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Uber as main transportation (getting rid of car) (1 Viewer)

Nugget said:
I spent yesterday at a forum in Kansas City on the future of transportation.  Someone will have a fully autonomous car on the road within 4 years.

Issues that are tied to this going forward included land values, education vs transporting spending, sprawl, infill, insurance, and more.

Ford is piloting a shared lease program in Austin where up to 5 people can own a car and make payments individually through Ford Credit.

In KC, the transit authority teamed up with Bridj to have 10 on demand shuttle buses in neighborhoods underserved by traditional public transportation.  It is app based and costs $1.50 ride - plus first 10 rides are free. They will cover approximately 5 mile neighboorhoods to start, and run Mon- Fri during working hours.
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Cool to hear.

The whole carpooling thing for me is not my cup of tea though really.  My workdays are crazy with people needing my attention...most of the time I treat my car drives as a place of solace and just enjoy the time to sit and not have to interact with someone.  I'd be lying if I said that one of the downsides of Uber for me in this scenario is having to be forced regularly to do the taxi type conversations about the weather, traffic, other random crap when I just want to decompress from the day.

 
offdee said:
The whole carpooling thing for me is not my cup of tea though really.  My workdays are crazy with people needing my attention...most of the time I treat my car drives as a place of solace and just enjoy the time to sit and not have to interact with someone.  I'd be lying if I said that one of the downsides of Uber for me in this scenario is having to be forced regularly to do the taxi type conversations about the weather, traffic, other random crap when I just want to decompress from the day.
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Can't wait for self-driving cars for this reason.

 
CletiusMaximus said:
Does Uber police its drivers from simply dealing directly with riders? My thought is, in a relatively small town like Milwaukee, if you find a good Uber driver you like, why not get his direct number to text him when you want a ride and cut out the Uber mark-up altogether? 
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I had a personal Uber connect where we did deals off the grid. I am sure every city you can find something similar. I would start by going on one of the Uber driver message boards and act like a newbie and ask questions about an upcoming trip and go from there via PM.

 
Didn't read the whole thread. But given the transaction costs of buy/selling a car...I would simply keep the car...try out Uber for a month and see if it works for you. No way I would go cold turkey and sell the car and then have to go through the hassle of finding/buying/paying taxes/registration, etc. in a couple of months.

 
SIDA! said:
I had a personal Uber connect where we did deals off the grid. I am sure every city you can find something similar. I would start by going on one of the Uber driver message boards and act like a newbie and ask questions about an upcoming trip and go from there via PM.
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As noted earlier, think this would be more trouble than what it's worth...

- waiting for that driver to get to you, when a real uber is right around the corner ready to pick you up in 1 minute.

- your driver isn't on the clock ready to pick you up 24 hrs a day, like real uber drivers are

- messing around with cash, tip and change like a taxi.  The auto credit card charge and hop out when arrive to destination is a huge upside to uber IMO

 
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SIDA! said:
Didn't read the whole thread. But given the transaction costs of buy/selling a car...I would simply keep the car...try out Uber for a month and see if it works for you. No way I would go cold turkey and sell the car and then have to go through the hassle of finding/buying/paying taxes/registration, etc. in a couple of months.
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This is a good thought and actually something I was thinking about as well.  Do a 1 month trial period and just act like I really don't have a vehicle and see how inconvenient it really would be.  Also allows me to keep track of the actual expense of it all and make a true life comparison.   After the month can then decide if the inconvenience vs. money saving ratio is worth it.

 
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offdee said:
This is a good thought and actually something I was thinking about as well.  Do a 1 month trial period and just act like I really don't have a vehicle and see how inconvenient it really would be.  Also allows me to keep track of the actual expense of it all and make a true life comparison.   After the month can then decide if the inconvenience vs. money saving ratio is worth it.
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I was thinking same, but 2-3 months. Any random thing could happen (or not happen) in a one month sample.

 
Getting rid of my car was a great decision.  I used it even less than you did and I have more public transportation options, but it still sounds like you would save money taking Uber whenever you need a car.  Plus, you can get the fastest car in the world if you want, like I have.  I don't know what make or model it is, nor do I know what kind of engine it has, but what makes it so fast is that it's a fully insured rental.  I can just keep my foot on the gas from when I start driving until I crash it.

 
offdee said:
One of the main things I like about Uber is just the convenience of having a credit card on file...when I get to my destination just jump out of the car and no messing with money, change, tips, etc.  
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Not tipping the driver is a #### move btw. 

 
Doctor Detroit said:
Not tipping the driver is a #### move btw. 
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Im talking about playing the tipping game with cash exchange...round up, round down, all that BS based on the final random taxi total. Does he have dollar amounts for change, and so on.  Applying a tip through the app after giving a rating before next pickup can process is much easier and less intrusive. 

 
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offdee said:
Im talking about playing the tipping game with cash exchange...round up, round down, all that BS based on the final random taxi total. Does he have dollar amounts for change, and so on.  Applying a tip through the app after giving a rating before next pickup can process is much easier and less intrusive. 
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You can't tip a driver through the app.  :mellow:  

 
Doctor Detroit said:
You can't tip a driver through the app.  :mellow:  
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I thought you could...maybe thats Lyft.  I guess im a ##### and dont tip through Uber than. Thats on them for not having that funtionality in the app. I dont ever carry cash on me. 

95% of the reason they get my continued business is because of the concept that there is no need for cash exchange or end of the ride transaction/sign off to complete the process. Get me to my location and I'm out, thanks.  

 
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Btw, what's the upside of taking a cab over Uber anyways? I dont understand why anybody would. I truly can't think of one advantage. 

 
offdee said:
Better profit play is to get a gf with a car that lives closer to you. Her location is costing $240 a month in Ubers! 
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I think I have solved your problem.

Marry her, and shortly after that spending $240 to get breaks from your wife will seem like the best money you spend all month.

 
Christo said:
DO I NEED TO TIP MY DRIVER?





You don’t need cash when you ride with Uber. Once you arrive at your destination, your fare is automatically charged to your credit card on file — there’s no need to tip.
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Fine, no need to tip a waitress, a door man, a valet, or anyone else then.  I can't help you with common sense, knob. 

Anyone wanting to be offdee, proceed on.  You're a tool.  :bye:

 
Doctor Detroit said:
Fine, no need to tip a waitress, a door man, a valet, or anyone else then.  I can't help you with common sense, knob. 

Anyone wanting to be offdee, proceed on.  You're a tool.  :bye:
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:lmao:

 
Let me make this crystal ####### clear for the morons who don't understand.

Uber drivers get zero benefits

Uber Drivers can get a Uber cell phone that charges a bunch of craziness to your account each week.  If not they use their own, paying the tolls.

Uber drivers...while we're talking about tolls...have to beg Uber the corporation to reimburse them for tolls in triplicate.  Sometimes it's not worth the effort

Uber drivers have to pay taxes on the money they earn

Uber drivers get 65-75% of the fare, the rest is eaten up by ubers take (20-25%) and fees

Uber drivers must have their own vehicle, which is subject to wear and tear of morons like you who don't respect property

Uber drivers have to put up with your drunken nonsense

Uber drivers have kids, child support, bills, and the rest like you

Uber drivers have to deal with Uber, who will squeeze a #### out of a buffalo nickle

The less you tip, the more quality drivers will leave

If you want to be like Christo and Offdee, that's fine.  You're a tool if so, especially if you've ever worked any kind of service job. 

 
Tip if you want. Don't if you don't. But not tipping an Uber driver is a lot more like not tipping a McDonald's cashier than it is like not tipping a waitress. More than 90% of people tip their waitresses; it's expected. Fewer than 5% of people tip their Uber drivers; it's not expected. Uber itself discourages tipping.

 
#### me for buying into one of the central pillars of Ubers marketing strategy, that tipping the driver is neither needed nor expected. 

 
I'm gonna sound like Dave Ramsey here: no matter what you should get rid of that car. Either replace it with a cheap used model that doesn't force you to carry a $300+ monthly payment or use alternative means to get around. 

 
offdee said:
- $343 car payment 

- $150 parking

- $90 insurance

- $35 gas 

TOTAL: $618/mo
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I assume this is not a lease, but you bought the car.  Your $343 car payment for 5 years is not total lost money, you have to figure what the value of the car will be after the 5 years as you will now own it.

I have no idea what kind of car this is, but assuming the car is worth $10K after 5 years, you should really deduct this from the true cost of your payment.

This would be ~$166 less per month on the payment, so the payment goes from $343 to $177.

Total is now $452/mo.

 
pecorino said:
I'm gonna sound like Dave Ramsey here: no matter what you should get rid of that car. Either replace it with a cheap used model that doesn't force you to carry a $300+ monthly payment or use alternative means to get around. 
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What's a realistic minimum cost per month when you factor everything?

If he buys an older car in cash for say $6,000 that will last him 5 years that's $100 a month. Parking is $150, so he's already at $250. Insurance at $50 brings it to $300. Maintenance on an older car will be more so factor in $150 a month (covering everything oil changes, tires, battery, other repairs, registration, AAA), that's $450.  $50 in gas makes it $500.

I'd rather drive an older car and have the flexibility of not relying on Uber, especially now that people are talking about adding tips.

 
rick6668 said:
I assume this is not a lease, but you bought the car.  Your $343 car payment for 5 years is not total lost money, you have to figure what the value of the car will be after the 5 years as you will now own it.

I have no idea what kind of car this is, but assuming the car is worth $10K after 5 years, you should really deduct this from the true cost of your payment.

This would be ~$166 less per month on the payment, so the payment goes from $343 to $177.

Total is now $452/mo.
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Yep, car is bought, not leased.   It's a 2014 Mazda 6 Touring.   Exactly this...

http://carphotos.cardomain.com/images/0004/43/95/4053459.JPG

The story behind it is that I used to work where it was a 25 minute drive to work.  My previous car took an unexpected crap, so a new car was in order immediately (old 10yr old car needed $4K in engine repair).  At that time I wanted a nice car for that daily back and forth drive to be as enjoyable as possible.   Then a month after new car purchase, a great new job opportunity right around the corner from me came out of the blue and the rest is history.  I would've definitely gotten something cheaper and fully paid off right away if I would've been able to predict my future.

 
People might not buy it but I think tipping could depend on the market. Everyone I know uses Uber regularly here in NYC and across the river in Hoboken, and I don't know any of them that tip. All of us have ratings high in the 4s though. I've tipped when using in other cities because I've heard similar stories that it's more expected ...the drivers seemed appreciative but not surprised they get it. Meanwhile last week I tipped my driver $10 who took me from Newark Penn Station to my place in Hoboken (on top of 2.4x surge BTW) because it was a hellish drive during rush hour and he did a good job with some traffic situations. He seemed shocked when I handed it to him and didn't go through the "refuse/offer again/accept" maneuver that I've heard gets used elsewhere. 

 
Have you considered the fact that your car will retain value?  Unless you do the rideshare thing for 5 years, I think owning something you can sell for a partial amount of your money back would be the way to go.

I can't imagine you're going to put many miles on it being in the city.

 
A friend of mine has been driving about 20 hrs a week for Uber for the last nine months and has been tipped on exactly two rides. I think it's hard to argue that tipping is expected on Uber (at least where I am in San Diego). On Lyft, I think it's generally expected.

 
Eminence said:
Have you considered the fact that your car will retain value?  Unless you do the rideshare thing for 5 years, I think owning something you can sell for a partial amount of your money back would be the way to go.
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I think this consideration goes in the opposite direction.

Your car will be worth something in five years, but probably not as much as the cash (plus five years of interest) you'd get from selling it now.

 
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Go for it offdee!

One of the reasons I love uber is b/c I never have cash.  If they gave me an opportunity to tip on the app, than I would. But they dont. On the one occasion I had cash on me, I did.

 
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Not sure if already mentioned or not....haven't read every post.

If you're still going to be a driver (friend's car, gf's car, zip car, rental), you'll still need "insurance".  That will still cost you a few hundred a year. 

Shark move is to buy an old POS car (don't have to keep it in city), and just have liability on it. 

 
matttyl said:
Not sure if already mentioned or not....haven't read every post.

If you're still going to be a driver (friend's car, gf's car, zip car, rental), you'll still need "insurance".  That will still cost you a few hundred a year. 

Shark move is to buy an old POS car (don't have to keep it in city), and just have liability on it. 
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Zipcar hourly rate includes insurance and gas.

 
matttyl said:
Not sure if already mentioned or not....haven't read every post.

If you're still going to be a driver (friend's car, gf's car, zip car, rental), you'll still need "insurance".  That will still cost you a few hundred a year. 

Shark move is to buy an old POS car (don't have to keep it in city), and just have liability on it. 
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Pretty sure with zip car you have basic coverage included, and rental car coverage can come from any decent credit card you use for the booking.

 
Maurile Tremblay said:
I think this consideration goes in the opposite direction.

Your car will be worth something in five years, but probably not as much as the cash (plus five years of interest) you'd get from selling it now.
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Perhaps option C of buying a used car is the way to go.

Paying $680 a month probably doesn't yield positive results.  But if he buys a $5,000 / 6,000 car outright, I'd assume savings would be there over 5 years vs. ride sharing.

Car should only have depreciated by $1.5 - 2K.  Sell your car and use whatever positive cashflow comes of it on something cheaper.

Problem isn't owning car vs rideshare.  It's expensive car vs rideshare in which the expensive car is the luxury.

 
Christo said:
Zipcar hourly rate includes insurance and gas.
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Very low limits, though.  Also, you'll never be able to "drive your drunk buddy home from the bar", or borrow a friend's truck to move a piece of furniture (or at least do it with any type of coverage). Just thought it should be something to keep in mind here.

 
matttyl said:
Very low limits, though.  Also, you'll never be able to "drive your drunk buddy home from the bar", or borrow a friend's truck to move a piece of furniture (or at least do it with any type of coverage). Just thought it should be something to keep in mind here.
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Car insurance follows the car.

 
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