[simplyself]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Not so very wrong. The principle is correct, just the distance is a bit much. less than a foot will usually do.

That two-foot drop will do less harm than the really wrong and all-too-common method of pushing it shut.

Dropping the bonnet from a height may be right for the newer cars, having come from Amby and Bolero, I would differ. Ambassador's bonnet was quite heavy as was the Bolero's. All one needed to do is to place the bonnet and press it firmly along the rim.

More pertinent is the fact that the bonnet hold/release mechanism should be good to hold the bonnet in place. I dont think any bonnet would need a drop from height if the mechanism is good in that particular car.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by simplyself

Dropping the bonnet from a height may be right for the newer cars. ...

It depends how you define newer. I learnt the lesson over thirty years ago, but my father (born 1913), ultimate authority of many aspects of my driving life, was a pusher, not a dropper.

So newer, yes: last three or four decades only

[Unavowed_X9]

Valet Parking is not to be trusted. Period. I remember one case when I gave my Pajero to be parked, but the guy seemed to be trying to fiddle with the 4x4 lever instead of just using the Gear Shifter! Told him to get out of the vehicle, and parked the vehicle myself. From then on, never could trust a Valet to park. One occasion when the guy attempting to adjust the ORVMs with his hands without realising they are electrically operated!
No chances need be taken anymore.

[shankar.balan]

I dislike the way all these valets park. Also the chaps at these tyre centres and detailing centres and car showrooms and car garages.
All of them accelerate unnecessarily and brake hard and then they drive in a jerky manner.
I NEVER give my cars to any of them to drive - only to specific, trusted people, like one driver in the Skoda garage and one Supervisor there. No one else is allowed to touch my car.
The fellows at Tyre Empire HSR are nice enough but I prefer to put my own car on the ramp by my own effort.
The fellows at 3M HSR too are nice but I don't like their jerky driving habits so even there, if at all I go, I do the same and put the car on the ramp myself.
Car Showrooms?
By Heaven! Most irritating indeed!
Hotels? Forget it! No way, except perhaps at hotels where I know the GM's personally and even then as far as possible, I prefer parking myself.
Restaurants? Never! I would rather park myself and walk back a distance to get to the restaurant.
We have in India an innate problem with respecting other people's property. I really detest this attitude.

Ref dropping the bonnet from an inch or two above when closing it vs placing the bonnet down gently and pressing it shut. As per my experience, one can do
either, irrespective of the car one is driving. I mostly drop the bonnet from an inch above the catch, in my Skoda and similarly, in my Gypsy. But whichever method one uses, one should take care while doing it.

[condor]

And personally witnessed mis-handling by these ...

Was at Ritz yesterday for a company town-hall meet. I dont give my car for valet-parking, so they let me go inside to park. After the meet, went to pick up my car. One of the valet's got into another car, and all he had to do was take a right turn from the parked spot around a pillar there, and go past me towards the exit. And in just that -less than 10 m - he pushes the car way way beyond what was required - like his life depended on saving those 2 extra seconds.

[dre@ms]

Havent had any bad experiences with the valet parking till date except for the first thing those people do, adjusting the seat per their need. Have to follow the sticker in sticker method to get it back to MY comfortable position.

[for_cars1]

Originally Posted by sunishsamuel

the valet refused to take my car saying "who drives these cars" ... what I was a car too

Another way to look at it is; perhaps the chap didn't know/was not comfortable with using the column operated gears in the Padmini and hence the refusal

[JohnyBoy]

Originally Posted by dre@ms

Havent had any bad experiences with the valet parking till date except for the first thing those people do, adjusting the seat per their need. Have to follow the sticker in sticker method to get it back to MY comfortable position.

What is the sticker in sticker method?
I always face the issue. Valets/friends adjusting the seat. And it takes me sometime and few trials to get back the seat to my comfort position. Till then I'll be irritated. Was trying to find out an easy way to figure this. Didn't know there was a scientific method. Can you please give the details / point me to right place?

[dre@ms]

Originally Posted by JohnyBoy

Was trying to find out an easy way to figure this. Didn't know there was a scientific method. Can you please give the details / point me to right place?

No scientific method, place a tape at the seat and to the lower portion of the floor. Next time someone adjusts your seat, match it to re-position.



Source - http://boredomtherapy.com/genius-car-hacks/

[ssambyal1980]

Originally Posted by dre@ms

Havent had any bad experiences with the valet parking till date except for the first thing those people do, adjusting the seat per their need. Have to follow the sticker in sticker method to get it back to MY comfortable position.

Thanks a lot for sharing a simple but not so common method to adjust back the seat to one's desired level. It is not only in the case of valet drivers but also when other individuals i.e mechanics (when out for a test drive after service/repair), friends or relatives (during trips) adjust the seats as per their comfort when they have to drive your vehicle. Have always virtually struggled to get back my desired seating position after someone else has driven the car. Have even tried putting up marking using a marker pen but then it entails straining the eyes to locate and align the markings especially during the night time. Use of stickers/tapes is much more convenient.

Regards.

[PrasunBannerjee]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Not so very wrong. The principle is correct, just the distance is a bit much. less than a foot will usually do.

That two-foot drop will do less harm than the really wrong and all-too-common method of pushing it shut.

Will work just right for any VAG and Tata car, but I doubt the same for a light build car like Kwid or Baleno (No offence to any respective owners) but I feel the latter cars will take a hit on their bonnet sheets.

[condor]

Originally Posted by dre@ms

Havent had any bad experiences with the valet parking till date except for the first thing those people do, adjusting the seat per their need. .

Looks like you have not seen how they handle cars inside the parking area

[dre@ms]

Originally Posted by condor

Looks like you have not seen how they handle cars inside the parking area

Not sure how they would have handled, but luckily not a single scratch or dents anywhere except for the seat pushed forward :(

[kkkkkaran]

Back in 2012, a valet managed to ram our cruze AT straight into a wall.
The driver was fine, but attempted suicide immediately post the accident, since he was scared of the consequences. He was stopped just in time, before he jumped off the hotel roof.
I cant find any pictures of the car now, but basically the frontal impact was hard enough for the dash to move inwards. Needless to say, the car was a total loss.

[bharatbits]

Could you claim insurance in such a case?

Originally Posted by kkkkkaran

Back in 2012, a valet managed to ram our cruze AT straight into a wall.
The driver was fine, but attempted suicide immediately post the accident, since he was scared of the consequences. He was stopped just in time, before he jumped off the hotel roof.
I cant find any pictures of the car now, but basically the frontal impact was hard enough for the dash to move inwards. Needless to say, the car was a total loss.