<a href="http://tinyurl.com/9wgsl">
http://tinyurl.com/9wgsl</a>
LVSun - MGM Mirage defends valet parking with key left in car
Is it just my impression, or is something "fishy" in the article? I
mean, sure, it sucks to have your car damaged, but I don't have the
impression that MGM is the great evil in that case:
-They accepted responsibility even though they had no contractual
obligation (though I admit that this didn't go to court so nobody
knows what would have happened there). The damage to the car wasn't
even done by an MGM employee (the person who did even pled guilty in
court). And one theft in over ten years in a place that's more than
likely to have luxury cars doesn't sound like a horribly bad track
record to me.
-They paid in my opinion more than "fair market value" for the car.
$38K is enough to buy a new GTO including taxes.
On the other hand the victim of the theft seems to have an odd notion
of money management. She complains that her car payments went up by "a
lot". Yes, that sucks. On the other hand, when you drive a near-new
$33000 gas guzzler and you spend several hundred dollars a night in
LV, 6 or 7 trips per year, maybe you shouldn't complain about $100 a
month, and maybe a few minor lifestyle adjustments could bring a lot
of financial breathing room. It sounds very much like the victim wants
to complain even though there isn't much to complain about.
I mean, I personally drive a car that's not very different from the
GTO. It's not the kind of car that you buy "by mistake". You're buying
more than is necessary, i.e. it's essentially a luxury item. And if my
car got damaged and someone who might maybe be indirectly responsible
for the damage essentially cut me a check for the full new value of
the car including taxes, I wouldn't complain much. But it's just me. I
guess that not everyone has the same priorities. And I'm sure that
some people will disagree, and that's fine with me.
JBQ
Additional points :
2006 Pontiac GTO with ever availiable option is $34,790 MSRP, $31,960
Invoice. GM's continued "Employee Pricing" Incentive is going to
bring actual cost new to around $32,000.
2004 Pontiac GTO w/ 15,000 miles (which given the number of trips
from San Bernadino to LV indicates she would have more miles) fully
loaded has Actual Cash Value of $19,382. This is based upon
insurance industry standard appraisal program, ADP. Had the vehicle
been stolen, not recovered, and MGM not accepted liability her
insurance company would have paid her $19,382. This would leave her
owing approx $5000 in negative equity without anything to show for
it.
Had this gone to arbitration (never would have made it to court), the
maximum amount recovered would have been the actual damages to
vehicle, ie costs of repair. How much damage is done to car that is
ran through a crossing guard arm?
And the increase of $113 a month has to be a lie or there are a lot
of untold circumstances. Current payoff of vehicle = $23,000.
Replacment vehicle $32,000 - $15,000 "equity" payment provided by MGM
leaves $17,000 being financed, which of course is $6,000 less than
prior loan balance. This more than makes up for any special finance
arrangement she may have had.
Here's what really happened . . . she pocketed the $15,000, purchased
a new car for $32,000 and financed the whole thing (just like she did
before based upon low interest loan and current balance) which
resulted in car payment which is higher than prior payment.
MGM, went above and beyond on this one.
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, Jean-Baptiste Queru <jbqueru@g...>
wrote:
Is it just my impression, or is something "fishy" in the article? I
mean, sure, it sucks to have your car damaged, but I don't have the
impression that MGM is the great evil in that case:-They accepted responsibility even though they had no contractual
obligation (though I admit that this didn't go to court so nobody
knows what would have happened there). The damage to the car wasn't
even done by an MGM employee (the person who did even pled guilty in
court). And one theft in over ten years in a place that's more than
likely to have luxury cars doesn't sound like a horribly bad track
record to me.-They paid in my opinion more than "fair market value" for the car.
$38K is enough to buy a new GTO including taxes.On the other hand the victim of the theft seems to have an odd
notion
of money management. She complains that her car payments went up
by "a
lot". Yes, that sucks. On the other hand, when you drive a near-new
$33000 gas guzzler and you spend several hundred dollars a night in
LV, 6 or 7 trips per year, maybe you shouldn't complain about $100 a
month, and maybe a few minor lifestyle adjustments could bring a lot
of financial breathing room. It sounds very much like the victim
wants
to complain even though there isn't much to complain about.
I mean, I personally drive a car that's not very different from the
GTO. It's not the kind of car that you buy "by mistake". You're
buying
more than is necessary, i.e. it's essentially a luxury item. And if
my
car got damaged and someone who might maybe be indirectly
responsible
for the damage essentially cut me a check for the full new value of
the car including taxes, I wouldn't complain much. But it's just
me. I
···
guess that not everyone has the same priorities. And I'm sure that
some people will disagree, and that's fine with me.JBQ
On 8/24/05, vpFREE <vpFREE@c...> wrote:
> http://tinyurl.com/9wgsl
Very nice numbers.
More additional points:
The GTO doesn't qualify for employee pricing, I think, but the
difference is minimal.
I once hit the back of a truck with my car, in a way that I actually
drove under the truck. Had to replace the entire front body (bumper,
headlights, hood, both fenders, windshield), the entire radiator
assembly and the entire air filter and throttle assembly. Total cost
was less than $10000, and that was at a very good body shop that did
an excellent job.
JBQ