Did I Over React??????

[Don Hiltz]

For our 25th anniversary, my wife and I had dinner and spent the night at a historic, intown hotel. I explained that I drive an exotic car and wanted to make absolutely certain that I could personally park it and no valet would touch it. The response.............."No problem".

Upon arriving, I observed that the parking spaces were far too narrow for a Viper's doors to fully open, but I hoped that the others cars were in for the night too. Nevertheless, management asked that I leave my keys with them.

You can see where I'm going with this.......

The next morning, it immediately became evident that the car had been moved to another space and had been backed in. Before you ask, no I did not record the mileage.

To say I was infuriated would be an understatement. Management responded by saying that they were afraid that other guests would scratch the car with their luggage when they passed by it. They agreed to drop the parking charges, but that did not assuage my anger.

How many valets have ever even seen a Viper? It's axiomatic that anyone would jump at the chance to get into one, start it, and actually move and shift it.

Did I over react?

Yea or Nay

Don

 

[mike & juli]

Well, guess we'd need to know how you DID react? Did you yell at management? Did you check car for damage/scratches/curb-wheel rash right then and there? You would HAVE to have known that a car like that left with a Valet would be risky at best. Too late to say this, but I'd have driven a daily driver for an overnight. Congrats on the 25th anniversary, and hope you and your wife did enjoy your night together. ~juli

 

[CitySnake]

It's hard to judge. In my mind much depends on exactly how you left it with "management" when you handed over the keys.

If they were to call you to move the car, then you'd have every reason to be ticked.
If they said they were taking the keys ONLY in the event of some emergency, then the matter becomes a question of the determination of "emergency".
It does seem plausible that they did precisely what they said they did to save you the possibility of scratches.

 

[PDCjonny]

I would be very angry if anyone so much as sat in the car without my specific ok, so starting it up and moving it?

NO WAY.

 

[ROCKET62]

No harm no foul. If they truely moved it to avoid it getting scratched, they did you a favor. Valets have moved many a car more exotic and pricier than a Viper.

 

[ViperTony]

You gave them the keys...

 

[V10SpeedLuvr]

I would have been infuriated! Since you dont have any proof that the car was joyridden, I dont guess its a lot you cn do, but management would've definitely got an earful from me.

I stayed at a hotel once that had valet parking and they let me park the car myself, but then this 16 yr old kid comes up to me and says they have to keep the keys at the front desk. I laughed and told him what room we were in and to call us if he needed the car moved.

 

[Catwood]

As needed I would pull up to Valet, let out the wife, look at the valet kid and say "get in and show me a good place to park". Then I tip him as we walk back and I keep the keys. Some have shown disappointment, but I think they all understand.

 

[Flexx91]

Did I over react?

Yea or Nay

Don

Only if you were taken advantage of by the valet. Some of the local establishments I frequent are not easily "awed" by the presence of Vipers in that they get to park Ferrari's, Lambos, SLR's, and couple of other Vipers on almost a daily basis. They could have very well done you a favor by moving your car out of harm's way. Anytime you give up your keys, you face the possibilty of someone driving your vehicle. If you wish to avoid that possibility, don't give up your keys or use a different vehicle. If you must, indicate that you prefer not to have the car moved then note the mileage - its as simple as that.

When I first bought my '96 RT/10, I drove up to a restaurant (very nice and expensive restaurant) with valet parking, gave the keys to the valet, and proceeded to walk inside. The valent approached me and asked how to open the door (obviously, no experience with parking Gen. I Vipers as they have no exterior door handles). I then took my keys back and self-parked my car. That was my first and last experience with Vipers and valets.

 

[Mopar488]

I never let a valet touch my car. I learned my lesson decades ago when I gave my keys to a 16 year old and walked off. As I was walking away, I heard a dumped clutch followed by a stalled engine. That was it for me.

 

[Andrew/USPWR]

Yea and Nay.

If I'm questioning the professionalism of an establishment then I don't drive the Viper, or go some where else. But if it's a professionally run valet service, I just let them do their job. You have to enjoy the experience ownership and not be too paranoid. I was much worse with the GTS than I am with the SRT/10. Bottom line it's just a car and you don't want to let worrying about it spoil the joys of ownership. IMO

Only a few places I valet.

 

[ACELLR8]

I did not know the Viper was an exotic car

I would not have given them the keys either.

 

[JonB]

We sell a fair amount of curbed wheels and facias and a sill or two to guys that 'allow' a valet to park their car, driving it only a few feet. It's always a meltdown when the Restaurant-Hotel blames the contract Valet Service, as to who will pay, vs the car owner's insurance.......those valet tickets exclude everything!

Valet? No Way. I have given several valets a nice ride to the 'best spot in the house' where they get a nice tip, and a viper keychain

 

[PaViper]

If you gave them the keys without a more concrete understanding of your expectations, then you should not have expected otherwise. I know what my mileage is when I park it in MY garage let alone when I leave it in someone elses hands.

 

[SnakeEye]

You gave them the keys...

Right on ... if you absolutely don't want your Viper driven handing over the keys is a .
Much better to ask the valet where they would like you to park it for the night and tip well.
Fortunately most finer establishments and valtets are fine with this so no worries...

 

[Whoaa]

Valets are often required to keep the keys for emergency reasons such as: Emergency vehicles like Ambulances, Fire Trucks, Police Pullovers. You will wish your valet had your keys so they can move your car in such cases as your car could very well get scratched, damaged etc. Fireman could care less about scratching your car when they are trying to attend to an emergency (i have witnessed). Valets often want your keys in order to move it to a safer spot as the availability presents itself to avoid issues. Cities often have ordinances when parking on the street valet lanes that cars cannot stay parked up there (although almost all restaurants/clubs do anyway). I have worked as a Valet at a very high end restaurant and we would always keep the keys regardless of the car...Always. In my experience we would drive the cars from none to as little as possible especially the very expensive cars to avoid any issues because we really did want the cars to leave the same way they came in.

 

[doctorbob]

I would be very unhappy. The reason that I got rid of my 1997 GTS was the fact that a valet at five star hotel in Phoenix wrecked it. The hotel paid for repairs....all 26,000 dollars. The front frame rails had to be replaced and the week I got the car back, I traded it for a 2001 GTS.

 

[AFL in NJ]

I never use any valet service and they all seem to get it. I've had management explain to me that the valet service is very reliable and nothing will happen to my car and I always politely respond:

"Okay, let me hold a hundred thousand in cash and you can hold the keys to my car, that way neither of us will worry."

That usually ends the discussion and I'll give them my room number or cell phone if they have any problems with where I park my car.

Regards,
Aaron

 

[mike & juli]

All pointing to what I said in the first place--when overnighting OR being at a place where you cannot see your vehicle, we'd NOT drive the Viper...daily driver it would be. TOO many things can just go so wrong...no thanx! We prefer to handle the Viper ourselves, and only use it when we are with the car...or can SEE the car from where we are. Just my .02. ~juli
(No need to 'overreact' if there's nothing to react to!!)

 

[dave6666]

As soon as they said we need your keys, I would have found another hotel.

No one gets my keys.

 

[mike & juli]

As soon as they said we need your keys, I would have found another hotel.
No one gets my keys.

You tagged me...yep, same here!! ~juli

 

[xlrashn]

Mine is always where I can see it or at the minimum a person I trust can see it. My keys NEVER leave my posession. I worked too hard and set a goal of having a Viper 12 yrs before I was able to get one. I am not about to let some ****#$% mess with it. Thats just me though.

 

[Cobra Comander]

Well from first hand expeience of having a valet job at a private member supper club in my highscool days, if you plan on going somewhere where you HAVE to valet, or are going to park where it may be required to be moved by leaving the keys, then leave the car at home. The members at my club really didn't think too hard about it and entrusted 19 year olds with their Ferrari's, Porsches, and Mercdes.

Guess what we would do to them as soon as they got on the elevator............and return to discove that their Mecedes Benz 600SL just smacked into a poll 3kms away from the club. Not to mention some came back with burnt clutches, bald tires, or smashed up SUV's that we'd take off road in the winter.

Never leave your car with Valet. EVER!!

 

[Yellow32]

next time leave them keys for a different car...so they 'get' what they want (your keys) but it will do them no good

and use a car cover too, just to make the car stand out a little less (not to mention more or a "chore" to get in and move it since they would first have to unwrap it

-J

 

[mike & juli]

Why go to all that trouble? Just drive a daily-driver...a car still nice enough if the both of them were dressed up for dinner...but no worries!!! ~juli

 

[V10SpeedLuvr]

I like the fake key idea except you may get some high school kid who tries to jam it in the ignition switch and ends up breaking the key off in the switch! I have to disagree with Juli as well. I'm not going to leave my Viper at home because I'm afraid the valet may wreck my car. I would just tell the hotel I'm keeping my keys and give them my contact info if they need me to move the car. If they wont allow this, I'd find another hotel.

 

[Fast Viper]

I hate Valet parking, unless I park my own car. My buddy and I took out his F40, Went to the casino, when the valet returned the car, there was a big scrape on the door....GOOD JOB VALET! Valet drivers are usually Inexperienced drivers. I don't valet any of my cars including my Viper, Unless I park the car, and take the keys with me. I don't think you over reacted at all.

 

[viperdude118]

It's just a car man.....that's all it is. If your that worried about it take another car to the hotel.

 

[mike & juli]

It's just a car man.....that's all it is. If your that worried about it take another car to the hotel.

Exactly...Chad, it's fine to disagree--everyone has their own opinions...but to ME, it's not worth ANY kind of trouble driving the Viper for an overnight rendezvous with the significant other...no Viper, no worries...enjoy each other's company and the evening.
Telling the hotel you're keeping your keys and that you be contacted can cause some, uhhhh....DISLIKE for that attitude, and your Viper may be -keyed-/-damaged-...why take the chance? NOT worth it, we've worked VERY LONG AND VERY HARD to be able to enjoy this wonderful work of art...we're NOT going to worry about it when we get the chance to enjoy ourselves. No Viper = No Worries. ~juli

 

[ViperTony]

Telling the hotel you're keeping your keys and that you be contacted can cause some, uhhhh....DISLIKE for that attitude, and your Viper may be -keyed-/-damaged-...why take the chance? NOT worth it, we've worked VERY LONG AND VERY HARD to be able to enjoy this wonderful work of art...we're NOT going to worry about it when we get the chance to enjoy ourselves. No Viper = No Worries. ~juli

I guess if one is being a ******* to the hotel I can see how keeping the keys can cause dislike...nobody likes an attitude. But for those of us that are civilized I've never had a problem with a hotel or valet letting me either keep the keys and be contacted in the event the car needs to be moved or letting me drive the valet to a secure parking spot. They know they're getting a real nice tip from me and I treat them with a great deal of respect. Nothing wrong with looking out for your best interests without stepping on anyone.