To owners of P1 million plus vehicles. Arent you afraid of getting kidnapped?

aussiepugo

Driving an expensive car is like telling the whole world you have enough dough to pay your kidnappers.

I'm planning to buy a car for my mom. I'm looking at one of those compact SUV with high enough clearance to conquer minor floods and pot holes in our area and small enough to manuever through narrow back streets and alleys. I'm worried now that my mom might become a target for these notorious scum of the earth. 7 years ago, a friend of mine was kidnapped together with his son as they were alighting from their nissan patrol in makati. It cost them 8 million pesos apart from the trauma and possible dangers to their lives.

What do you, guys think?

slamm

IMO, kidnapping is not all about what you have or are seen in since a lot of those kidnapped are usually "low profile" but with big bank accounts (or assumed big bank accounts) that leak out (acquaintances, family workers, and bank personnel perhaps?).

A lot of cars are already over a million so that really isnt much of a exception nowadays... heck before we know it a 1.6L to 1.8L sedan will already be over the 1M mark pretty soon.

Right now, having an expensive car also doesnt always mean "you have the dough". I see a lot houses in depressed or low income areas sporting a Pajero (or even an Expedition!) in their tiny, leaking garages whilst some of the riches guys i know drive around in ratty old Corollas.

With an SUV, your main worry will be more of carjacking but as long as your mom is very aware when she drives, doesnt venture out to dark, empty streets or certain "hot" areas at night it can still be pretty much avoided (presence of mind is still a big deciding factor). Darker colored vehicles are more targetted BTW.

ehna

^^^yup..ang kidnapping, pinagplaplanuhan yan ng husto....di yan bigla na lang nanghihila ng taong kikidnapin porke't nakita nilang nakasakay sa 1M+ ride....:D

GreatBop

Yep, 7 Years ago the dollar was under 40 pesos..
now it's 55.

7 years ago, compact sedans were selling for under 600,000.

now 600 thousand doesnt even buy you a subcompact sedan.

times have changed. 1M for a vehicle means nothing nowadays.
Innova even sells for 1M. (the higher trim levels)

kyle618

yup 1million is nothing almost all Subcompact SUVs are in this range. For me subcompact suvs are in the mid range ... shows that u are just ryt in the middle. owning one doesnt shout im FARKIN rich kidnap me! just be discrete and go along with the traffic im sure she'll be fine.

Nerfy

if youre that concerned, then just get an Isuzu Highlander or Mitsubishi Adventure... low profile, and it can do everything you need it.

boogerflicker

pick-ups, hi-aces, urvans, ssangyongs, 1.8 altis, mazda3 2.0 are all near the 1M mark. saka pag kidnap, sabi nga nila may research yan. alam nila na utang lang yang mga kotseng yan sa bangko.

may isang suv na below 1m. hyundai tucson 4x2.

OTEP R

Hindi naman random ang kidnapping. Usually planado iyan. So it wouldn't matter if he was riding a Patrol or riding a bicycle.

Half a million buys you a decent pre-owned Pajero or Benz already. Sing-ganda pero di sing-mahal. hehehe.

shun_sakurai

The question is anachronistic. Good luck getting a brand-new car that isn't priced close to PhP1 million.

While I'm not saying the subcompacts (Kia Picanto, Toyota Vios, Honda City/Jazz, Suzuki Swift et al) aren't "real cars," it's a simple fact of life that around 70% of the choice you have in brand new cars is closer to that PhP1 million price point than ever before.

I understand the poster's intention, but I'd rephrase the question and ask "owners of vehicles worth PhP2M+."

aussiepugo

shun_sakurai wrote:

The question is anachronistic. Good luck getting a brand-new car that isn't priced close to PhP1 million.

While I'm not saying the subcompacts (Kia Picanto, Toyota Vios, Honda City/Jazz, Suzuki Swift et al) aren't "real cars," it's a simple fact of life that around 70% of the choice you have in brand new cars is closer to that PhP1 million price point than ever before.

I understand the poster's intention, but I'd rephrase the question and ask "owners of vehicles worth PhP2M+."

Thank you, shun_sakurai, I had to scramble for a dictionary to find the meaning of anachronistic. I haven't been back home for close to 6 years and back then the price of a Pajero is around bout P1.8m. Some of the replies got me even more worried knowing that kidnappers are very organized and carry out extensive research and planning. I read in the papers a few years back that kidnappers are getting desperate and would settle for loose change.

slamm

Would you believe kidnapping also has a "referral system" now!

If you're a bit outtatouch on the prices nowadays you can ask one of your relatives back here to send you a 2006 C! Magazine Buyers Guide so you can also see the choices for your mum.

Also had to look up the word http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anachronistic

Nerfy

check out http://www.motioncars.com for prices/reviews of vehicles sold in the Philippines.

As Seen On TV

It aint the car you drive. These kidnappers do background checks on their targets.

I drive cars that are worth north of 3 million without much bother. Then again I live in town where 3 million cars are the norm.

Your friend who owns a Patrol probably has hidden wealth. How else can they generate 8M for the ransom? Patrols are cheap.

shun_sakurai

^ When compared to the ransom amount...I feel compelled to agree: Patrols are chump change next to PhP8M.