rchadd

Hi I have just recently purchased a RX8 and going on holiday tomorrow.

The airport parking I use (APH at Gatwick, UK) has valet parking where they take your car and park it off somewhere and when you return they have moved it back from storage for you to pick up from the reception. hope you know what i mean.

Only thing is I am getting paranoid that i am going to come back to a flooded car which results in me calling out Mazda - the last thing I need after a long flight!

I plan to put following polite note out to remind the valet not to turn off the engine cold. something along the lines:

"Warning

DO NOT TURN THIS CAR OFF WITH COLD ENGINE !

If engine is cold run for it at least 3 minutes before turning off.

Failure to do this can result in flooded engine and problems to restart.

To restart stalled or flooded engine depress accelerator to floor and crank for 10 seconds, pause for 20 seconds and crank again."

Do you think that this is ok? anything wrong or missing?

Here's hoping the guy actually takes notice!

- rich

rchadd

its a real shame that have to do this for such a nice car!

Go48

First, I would avoid letting a valet park the car at all costs. If they will not let you park it and take the keys with you, don't leave your car there. Find another way to the airport.

Second, print out the attached notice and keep a bunch of them in the car for "emergencies" Tape one in plain view if you must leave the car at the valet parking.

Skythe

Don't do it. Most id-e-yachts would assume that it won't happen by doing it once or twice even. I wouldn't risk it. I say park your car yourself. If it does happen, they'll blame it on the car or you. You will then, have to come out of pocket for towing and the downtime while it's getting treated at Mazda.

All in all, I don't think it's worth the risk.

Skythe

I love that notice. Where'd you get it?

Feras

iTrader: (1)

i've been getting my car valet parked on a regular basis for the past two years. One thing i've noticed...they always warm the car up. I ask for my car then come out o the hotel 5 minutes later to a warmed up and idling car waiting for me. Never had a flooding issue.

dupa12345

if saw that notice .. i would laugh my *** of first .. then i would test it at least 3 times by starting and shutting off and starting and shutting off and starting and shutting off and starting and shutting off and starting and shutting off .. and if it was still running i would jam that notice into the oil inlet and repeat

dupa12345

well no .. i love the 8s so i personally wouldnt do it .. but remember that only people who ask to hold the spit get it in their burgers

Ducky

Haha I had to take my wife to a hospital just yesterday, and we were looking for a parking spot, and she asks why don't I let the valet park it, I looked at the high school kid, and said hell no.. Id rather circle around till i found a spot than let him drive it...

Not that it would be as bad as the scene in Ferris Beuler's day off, but still...

My wife shook her head and said that she doesn't understand us guys and our cars...

Skythe

Women and their linear way of thinking.

L-Co

Now, now, let's dont start the derogatory women remarks. I'm a woman and I'd sooner walk a few blocks than risk a valet messing my car up. I would think that if a valet person did see one of those little warning notices, that they might be a little more cautious. After all, if someone is **** enough to put one of those in their car, then they for sure would raise hell with the valet supervisor if the car flooded. That might deter them from "testing" the cold start theory.

RxGr8t

And then I would jam my foot in your face.

Razz1

You guys miss the point.

They're not suppose to move the car once they park it.

saturn

Haha, sadly that would be my thought as well.

I would make the notice more like this:

NOTE: This car is equipped with a rotary engine. You MUST allow the car to warm up for 5 minutes before shutting the engine off or you run the very high risk of the car refusing to start without being towed to the dealer. There won't be anything you can do to restart it so if you screw up, I'll find out about it and I will cut you with a knife.

dupa12345

no .. five days later you'd post on the forums how you had to scrape of some 5w30 processed tp of your exhaust

Feras

iTrader: (1)

the easiest way to get a valet to take care of your car, put it out front or not move it around is to give him money. Signs won't help, demands won't help, money will get respect.

staticlag

I'm a valet, so rest easy I will treat your 8 right.

A lot of the guys I work with also are really respectful of the cars we handle. We get a lot of mercedes', vettes, bmws.

But Feras is right, you will get primo attention if you give the pre-tip.

One time this 8 pulled up to get valet, total rice, I wanted to smack the kid, primer bodykit, random window stickers, gutted cat.