My wife and I took my law partner and his wife out to dinner last evening on the event of his 60th birthday at an overpriced restaurant on the western edge of Philadelphia's Main Line. When I arrived at the eating establishment I was met by a parking valet - with scenes of Ferris Bueller's Day Off (which incidentally featured an MGB dressed like a Ferrari) I declined his kind offer to park my 991...he then told me to park it myself in front of the entrance next to the Bentley drophead.

During dinner we reflected upon the absurd concept of "Porsche Parking Places" (hereafter PPP) As many may recall, a recent thread featured photos of a lonely 991 (mine included) in at shopping malls usually in the Siberia Section between concrete pillars. It appears that an inverse relationship exists at high priced eating establishments...that is, the PPP is right up front, guarded by a Valet.

The meal, well, it was overpriced and just OK. The parking spot, although priceless I tipped the Valet

 

I have experienced that is several of my prior cars. It is good for the restaurant to have high priced cars out front.

Hell I don't like to park, I have nightmares. The only place I am truly comfortable is at the club and at work and work is because I own the place and can see the car outside my office window.

 

It is the 11th commandment, "No Valet shall toucheth thy 991." Seriously google it.

 

http://m.jalopnik.com/5925788/i-used-to-be-a-valet-and-will-never-let-one-park-my-car-ever

This might help you decide

 

http://www.edmunds.com/driving-tips/confessions-of-a-parking-valet.html

I remember this one from a thread a few years back.
I know they left your car up front which is certainly much safer from a peace of mind standpoint, but after reading these and talking to a friend who was a valet, either I park it with them in the car and take the key or self park.

 

ABout 5 years ago right after I got my 997 the wife and I went to a US Open tennis event. The parking director was motioning everyone in line out into a field. She motioned us into a small grass patch right in front of the venue. The wife was suitably impressed and thought that might be the reason I spent so much on a car. Over the years I have had similar experiences where valets say "why don't you just pull it over there where I can watch it". If I was a young lad I would rather look at a shiny Porsche and dream about the future...

 

i have only done valet 3 times in my life. each time with a rental car or daily. good call on passing on the valet.

 

I went to a pricey restaurant that offered valet parking for $7 in a covered garage. I rolled the window down and asked if I could park my car myself in this covered garage. The valet said sure but it would cost $50. I put the car in reverse and he said, "wait, you can park it right in front of the restaurant here for $15, I'll move the Jetta."
Interesting price changes, all of it clearly going into the pocket of the valet kid. No one except the GM at the dealership has/will get behind the wheel of my 991.

 

It's all nice and fine to say you'll never let the valet touch your car, and I don't trust them either, but what are the alternatives? Especially living in LA, are you going to circle around for an hour and then park it in the street, letting any hooligan who walks by have a crack at it? Are you lucky enough to always have the valet let you park it yourself in their valet areas and let you take your keys with you? What if they refuse?

Is there a special valet mode in these cars which limit revs / mph?

I ask because I've never owned a car of this caliber before, and I'm interested to know what people usually do in these situations before I take delivery of my car.

 

While I enjoy seeing nice cars out front I have to resort to a second choice (alternate car) when going out to dinner - valet or not.

Not sure how intense other owners are but simply how one gets in and out of the car can leave unwanted marks/damage....let alone trusting someone to drive it close or far.

I appreciate those that park anywhere and have piece of mind, I'll never get there with my Porsche.

 

I'd always park it myself, even with my old lowly 335xi back in the day. The only times that I will valet are when I'm driving a rental. I don't really care if I have to walk 5-6 blocks to get to my car before or after.

 

Porsche dealership offers valet pickup of cars from home and dropping off a loaner car. I've told them that I'd NEVER use this service! No one can touch my 911!

 

Well, that's a bit extreme, my friend. Who do you think is driving your Porsche at the dealership? Though they'd be watched more closely than valets.

 

There is only one (rather high end) restaurant in Vancouver that I use the valet parking (even with my 996 TT Cab). The owner drives a Ferrari and most of the time my car actually stays in front of the restuarant anyway.

John in Vancouver

 

any valet not willing to let you park your own car has some agenda.

in la, valet is the norm and virtually no self park at nice places because street parking can be sketchy. i would drive a daily if you have that.

i am not aware of a valet mode in 991 but you can chk the manual.