BoBcanada

New S is the king of luxury in its class, noone can touch it. even now people will get over the uglines and BMW IDRIVE in it, and it will sell like a hot cacke.

MBZFAN55

Jeremy Clarkson on last weeks "Top Gear" TV show had the identical reaction to the Continental GT, as you. He thought it was "missing something" to be a "great car".

zam2000

At a lot of restaurant around here, Mercedes rarely make it to front row of valet anymore, unless it's an SLR or nicely mod CL/SL.

Maserati, Benley, Rolls, Ferrari, or Lambo will always take valet front row. Unfortunately, lot of people who pay $$$$$$ for car care about being exclusive, and it hurt them to see their precious Benz/Bimmer get stuffed in the back of the valet lot

Style and exclusivity is subjective, and head-turning ability and valet space ususally is a good indicator. For the rest, there're car magazine

CLFREAK

Yep, zam2000, O.C. is just like Vegas (after all, half our new residents are from O.C.)! Unless your Benz is $100K + AND tricked out to the max, you'll be standing in the back waiting a half hour in valet behind all the owners getting in their Bentleys, Ferraris, Astons, Maseratis, and Lambos first.

Question: Do you think these owners generously tip the valet upon arrival to make certain their cars are front row or do the valets automatically position them there and then get taken care of later - or do these cars command so much prestige that the valets just figure the owner is so VIP he is comped???

I've asked valets, and they're so squirrely about it because they consider the tip very confidential, so I never know. First off, none of my friends have as nice a car like myself, and secondly, I've never felt comfortable asking an owner of a high-end car when and how much he tips.

Now that really sucks when you pay for a top of the line S-class and get treated like a 2nd class citizen unless you tip the valet at least a $20!

My Benzes always got front row with the others because they were tricked out; sometimes I had to tip $20 when I arrive when it's a special night like when there's big fight in town. I always take care of valets on arrival depending on where or at pickup; these guys remember you and your car better than anyone and if you take care of them well, they will make sure your car avoids dings and dents (unless it's a low-end hotel).

Maybe in Iowa the S-class will get the top spot in valet without question - but then are there even valets in Iowa? ))

zam2000, I couldn't have said it better...

absent

In my experience it takes about $40 for top spots in Chicago and $20 in LA,regardless of the brand of your car.