Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Car, IPhone Today

Stein X Leikanger
by Stein X Leikanger

You’re a ZipCar customer.


You have an iPhone in your pocket, and would like to know where the nearest available car is.


You open the ZipCar application.


The map shows you a wide selection of cars. You specify the type, the selection shows those.


You touch the screen and reserve a car.


As you get to where it’s parked, you press a button, which makes the car honk, helping you find it.


And then you open the car, enter and drive off.


Owning cars just changed—a lot.

Stein X Leikanger
Stein X Leikanger

Brand strategist and conceptualizer. Working with communicating premium brands for manufacturers around the world.

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  • Long126mike Long126mike on Jun 09, 2009
    Does that make it easier to understand? Yes, it does, but it certainly was far from obvious with the phrasing you used. Generally people state cost per mile for total ownership costs. Your numbers are so far off it’s not even funny. Is that another joke? Neons average 30 mpg if they're lucky. What you have gotten one time is not what you average. So the gas number per mile is correct, not "far off." The insurance number I gave is basically the same as yours, so that's not "far off," either. Those are what I put actual numbers to. You quote tire, oil change, and "parts" costs. Adding those to gas and insurance, and using your miles driven number, it comes to 23 cents per mile and counting. I see you didn't mention labor for those parts, so I guess you don't think your own time has value. For a normal person, $400 in parts probably translates into $1,000 or more at the mechanic, depending on the work done. You also neglected the occasional bumps and bangs to the body which need to be dealt with that aren't part of the drivetrain. You also assume your cost of parking is free, and even if you live in the 'burbs and always drive to big parking lots with free parking, you're still paying property tax on your garage space and paying for the garage itself. So that's not free, either. You also don't mention your licensing fees. Of course, this has nothing to do with Zipcar and where it's located and the economic realities of those environments, where parking is at a premium. Realistically, you are bare minimum outlaying $2,000 per year for that car when all is said and done. That translates into 210 hours of Zipcar use plus the annual membership fee in the Boston market. For someone who doesn't commute by car in a city, 18 hours per month for access to a huge variety of new, hassle-free vehicles is an enormous amount of use. Perhaps you've never lived like that so have trouble comprehending this. The reality is that the average new midsize car runs on the order of $8,000/yr to own, and that's if you don't have expensive parking and tolls to pay. Services like Zipcar save people a TON of money with next to zero hassle. That's why they're growing at a huge rate, even now.
  • R H R H on Jun 10, 2009

    Parts/maints for 3 years... (9 * 18) + (400 * 3) + ($100)/21000 (162+1200+100)/21000 1462/21000 + $0.0696/mile. The rest comes in as labor, maybe some windshield wipers... gas+insurance are added on top of that $0.10/mile. You pay gas/insurance for the zipcar as well -- it's just hidden in the cost of the car. At least I know that I put the proper gas in the car & I have insurance at a level I'm comfortable with. Btw: I REGULARLY get over 30mpg on my highway travels in the neon. I suppose my neon must be magical. It would make a good childrens book. Dividing the odo miles between fillups/number of gallons doesn't equal mpg does it? Nah, that couldn't possibly be correct. Also: Most of the places I go I'd have to pay parking on a shared car as well -- or do they cover that? And since when is 'commercial car sharing' more cost efficient than a taxi, public transport, or a grocery delivery service (for shopping) or going shopping with a friend who has a car? The fact is that except in very extreme circumstances, car sharing doesn't make a lot of sense. I know that when I rent an apartment or buy a house, one of my main concerns is (even though I own a car): How close IS the grocery store? How close IS the laundromat? How close IS the gym? btw: car sharing services growing huge doesn't necessarily mean anything except people are gullible enough to think it's a great deal OR it works for someones very uncommon circumstances OR people don't mind the hassles mentioned above. Look at the mess this country is in from the voting and actions of the majority of it's subjects... Regarding "Free of hassle": read "flleet of wheel"'s posts I feel no need to re-hash them here.

  • FleetofWheel FleetofWheel on Jun 10, 2009

    All my critiques of ZipCar are based on a city dweller. I have not argued against ZipCar as being unsuitable because it's of no use to a mostly suburban dwelling person. darkwing, I know it's not for suburban use. It's not that great for the city either. And you admit you'd rather use other means to get around town. If you want to live an insular city-bound life, then having to make do with a ZipCar is one of the compromises of being in the city. If you want to venture out to the burbs on occasion, a normal rental car or your own car is the best way. ZipCar Inc. does promote their service as being suitable for dates, job interviews, taking clients to lunch, going to the beach and on and on. So I am glad to see that most boosters on here don't believe that hype and see it as having limited use for a run to Home Depot or Walmart. It is not a game changing paradigm shift as so many wish it to be.

  • Pch101 Pch101 on Jun 10, 2009
    It is not a game changing paradigm shift as so many wish it to be. I suspect that the founders saw it as a solid niche that would eventually make for a great acquisition opportunity for one of the large rental companies such as Hertz or Enterprise. The smart, evolutionary thing about ZipCar is the ability to rent quickly and impulsively (assuming that you are a member.) Instead of going to a location that is probably inconvenient and dealing with a paperwork shuffle when picking up and returning, you can get the car in a heartbeat from numerous locations that are more convenient. The membership requirement reduces ZipCar's administrative costs, plus allows them to better manage their inventory because they can project how many cars they will need and where they will need them. That should help them to make their costs predictable and to avoid having too many vehicles. Overall, it makes sense for certain areas, particularly if the trend toward new urbanism continues. At some point, one of the big players should buy them, and the executive team should bank a nice chunk of change.
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