Comments on: Zipcar Won’t Flex the Rules http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/zipcar-wont-flex-the-rules/ The Truth About Cars is dedicated to providing candid, unbiased automobile reviews and the latest in auto industry news. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:13:03 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Donal Fagan http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/zipcar-wont-flex-the-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-230682 Donal Fagan Sun, 16 Mar 2008 15:05:40 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/news-blog/zipcar-wont-flex-the-rules/#comment-230682 Hmmm, just looking through Hertz and Enterprise's websites, I wouldn't have a clue that they rent cars for shorter periods than a full day. Even the HLE tab doesn't mention it. Does anyone know this for a fact? Hmmm, just looking through Hertz and Enterprise’s websites, I wouldn’t have a clue that they rent cars for shorter periods than a full day. Even the HLE tab doesn’t mention it.

Does anyone know this for a fact?

]]> By: morbo http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/zipcar-wont-flex-the-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-230632 morbo Sun, 16 Mar 2008 13:05:29 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/news-blog/zipcar-wont-flex-the-rules/#comment-230632 Maybe I'm too jaded, but the appeal (for me) of Avis and Enterprise is knowing I'm getting a piece of crap, and not giving one flying F^(% about the car. Yeah they push the hard sell on miscellaneous services; ignore them. There's something magically about making a rental Intrepid do 70 in second gear, or returning a Galant sans bumper and demanding a new car. The idea that i would have to take care of rental car is...creepy. Maybe I’m too jaded, but the appeal (for me) of Avis and Enterprise is knowing I’m getting a piece of crap, and not giving one flying F^(% about the car. Yeah they push the hard sell on miscellaneous services; ignore them. There’s something magically about making a rental Intrepid do 70 in second gear, or returning a Galant sans bumper and demanding a new car.

The idea that i would have to take care of rental car is…creepy.

]]> By: hansbos http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/zipcar-wont-flex-the-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-230092 hansbos Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:52:42 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/news-blog/zipcar-wont-flex-the-rules/#comment-230092 Not having to listen to some unmotivated sales person being forced to do a hard sell of unnecessary insurance and other options....priceless. Not having to listen to some unmotivated sales person being forced to do a hard sell of unnecessary insurance and other options….priceless.

]]> By: 6G74 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/zipcar-wont-flex-the-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-229122 6G74 Sat, 15 Mar 2008 14:27:15 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/news-blog/zipcar-wont-flex-the-rules/#comment-229122 It's an interesting idea, but it was inevitable that the big corporations would follow the idea quickly. Enterprise has a massive amount of small neighborhood offices, and Hertz is opening an average of five per week (called HLEs - for "Hertz Local Edition") to compete with Enterprise in the off-airport/downtown/insurance replacement segments of the industry. This, of course, means FlexCar won't be able to really have a price advantage, as the big ones can undercut them thanks to profits from traditional rentals, they won't have the name recognition or advertising budget, they won't have the sheer number of cars available, and they'll never be able to compete on number of office locations. I don't expect them to last long, with our (Hertz') hourly rates in large cities around $10/hr. It’s an interesting idea, but it was inevitable that the big corporations would follow the idea quickly. Enterprise has a massive amount of small neighborhood offices, and Hertz is opening an average of five per week (called HLEs – for “Hertz Local Edition”) to compete with Enterprise in the off-airport/downtown/insurance replacement segments of the industry. This, of course, means FlexCar won’t be able to really have a price advantage, as the big ones can undercut them thanks to profits from traditional rentals, they won’t have the name recognition or advertising budget, they won’t have the sheer number of cars available, and they’ll never be able to compete on number of office locations.

I don’t expect them to last long, with our (Hertz’) hourly rates in large cities around $10/hr.

]]> By: Dayveo http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/zipcar-wont-flex-the-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-228842 Dayveo Sat, 15 Mar 2008 13:00:09 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/news-blog/zipcar-wont-flex-the-rules/#comment-228842 If they had a few cars that were manual i'd be interest. But they don't. If they had a few cars that were manual i’d be interest. But they don’t.

]]> By: jthorner http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/zipcar-wont-flex-the-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-228702 jthorner Sat, 15 Mar 2008 05:24:11 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/news-blog/zipcar-wont-flex-the-rules/#comment-228702 This idea is a complete non-starter in the US. There simply aren't enough non-car owning people who need a car for a few hours here and there. Sort of like Santa Clara County's Light Rail system ... everyone thinks it is a great idea but only a minuscule fraction of the population uses the thing. As far as hourly rentals of trucks - Home Depot and Lowes have the market pretty well covered already. This idea is a complete non-starter in the US. There simply aren’t enough non-car owning people who need a car for a few hours here and there. Sort of like Santa Clara County’s Light Rail system … everyone thinks it is a great idea but only a minuscule fraction of the population uses the thing.

As far as hourly rentals of trucks – Home Depot and Lowes have the market pretty well covered already.

]]> By: hansbos http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/zipcar-wont-flex-the-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-228152 hansbos Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:30:31 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/news-blog/zipcar-wont-flex-the-rules/#comment-228152 I'm a big fan of Zipcar. Here in SF they have pickup trucks too and getting one of them for a few hours' moving certainly beats standing in line and being abused for at UHaul. (Not to mention that driving a Tacoma is less scary than a beat up GMC). I commute to work by public transport and occasionally use a Zipcar in the East Bay for lunchtime errants. You really can't beat $8/hour for a Mini or Fit. Here I have noticed that their parking spaces are more often empty than they used to be. It is clearly catching on and I think the merge helped by giving everyone access to more cars to choose from. I’m a big fan of Zipcar. Here in SF they have pickup trucks too and getting one of them for a few hours’ moving certainly beats standing in line and being abused for at UHaul. (Not to mention that driving a Tacoma is less scary than a beat up GMC). I commute to work by public transport and occasionally use a Zipcar in the East Bay for lunchtime errants. You really can’t beat $8/hour for a Mini or Fit. Here I have noticed that their parking spaces are more often empty than they used to be. It is clearly catching on and I think the merge helped by giving everyone access to more cars to choose from.

]]> By: SwatLax http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/zipcar-wont-flex-the-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-228042 SwatLax Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:14:14 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/news-blog/zipcar-wont-flex-the-rules/#comment-228042 For my birthday in December, my wife surprised me with a trip to visit friends in Philly, and then surprised me again by signing me up for Philly Car Share, and renting an MX-5 for the day. Being told the next 7 hours were for driving wherever we wanted in that car was music to my ears. She had even gotten our friend to give recommendations for good roads to throw the little Miata (MX-5, whatever) around on. It was $80 well spent - and that included gas! Tip: If you're in Philly area looking for a fun road to drive a small car on, find S. Ithan Ave by Villanova University: [maps.google.com],-75.342264&sspn=0.00713,0.014591&ie=UTF8&ll=40.038622,-75.342243&spn=0.00713,0.014591&z=16&om=0 It's not the Tail of the Dragon or anything, but it was a blast in that little car. For my birthday in December, my wife surprised me with a trip to visit friends in Philly, and then surprised me again by signing me up for Philly Car Share, and renting an MX-5 for the day. Being told the next 7 hours were for driving wherever we wanted in that car was music to my ears. She had even gotten our friend to give recommendations for good roads to throw the little Miata (MX-5, whatever) around on. It was $80 well spent – and that included gas!

Tip: If you’re in Philly area looking for a fun road to drive a small car on, find S. Ithan Ave by Villanova University: [maps.google.com],-75.342264&sspn=0.00713,0.014591&ie=UTF8&ll=40.038622,-75.342243&spn=0.00713,0.014591&z=16&om=0

It’s not the Tail of the Dragon or anything, but it was a blast in that little car.

]]> By: Donal Fagan http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/zipcar-wont-flex-the-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-228002 Donal Fagan Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:04:16 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/news-blog/zipcar-wont-flex-the-rules/#comment-228002 I saw my first Flexcar last week, a Prius with DC plates. There are a few parked over at Johns Hopkins. I could bike over there I suppose, but if I really need a rental, Enterprise is within walking distance. I saw my first Flexcar last week, a Prius with DC plates. There are a few parked over at Johns Hopkins. I could bike over there I suppose, but if I really need a rental, Enterprise is within walking distance.

]]> By: cjdumm http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/zipcar-wont-flex-the-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-227872 cjdumm Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:37:48 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/news-blog/zipcar-wont-flex-the-rules/#comment-227872 Flexcar, despite never making money, has (or had) some serious muscle here in Washington state. Prime downtown parking spots here in Vancouver (right in front of the courthouse, near city hall, right in front of the Hilton, etc) are conspicuously reserved "For Flexcar Only". They are also, conspicuously, almost always occupied by unused Flexcars. Flexcar, despite never making money, has (or had) some serious muscle here in Washington state. Prime downtown parking spots here in Vancouver (right in front of the courthouse, near city hall, right in front of the Hilton, etc) are conspicuously reserved “For Flexcar Only”.

They are also, conspicuously, almost always occupied by unused Flexcars.

]]> By: AKM http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/zipcar-wont-flex-the-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-227682 AKM Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:16:07 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/news-blog/zipcar-wont-flex-the-rules/#comment-227682 The basic idea is really good, and I thought the companies turned a profit in Europe, where their business model makes more sense. Only SF and NY seem really adapted. I like the idea of not having to go to a rental car location, and I also like the idea of getting a MINI/S40/VW Golf as opposed to an Impala or Sebring.... The basic idea is really good, and I thought the companies turned a profit in Europe, where their business model makes more sense. Only SF and NY seem really adapted.
I like the idea of not having to go to a rental car location, and I also like the idea of getting a MINI/S40/VW Golf as opposed to an Impala or Sebring….

]]>