The valet's guide to driving exotic cars
Don't screw it up -- the likely mantra of any conscientious valet. Beyond that imperative, what's a carhop to do when flipped the keys to something truly exotic? A Murcielago is, of course, impressive when parked, but sliding into the driver's seat for the first time can be intimidating. Where are all the controls? How the heck do you even put it into reverse? Exotics are not like other cars, and you'll certainly miss out on a tip if you crack up Michael Bolton's Lamborghini.
The Valet Spot is coming to the rescue of confused parkers everywhere. The site has launched a new resource section that offers instructions on how to wrangle various high-buck exclusive rides. So far there's not a lot of depth there, with instructions for driving the Bentley Continental, Rolls Royce Phantom and Lamborghini Gallardo, but we know the next time we get the chance to drive one of these cars, we'll have a place to turn so the auto transport guys don't laugh at us. Hat tip to Ian.
[Source: TheValetSpot, Photo by Paul Schreiber | CC2.0]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
waiownsyou 6:53PM (2/20/2009)
Damn, looks hella hard to shift a Gallardo.
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Flashpoint 7:35PM (2/20/2009)
Does anyone remember Ferris Bueler's Day Off when the Valet's took the Prsche airborne?
letstakeawalk 9:11PM (2/20/2009)
@ Flashpoint
It was definitely a Ferrari. Maybe a movie-magic chevy-with-a-ferrari body, but it was NOT a Porsche.
naggs 10:50PM (2/20/2009)
by far the most common problem is people who leave with the damn remote keys in their pocket/purse
AntBee 6:53PM (2/20/2009)
This is great! I would have loved to have had access to this site when I was a valet!
That was the best job!
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CeeP 7:11PM (2/20/2009)
I know I feel better leaving my $100k+ cars with someone who doesn't know the difference between "brake" and "break".
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Quattroporte 7:20PM (2/20/2009)
They're not going anywhere near my MC12...if I had an MC12. I wouldn't let a valet touch my Fiat Panda...if I had one of those either.
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me 7:28PM (2/20/2009)
the instructions should include "steal change from ash tray"
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naggs 10:45PM (2/20/2009)
why would anyone risk a $3 tip for 75 cents?
Swede 8:38PM (2/20/2009)
Being a valet sounds boring, much better to be in transport.
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pmiddle5 10:46AM (2/21/2009)
done valet work. unless you are at a busy location most boring job ever. You stand around with people who are not your friends generally and are pains in the ass. Tip sharing sucks as well because then lazy people make you make less money. Such an annoying job.
DFDubMZ3 9:03PM (2/20/2009)
I'm pretty sure it was a Ferrari in Ferris Bueler, but nice try!
I've worked valet before. You definitely get intimidated by some cars. It all depends on what's sitting in the driver's footwell. As long as anything had an automatic or SMG or whatever you wanna call a semi-automatic, I was fine. I can drive a manual, pretty well actually, but every car is different. Customers usually aren't too happy when they hear gears grinding or see their car stall out as you pull away.
One guy I worked with backed a large SUV into an older couples Lexus. Listening to my supervisor tell the old guy there "was an accident" and his reply to that being "Am I about to get irate?" was priceless. I think the worst thing that ever happened to me while I worked there was burning the HELL out of my leg on a Viper's exhaust pipe. Still have that scar.
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AntBee 9:15PM (2/20/2009)
From your username, I think you're from Dallas. Which valet company did you work for? I used to work for Gold Crown in Dallas.
naggs 10:47PM (2/20/2009)
and they arn't valets very long
naggs 10:51PM (2/20/2009)
that was meant for someone else
paul34 3:03AM (2/21/2009)
You're not alone, man. All valets must burn their leg at least once on their first Viper... it's a rite of passage! =)
pmiddle5 10:51AM (2/21/2009)
well technically it was an MG....
"A fiberglass-bodied replica of a 1961 250 GT Spider California, based on an MG, was featured in the 1986 hit film Ferris Bueller's Day Off. "
the real thing is much more beautiful. hah
MKULTRABLIZZARD 10:26PM (2/20/2009)
most valets LOVE to gun the car, exotic or not, the minute they shut the door.
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naggs 10:55PM (2/20/2009)
if people are around and you are gunning the engine, your not going to be a valet long
they need something on that website about manual trans saabs, C4 vette parking brakes and the dreaded secret killswitch
Eliot 11:10PM (2/20/2009)
I've been a valet now for two summers in a row and can attest to this. There are a few guys out there that will genuinely take care of your cars but most of them will do crazy stuff. If you are dropping your car off at valet:
Rule #1: Only give your car to the valet if you can see the car at all times (or know the guy well enough to know he isn't going to see how fast he can go down the short straight in the garage).
The place I work has an underground garage and because of that not one person has any idea what goes on down there. Not even close.
As for this site, other than knowing about Aston's stupid parking brakes, how to de-immobilize Ferraris and old Bentley's shift knob, there's not much to it... so long as you know how to a drive stick which far too many valets I have trained don't...