Naughty Valet Driver

http://www.fox2now.com/news/ktvi-valet-abuse-cars-hyatt-121509,0,6905487.story

Busted for doing burnouts and drifting customers cars in the basement of the Hyatt in St. Louis...

Yeah, I saw that video this morning. Don't you think the tire marks would have drawn some attention? The smell of tire smoke stays around for a while, too. Plus, these guys knew they were being taped. Seems a bit hinky to me.

they taped it themselves... just goes to prove they were not only poor drivers, but stupid as well

hopefully the rental car companies won't start hiding camera's......

I am pretty sure they would have to disclose it... but hopefully not in the fineprint nobody reads

Interestingly enough, this brought up yet another LONG winded discussion amongst some friends of mine. We determined the most logical solution to this problem was to rig the traction control all of those cars would have had to shut the car down and lock all the doors if it got triggered/messed with in valet mode. Bonus points if the car calls you, records video, and allows you to discuss the nature of the beating to ensue with the now trapped driver of said auto. And then it was decided it was easier to not valet a car.

I was a valet for a while, and the temptation was maddening. I had to quit because I knew I'd get in trouble.

sounds like when the s2000's first came out and the porter lost control of a customers car when it was in for its first oil change.

Some high performance cars have a "valet" switch, cuts the power .

Cuts the power, but still allows for SOME shenanigans. I do believe if shenanigans are to be caused in my vehicle, I want them to be MY shenanigans.

I have only used valet once. My wife and I were in New Orleans, and staying at a hotel downtown with valet service. We were in my 94 FMII Miata. With a 7 lb. flywheel. I asked the guy if he thought he would be ok, and he said, "sure, no problem." Started walking into the hotel, got through the hotel doors, heard the car fire up, rev up a bit, and stall. I stopped. He did that twice more, as I walked back. Ended up getting to park it myself, right in front. He just shook his head, and asked me how I did that, when I just pulled away.

So, lesson learned? Make your car impossible for valets to drive, and you will avoid this issue. :D

No valet has ever been in any vehicle of mine. Period. Of course my cars tend to be embarrasments in places with valets. Went to a fancy pants wedding in Marco Island last year, damn near had to fight off the valet. He finally let me park my car, but it was interesting for a few minutes.

I remember watching the valet's face turn white when he got into my 914 and put it into what he thought was first gear.

Good thing there wasn't anything behind him.

Had a valet park my Opel once, then after half an hour of waiting come back to find me to get me to bring the car back up front myself. Seems between the double cut key with different cuts on each side, and 3 different Opel keys on the ring he couldn't find a combination that would turn the ignition.

When I got the car up front I held out my hand to the guy to ask him for a tip. No tips were exchanged.

OT, but the first night of our honeymoon we stayed at the marriot. The next morning when we left, My E30 was parked right in front of the hotel between an M5 and a Bentley on display. The valet said that my car was too low to park in the garage

Ferris Bueller, nothing new here

mndsm wrote: Interestingly enough, this brought up yet another LONG winded discussion amongst some friends of mine. We determined the most logical solution to this problem was to rig the traction control all of those cars would have had to shut the car down and lock all the doors if it got triggered/messed with in valet mode. Bonus points if the car calls you, records video, and allows you to discuss the nature of the beating to ensue with the now trapped driver of said auto. And then it was decided it was easier to not valet a car.

easier yes.. but that way sounds more fun

Sleeping pitbull on the back seat.... be very very quiet

could always be fun to bring a nice looking, but POS car to valet that is designed to fail if abused... think of a BMW with a shredded guibo, or a vw with an about to go CV joint, modified fuelpump cut off from any ford product.... or even just only two lugnuts on the drive wheels. Think of the possibilities

I valet'ed my VW Rabbit once, funny to see someone else in my $500 heap, grinding the gears into the parking garage...

I was a valet and I had tons of fun with very cool and exotic cars. It was too bad that I did not know how to drive stick shift at the time.

My '58 Pontiac is a blast at full-serve gas stations. The hidden filler always results in fun.

Never valet'd the car though. I wonder if a three-speed column shift would give them trouble.

Shawn

The only other time I get to have any fun like that is when I let people drive the MINI. Most have never driven one before, and with the slap-left reverse, I always make sure to park it forward. Record time for someone who has never driven the car? 3 minutes to get it into reverse. The Mazdaspeed3 is similar, but not nearly as funny, especially if they've driven any form of Volkswagen before.

I think my Focus has your transmission. It was fun figuring out how to get into reverse the first time driving it!

My neighbor had a Shelby Charger back when they were new. Somehow a valet lost it on a spiral ramp in a garage and got it wedged in the ramp where they needed to mangle it with a forklift to free it. Then he tried to hand the keys back with the disclaimer highlited and walk away like nothing happened.