Don't have mine yet, but I'm told should arrive in August. Wondered how you feel about letting someone else drive your Prius? My Dad is 81, lives with me, has a lot of health issues. The Medical Center we go to has valet parking for people with a sticker (Dad qualifies, we have a sticker.) Just wondering if I should trust the valet with my Prius? He does fine with my current car but everyone tells me driving the Prius is different, takes getting used to, not sure if I should leave the Prius with the valet? Thanks!
this is one of those "test the water" things... you'll have to go there.. and watch the valet to see if he jumps in and go off.. or sits in and gets lost. if he gets lost, tell him how to park, turn the car on, shift, and turn the car off... he should be able to figure out the rest. i have to tell people my fob smart start and smart entry.. my fob is a little worn, so i don't like people pushing it's buttons
check your manual, you may have been graced with a valet card that provides a quick tutorial on how to drive the car. the hotel i stayed at in NOLA was valet parking only, so i just left the card on the dash after they called me the first time saying they didn't know what to do. i thought it was interesting because the prius certainly isn't the only or the first car to implement keyless operation... i think when you couple a known technology with an unknown, people freak out unnecessarily... my $.02 be ready for a mileage hit, though
Actually, the car should come with a pack of valet cards, but not necessarily in the manual. If you don't get them when you take delivery of the car, ask the dealership. The cards provide instructions with pictures. Even with that, I always review the startup and shutdown procedures with whomever is about to drive it. But then, I try to avoid having someone else drive it when possible. Here is another thread on the subject. (The search function is a wonderful tool. )
in boston when i go downtown to work at one summer st on our network, the valets know exactly how to drive the car. i asked and the valet said no problem. he parked it fine and returned it fine. i was the idiot that did not notice the super low cieling and lifted up the hatch all the way and hit the ceiling tile. thank goodness it was a foam type and not concrete. go figure right? i am the one to goof and the valet was perfect.
I guess the answer to your question resides in yourself. Do you think you'd like to feel comfortable in allowing valet to park your car? Would you let valet park your car if it was a Jaguar, or Mercedes? If so, then ask around for some valet cards or make some yourself. As for me, the only car I ever let valet park was the one I bought for my wife in 1995 and I just got rid of. Otherwise, over more than 30 years of driving, I'm Valet (and I'm more than happy with the results of that decision). ZC1
OK, thank you everyone. JimboK - thanks for the link it was quite helpful. Sorry I didn't try "search" first. I liked seeing the valet card! Have that bookmarked now. ZC1: I can't even imagine OWNING a Jag or a Mercedes, let alone figure out what I'd do with it! Guess I'll have to see how hard it is for me to learn. As my situation is a Medical one, I may just give DAD to the valet for parking (on a bench!) while I move the car myself.
But there are SOOOO many Prius, that most valets know how to park them- Mercedes and BMW use the Start button also , I am told... Back in 2004 and 2005 that was not the case..... most now have learned...
It's true that in California every other car is a Prius, but the OP is in Rhode Island. If valet parking is a must (and it seems so), print up some of those valet cards from the link given previously & keep them in the glove compartment. Give one to the valet & go over the steps with him/her. Better safe than sorry - and turn off the smart key function so that the fob goes in the slot (less confusing for newbies).
My husband got a pack of cards in his 2005, but I didn't get them in my 2008. We asked the dealership and they knew nothing about them. I'd ask hubby to share, but we don't use valet much. Ok, nearly never.
It's not really the smart start that confuses valets so much as the shifter. I've had so many friends beg to test drive my car; they figure out how to turn it on and off every time, but very few if any have been able to properly put it in park.
I have never let a valet park my car and I never will. I've known a few valets and I wouldn't trust them to walk my dog.
When I'm going to valet mine I just put the key in the slot just to avoid that confusion (same as I do at the carwash). When I get out I'll ask if they know how the Prius works. I haven't come across one yet that didn't know. I've only had my Prius for 6 months so most are accustomed to them now (at least in my area). Then again I don't valet that often and the carwash I go to trains their guys on the Prius (as well as other "different" cars like BMW, Mercedes, etc).
Friday night we had our first experience with valet for our 10 day old Prius. I have not had a chance to print out the card yet but will for the future. I asked the attendant if he knew how to handle the Prius and he said he did (I watch him to make sure). I noticed that our pretty Prius was parked near the front of the lot with the fancy cars instead of hidden away in the back of the lot like our 10 or 15 year old junkers that we've driven in the past. I avoid valet whenever possible. Neal Cassidy is rtired as a valet and I'd never trust anyone else.
The valets at the Holiday Inn on 57th St in NYC do not turn the car off. Pulling out with 2 purple bars in rush hour traffic is rather annoying. Next time I'll try leaving the headlights on for a visual cue.
Valets: just say no. You could get a new one every time; do you want to train each one, or take your chances?
