Wwyd - am I just being precious about parking?

[EssentialHummus]

I'm going to sound like a nutter for caring about this, but here goes.

We're going on holiday and DH wants the car to stay at Gatwick (weird arrival/dept. times). All fine, but the cheapest parking available, by £30, is valeted. My car is a (worthless) 20 year old Merc. It doesn't have a normal handbrake - instead it has an extra pedal on the floor that you depress with your foot to apply the handbrake, and then a separate lever that you twist with your right hand to release it.

It's not rocket science, but if you've not driven it before it takes getting used to.

The last time some random drove it (car wash) he didn't know what he was doing and we gained a big old dent in the boot as a result.

So - pay less and hope the Gatwick parking folk know what they're doing/try to explain (but then what about the way back?)? Or spend the equivalent of a nice holiday meal out to park myself, further away?

They also dump in the local council car park and often leave keys in the dash for the next driver.

I expect mine would go unstolen, it's that much of a hulk of metal

It's official Gatwick parking, so at least that should stop it from being left in a field unless it rolls there.

I second the hotel and on site parking aswell ... surely better to park yourself rather than risk it

My Kia has a similar foot brake and lever release. Used Gatwick valet a few months ago and they were great. Booked in advance and got a good deal too. Will definitely use them again.

We found short stay at Heathrow (I know different airport) was £40 cheaper than the valet parking when booked on line over a week in advance. We took my car as it's the older one but needn't have worried.

I had a Kia Sedona on a 59 plate which had that sort of parking break arrangement - so not as uncommon as you think.