Not I. So if I know I'm going to a place that's "valet-only", I'll take a different car. Besides, I never figured out how the "valet button" in the Jag works!

At some places, there's plenty of street parking but you can't park there coz the valet will chase you away so they can charge you to park your car there. they think they own the public streets but I think it's illegal(???)

 

NOPE!

Way back when I had a Series III XJ6, a valet once smacked it into another parked car. Luckily that old beast had huge rubber bumpers that could take out anything. No damage to the Jag, but the other car was dented.

Since nobody has rubber bumpers anymore, I can't take the chance with other people driving my car.

 

Yes I remember my old XJ6 SIII also was built tough (and the old Mercedes). One time I got rear ended at slow speeds and not a scratch on my car... the other car (an older Honda) had the front end destroyed.

Not sure how today's Jags will hold up in these fender benders.

 

Yep. Just did this past weekend. I was working an event and the city hotel only had valet parking. I would rather have had it valet parked then leave it on the street near New York city. They did a great job and I had no issues. Treat the valet nicely and tip. It helps.

 

Yep. I shut off my engine, push the valet button, and give them the green valet key. When I get home, I put my key fob key into my trunk and turn it to turn off valet mode.

 

All I know is, a could weeks ago, when I left my car with the valet, & they brought it back, my front end was on Thee farkin ground!.. So,,,, Nope!.. Haha

 

We don't have many valet parking in the uk we dent them ourselves

 

Never have and never will.

 

That'd be a HELL NO.....lol

 

Yes I would, as long as they respect it (like any car). When I have used airport parking, I had to leave it with a valet anyway.

Similarly, how many of you let a garage test drive your car when working on it?

I would let other (trusted) people, drive my car (reasonably hard) as long as fully insured. Life's to short to worry.

 

I trust no one with my key, or my vehicle. The only time this isn't the case, is when I need tires, and I remove the wheels myself and take them to a private company that does race wheels to have new rubber mounted and balanced, since I don't have my own tire equipment.

 

Each to their own Alec I guess.
The problem is, as you don't really know these people, you won't know if they'll respect YOUR car until it's too late, by then the damage has been done to whatever degree.

When in for MOT, for tyres, for work at a garage etc etc, I tend to stay with my car and see what's going on, much safer I find.
I usually also find that the work goes much quicker as they know you're waiting, so a plus there too.

Have you seen / heard or read the horror stories about these guys at airport parking and how they joyride some cars and mistreat them?
I totally agree with you that "life's too short" .......too short to take unnecessary risks like that, only my opinion of course.

When I had my brake work done the other day, WE test drove the car, we being the operative word

Jim

 

Fair enough Jim, unfortunately I am not always around to supervise people working on the car, someplace like the Jag Specialist, I trust 100% to look after my car.

Even strangers who have worked on my cars come across as enthusiastic and like to ask questions about it, obviously this is no guarantee, but is reassuring to me.

I would let a fellow enthusiast (such as yourself) drive it, provided fully comp.

Yes I have seen the dashcam videos on YouTube of mechanics joyriding cars, yes there is always a risk of that happening, but generally happens to more boy racer appealing cars such as Focus ST and Subaru's and of course Ferrari

 

I dont even let the oil mechanic drive my Jag into the bay, so to answer your question.. NOPE!!!

 

This is another reason I try to avoid valet --

 

I used to just tip the valet $20 upfront and ask them where I can park.

Recent years with a dash cam installed, I'm becoming a little more trusting to valets. If I have to valet at downtown, I would choose a nice hotel, and the dash cam gives me (maybe the false sense of) some peace of mind, knowing that I can recover specific, general, and punitive damages if they do abuse the car.