2 Views
Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Car, IPhone Today
by
Stein X Leikanger
(IC: employee)
Published: June 9th, 2009
Share
You’re a ZipCar customer.
Stein X Leikanger
Brand strategist and conceptualizer. Working with communicating premium brands for manufacturers around the world.
More by Stein X Leikanger
Published June 9th, 2009 6:54 AM
Comments
Join the conversation
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.
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.