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General Questions
1. Why should I join GQ Exotics Car Club?
GQ
Exotics provides a way for our members to enjoy the thrill
of driving fun exotic cars without the hassles of ownership
and a simple yearly payment without expensive upkeep costs.
We're not just an exotic car club. Membership means access
to a fleet that includes Bentley's, Land Rover's, Ferrari's
and Mercedes. We are a member driven organization passionately
dedicated to giving our members the ultimate driving experience
they deserve. We are always working to identify new ways to
enhance our members' experiences and improve our stable of
exotic automobiles. You can see from our website that our
members have access to the largest and best collections of
cars in the country. GQ Exotics members are able to enjoy
driving elite vehicles for a cost far lower than the cost
of ownership, or what it cost to rent one. For example, the
Saturday or Sunday rental cost for a Ferrari Spider in the
Houston area is between $1750 and $1800 per day. Platinum
Club members can have the same car on weekend days for $875,
a savings of over 50%.
2. How does the Membership work?
The
GQ Exotics Car Membership Club offers members the opportunity
to enjoy a fleet of exotic automobiles for less than the cost
of owning only one of these fine automobiles. We are responsible
for the depreciation, maintenance, storage and other costs
associated with owning these automobiles. Members are able
to enjoy these vehicles for more miles than they would normally
drive if it was their own. Why limit your yearly driving enjoyment
to only 1,000 miles a year, if you can drive our Ferrari for
6,000 miles with less hassle and cost. Our Car Membership
is ideal for car enthusiasts that want the freedom and financial
benefits associated with this type of structure.
3. What makes your club different from other exotic car clubs?
Our
members are able to enjoy the newest and most exciting automobiles
that even well heeled enthusiast would never be able to enjoy.
Our fleet includes such fine examples as the Nissan R33 Skyline
GT-R V Spec, Jaguar XJ220, Bugatti EB 110, Ariel Atom and
others without the hassle of importation, customs etc. We
also maintain a pristine fleet of the newest models from leading
manufacturers such as Aston Martin, BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes,
Ferrari, Lamborghini and many more. We also have many member
only events such as track days, exclusive sneak peeks of brand
new cars, dinners, and other exciting activities.
4. I have never heard of a time-share for automobiles. Has this
concept been successful elsewhere?
This
emerging concept has been successful in other markets around
the country. The industry is in its infancy, although there
have been a sizable number of articles written about this
unique niche. It's not unlike fractional ownership or time
sharing for boats and condos. However, GQ Exotics has taken
it to a higher level with the largest selection of exotic
vehicles in the United States.
5. Is this similar to a fractional ownership club?
No.
Although fractional ownership clubs and our club both allow
members to use vehicles, they are not really similar. With
a fractional ownership club, members are still owners and
have all of the headaches of ownership even if these risks
are shared among the members. In our club, members do not
own the cars and do not assume any of the risks of depreciation
or the costs of maintenance. Our members just enjoy the driving.
6. What about the availability of cars outside of Houston?
Our
club has and is making affiliate arrangements with exotic
car clubs and rental agencies in other major metropolitan
markets. Let us know when you travel if you are interested
in using an exotic or luxury vehicle in another market, and
we will endeavor to make arrangements for your access to what
you want. We will also pay the other club and charge your
account the required number of points. As part of our affiliate
arrangements, we negotiate discounts with the other agencies
to get you the best value. There is a limit of 25% of your
annual points that can be allocated to markets outside of
Houston.
7. Are there any special incentives to join now or to sign up
for more months?
Yes,
members who sign up now, even though club membership does
not begin until January 1st, 2008, will receive bonus points
as well as other exclusive VIP access to events scheduled
in 2008.
Membership Questions
1. Do I need to own a classic or exotic car to join the club?
No,
the Car Club is designed for people who want to drive these
cars without the hassles and costs that go with owning them.
Depreciation for some of these vehicles may cost thousands
of dollars per month and maintenance costs tend to be very
high. GQ Exotics is an affordable alternative to owning. Many
of our members, however, do already own a fun weekend car
or two and love the flexibility and choices that the Car Club
affords them. We do have car shows throughout the year and
since most of our members have some type of special car they
own, we encourage members to bring them out for events.
2. What happens if I receive a traffic or parking ticket while
using a club vehicle?
You
are responsible for any traffic or parking violations received
while using a club vehicle. In most cases, the officer will
give you the ticket or mail it to your home. If we receive
your ticket at the Car Club office, we will notify you immediately.
In the glove box of each vehicle you will find a copy of our
insurance card, and we ask you to keep a copy of your proof
of insurance with you when you are using a club vehicle.
3. Do I need my own insurance, or does GQ Exotics provide insurance
for me?
Providing
verifiable proof of insurance in an amount required, relative
to the types of vehicles used is the member's sole responsibility.
GQ Exotics agents will make a good faith effort to verify
coverage. If coverage cannot be verified, the reservation
will be cancelled and the member's account may be charged
the full point value of the reservation.
4. What if my personal insurance limits are not high enough?
In
almost all cases, your limits can be raised for a very small
premium increase, typically less than a hundred dollars per
year.
5. What are my responsibilities for damage to vehicles, and
what role does my insurance coverage play?
All
members must provide adequate insurance as outlined in the
Terms & Conditions of membership. It's important to point
out that the member is solely responsible for all damage to
a vehicle while in his or her care and custody. Although most
damages may be covered by insurance, the member is still responsible
for any damage that his or her insurance company does not
cover. Even if the member's insurance company denies the claim,
the member is responsible to pay for any damage to a club
vehicle.
6. I understand that there is a deposit paid up front. How do
I get it back?
A
deposit equal to 10% of dues for your tier is payable at signing.
This is held until the end of your term. After you have used
the last of your points (we give you two months after your
subscription expires to use the last of your points), your
deposit will be refunded to your credit card if there are
no damages or other charges due on your account.
7. What are the renewal terms for membership?
Club
membership requires a one-year commitment. All members will
receive a renewal notice about 60 days before the end of their
membership. Members may sign up for another term at this time.
Space is limited, and if a member does not renew their membership
within 14 days of expiration, the next runner up will be entitled
to a membership.
8. Why is the tax on membership dues 10% instead of the normal
state sales tax?
The
state of Texas regulates car clubs under its auto rental statutes
and mandates the higher tax rate.
9. How far in advance can I reserve a vehicle?
This
varies by tier, as shown in the table under terms and conditions.
Our highest tiers have longer lead times to reserve a vehicle,
giving them an assurance that the vehicle they want will be
available. But the lead time is quite long for all tiers.
10. Why do I have to sign an annual commitment?
The
Car Club is for people who want to enjoy the best cars in
the world. To bring these great cars to members requires a
substantial capital outlay and we ask members to give us a
commitment in return. The annual commitments allow us to forecast
revenues and keep bringing great cars to members. Although
you are responsible for an annual commitment, you can prepay
the membership at any time to get all the points you need
for a given use. It's not unusual for corporate customers
to pay all of the annual commitment up front, just to get
the pricing advantage of car club. If you prepay, you still
have the rest of the year to use your points, or buy more
points at the rate your tier allows.
About the Cars
1. Do you really own the cars listed on your website?
Yes,
we do. Because of the cost of owning a fleet of such vehicles,
many other clubs borrow cars from other markets. This makes
it difficult for them to guarantee reservations and almost
impossible to control the quality of the vehicles.
2. What is the condition of your cars?
The
exotics in the fleet were purchased new from authorized dealers.
GQ Exotics proudly owns all vehicles listed on our web site,
and we keep them immaculate inside and out. We take pride
in each car's mechanical and cosmetic condition. All of the
photographs on this site and in our club brochures are of
the actual vehicles available to our members. Some other clubs
use stock photos, but, with us, what you see on the site is
what we have in the garage waiting for you to drive.
Using the Vehicles
1. Can I switch vehicles and try several?
Absolutely!
That's what GQ Exotics is all about. You can use a different
car every day, or keep one car for a week. Imagine impressing
a client with a ride in a Ferrari, taking friends exploring
in a Land Rover Sport, or adding a special touch to your evening
with a Bentley. Owning just one car isn't nearly as fun!
2. I'm interested in driving one of the Car Club 's vintage
or classic autos. Are there any special considerations?
Yes.
Our special Show and Display vehicles will be limited by law
to only 2500 miles per year. These are both extremely rare
automobiles as well as machines that are not easily repaired
should something go wrong. As we would like each member the
opportunity to enjoy these vehicles, we request that the use
of these cars will be handled in a responsible and respectful
manner, both for the machine and others waiting for the vehicle.
If something should go wrong with one of these vehicles and
it is out of service for a time being, unfortunately all reservations
on those days will be cancelled without penalty, and those
members will get the chance to rebook these vehicles at a
later time.
3. Can my spouse use a car under my membership ?
Each
tier has an allowed number of additional drivers. Except under
the corporate tier, all additional drivers must provide proof
of insurance, and there is a one-time $25 fee when new users
are added to the account for underwriting. Under a corporate
membership, the corporation is responsible for all users and
furnishes blanket insurance coverage for their designated
and/or authorized users, adding the club as an additional
insured.
4. Can I share the membership with one of my friends and list
him as an authorized user?
No,
membership privileges only extended to immediate family members,
including spouses and children. We reserve the right to require
proof of the relationship of the primary member to any proposed
user.
5. What if I keep the car longer than the time I reserved it
for?
Keeping
a vehicle longer than the requested time can cause problems
for other members that are awaiting their reserved time. If
the vehicle isn't reserved immediately following your time,
we can authorize another day's use, if the member has adequate
points in their account. All usage is for 24 hour periods.
We allow one hour's grace, followed by hourly charges.
6. Is there a minimum or maximum amount of time I must keep
one of the vehicles?
Minimum
required amount of time is 24 hours. Maximum use is 30 days
under one use, but you can bring it back and then check it
out on another reservation. (The State of Texas says if it's
out over 30 days it's a long term lease.)
About Points and Tiers
1. Why do you use a points system? It seems complicated.
We
use a point system to make things simpler, actually. By using
points, we can offer discounts that vary by tier, and it's
much simpler and less confusing than offering discounts in
dollars.
2. What if I don't have enough points in my account for the
vehicle I want to use? What if I need to keep a vehicle for
more days than I have points for?
You
can buy more points in blocks of 50 at your tier's rate anytime
(see pricing table).
3. How do I know how many points I have and how many I've used?
You
will receive a statement showing your account 's activity
by the 10th of each month. We process the current month's
subscription on or about the 1st of each month, with the points
posted to your account. Don't forget, you can request that
we charge your credit card early for any future month if you
need more points in the current period. And, of course, you
can buy additional points at any time at your tier's discounted
rate. Currently, we don't offer online account access, but
we intend to within 12 months.
4. What happens to my points at the end of my annual membership?
Points
can be used for up to two months following the end of your
annual commitment, unless you renew the membership, in which
case they continue to rollover.
5. Are my points transferable to other members?
Yes,
with the permission of the club director, at his sole discretion.
We know that there may be times when you want to transfer
your points to other members. Financial terms of any transfer
will need to be handled with the other member.
6. Why are there tiers, and how do they work?
The
club has put in place a tiered membership system so that every
member can choose the financial commitment and amount of club
car usage that best fits them. Like any business, the highest
tiers have the greatest benefits and in exchange for the volume
of those tiers, the greatest savings. However, most of the
club's benefits are available to all members.
Services and Events
1. Are chauffeur services available?
The
club does not have any provisions for chauffeur services at
present. However, should you want a chauffeur, we will do
our best to help. Just let us know. We are here to make your
experience in the club as enjoyable as possible.
2. What types of events does the club offer members? Can I bring
a friend?
The
club offers social, driving, entertainment and technical events
and an open house with refreshments each month. We encourage
all members to bring a friend. Depending on the nature of
the event, there may be a nominal charge for non-members.
In many cases, we encourage you to invite several friends.
For more details, just ask the club director.
3. What if a vehicle breaks down or I lose the key or alarm
key fob?
GQ
Exotics membership includes a complimentary 24/7 roadside
assistance program for all club vehicles to ensure that help
is available to our members when they need it. If you lose
a key or alarm key fob, you will be billed the cost of a replacement.
Corporate Memberships Available!
* Incentives for your sales team.
* Create a buzz at the next sales meeting.
* Impress your clients.
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