amr

This is sort of an interesting topic and one that I'm sure will prompt some debate, but I noticed that the last several times I've valet parked the car, they took it all the way to the back and I no longer get front row spots...

My W209 CLK320 (sold) used to get front row all the time, but what's up with the "disrespect" on the 208! My car is always clean and it's an AMG...

Anyone experience a situation where the 208 is no longer getting looks?

OTAMYWY

I just bought mine W208 430 cabriolet and I get tons of looks probably more then I would like.

But if you like that and want the attention, then slap some nice wheels on it, lower it and a put on spoiler or 2 and you will get it all back.

Chappy

Not sure what to say....

I guess the fact of the matter is that the W208 CLK bodystyle hit the streets in the U.S. in late 1997, as a '98 model. Nine years on the road is a long time for people to get used to the body style.

One thing is for sure: You go to a lot nicer restaurants than I do.

The last time I used the valet, I slipped the dude a Hamilton and he put me up front. Oh yeah, I was driving my daily car, the 1991 300CE

Slip him a few bucks next time....

amr

Good thinking...

Seriously, I'm not really yearning for attention but it just puzzles me that people are so used to the look that an AMG takes a back row to a freakin 3-series cabrio! That makes no sense.

To top it off, I live in Dallas which is the land of arrogance so it's very difficult to get a decent valet spot in a previous year model car, no matter how nice it is!

No matter, I love the car and I didn't really buy it for looks... not that it doesn't look great, but having an AMG means more to me than getting front row at some club!

OTAMYWY

It is a nice complement when they do put it up front.

I used to be a valet back in the day and I was always very careful with peoples cars, but the people I worked with still make me think long and hard before I ever pull into a valet.

Valet people are also somewhat selective on what they will park as well or at least the people I dealt with at Ruth Chris in Denver when I showed up with my Dodge diesel truck, the guy refused to park it said it was to big, But when the stock show is in town they will park any dually or 3/4 ton truck all day long.

whitepony

I bought my '02 in Vegas and I slipped the guy at TI a $20 and he parked me right in front of the Casino all night long. It might be because I have a rare color and I'm really **** about how clean it is. But I get the front spot at most places. I enjoy throwing a wide wake... lol

scrapes55

To get a spot infront of a club you usually have to pay x3 the valet
(~$60-$70), regular valet runs for ~$20. For restaurants it is around $10-$12.

Stiggs

I've found at the Casino's here in CT you usually have to give the guy $10 or $20 to get a "pink" ticket. This lets your car stay out in front of the valet all night long. at the end of the night when you are done, you hand in your pink ticket and they just back up your car to you.......you are automatically first in line, bypassing all the suckers waiting for the valet to go get their car from the garage.

Bigdot

i look at 208s just as much as the 9.

but i know where your are comming from, as you may know i have a 129 and a 124.

so whacha gotta do, is make them stand out, and personalise them! then, you will get just as many or even more looks as the new ones! and people will say "you know, i like thisone more than the new ones" but its not about what ppl think and say, its about how YOU like it.
.my .02

mark

acb3nz

I drive a W208 and people ask me all the time what nice looking car i have.

J Lucas

LOL not much Valet parking in NYC.

TA-9FF

I have an '06 C230 SS, and it gets parked in the front all the time?????? I live in Dallas (Valet Capital of the U.S.), so in restaurants and clubs, for some reason it always get the front...........maybe you're just getting ****ty valet dudes.....

SoCalCLK

Front row in Los Angeles restaurants without tipping extra, mainly if it has just been washed and cleaned.

W208 still gets positive comments from general public.

My thinking is that there seems to be more W209 CLK 320/350s running on these streets (dime a dozen), and it makes a clean, well maintained W208 CLK 430 like mine seem more rare.

amr

I see you're in Addison, so I'm sure you know Sherlock's... I was there Friday night and there were at least four empty spots in front and the damn valet took the car accross the street... go figure! I live in Turtle Creek, but I go out to Addison all the time. What is an "SS"... Sports Sedan?

zonajoe

I keep my 2001 CLK55 in show room condition and get looks and positive remarks all the time. I had a '99 CLK430 for 5 years before buying the AMG in 10/05 and still love the looks. It may be an aging style but in my opinion the 2003 w209 model looks too delicate both in and out and doesn't look like its has the testoterone the w208 has. In my opinion its classic in styling.
As far as the Valets go - who cares, they never touch my vehicles.

TA-9FF

Yeah, I used to go to Sherlocks a lot, but it got kinda old after a while. lol
You should check out Mercy Wine Bar in Addison sometime, the girls there are hotter, and I get front row valet everytime I go.

Yeah SS stands for Sports Sedan.

Benzo

Funny, recently I stayed at the Ritz Carlton in Naples. Not only did they keep my car upfront, as I walked by the concierge I overheard a woman ask if it was a Bentley. lol Debadge!

SoCalCLK

That is funny. I always think that the W208 CLK looks like the Bentley Contintental GT, whenever one rolls by. I guess others do too!

The W208s haven't loss their looks. They've only been revived by Bentley!

whitepony

w208 = Daimler Benz... Classic

w209 = Daimler Chrysler... Forgettable

Ghostrider

The W208 is as classic as they come. I had the valet guy tell me that they keep the nice ones close so we don't have to wait, and take special care of them.

It hadn't been washed in about three weeks.