Parking Valet Heirarchy -- where would you rank M cars?

[ManhattanBMW]

An interesting sociological perspective of cars is how they are ranked by parking valets. Go to hotels, restaurants, casinos, etc., at such places as Monaco, South Beach, the Hamptons (at all these places I had my car valet parked), and there is a heirarchy to what cars are parked in the showcase spots. Based upon what I have seen, and experienced, below is what I see as the hierarchy. I would be interested to hear what others think.

Tier One -- best spots, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Rolls Royce (would also include other exotics like Bugattis)

Tier Two -- next level, Audi R8, Porsche Turbo (also GT3, but not 911 or 911s), Mercedes AMG SLS, Maserati, Bentley, Aston Martin.

Tier Three -- M6 and M6 GC, GTR, 911, Mercedes SL (inc. AMG), Lexus LFA

Tier Four -- Mercedes S class, Mercedes AMG E and C class, Mercedes CL, M5, 7 Series and 6 series (inc. GC), M3, Porsche Cayman and Panamera, Range Rover

Tier Five -- Corvette Stingray, Audi A8, 5 Series, E Series, Porsche Cayenne, Mercedes SLK

Tier Six -- all other high end luxury or sport cars

Also curious as to what others have tipped. In the 3 locations above, I tipped 20 dollars or euros.

[richard in NC]

I agree with your ranking.

Years ago I watched that at The Palm in Charlotte. An MB E class got replaced by an S AMG which got replaced by a Jag which got replaced by an F430. It held the spot the rest of the dinner.

After that it was interesting to watch the guys salivate over the Ferrari and the ladies shrug like "It's just a car"...

[Jay-K]

LFA in tier 3..?

[WhyGeeGee]

Originally Posted by Jay-K

LFA in tier 3..?

Freaking GTR in T3 ? is this a joke? German next to a Japanese? blasphemy!!

[Jay-K]

Originally Posted by WhyGeeGee

Freaking GTR in T3 ? is this a joke? German next to a Japanese? blasphemy!!

LOL, maybe OP can explain?

[Sapper_M3]

Originally Posted by Jay-K

LFA in tier 3..?

Haha, agreed.

List looks pretty good, but the LFA is a Tier 1 car, based on both price and exclusivity. Also, the GTR--despite it's awesome performance--should be dropped down to a Tier 4 car. The price (a performance bargain really) makes them non-exclusive and really a dime-a-dozen.

[Jay-K]

Originally Posted by Sapper_M3

Haha, agreed.

List looks pretty good, but the LFA is a Tier 1 car, based on both price and exclusivity. Also, the GTR--despite it's awesome performance--should be dropped down to a Tier 4 car. The price (a performance bargain really) makes them non-exclusive and really a dime-a-dozen.

Yes, i believe LFA is on top of the game, its a definite exotic.

[ManhattanBMW]

Here was my thinking on the LFA, you can buy many great cars for the $375,000 price of the LFA, it is a Lexus with no real racing pedigree, and I also think it is ugly. Exotic, yes, and limited in number, yes, but I think that has more to do that it is not a desired car (for the above reasons). Parking a car in front of establishment is meant to show that their patrons are well off, and also that they have a sence of good taste and style. That is why I dropped the LFA to Tier 3.

Unlike the LFA, the GTR has a racing pedigree, and is a desired car, so that is why I put it in Tier 3.

BTW, I forget to mention current Jaguars, like the F-type, which I would put in Tier 3. Also, significant classic cars, in great shape, like a Cobra, Jaguar E-Type, Mercedes Gull Wing, etc., would be Tier 1.

[BC87]

Originally Posted by ManhattanBMW

An interesting sociological perspective of cars is how they are ranked by parking valets. Go to hotels, restaurants, casinos, etc., at such places as Monaco, South Beach, the Hamptons (at all these places I had my car valet parked), and there is a heirarchy to what cars are parked in the showcase spots. Based upon what I have seen, and experienced, below is what I see as the hierarchy. I would be interested to hear what others think.

Tier One -- best spots, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Rolls Royce (would also include other exotics like Bugattis)

Tier Two -- next level, Audi R8, Porsche Turbo (also GT3, but not 911 or 911s), Mercedes AMG SLS, Maserati, Bentley, Aston Martin.

Tier Three -- M6 and M6 GC, GTR, 911, Mercedes SL (inc. AMG), Lexus LFA

Tier Four -- Mercedes S class, Mercedes AMG E and C class, Mercedes CL, M5, 7 Series and 6 series (inc. GC), M3, Porsche Cayman and Panamera, Range Rover

Tier Five -- Corvette Stingray, Audi A8, 5 Series, E Series, Porsche Cayenne, Mercedes SLK

Tier Six -- all other high end luxury or sport cars

Also curious as to what others have tipped. In the 3 locations above, I tipped 20 dollars or euros.

There are a few I don't agree on but am too lazy to go into full detail on my phone. So lfa would be teir 1 or 2 n cayman would be tier 3.

[1BlinkGone]

IMHO, the GTR doesn't belong in any of the first three tiers.
The LFA DEFINITELY should be a tier 1 car with the valet, not that I'd let one touch it...

[BMW269]

Originally Posted by ManhattanBMW

Here was my thinking on the LFA, you can buy many great cars for the $375,000 price of the LFA, it is a Lexus with no real racing pedigree, and I also think it is ugly. Exotic, yes, and limited in number, yes, but I think that has more to do that it is not a desired car (for the above reasons). Parking a car in front of establishment is meant to show that their patrons are well off, and also that they have a sence of good taste and style. That is why I dropped the LFA to Tier 3.

Unlike the LFA, the GTR has a racing pedigree, and is a desired car, so that is why I put it in Tier 3.

BTW, I forget to mention current Jaguars, like the F-type, which I would put in Tier 3. Also, significant classic cars, in great shape, like a Cobra, Jaguar E-Type, Mercedes Gull Wing, etc., would be Tier 1.

LFA is definitely Tier 1, even if you don't like it. It is one of the most exclusive cars. Other than the nav-system, everything else is bespoke on this car, an it has one of the most special engines ever built in a road car.

GT-R is different. In the US it might be nothing, here in Europe it is a rare sight, you see more 911 Turbo's and SLS's than GT-R. The GT-R has presence on European roads. And it is not cheap, starts at around 100K €.