber and no scratched paint; my friend was much cooler than I would have been.

Dropped off at a valet once in Boca Raton. The head guy comes running over and says hed like to park it right up front for me. I said thanks and when we came out it was nestled between a Ferrari and a Porshe. I must say Ive never been more proud. Especially since mine is 1/3 of the price! They handed me the keys and I pulled off. It was like valeting twice...first and last. How could I ever top that service let alone no flooding issues.

Speaking as a female (even before I was an RX-8 owner), I'd say you need to find girls to date that would agree to, if not suggest, that a walk or a change of plans was in order in that situation.

I say try not to valet it. I valet my car twice. Twice too many times. I kinda didn't hav ea choice because of where we were in Miami (south beach) but everytime I got it back it was hot and I smelled clutch. They rag on em, once you walk away. Just park far and walk or pay extra to park your up front. Not worth the damage they can do to your car in a few minutes.

If you want a painful story of what valets do, ask 93rdcurrent about what happened to his MR2, and I will say, due to his story, I will never trust a valet... too many scary stories out there, stay far away from them, they are satans children.... that or Bush's children... either way, close enough :)

I worried about letting a valet drive my car, door dings, and the "will they treat my car well" syndrome over 2 decades ago... just like the postings I'm reading here. When one of my dates claimed that I cared about my car more than I did her, and though I quickly denied it... self reflection later found me realizing she was right.

Fast forward to today... I wouldn't even give it a thought. You think the RX-8 is special? Hah! The valet is driving cars 3 times the price many times over during any one night. The only thing special about the RX-8 for them is that, hey, they might get their parents to buy them one. You think the RX-8 is easy to stall? Hah again! It's one of the easiest to drive. Try driving a Ferrari, or much worse, a lamborgini.

A few months after buying the RX-8, I told my wife about the flooding issue. Her response, which I don't think is unreasonable, was "How could they sell the car with that kind of problem? I thought you were smart enough to do your homework before you bought the thing". Though it's easy to get defensive of the car... the words ring true. The wife, or the valet are not the idiots. We are, for buying the thing. At least, this one reason alone, is enough for my wife not to want to drive it. In my book, that's a good thing.

I wish valet parking would go the way of elevator operators or mensroom attendants.

I do my best to avoid them. If it becomes unavoidable with the RX-8 the best bet is to give a decent tip up-front to put it somewhwere where it won't be moved. Explain a rotary tends to stall if moved cold, and promise an equal tip at the end as long as she starts up.

simply because the rx8 ranges from bout 24-36k in price does not mean that the valet attendants do want to drive the shit out of it. think about it. do want to drive 250k bently to it's limits? i'll give you this comparison wrx sti, evo, wrx, 350z, s2000, and lets see a celica gts. how about that? your telling me those car don't hav erev apeal. that what we mean.

guess the thread died.

As long as you were driving the car for more than a few minutes before handing it off to the valet, I wouldn't worry. If the engine is hot, this won't be a problem.

Originally posted by rx8miami
simply because the rx8 ranges from bout 24-36k in price does not mean that the valet attendants do want to drive the shit out of it. think about it. do want to drive 250k bently to it's limits? i'll give you this comparison wrx sti, evo, wrx, 350z, s2000, and lets see a celica gts. how about that? your telling me those car don't hav erev apeal. that what we mean.

I have to agree here. This car is actually atainable - so they can get a test drive in if they want! Plus their personal risk seems much lower by hot-dogging with an 8 instead of a Lam or Ferrari. Just because the 8 is priced for the masses doesn't make me think they wouldn't rag it out!

Originally posted by MadDog
I have to agree here. This car is actually atainable - so they can get a test drive in if they want! Plus their personal risk seems much lower by hot-dogging with an 8 instead of a Lam or Ferrari. Just because the 8 is priced for the masses doesn't make me think they wouldn't rag it out!
agreed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!